Donald Trump

Flags fly outside the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, shortly before the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council’s 50-year anniversary celebration the same week. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Arts and Humanities Council bans DEI on ‘public facing documents’ due to funding threat

Executive director: No events cancelled, “racial equity” and other deleted website content being rewritten.

 

Welcome messages in multiple languages are painted on windows at the University of Alaska Anchorage at the start of the semester in January. (University of Alaska Anchorage photo)

Juneau refugee family gets ‘leave immediately’ notice; four people affiliated with UAA have visas revoked

Actions part of nationwide sweep as Trump ignores legal orders against detentions, deportations.

 

Venezuelan migrants waiting to cross into the United States after receiving an asylum hearing through the CBP One app in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. (Alejandro Cegarra / For The New York Times)

White House moves to cancel migrants’ legally-obtained Social Security numbers to force self-deportation

Trump administration seeks to cut off access to credit cards, bank accounts, employment.

  • Apr 10, 2025
  • By Alexandra BerzonHamed AleazizNicholas NehamasRyan Mac and Tara Siegel Bernard, ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • NewsDonald Trumprefugee
Venezuelan migrants waiting to cross into the United States after receiving an asylum hearing through the CBP One app in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. (Alejandro Cegarra / For The New York Times)
Students swing on a playground at Meadow Lakes Head Start in Wasilla, Alaska. It closed in 2024 due to funding and staffing challenges. (Image by Lela Seiler, courtesy of CCS Early Learning)

Alaska Head Start programs in limbo after regional office closed by U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy

Tribal programs such as Tlingit and Haida’s not affected by closures.

Students swing on a playground at Meadow Lakes Head Start in Wasilla, Alaska. It closed in 2024 due to funding and staffing challenges. (Image by Lela Seiler, courtesy of CCS Early Learning)
The planned restriction on phone services were expected to route more people to Social Security field offices as their staff levels were being cut. (Adriana Zehbrauskas / For The New York Times)

Social Security rolls back restrictions on filing for benefits by phone

Widely criticized plan would have limited Alaskans to filing online or in one of three major cities.

  • Apr 10, 2025
  • By Tara Siegel Bernard ©2025 The New York Times Company
  • NewsDonald Trump
The planned restriction on phone services were expected to route more people to Social Security field offices as their staff levels were being cut. (Adriana Zehbrauskas / For The New York Times)
Debris from a home that partially fell into the Mendenhall River due to a record glacial outburst flood remains on the riverbank on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Trump executive order seeks to block states and municipalities from enforcing their climate policies

Order could affect everything from recently enacted state carbon laws to Juneau’s renewable energy goals.

Debris from a home that partially fell into the Mendenhall River due to a record glacial outburst flood remains on the riverbank on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
President Donald Trump announced yet another abrupt change in economic policy on Wednesday. (Eric Lee / The New York Times)

Trump backs down by reducing many reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, but hikes China’s to 125%

Universal 10% levy remains for other countries; change comes after tailspin in global markets.

President Donald Trump announced yet another abrupt change in economic policy on Wednesday. (Eric Lee / The New York Times)
The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen Monday, June 6, 2022 in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Permanent Fund suffers multibillion-dollar decline amid Trump tariff-driven market crash

The Alaska Permanent Fund, the No. 1 source of general-purpose revenue for state services and the Permanent Fund dividend, suffered a multibillion-dollar loss during last… Continue reading

The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen Monday, June 6, 2022 in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Protesters spill out into the street beyond the front of the Alaska State Capitol on Saturday as part of anti-Trump demonstrations that took place internationally during the day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Largest Juneau protest of Trump’s second term joins voices of discontent at events worldwide

Wide range of grievances shared in speeches and songs Saturday at Alaska State Capitol.

Protesters spill out into the street beyond the front of the Alaska State Capitol on Saturday as part of anti-Trump demonstrations that took place internationally during the day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The head of the National Archives, which has been described as “the custodian of America’s collective memory,” was fired by President Trump in February. (Jared Soares / For The New York Times)

The White House frames the past by erasing parts of it

Public record being selectively deleted, letting president declare his version of history, archivists say.

