Dana Zigmund

A bus full of students from Riverbend Elementary School arrives for the first day of classes at the school's temporary location at Chapel by the Lake in Auke Bay on Jan. 24. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

School continues at Riverbend-by-the Lake

Officials thank the community, offer an update

 

A city-owned grader moves snow before dawn on Feb. 4 on Tongass Boulevard in the Mendenhall Valley. City snow removal crews have been challenged by multiple winter storms and higher-than-average snowfall. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
A city-owned grader moves snow before dawn on Feb. 4 on Tongass Boulevard in the Mendenhall Valley. City snow removal crews have been challenged by multiple winter storms and higher-than-average snowfall. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
The City and Borough of Juneau took action to shore up the city’s general fund Wednesday night. (File photo/Juneau Empire)

CBJ makes money moves

Changes preserve general fund balance

The City and Borough of Juneau took action to shore up the city’s general fund Wednesday night. (File photo/Juneau Empire)
This picture shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall on Dec. 20, 2021. City officials are considering changes to CBJ’s real estate price disclosure rules. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

CBJ considers real estate disclosure rule changes

Officials hope for more compliance and greater transparency

This picture shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall on Dec. 20, 2021. City officials are considering changes to CBJ’s real estate price disclosure rules. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Brian Lauth, closing manager for Super Bear Supermarket IGA, bags groceries Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020. Next month, the Finance Committee for the City and Borough of Juneau will consider whether to exempt grocery purchases from the city’s sales tax. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire File)

CBJ to consider ending sales tax on food

Long-running debate set to resume.

Brian Lauth, closing manager for Super Bear Supermarket IGA, bags groceries Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020. Next month, the Finance Committee for the City and Borough of Juneau will consider whether to exempt grocery purchases from the city’s sales tax. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire File)
Courtesy photo / Kevin and Carlene Allred 
Greens grow in the Tenakee Springs greenhouse run by Kevin and Carlene Allred. The greenhouse produces fresh produce all year long using geothermal heat.

Nourishing a community

Tenakee couple uses geothermal heat to produce fresh veggies

Courtesy photo / Kevin and Carlene Allred 
Greens grow in the Tenakee Springs greenhouse run by Kevin and Carlene Allred. The greenhouse produces fresh produce all year long using geothermal heat.
This May 4, 2021 image shows teacher Graciela Olague-Barrios working with two infants at Cuidando Los Ninos in Albuquerque, N.M. According to a recent report by the U.S. Chamber Foundation, childcare is in short supply across the country. Local experts say Juneau lacks affordable, reliable child care. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

Child care challenges keep workers sidelined

Referral network leader says ‘it’s a broken business model.’

This May 4, 2021 image shows teacher Graciela Olague-Barrios working with two infants at Cuidando Los Ninos in Albuquerque, N.M. According to a recent report by the U.S. Chamber Foundation, childcare is in short supply across the country. Local experts say Juneau lacks affordable, reliable child care. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire
The sun shines on the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge on Monday. According to forecasters, Monday is likely the last sunny day Juneau will see for the rest of the week as a snow event that’s forecasted to start Tuesday will give way to rain and warming temperatures during the back half of the week.

Flakes forecasted for February

New storm follows a very wet January

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire
The sun shines on the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge on Monday. According to forecasters, Monday is likely the last sunny day Juneau will see for the rest of the week as a snow event that’s forecasted to start Tuesday will give way to rain and warming temperatures during the back half of the week.
Kayla Svinicki, director and owner of Little Moon Child Care on Jan. 28. Svinicki said that providing childcare is essential but that the economics of the situation make the work difficult. She said she hopes the country starts to treat childcare as part of the nation's infrastructure. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Kayla Svinicki, director and owner of Little Moon Child Care on Jan. 28. Svinicki said that providing childcare is essential but that the economics of the situation make the work difficult. She said she hopes the country starts to treat childcare as part of the nation's infrastructure. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This picture shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall on Dec. 20, 2021. City officials are eyeing options for a new or renovated city facility with four potential options currently in the running. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

