Alex McCarthy

Jeff Short

School board race begins with eye on economic impact

The Juneau Board of Education will have at least one new member this fall, as one sitting member and two challengers are running for two… Continue reading

Jeff Short
Eugene Graham, who calls himself the Traveler, talks about living in a homeless encampment on property belonging to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. The Trust Authority will give campers a two-week notice to vacate the area starting Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Homeless at Gold Creek being forced to vacate

A cold rain fell on the land at the mouth of Gold Creek, near the Coast Guard facility on Egan Drive, also known as the… Continue reading

Eugene Graham, who calls himself the Traveler, talks about living in a homeless encampment on property belonging to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. The Trust Authority will give campers a two-week notice to vacate the area starting Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Mark Lautman, author of “When the Boomers Bail: A Community Economic Survival Guide”, speaks to a full house at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Economist advises Juneau to prepare for artificial intelligence

Economist Mark Lautman is already thinking about 2050, and thinks experts in Juneau should be too. Lautman spoke to a packed house at Thursday’s Juneau… Continue reading

Mark Lautman, author of “When the Boomers Bail: A Community Economic Survival Guide”, speaks to a full house at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Magic show raises money for firefighters

Magic is coming to Juneau this weekend, for a good cause. At 6 p.m. Sunday at the Thunder Mountain High School auditorium, magician Robbie Cannon… Continue reading

Hailey Thornton receives a kiss from her father, Justin, after he dropped her off at her second grade class on the first day of the school at Riverbend Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017.

School year begins with excitement

With 10 minutes left before the official start of the school year, the lobby at Harborview Elementary School was a mass of humanity. Parents, students… Continue reading

Hailey Thornton receives a kiss from her father, Justin, after he dropped her off at her second grade class on the first day of the school at Riverbend Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017.
Carole Triem dropped out of the race for the Areawide Assembly seat Wednesday, two days after registering.

Challenger drops out of Assembly race

Not every seat will be contested in Juneau’s fall election after all. Carole Triem, who was registered as the sole challenger for Maria Gladziszewski’s seat… Continue reading

Carole Triem dropped out of the race for the Areawide Assembly seat Wednesday, two days after registering.

New JACC board requests that city not raise bed tax

At meeting Monday night, the members of the Partnership Board for the new Juneau Arts and Culture Center (JACC) agreed that they no longer want… Continue reading

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly candidate Chuck Collins turns in his paperwork to City Clerk Laurie Sica on Monday. Collins said the people of Juneau “need to take control of our town again.” (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Homelessness, crime inspire new challengers to run

Every seat is contested in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau regular election. Seven candidates will be competing for three Assembly seats, while three… Continue reading

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly candidate Chuck Collins turns in his paperwork to City Clerk Laurie Sica on Monday. Collins said the people of Juneau “need to take control of our town again.” (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly candidate Chuck Collins turns in his paperwork to City Clerk Laurie Sica on Monday. Collins said the people of Juneau “need to take control of our town again.” (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Registration closes for candidates to run in fall election

Monday afternoon at the City Clerk’s office in City Hall, it became clear that October’s election won’t be easy for any of the candidates. Ten… Continue reading

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly candidate Chuck Collins turns in his paperwork to City Clerk Laurie Sica on Monday. Collins said the people of Juneau “need to take control of our town again.” (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
In this July 13 photo, Norman Staton talks about how the Mendenhall River is eroding his Meander Way property. Stanton is trying convince the city and his neighbors to pay to fortify the embankment. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

City offers solutions to save money for homeowners facing erosion

For the first time, the City and Borough of Juneau offered to commit funds to battling erosion on the Mendenhall River — in a way.… Continue reading

In this July 13 photo, Norman Staton talks about how the Mendenhall River is eroding his Meander Way property. Stanton is trying convince the city and his neighbors to pay to fortify the embankment. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Weaver Kay Field Parker examines a Chilkat robe that was donated to Sealaska Heritage Institute this week. The robe is estimated to be from the late 1800s or late 1900s and is expected to be an important teaching tool for weavers. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Rare Chilkat robe returns to Juneau after donation

