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Residents Reject Ship-Free Saturdays in Juneau, Alaska

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Residents Reject Ship-Free Saturdays in Juneau, Alaska


Residents of Juneau, on the frontline of the cruise over-tourism issue in Alaska, recently voted to reject a proposal to ban cruise ship calls on Saturdays.

The results of the recent ballot found around 60% voted against the “ship-free Saturday proposal.”

Recent Ballot Vote has Divided Juneau

Juneau resident Karla Hart, an advocate and chief organizer of the ballot initiative to ban cruise ships on Saturdays, says the issue of ever-growing cruise tourism has divided the Juneau community. “The soul of Juneau is being sold off piece by piece,” Hart told The Guardian.

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At a recent meeting of activists and local people worried over the impact of cruise calls in Juneau, Indigenous community leader Stacy Eldemar said: “I don’t like the uncontrolled growth, the impact on the ecosystem that I’m seeing. It is so important that we have these places.”

“It’s ironic that the very thing these tourists are seeking is being destroyed by the industry that’s bringing them here.”

Read More: How to Spend 8 Hour in Juneau

Conversely, a significant proportion of the 30,000 Juneau residents see cruise tourism as the only way forward for prosperity.

The days of lumber and gold as the main economic drivers for the region are long gone. Business owner Holly Johnson of Wings Airways operates sightseeing floatplanes and employs 78 people. “Everybody is somehow touched by tourism because that’s the fabric of community.”

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Support for Cruise Tourism Remains Strong

The ‘vote no’ initiative by local business owners was backed by funding from cruise lines but had wide local support. The Protect Juneau’s Future campaign spearheaded the opposition to a Saturday ban for cruise ships. While supported by the cruise industry, there was a lot of grassroots support too.

Read More: Royal Caribbean’s New Juneau Cruise Terminal

Portland Sarantopoulos, the campaign manager for Protect Juneau’s Future, said before the vote: “This is a local organization led by residents from diverse backgrounds. In addition to monetary donations from cruise lines, we are proud of the many small dollar donations made by residents concerned about the negative impacts of ship-free Saturday.”

Industry group Cruise Lines International Association said: “We believe ongoing, direct dialogue with local communities is the best way to collaboratively self-regulate while providing a stable market for the many local businesses that depend on the cruise industry.”



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National Native helpline for domestic violence and sexual assault to open Alaska-specific service

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National Native helpline for domestic violence and sexual assault to open Alaska-specific service


A national support line for Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault has begun work to launch an Alaska-specific service. Strong Hearts Native Helpline is a Native-led nonprofit that offers 24-hour, seven-day-a-week support for anonymous and confidential calls from people who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. The line is staffed by Native […]



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Dozens of vehicle accidents reported, Anchorage after-school activities canceled, as snowfall buries Southcentral Alaska

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Dozens of vehicle accidents reported, Anchorage after-school activities canceled, as snowfall buries Southcentral Alaska


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Up to a foot of snow has fallen in areas across Southcentral as of Tuesday, with more expected into Wednesday morning.

All sports and after-school activities — except high school basketball and hockey activities — were canceled Tuesday for the Anchorage School District. The decision was made to allow crews to clear school parking lots and manage traffic for snow removal, district officials said.

“These efforts are critical to ensuring schools can safely remain open [Wednesday],” ASD said in a statement.

The Anchorage Police Department’s accident count for the past two days shows there have been 55 car accidents since Monday, as of 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. In addition, there have been 86 vehicles in distress reported by the department.

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Snow measuring up to 17 inches deep in Anchorage, Alaska, on Jan. 6, 2026.(Alaska’s News Source)

The snowfall — which has brought up to 13 inches along areas of Turnagain Arm and 12 inches in Wasilla — is expected to continue Tuesday, according to latest forecast models. Numerous winter weather alerts are in effect, and inland areas of Southcentral could see winds up to 25 mph, with coastal areas potentially seeing winds over 45 mph.

Up to a foot or more of snow has fallen across Southcentral Alaska, with more snow expected...
Up to a foot or more of snow has fallen across Southcentral Alaska, with more snow expected through the day.(Alaska’s News Source)

Some areas of Southcentral could see more than 20 inches of snowfall by Wednesday, with the Anchorage and Eagle River Hillsides, as well as the foothills of the Talkeetna Mountain, among the areas seeing the most snowfall.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com



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Yundt Served: Formal Charges Submitted to Alaska Republican Party, Asks for Party Sanction and Censure of Senator Rob Yundt

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Yundt Served: Formal Charges Submitted to Alaska Republican Party, Asks for Party Sanction and Censure of Senator Rob Yundt


Sen. Rob Yundt

On January 3, 2026, Districts 27 and 28 of the Alaska Republican Party received formal charges against Senator Rob Yundt pursuant to Article VII of the Alaska Republican Party Rules.

According to the Alaska Republican Party Rules: “Any candidate or elected official may be sanctioned or censured for any of the following
reasons:
(a) Failure to follow the Party Platform.
(b) Engagement in any activities prohibited by or contrary to these rules or RNC Rules.
(c) Failure to carry out or perform the duties of their office.
(d) Engaging in prohibited discrimination.
(e) Forming a majority caucus in which non-Republicans are at least 1/3 or more of the
coalition.
(f) Engaging in other activities that may be reasonably assessed as bringing dishonor to
the ARP, such as commission of a serious crime.”

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Party Rules require the signatures of at least 3 registered Republican constituents for official charges to be filed. The formal charges were signed by registered Republican voters and District N constitutions Jerad McClure, Thomas W. Oels, Janice M. Norman, and Manda Gershon.

Yundt is charged with “failure to adhere and uphold the Alaska Republican Party Platform” and “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles and priorities of the Alaska Republican Party Rules.” The constituents request: “Senator Rob Yundt be provided proper notice of the charges and a full and fair opportunity to respond; and that, upon a finding by the required two-thirds (2/3) vote of the District Committees that the charges are valid, the Committees impose the maximum sanctions authorized under Article VII.”

If the Party finds Yundt guilty of the charges, Yundt may be disciplined with formal censure by the Alaska Republican Party, declaration of ineligibility for Party endorsement, withdrawal of political support, prohibition from participating in certain Party activities, and official and public declaration that Yundt’s conduct and voting record contradict the Party’s values and priorities.

Reasons for the charges are based on Yundt’s active support of House Bill 57, Senate Bill 113, and Senate Bill 92. Constituents who filed the charges argue that HB 57 opposes the Alaska Republican Party Platform by “expanding government surveillance and dramatically increasing education spending;” that SB 113 opposes the Party’s Platform by “impos[ing] new tax burdens on Alaskan consumers and small businesses;” and that SB 92 opposes the Party by “proposing a targeted 9.2% tax on major private-sector energy producer supplying natural gas to Southcentral Alaska.” Although the filed charges state that SB 92 proposes a 9.2% tax, the bill actually proposes a 9.4% tax on income from oil and gas production and transportation.

Many Alaskan conservatives have expressed frustration with Senator Yundt’s legislative decisions. Some, like Marcy Sowers, consider Yundt more like “a tax-loving social justice warrior” than a conservative.

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