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juneauindependent.bsky.social
@juneauindependent.bsky.social
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 6h
An audio interview with JDHS senior Elliot Welch, who became the school’s first-ever boys’ singles state tennis champion, and a look at notable other Crimson Bears achievements since the tennis program launched in 2003.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/jdhs-se...
JDHS senior Elliot Welch joins Crimson Bears tennis history
First-ever boys’ single state title adds to seven mixed and girls’ championships Juneau athletes have won since program’s start in 2003.
www.juneauindependent.com
juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 8h
Elliot Welch won the first-ever boys singles state tennis title for JDHS during the ASAA State Championships in Anchorage. Written by Aurora Madsen, a member of the JDHS tennis team, as part of a student feature documenting her experience at the event.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/welch-t...
Welch takes home first boys’ singles state title in JDHS history
Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears place fifth overall in the championship.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 10h
Brandon LeBlanc says his actions in a controversial July 30 arrest were proper, and he opted to resign rather than be fired from JPD to make searching for a new job easier and it allowed him to keep his $30,000 signing bonus.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/former-...
Former JPD officer Brandon LeBlanc says his actions were justified as state opts not to file criminal charges
LeBlanc, seen on video making a violent arrest, says he resigned under duress to retain his $30,000 signing bonus and make seeking a new job easier.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 12h
An updated count as of Tuesday of 10,152 ballots — 36.24% of the 28,017 sent to eligible residents — shows no significant changes from the last update on Friday of 9,896 ballots.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/electio...
Election leaders unchanged in updated count a week before certification
Brooks set to replace Bryson on Assembly; property and sales tax cuts pass, seasonal sales tax fails; Whitney, Cullum and Thomas set for school board.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 1d
A new totem pole joining a trail of others along Juneau’s waterfront, plus the opening of a science building fusing traditional and modern Alaska Native programs, made for a celebration spanning generations on Indigenous Peoples' Day.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/new-tot...
New totem for downtown waterfront, Sealaska science building mark Indigenous Peoples' Day
Ceremony honors carvers, ancestors of Sukteeneidí clan totem pole; new science center highlights traditional and high-tech learning programs for students.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 1d
Port Director Carl Uchytil was honored by Mayor Beth Weldon on Saturday night as the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year on Saturday night.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/cbj-por...
CBJ Port Director Carl Uchytil wins Citizen of the Year award from Juneau Chamber of Commerce
Craig Dahl gets Lifetime Achievement Award; Alaska Seaplanes named Business of Distinction at annual gala.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 2d
University of Alaska Southeast professors have been studying Suicide Basin since 2012. They say they should have known the outburst floods would reach the extreme levels they have in the past few years, but now others can learn from them.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/looking...
Looking beyond this year's glacial lake outburst flood
Despite this year’s success, scientists continually refine field and modeling approaches and learn new things each flood.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 3d
They began with an exchange of touchdowns that saw JDHS win the battle by taking an 8-7 lead. But the Crimson Bears lost the war as they couldn’t keep up with South Anchorage High School's relentless offense in a 38-17 opening-round road playoff loss.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/crimson...
Crimson Bears season ends with 38-17 opening playoff loss at South Anchorage
Juneau takes early 8-7 lead, then falls behind due to lost fumbles, inability to stop Wolverines’ attack.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 4d
Nathaniel "Nano" Brooks has a 52.3%-47.7% lead over incumbent Wade Bryson in the Juneau Assembly District 2 race, according to updated results released Friday evening
www.juneauindependent.com/post/brooks-...
Brooks takes solid lead over Bryson; lower property tax cap ahead 51%-49% in updated election results
Whitney, Cullum, Thomas lead school board race; sales tax exemption has big lead, seasonal sales tax headed for defeat.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 4d
Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser announced Friday he will resign on June 30, 2026, a decision that occurred shortly after the school board extended his contract until 2028.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/frank-h...
Frank Hauser announces resignation as Juneau School District superintendent, effective June 30, 2026
Decision came after school board extended his contract until 2028.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 5d
This week’s Alaska Science Forum looks at the future of the Mendenhall Glacier, which may not be touching its namesake lake within a few years.

www.juneauindependent.com/post/alaska-...
Alaska Science Forum: Mendenhall Glacier to pull toe from lake
In the near future, Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier will withdraw its icy toe from the lake of its making, scientists say.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 5d
The Douglas Breeze In closed permanently on Wednesday and its retail license is being transferred to the space next to Foodland IGA occupied by Kenny's Liquor Market, which is set to close on Oct. 31 after 30 years of operation.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/douglas...
Douglas Breeze In closes; liquor license transferred by Foodland owner to adjacent space occupied by Kenny's Liquor Market
30-year-old liquor store set to close Oct. 31, then reopen Nov. 1 as part of expanded supermarket operated by The Myers Group LLC.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 5d
October is typically a time of transition for Panhandle residents, and a peak period when the Alaska Marine Highway lives up to its name as people drive their vehicles onto and off car decks of ferries docking at ports throughout Southeast Alaska.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/it-s-fa...
It’s fall road trip season for motorists driving the ocean via ferries around Southeast Alaska
Autumn transitions include tourism businesses packing in operations, parents moving to where kids attend schools, and people stocking up for winter.
www.juneauindependent.com
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juneauindependent.bsky.social
juneauindependent.bsky.social @juneauindependent.bsky.social · 6d
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 · 7d
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 · 7d
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 · 7d
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 · 7d
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 · 10d
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 · 11d
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 · 11d
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 · 11d
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 · 12d
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 · 13d
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 · 13d
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