City Hall discussion moves forward

Public and experts weigh in on options

This picture shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall on Dec. 20, 2021. City officials are eyeing options for a new or renovated city facility with four potential options currently in the running. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This picture shows Bartlett Regional Hospital on Sept. 16, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett Regional Hospital leadership shakeup continues

Officials announce new operating structure and staff changes

This picture shows Bartlett Regional Hospital on Sept. 16, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Vladimir Alexeev in Norway while teaching summer school in 2017. Alexeev is a climate scientist who recently worked with local composer Michael Bucy to create a song about climate change. (Courtesy photo/Vishnu Nandan)
Video

Sounding a warning

Local composer writes song about climate change

Vladimir Alexeev in Norway while teaching summer school in 2017. Alexeev is a climate scientist who recently worked with local composer Michael Bucy to create a song about climate change. (Courtesy photo/Vishnu Nandan)
Video
Juneau’s first electric bus, parked in the Capital Transit garage on April 8, 2021. The bus has experienced some mechanical and battery problems since entering service last spring. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

Plugging along: Electric bus faces mechanical issues

City remains committed to electrifying its fleet.

Juneau’s first electric bus, parked in the Capital Transit garage on April 8, 2021. The bus has experienced some mechanical and battery problems since entering service last spring. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
Students from Riverbend Elementary School arrive for their first day of classes at Chapel By the Lake on Jan. 24. The church offered its education wing to the Juneau School District after a burst pipe shuttered the Riverbend school building. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Amen! School is back in session for Riverbend students

Riverbend students start school at Chapel by the Lake

Students from Riverbend Elementary School arrive for their first day of classes at Chapel By the Lake on Jan. 24. The church offered its education wing to the Juneau School District after a burst pipe shuttered the Riverbend school building. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Peter Segall/Juneau Empire
One of the last cruise ships of the 2021 season docks in Juneau on Oct. 20, 2021. Local operators say it’s too early to know how the upcoming cruise season will unfold, but they’re cautiously optimistic.

Smooth sailing for the 2022 season?

Cautious optimism reigns, but operators say it’s too early to tell.

Peter Segall/Juneau Empire
One of the last cruise ships of the 2021 season docks in Juneau on Oct. 20, 2021. Local operators say it’s too early to know how the upcoming cruise season will unfold, but they’re cautiously optimistic.
Wayne Carnes prepares to begin his volunteer grooming run at Pioneer Road on Jan. 18. Carnes is a volunteer with the Juneau Nordic Ski Club. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Volunteers make winter cool for local skiers

Juneau Nordic Ski Club offers fun and learning

Wayne Carnes prepares to begin his volunteer grooming run at Pioneer Road on Jan. 18. Carnes is a volunteer with the Juneau Nordic Ski Club. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A United States government website is displayed on a computer, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Walpole, Mass., that features a page where people can order free, at-home COVID-19 tests. The website, COVIDTests.gov, allows people to order four at-home tests per residence and have them delivered by mail. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

City, state report rising COVID case numbers

Federal officials say despite the surge, country better off than last year

A United States government website is displayed on a computer, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Walpole, Mass., that features a page where people can order free, at-home COVID-19 tests. The website, COVIDTests.gov, allows people to order four at-home tests per residence and have them delivered by mail. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Mercedes Cordero, left, a junior at Thunder Mountain High School,and Gwen Lockwood, a senior at TMHS moved a chair at Chapel by the Lake on Jan. 17. The pair, along with about 20 other high school students, spent part of their Martin Luther King Jr. holiday chipping in with other volunteers readying the church to receive students from Riverbend School. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

When pipes burst, generosity flows

Church steps up to serve as school

Mercedes Cordero, left, a junior at Thunder Mountain High School,and Gwen Lockwood, a senior at TMHS moved a chair at Chapel by the Lake on Jan. 17. The pair, along with about 20 other high school students, spent part of their Martin Luther King Jr. holiday chipping in with other volunteers readying the church to receive students from Riverbend School. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)