juneauindependent.bsky.social
@juneauindependent.bsky.social
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 9h
The Juneau Independent is now officially a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, according to this letter that arrived yesterday from the IRS. Among other things, it means contributions to keep our newsroom going are tax-deductible.
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 1d
Preliminary results from Tuesday’s municipal election show a sales tax exemption for food and utilities passing with about 70% of the vote, while a seasonal sales tax seeking to shift a greater burden of the city’s costs onto tourists is losing decisively.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/voters-...
Voters favor sales tax exemption, reject seasonal sales tax in early results; Bryson and Brooks even in Assembly race
Whitney, Johnson and Cullum lead among five school board candidates with about 6,000 ballots counted
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 1d
Postponing a proposal to sharply limit funds municipalities can give school districts is being recommended by the Dunleavy administration to the state’s education board, which is scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/deed-as...
DEED asks state education board to delay imposing strict limits on local government funding for districts
Proposal has worried local school board members for months; state leaders said they want further evaluation after public comment at meeting Thursday
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 1d
Twenty years of improvements to Auke Bay’s Statter Harbor will wrap up by the end of October, with the exception of springtime landscaping, according to CBJ Port Engineer Matthew Sill.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/statter...
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 1d
Douglas Murray, a third-generation Juneau resident who’s lived here for 55 years, says he agrees with city leaders who say this year’s election is of relatively high importance — although his thoughts about why aren’t necessarily the same as theirs.

www.juneauindependent.com/post/it-s-el...
It’s election day in Juneau, with 3 Assembly races, 3 school board seats and 3 tax propositions on ballot
Polls open until 8 p.m.; preliminary count of some votes expected tonight; final results scheduled to be certified Oct. 21
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 4d
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Storis icebreaker reached its winter homeport on Friday to complete its 112-day inaugural patrol, which for now is Seattle rather than Juneau.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/storis-...
Storis icebreaker completes 112-day inaugural patrol, including monitoring of China-flagged research ships
Crew of U.S. Coast Guard vessel eventually slated to be homeported in Juneau to spend next six weeks training in Seattle .
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 5d
Another heart-stopping moment in the hallowed history of The Alaskan Hotel & Bar arose this week as the 112-year-old establishment finished fifth in USA Today’s Best Haunted Hotel competition decided by online voters.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/the-ala...
The Alaskan Hotel & Bar finishes a frightening fifth in USA Today’s Best Haunted Hotel contest
Historic downtown Juneau landmark outspooks Lizzie Borden’s house, the hotel from "The Shining" and 13 other finalists to make the top five.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 5d
Editor’s note: The story below about a study by the Juneau Economic Development Council on the impacts of local ballot propositions has been removed from our website to review concerns raised about some of the figures in the study.
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 5d
Haines voters are considering a seasonal sales tax similar in many ways to the one on the Oct. 7 election ballot in Juneau. By Will Steinfeld of the Chilkat Valley News.

