Alex McCarthy

Klukwan’s Stuart DeWitt, right, makes a no-look pass against Juneau’s James Gang in the C Bracket finals of the Lions Club’s 71st Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on March 25, 2017. Klukwan won in triple overtime 107-97. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Klukwan wins C Bracket in longest championship game in Gold Medal history

Klukwan’s Jessie McGraw stood at the free-throw line, preparing to shoot the second of two foul shots. He wasn’t sure when the last time he… Continue reading

Klukwan’s Stuart DeWitt, right, makes a no-look pass against Juneau’s James Gang in the C Bracket finals of the Lions Club’s 71st Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on March 25, 2017. Klukwan won in triple overtime 107-97. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Hoonah native continues streak of seeing every Gold Medal game

Early in the second half of Tuesday’s Angoon-Yakutat women’s game at the Gold Medal Tournament, two opposing players collided as Angoon sought to push the… Continue reading

Wrangell beats Angoon to stay alive in B Bracket play at Gold Medal

The deeper team stayed alive in the loser’s section of the B Bracket on Thursday. As Angoon’s bench has gotten shorter throughout the tournament due… Continue reading

The Alaskan Brewing Company is seen on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Brewery expansion could indirectly aid Juneau recycling efforts

For more than a decade, Alaskan Brewing Company has looked to expand westward. It’s inching closer to doing that, and that expansion could pay off… Continue reading

The Alaskan Brewing Company is seen on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Angoon’s Randy Gamble, left, and Hoonah’s Mike Miles compete for a rebound in their Masters Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Hoonah advances to M Bracket championship behind 3-point barrage

Ken Willard ended up being Hoonah’s fourth-leading scorer in Thursday’s M Bracket semifinal, but for a crucial span, he was the team’s catalyst. The quick,… Continue reading

Angoon’s Randy Gamble, left, and Hoonah’s Mike Miles compete for a rebound in their Masters Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Justin Sleppy, a senior at Thunder Mountain High School, reacts to receiving a National Student Council Leader Award during the final day of the Alaska Association of Student Governments Spring 2017 Conference at TMHS on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau welcomes student government organization for week of energetic learning

The noise in Thunder Mountain High School’s auditorium was deafening Tuesday night. Nearly 300 high school students from around the state were cheering, chanting, clapping… Continue reading

Justin Sleppy, a senior at Thunder Mountain High School, reacts to receiving a National Student Council Leader Award during the final day of the Alaska Association of Student Governments Spring 2017 Conference at TMHS on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Chuck Bill, Bartlett Regional Hospital Chief Executive Officer, speaks to the CBJ Assembly on Monday night. The Bartlett Board of Directors presented about the state of the hospital and an increased commitment to youth mental health. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Bartlett Hospital seeks ways to supply mental care for Juneau youth

Bartlett Regional Hospital has been looking at adding a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit (CAMHU) for quite some time, but might have to start… Continue reading

Chuck Bill, Bartlett Regional Hospital Chief Executive Officer, speaks to the CBJ Assembly on Monday night. The Bartlett Board of Directors presented about the state of the hospital and an increased commitment to youth mental health. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Yakutat’s Lorena Williams, right, wrestles with Angoon’s Roxann Braley, left, and Rosanna See for the ball during the Women’s Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Tuesday. Yakutat won 61-41. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Yakutat beats Angoon at Gold Medal behind Fraker sisters

The Fraker sisters from Yakutat have never suited up together for a Gold Medal tournament. They proved Tuesday what can happen when they’re all together.… Continue reading

Yakutat’s Lorena Williams, right, wrestles with Angoon’s Roxann Braley, left, and Rosanna See for the ball during the Women’s Bracket game in the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Tuesday. Yakutat won 61-41. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Kake’s Nick Davis, right, puts up a shot against Hoonah’s James Mercer, left, Albert Hinchman, center, and Ken Willard during their Masters Bracket game at the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Monday, March 20, 2017. Hoonah won 80-66. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Hoonah advances after M Bracket clash with Kake

At a second-half timeout in the debut game of the M Bracket, public address announcer Reneé Ramirez said what everybody else was thinking. “What a… Continue reading

Kake’s Nick Davis, right, puts up a shot against Hoonah’s James Mercer, left, Albert Hinchman, center, and Ken Willard during their Masters Bracket game at the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Monday, March 20, 2017. Hoonah won 80-66. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Klukwan fends off late Filcom comeback in C Bracket action at Gold Medal

