Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference in April focusing on the budget and a long-range fiscal plan for the state. He signed the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 on Sunday, but did not publicly announce the signing or line-item vetoes made — including cutting in half an increase to public education spending — until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference in April focusing on the budget and a long-range fiscal plan for the state. He signed the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 on Sunday, but did not publicly announce the signing or line-item vetoes made — including cutting in half an increase to public education spending — until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Monday, June 19, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A U.S. Coast Guard vessel sits docked at Auke Bay in November 2022. On Saturday the Coast Guard suspended its search for a 70-year-old man who was last seen departing for a fishing trip near Kake on Friday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Coast Guard suspends search for missing Kake boater

The decision was made following a 16-hour search effort covering more than 375 nautical miles.

A U.S. Coast Guard vessel sits docked at Auke Bay in November 2022. On Saturday the Coast Guard suspended its search for a 70-year-old man who was last seen departing for a fishing trip near Kake on Friday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Sunday, June 18, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Friday, June 16, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

  • Jun 20, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Saturday, June 17, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

  • Jun 20, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Thursday, June 15, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

  • Jun 20, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference in April focusing on the budget and a long-range fiscal plan for the state. He signed the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 on Sunday, but did not publicly announce the signing or line-item vetoes made — including cutting in half an increase to public education spending — until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy vetoes half of education increase as he signs budget

Governor cuts $200 million in capital projects, other spending from bill passed by Legislature

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference in April focusing on the budget and a long-range fiscal plan for the state. He signed the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 on Sunday, but did not publicly announce the signing or line-item vetoes made — including cutting in half an increase to public education spending — until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Jeremy Cubas, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s former pro-family policy advisor, addressed members of the Alaska Family Council in this video he taped for the governor’s office for a May 11 event. (Screenshot)
Video

Video raises new questions about governor’s oversight of aide

Jeremy Cubas describes supporters of abortion rights as “seemingly demonically possessed.”

  • Jun 19, 2023
  • By Nathaniel Herz Alaska Public Media
Jeremy Cubas, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s former pro-family policy advisor, addressed members of the Alaska Family Council in this video he taped for the governor’s office for a May 11 event. (Screenshot)
Video
A notice about the arrival of summer is posted outside the entrance to Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ - Glacier Valley Elementary School. The school’s principal told the Juneau Board of Education last Tuesday there was a 55% “chronically absent” rate during the past school year. (Juneau Empire File)

A local principal says more than half the students were chronically absent. Is that cause for alarm?

District officials seek causes, solutions and context of absenteeism, which is also high nationally

A notice about the arrival of summer is posted outside the entrance to Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ - Glacier Valley Elementary School. The school’s principal told the Juneau Board of Education last Tuesday there was a 55% “chronically absent” rate during the past school year. (Juneau Empire File)
Hannahadina Kuhnert leads a music procession outside the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Saturday during a Juneteenth celebration where participants heard the history of the June 19 holiday and made their own musical instruments. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneteenth also marks a day of liberty for local tribal members

June 19 is Tlingit & Haida Day as well as a national holiday celebrating the end of slavery

Hannahadina Kuhnert leads a music procession outside the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Saturday during a Juneteenth celebration where participants heard the history of the June 19 holiday and made their own musical instruments. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Artwork for sale at the Sealaska Heritage Institute shop on Friday bears a label declaring it compliant with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. The federal government has filed several recent cases in Alaska for violations of the act. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

As Alaska tourism rebounds, state and federal officials crack down on fake Alaska Native art

It’s a federal crime to sell art that is falsely marketed as created by an Alaska Native or tribal member.

