The ConocoPhillips Alaska headquarters, seen here on April 8, 2020, looms over downtown Anchorage. An appeals court order denying environmentalists’ request for an emergency injunction allows the company to proceed with its ongoing winter construction at its massive Willow project on the North Slope. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Appeals court allows ConocoPhillips to keep building its Willow project

Construction is underway at the massive oil project even as the legal fight continues.

The ConocoPhillips Alaska headquarters, seen here on April 8, 2020, looms over downtown Anchorage. An appeals court order denying environmentalists’ request for an emergency injunction allows the company to proceed with its ongoing winter construction at its massive Willow project on the North Slope. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
State Reps. Andi Story (foreground) and Sara Hannan, both Juneau Democrats wearing red blazers — reportedly by coincidence — greet visitors and family members during an annual holiday open house hosted by the local legislative delegation at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Making a list, checking it off thrice at holiday open house hosted by local legislative delegation

Visitors at Capitol share greetings and hopes for upcoming session with trio of Juneau lawmakers.

State Reps. Andi Story (foreground) and Sara Hannan, both Juneau Democrats wearing red blazers — reportedly by coincidence — greet visitors and family members during an annual holiday open house hosted by the local legislative delegation at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A pod of killer whales, also known as orcas, swims in waters off Southeast Alaska’s Chicagof Island in July of 2023. A new federal report describes the 37 killer whale entanglements that were documented in Alaska waters from 1991 to 2022. (Photo by Meghan Chamberlain/U.S. Forest Service)

Report details 37 known killer whale entanglements in Alaska over three decades

Over the last three decades, 37 killer whales were entangled in fishing gear in Alaska, which resulted in 25 deaths, according to a new report… Continue reading

A pod of killer whales, also known as orcas, swims in waters off Southeast Alaska’s Chicagof Island in July of 2023. A new federal report describes the 37 killer whale entanglements that were documented in Alaska waters from 1991 to 2022. (Photo by Meghan Chamberlain/U.S. Forest Service)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Monday, Dec. 18, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Chart by Paul E. Peterson and M. Danish Shakeel, Harvard University)

Alaska leads 35 states and D.C. in first-ever rankings of charter performance on NAEP

Harvard researchers’ examination puts performance of Hawaii charters at the bottom

(Chart by Paul E. Peterson and M. Danish Shakeel, Harvard University)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Alaska Attorney General Trig Taylor (foreground) discusses litigation the state Department of Law is involved with during Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s (left background) unveiling of his proposed budget during a press conference Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol.

Legislative Council votes to sue Dunleavy administration in state employee union dues case

Legislators say executive branch violated separation of powers with unauthorized spending.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Alaska Attorney General Trig Taylor (foreground) discusses litigation the state Department of Law is involved with during Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s (left background) unveiling of his proposed budget during a press conference Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol.
A crane unloads a car from a used gondola after its arrival in Juneau last year. Eaglecrest Ski Area officials say they are hoping the gondola will be operational by the 2025-26 winter ski season. (Photo courtesy of Eaglecrest Ski Area)

Eaglecrest gondola needs more parts than expected as prices for them soar

Ski area manager says installation possible without extra city funds via ‘alternative procurement.’

A crane unloads a car from a used gondola after its arrival in Juneau last year. Eaglecrest Ski Area officials say they are hoping the gondola will be operational by the 2025-26 winter ski season. (Photo courtesy of Eaglecrest Ski Area)
Fog drifts through the trees in the Tongass National Forest on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Biden administration moves to protect oldest trees as climate change brings more fires, pests

The Biden administration moved on Tuesday to conserve groves of old-growth trees on national forests across the U.S. as climate change amplifies the threats they… Continue reading

  • Dec 19, 2023
  • By Matthew Brown Associated Press
  • forestry
Fog drifts through the trees in the Tongass National Forest on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers)

Southeast hunters pay deerly for violations in large-scale joint state-federal operation

53 charges or citations issued during Southern Southeast Sitka Blacktail deer “rut,” AST reports.

(Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers)
Doug Chilton works on a canoe journey carving at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in February of 2016. (Courtesy of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)

Longtime Tlingit artist and activist Doug Chilton closing his shop Dec. 24, heading south

Juneau-born resident plans to return for One People Canoe Society trips he founded, other events.

Doug Chilton works on a canoe journey carving at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in February of 2016. (Courtesy of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy poses for a photo at the groundbreaking of the Wasilla airport’s expansion. (Office of the Governor)

A tour of Gov. Dunleavy’s capital budget

Southeast items include $9.5M to replace patrol vessel, $1.5M to thin “overly dense young forests.”

Gov. Mike Dunleavy poses for a photo at the groundbreaking of the Wasilla airport’s expansion. (Office of the Governor)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Aurora forecast for the week of Dec. 18

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute and available online, along with more data, at www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast. The listings below will… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Friday, Dec. 15, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau School District Administrative Services Director Cassee Olin (center) appears with Karen Tarver (right), a partner with the audit firm Elgee Rehfeld, to discuss an audit of the Juneau School District’s previous fiscal year with the Juneau Board of Education on Nov. 14. Olin resigned from the district as of Dec. 1. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

School district seeks quick temporary help with budget after administrative services director quits

Cassee Olin resigns as district faces multimillion dollar deficit, audit that found flaws.

Juneau School District Administrative Services Director Cassee Olin (center) appears with Karen Tarver (right), a partner with the audit firm Elgee Rehfeld, to discuss an audit of the Juneau School District’s previous fiscal year with the Juneau Board of Education on Nov. 14. Olin resigned from the district as of Dec. 1. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is seen at an appearance earlier this year. (Office of the Governor photo)

A journalist just reviewed 1,000 pages of Alaska budget documents — so you don’t have to

Items to escalate state’s subsistence fight with feds and enhance drone use for law enforcement.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is seen at an appearance earlier this year. (Office of the Governor photo)
Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg gave an update on the backlog of food aid applications in the Division of Public Assistance at a news conference for Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed FY 2025 budget in on Thursday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy proposes $14 million in food stamp crisis fixes

Commissioner says state can clear the backlog in 90 days, if there are no ‘further interruptions’

Alaska Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg gave an update on the backlog of food aid applications in the Division of Public Assistance at a news conference for Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed FY 2025 budget in on Thursday. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Paul Voelckers (left) offers farewell remarks along with Michael LeVine (right) during their last Juneau Planning Commission meeting Tuesday night. Listening to their remarks are commission members Mandy Cole — who was appointed to the board Thursday — and Erik Pedersen. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Three members appointed to both the planning commission and hospital board

James Kohn joins two incumbents on Bartlett board; Lacey Derr, Jessalyn Rintala new to commission.

Paul Voelckers (left) offers farewell remarks along with Michael LeVine (right) during their last Juneau Planning Commission meeting Tuesday night. Listening to their remarks are commission members Mandy Cole — who was appointed to the board Thursday — and Erik Pedersen. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)