The head of the National Archives, which has been described as “the custodian of America’s collective memory,” was fired by President Trump in February. (Jared Soares / For The New York Times)
An oil drilling site in Midland, Texas. (Desiree Rios / For The New York Times)

‘Wait, baby, wait’: Slumping oil prices reflect economic worries

Fears Trump’s tariffs will slash global economic growth — and oil demand — are weighing on the market.

An oil drilling site in Midland, Texas. (Desiree Rios / For The New York Times)
NOAA Fisheries Alaska region, hit hard by staffing losses, helps oversee the harvests off Alaska, which produce about half the fish caught in U.S. waters. Here, a trawl net full of pollock — the largest volume fishery off Alaska — comes aboard the Northern Hawk during the summer 2023 harvest. (Photo by Hal Bernton)

Internal memo outlines stark impacts of federal downsizing on Alaska regional fishery agency

Understaffed federal offices supporting fishing regulators cut even further, as NOAA Fisheries works ‘to keep the lights on’

NOAA Fisheries Alaska region, hit hard by staffing losses, helps oversee the harvests off Alaska, which produce about half the fish caught in U.S. waters. Here, a trawl net full of pollock — the largest volume fishery off Alaska — comes aboard the Northern Hawk during the summer 2023 harvest. (Photo by Hal Bernton)
President Donald Trump delivers remarks at an event where he announced new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, in Washington, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. President Trump unveiled his most expansive tariffs to date in a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, saying he would impose a 10 percent tariff on all trading partners. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)

Trump imposes vast global tariffs; some key partners hit hard

©10% tariff for all countries; trading partners like China, Japan and Europe face significantly higher rates.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at an event where he announced new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, in Washington, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. President Trump unveiled his most expansive tariffs to date in a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, saying he would impose a 10 percent tariff on all trading partners. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
ConocoPhillips oil pipelines on the North Slope of Alaska on March 23, 2023. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)

Oil and gas execs denounce Trump’s ‘chaos’ and ‘uncertainty’ in first survey during his second term

Issues raised by southcentral U.S. operators have similarities, differences to Alaska’s, lawmakers say.

ConocoPhillips oil pipelines on the North Slope of Alaska on March 23, 2023. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer for The New York Times)

Trump administration abruptly cuts billions from state health services, including Alaska’s

State was using funds to purchase lab equipment and update electronic records.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer for The New York Times)
A dropoff box for ballots at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaska’s elections get shakeup favoring conservatives under new Trump executive order

Order requires federal ballots to be received by Election Day, proof of citizenship to register to vote.

A dropoff box for ballots at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Rep. Alyse Galvin, an Anchorage independent, takes a photo with Meadow Stanley, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on April 4, 2024, before they took part in a march protesting education funding from the school to the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Fire, ready, aim: Alaska’s delegation says contact them about troublesome Trump cuts. How’s that working out?

After president’s slashing of government, those affected told to justify how their existence serves him.

Rep. Alyse Galvin, an Anchorage independent, takes a photo with Meadow Stanley, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on April 4, 2024, before they took part in a march protesting education funding from the school to the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, speaks on Monday, March 24, 2025, in favor of House Joint Resolution 11. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska House asks for cooldown in Trump-triggered US-Canada trade dispute

The Alaska House of Representatives is asking the Trump administration and Canadian government to step back from a brewing trade war. In a 33-4 vote… Continue reading

House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, speaks on Monday, March 24, 2025, in favor of House Joint Resolution 11. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Andy Romanoff, the executive director of the nonprofit organization Alaska Heat Smart, speaks at an empty-chair town hall held for U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau shows up for democracy at empty-chair town hall

Constituents across Alaska feel unheard by congressional delegation, take the lead in community outreach.

Andy Romanoff, the executive director of the nonprofit organization Alaska Heat Smart, speaks at an empty-chair town hall held for U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)