Artwork for sale at the Sealaska Heritage Institute shop on Friday bears a label declaring it compliant with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. The federal government has filed several recent cases in Alaska for violations of the act. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Hōkūle‘a arrives in Auke Bay on June 11, where it was welcomed by hundreds of Juneau residents and tribal leaders. The wind-powered traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe departed Juneau at about 4:15 a.m. Sunday to begin a scheduled 47-month global voyage. The originally scheduled start of the trip was delayed from Thursday due to poor weather. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Hōkūle‘a calmly departs Juneau for 47-month voyage

Traditional Polynesian canoe sets sail at 4:15 a.m. Sunday after weather delays original launch

The Hōkūle‘a arrives in Auke Bay on June 11, where it was welcomed by hundreds of Juneau residents and tribal leaders. The wind-powered traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe departed Juneau at about 4:15 a.m. Sunday to begin a scheduled 47-month global voyage. The originally scheduled start of the trip was delayed from Thursday due to poor weather. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Jesse Stringer, a former worker in Coeur Alaska’s Kensington mine competes in the jackleg drilling competition Saturday during the 31st annual Juneau Gold Rush Days. The event in Douglas at Savikko Park is scheduled to continue with logging competitions on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

An old-time heavy metal festival for all ages

Juneau Gold Rush Days sings “Happy Birthday” to axe-wielding woman, lets kids do some heavy lifting

Jesse Stringer, a former worker in Coeur Alaska’s Kensington mine competes in the jackleg drilling competition Saturday during the 31st annual Juneau Gold Rush Days. The event in Douglas at Savikko Park is scheduled to continue with logging competitions on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Alaska State Council on the Arts
A “Whale’s Tail” license plate by Juneau artist Crystal Worl is among six semi-finalists in a statewide contest open to public voting until July 31. The winner will be announced Aug. 26 at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer and available afterward for purchase at DMVs statewide through 2027.

Worl among six contenders in artistic license plate contest

Juneau artist who designed Alaska Airlines “Salmon People” plane now sets sights on Alaska’s vehicles

Courtesy Photo / Alaska State Council on the Arts
A “Whale’s Tail” license plate by Juneau artist Crystal Worl is among six semi-finalists in a statewide contest open to public voting until July 31. The winner will be announced Aug. 26 at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer and available afterward for purchase at DMVs statewide through 2027.
Juneau State Rep. Andi Story and Haines Borough Mayor Douglas Olerud smile for a photo while holding the borough’s first batch of Lingít street signs in early June. (Courtesy / Katie Koester)

Haines raises its first Tlingit street signs — is Juneau next?

Local leaders say they’d like to see the capital city follow its northern neighbor’s lead.

Juneau State Rep. Andi Story and Haines Borough Mayor Douglas Olerud smile for a photo while holding the borough’s first batch of Lingít street signs in early June. (Courtesy / Katie Koester)
Capt. Mark Ellis receives a ceremonial cedar rope alongside other captains during a blessing ceremony at the global launch ceremony of the Moananuiākea voyage at the University of Alaska Recreation Center Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau leaders bless voyagers at launch ceremony ahead of Hōkūle‘a send-off

“I am grateful for all the love and support the people of Southeast Alaska have done for us”

Capt. Mark Ellis receives a ceremonial cedar rope alongside other captains during a blessing ceremony at the global launch ceremony of the Moananuiākea voyage at the University of Alaska Recreation Center Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, June 14, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
R.L. Phillips pauses with his “mosquito-proofed” horse Sparkplug on a gravel bar of the Tatonduk River, a tributary of the Yukon River, on June 17, 1930. (From the J.B. Mertie Collection of photos, U.S. Geological Survey Denver Library Photographic Collection, public domain)

Alaska Science Forum: Pound for pound, Alaska mosquitoes pack punch

Researcher calculates combined weight of Alaska’s yearly mosquito “crop” is 96 million pounds.

  • Jun 15, 2023
  • By Ned Rozell
R.L. Phillips pauses with his “mosquito-proofed” horse Sparkplug on a gravel bar of the Tatonduk River, a tributary of the Yukon River, on June 17, 1930. (From the J.B. Mertie Collection of photos, U.S. Geological Survey Denver Library Photographic Collection, public domain)
Chloey Cavanaugh, owner of Black and White Raven Co., folds a shirt at her downtown studio Monday morning. Cavanaugh’s company is an LGBTQ+ and Indigenous small business based in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Faces of Pride: Chloey Cavanaugh

“I feel really lucky to be so supported by the community.”

Chloey Cavanaugh, owner of Black and White Raven Co., folds a shirt at her downtown studio Monday morning. Cavanaugh’s company is an LGBTQ+ and Indigenous small business based in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)