www.juneauindependent.com/post/haines-...
Haines voters also considering seasonal sales tax
Voters will decide whether to adopt a seasonal sales tax and cash in on the tourists who visit Haines each summer.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 6d
After rumors that missing Benjamin "Benny" Stepetin had been seen along the downtown cruise ship dock, his brother hired a dive team for an in-depth underwater search.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/diving-...
Diving deep to find Benjamin Stepetin three months after his disappearance
Two-day underwater search along cruise dock unsuccessful, but family raising funds to explore more of the channel while continuing to look on land.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 7d
Juneau Assembly members who’ve spent a year waiting got a chance this week to ask Goldbelt Inc. leaders about the company’s plans for a two-dock cruise ship port on the west side of Douglas Island.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/goldbel...
Goldbelt leaders share plans for private Douglas cruise port with Juneau Assembly
“Goldbelt believes it can be the high tide that lifts all boats.”
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 7d
The JDHS football team travels to the site of the team that ended the Crimson Bears' playoff run in the first round last season — in the last minute — 20-13.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/crimson...
Crimson Bears play final regular season football game against familiar foe
JDHS travels to league-leading West Anchorage on Saturday.
www.juneauindependent.com
juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 8d
Capital City/Fire Rescue Chief Rich Etheridge is retiring this fall. He shared lessons learned, fires fought and future goals.
Learning by ‘trial by fire’: CCFR Chief Rich Etheridge recalls career after retirement announcement
Patience is a virtue when it comes to overseeing an all-hazards fire department.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 8d
The Crimson Bears volleyball team had an uncomfortable road trip to Anchorage last week as they took to the court in a field of 21 schools at the 2025 West Anchorage Spiketacular.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/rough-a...
Rough Anchorage road trip for JDHS spikers
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears volleyball team had an uncomfortable road trip to Anchorage last week as they took to the court in a field of 21 schools at the 2025 West An...
www.juneauindependent.com
juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 9d
Residents of Telephone Hill who were being evicted from their homes Wednesday were given a one-month reprieve on Monday night by the Juneau Assembly, after the city attorney said the legal eviction process wasn’t fully followed.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/assembl...
Assembly delays Telephone Hill evictions until Nov. 1 due to lack of proper tenant notice
Property management company failed to properly document eviction notices sent to residents that were set to take effect Oct. 1, mayor says.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 9d
The editor and nearly all reporters at the Homer News, Peninsula Clarion, and Juneau Empire announced their resignations after corporate management deleted content from a story about Charlie Kirk in response to a complaint from a Republican state lawmaker.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/editor-...
Editor, most news staff of Carpenter Media’s Alaska newspapers resign due to censoring of story
Article about a Charlie Kirk vigil referring to controversies involving him was altered after a GOP Alaska lawmaker complained to company management
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 9d
JDHS senior Elliot Welch completed his final Region V tennis career with an incredible resume Saturday, winning his 12th title as he and classmate Paige Kirsch defeated junior Isaac Hill and senior Bella Reyes-Boyer in mixed doubles 6-2, 6-4.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/jdhs-se...
JDHS senior Elliot Welch wins 12th region tennis title in four years
Crimson Bears tennis team finish Region V play, prepare for state.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 9d
A JPD self-assessment conducted after an officer was filmed violently arresting a man two months ago states some tactics taught at a statewide academy "do not align with our expectations," but overall "we are a top tier, professional law enforcement agency."
www.juneauindependent.com/post/trainin...
Training, medical request faults cited in JPD self-assessment after violent arrest leads to officer’s forced resignation
Report by police chief says room for improvement, but overall "JPD continues to set the standard for policing"
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 11d
An injury to a star player meant the Crimson Bears needed some different options — and they exercised plenty of them in a 34-20 win in their home finale of the regular season Saturday night at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/juneau-...
Juneau puts on first-half offensive show in 34-20 win over Colony in final home game of regular season
Crimson Bears use toughness and trickery to send seniors off in style.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 11d
The Crimson Bears cross country team swept the Division I team and individual titles at the Region V Championships Saturday on Sitka’s Totem Park, and Sitka and Wrangell followed suit in DII and DIII.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/crimson...
Crimson Bears sweep Region V running championships
JDHS tops DI field, Sitka sweeps DII, Wrangell sweeps DIII
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 11d
The most recent school board election forum on Thursday before the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce was the first to feature all five current candidates.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/first-s...
First school board forum with fifth candidate in 3-seat race shows gaps among incumbents, challengers
Current members say district is mostly coping well during difficult times, outsiders are seeking some bigger changes that may be elusive.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 12d
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa·at Kalé Crimson Bears football team will honor their senior players in their final home game as they host Cook Inlet Conference foe Colony Knights on Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/jdhs-se...
JDHS seniors to get tributes before taking to gridiron for final home game
Crimson Bears football hosts Colony at 7 p.m. Saturday as teams fight for playoff positioning
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 12d
The Trump administration is planning to close some U.S. Forest Service offices in Alaska under a national reorganization announced this summer by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

Public comment on the reorganization is open through Sept. 30.

www.juneauindependent.com/post/trump-a...
Trump administration plans to close unknown number of US Forest Service offices in Alaska
Status of Forest Service’s visitor centers in Portage, Juneau and Ketchikan also isn’t clear.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 12d
Update: The next few hours are expected to be a high point of concern for a hurricane-force storm moving through the central and southern portions of Southeast Alaska.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/hurrica...
It's not just another Friday in Southeast Alaska as a hurricane-force low develops
Wind is expected to increase throughout Friday, with the highest impacts still expected for Prince of Wales Island and Sitka.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 13d
Spice Juneau Indian Cuisine is already short-staffed due to foreign-born workers leaving over fears of being detained, but owner Nimmy Philips was forced to spend Monday night away from the restaurant to beg city leaders for a bit more time to pay off a tax debt so she can keep her alcohol license.
Juneau’s only Indian restaurant plans switch to ‘fusion’ menu as tariffs, ICE fears cause hardships, owner says
Three foreign employees in US legally have left; Trump’s 50% tariff on India makes authentic supplies unaffordable, according to Spice owner Nimmy Philips.
www.juneauindependent.com
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