Filcom was within breathing distance of completing an improbable comeback. After trailing Klukwan, the defending C Bracket champion, by upwards of 20 points in Monday’s… Continue reading

Criag’s Molly Sharp, left, drives to the basket against Haines’ Samantha Clay during their Womens bracket game in the 2016 Juneau Lions Club 70th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School. Craig won 59-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Here to stay: Resurgent women’s bracket proves its merit

After the revival of the women’s Gold Medal bracket in 2014, it didn’t take long for the women to prove they belonged. As longtime Yakutat… Continue reading

Criag’s Molly Sharp, left, drives to the basket against Haines’ Samantha Clay during their Womens bracket game in the 2016 Juneau Lions Club 70th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School. Craig won 59-45. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Filcom’s Franz Kugelmann passes after stealing the ball from AK Caches/James Gang’s Sean Smith during their C bracket game at the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Sunday, March 19, 2017. Filcom won 59-51. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Filcom, Klukwan advance on first day of C Bracket Gold Medal play

Competition in the Gold Medal Tournament’s C Bracket began with two games that stood in stark contrast to each other. While the first contest was… Continue reading

Filcom’s Franz Kugelmann passes after stealing the ball from AK Caches/James Gang’s Sean Smith during their C bracket game at the Lions Club’s Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at Juneau-Douglas High School on Sunday, March 19, 2017. Filcom won 59-51. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Fireweed Factory will open up their marijuana retail shop between the Imperial Billiards & Bar and Benjamin Franklin Store on Front Street. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s second pot shop close to opening

As he talks about losing dozens of marijuana plants to a malfunction, Paul Disdier laughs, his blue eyes brightening. It’s as if he enjoys the… Continue reading

The Fireweed Factory will open up their marijuana retail shop between the Imperial Billiards & Bar and Benjamin Franklin Store on Front Street. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Alaskan Brewing Company’s newest beer is a bourbon barrel-aged oatmeal stout. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Stout, stout and more stout: Alaskan Brewing releases 3 new brews for St. Patrick’s Day

This St. Patrick’s Day, people can drink Alaskan Brewing Company’s beers in 18 states, as far east as Ohio and as far south as Texas.… Continue reading

The Alaskan Brewing Company’s newest beer is a bourbon barrel-aged oatmeal stout. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau sees record “dump” of snow Tuesday

Tuesday’s heavy snowfall covered Juneau in a wet, heavy blanket, setting a Juneau record in the process. The National Weather Service measured snowfall in various… Continue reading

Rorie Watt, City Manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce at the Hangar Ballroom on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau developing strategy to face homelessness, addiction, crime

City Hall is striving to face the problems of homelessness, addiction, crime and housing head-on. This week officials unveiled a draft they’re calling a “Community… Continue reading

Rorie Watt, City Manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce at the Hangar Ballroom on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

NOAA to test tsunami warning system for Alaska this week

The annual test of the Tsunami Warning System is of great importance to Warning Coordination Meteorologist Joel Curtis at the National Weather Service. “Of all… Continue reading

Alaska Catholics get a break from fasting for St. Patrick’s Day

At the Diocese of Juneau on Friday afternoon, one deacon ate rice and beans for a late lunch while Business Manager and deacon Michael Monagle… Continue reading

David Balton, Ambassador and Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, holds a press conference at Centennial Hall on Friday after a week of State Department-level meetings in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Arctic Council continues to work on Alaska environmental issues, with or without Trump support

David Balton smirked as the Trump questions came. The Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials and U.S. Ambassador was fielding questions from media members Friday… Continue reading

David Balton, Ambassador and Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials, holds a press conference at Centennial Hall on Friday after a week of State Department-level meetings in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Assembly Finance Committee Chair Jesse Kiehl speaks at Monday’s Assembly meeting. Kiehl and the rest of the Assembly spoke Wednesday night about the future of the city’s budget. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Juneau faces $1.2M budget shortfall, thanks to state

Planning for the 2017 fiscal year budget went smoothly for City Finance Director Bob Bartholomew and his staff. Planning for the 2018 fiscal year, because… Continue reading

Assembly Finance Committee Chair Jesse Kiehl speaks at Monday’s Assembly meeting. Kiehl and the rest of the Assembly spoke Wednesday night about the future of the city’s budget. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)