Haida weaver Delores Churchill’s hand hovered a few inches above the 100-year-old fabric, her finger outstretched. She was pointing at a small circle woven into… Continue reading

Weaver Kay Field Parker examines a Chilkat robe that was donated to Sealaska Heritage Institute this week. The robe is estimated to be from the late 1800s or late 1900s and is expected to be an important teaching tool for weavers. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Owner of Tracy’s Crab Shack registers to run for Assembly

One of Juneau’s most well known restaurateurs has filed paperwork with the state to run for a seat on the City and Borough Assembly in… Continue reading

PHOTOS BY ALEX McCARTHY | JUNEAU EMPIRE Justin Papenbrock, a sergeant-at-arms for the Southeast Alaska Panhandlers Motorcycle Club, places a stuffed animal on a pile of donated toys on Thursday. The club brought 10 large trash bags of stuffed animals, raised at the 23rd annual Toy Run, to Bartlett Regional Hospital.

Panhandlers make annual toy donation

Wearing two large, silver rings in the shape of skulls, Justin Papenbrock held a plush beaver and jokingly rocked it like a baby. Papenbrock, a… Continue reading

PHOTOS BY ALEX McCARTHY | JUNEAU EMPIRE Justin Papenbrock, a sergeant-at-arms for the Southeast Alaska Panhandlers Motorcycle Club, places a stuffed animal on a pile of donated toys on Thursday. The club brought 10 large trash bags of stuffed animals, raised at the 23rd annual Toy Run, to Bartlett Regional Hospital.
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Hotel tax increase would be temporary

If the hotel bed tax in Juneau ends up rising, it will only be temporary. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee voted… Continue reading

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Lands and Resources Manager Greg Chaney presents to the CBJ Assembly on on April 10, 2017 about moving forward with the Pederson Hill subdivision. The first stage of the project is set to go out to bid by the end of August. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

City changes approach toward Pederson Hill construction

Prospective home builders will have to wait just a bit longer for a chance to build in Juneau’s newest subdivision. Through working on the design… Continue reading

Lands and Resources Manager Greg Chaney presents to the CBJ Assembly on on April 10, 2017 about moving forward with the Pederson Hill subdivision. The first stage of the project is set to go out to bid by the end of August. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Niki Skeek-Wheeland shows off her Espionage Room at her new business, Escape Game Alaska, on Monday, August, 7, 2017. The business will be the first escape room in Southeast Alaska. Skeek-Wheeland is planning to open next month. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Escape room craze comes to capital city

While portraits of Josef Stalin, Edgar Allan Poe and Dr. Evil stare down at her, Niki Skeek-Wheeland handles Gold Rush-era tools. This is Escape Game… Continue reading

Niki Skeek-Wheeland shows off her Espionage Room at her new business, Escape Game Alaska, on Monday, August, 7, 2017. The business will be the first escape room in Southeast Alaska. Skeek-Wheeland is planning to open next month. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District Superintendent Mark Miller smiles at Student Representative Dessa Gerger, a junior at Juneau-Douglas High School, at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. Topics at Tuesday’s meeting included teacher shortages and a new policy manual for the district. ALEX McCARTHY |  JUNEAU EMPIRE

Teacher shortage looms as school year approaches

It’s not unusual to have teacher vacancies after a school year. What is unusual, Juneau School District Director of Student Services Bridget Weiss said, is… Continue reading

Juneau School District Superintendent Mark Miller smiles at Student Representative Dessa Gerger, a junior at Juneau-Douglas High School, at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. Topics at Tuesday’s meeting included teacher shortages and a new policy manual for the district. ALEX McCARTHY |  JUNEAU EMPIRE

Hotel owners wary of possible bed tax increase

One topic on the agenda at tonight’s City and Borough of Juneau Finance Committee meeting has some hotel owners nervous. The committee is examining a… Continue reading

Rainbow trout could be coming to Twin Lakes next year

An annual tradition at Twin Lakes might be changing next year. Every year, the Alaska Department of Fish &Game (ADF&G) stocks the lake with king… Continue reading

Craft cocktail scene booming downtown

Whether it’s for an Old Fashioned in the dark, tight quarters of The Narrows Bar or for a gin and tonic in the well-lit, bright-wallpapered… Continue reading