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6 days ago | 
juneauempire.com | Mark Sabbatini |Jasz Garrett
Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed a bill increasing Alaska’s $5,960 Base Student Allocation by $1,000 Thursday, setting the stage for an expected failure of an override vote by the Legislature next Tuesday and a renewed battle about education during the final month of the session. Dunleavy said he vetoed House Bill 69 because it contains no policy changes during a press conference Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol.
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1 month ago | 
juneauempire.com | Jasz Garrett |Mark Sabbatini
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) responded to accusations he’s avoiding constituents by declaring he engaged in “the ultimate town hall” Thursday before the Alaska Legislature, answering a broad range of questions from lawmakers at the Alaska State Capitol. Dozens of protesters lined the hall leading to the House chamber before the speech, many accusing Sullivan of the elusiveness occurring among GOP lawmakers nationwide to avoid combative town halls.
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1 month ago | 
peninsulaclarion.com | Jasz Garrett |Mark Sabbatini
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said the Trump administration needs to realize federal employees are operating programs that “truly are saving lives” and there needs to be support for agencies “that Americans are relying on for livelihoods and for safety.” “Weather forecasters save lives in our state,” Murkowski said during her annual speech to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday.
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1 month ago | 
juneauempire.com | Jasz Garrett |Mark Sabbatini
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said the Trump administration needs to realize federal employees are operating programs that “truly are saving lives” and there needs to be support for agencies “that Americans are relying on for livelihoods and for safety.” “Weather forecasters save lives in our state,” Murkowski said during her annual speech to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday.
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1 month ago | 
juneauempire.com | Mark Sabbatini |Jasz Garrett
This is a developing story. An anticipated mass firing of workers started Thursday at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which could cut more than 10% of the agency’s employees, according to local and national officials.
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2 months ago | 
juneauempire.com | Jasz Garrett |Mark Sabbatini
A wide-ranging education package with provisions that include allowing students to attend any public school in the state was introduced Friday by Gov. Mike Dunleavy at the Alaska State Capitol. House Bill 76 also revives numerous policy goals by the Republican governor such as homeschool funding boosts and state authorization of new charter schools instead of leaving that decision up to school districts. Its companion bill in the other chamber is Senate Bill 82.
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Jan 17, 2025 | 
juneauempire.com | Jasz Garrett
A shelter seeking to rebuild the lives of people staying there recently completed its own rebuilding process. Women returning from incarceration, residential treatment, or who are in recovery can reenter the doors of Tlingit and Haida’s Haven House Women’s Shelter. The transitional housing facility was recently rebuilt after a flood damaged the foundation in 2020. Tlingit and Haida’s Reentry and Recovery Department held an open house Tuesday.
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Jan 16, 2025 | 
juneauempire.com | Jasz Garrett
The U.S. and Alaska flags at the Alaska State Capitol, and all other state facilities, will fly at full height on Monday in recognition of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration, interrupting for a day the nationwide flying of flags at half-staff for 30 days following the death of former President Jimmy Carter, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Thursday.
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Jan 16, 2025 | 
juneauempire.com | Jasz Garrett
On Thursday morning within a three-hour time frame, five separate motor vehicle collisions occurred after a cold night that left roads in icy conditions. Erann Kalwara, public safety manager for the Juneau Police Department, said an ambulance was called to the scene for an incident involving juveniles who potentially sustained injuries. She said JPD also called Capital City Fire/Rescue for assistance with cleaning up fluids due to one of the wrecks.
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Jan 16, 2025 | 
juneauempire.com | Jasz Garrett
Before taking public testimony on non-agenda items at a Juneau Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Deedie Sorenson, president of the board, said, “everything that we hear or read on social media is not necessarily factual and it is important to really always, always remember that.”“Pictures aren’t rumors,” Shannan Greene, a parent of a high schooler attending HomeBridge, responded when it was her turn to offer testimony.
