Dana Zigmund

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Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé senior Jenae Pusich dribbles down the court at Friday night's game against Thunder Mountain High School. On Friday, THMS carried the night with a score of 52-45. However, on Saturday, Pusich scored 19 points in a game JDHS won 54 to 35. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Crosstown matchups put teams on road to post-season

JDHS win clinches team No. 1 seed in the Region V tournament.

Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé senior Jenae Pusich dribbles down the court at Friday night's game against Thunder Mountain High School. On Friday, THMS carried the night with a score of 52-45. However, on Saturday, Pusich scored 19 points in a game JDHS won 54 to 35. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown here on Nov. 30, 2020, is hiring a new CEO. Three finalists have been selected and will visit the hospital later this month. Members of the public who wish to meet the finalists will have an opportunity to do so and provide feedback to the hiring committee on March 19. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

The search for a new Bartlett CEO enters the final phase

Meet the candidates.

Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown here on Nov. 30, 2020, is hiring a new CEO. Three finalists have been selected and will visit the hospital later this month. Members of the public who wish to meet the finalists will have an opportunity to do so and provide feedback to the hiring committee on March 19. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Sound icons on Juneau’s recently installed wayfinding signs indicate a stop on the new Juneau Voice Audio Walk. Designed as a mobile-phone-based audio walking tour through the downtown area, listeners can hear a diverse collection of stories ranging from experiences growing up in the Juneau Indian Village to learning about the experiences of Stuart Sliter, née Johnson, who served as the very first Miss Alaska at the dawn of Alaskan statehood via their mobile phones. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Juneau Voices Audio Walk debuts downtown

Audio installations share Juneau’s forgotten history.

Sound icons on Juneau’s recently installed wayfinding signs indicate a stop on the new Juneau Voice Audio Walk. Designed as a mobile-phone-based audio walking tour through the downtown area, listeners can hear a diverse collection of stories ranging from experiences growing up in the Juneau Indian Village to learning about the experiences of Stuart Sliter, née Johnson, who served as the very first Miss Alaska at the dawn of Alaskan statehood via their mobile phones. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss, center-right, talks to students as they re-enter Floyd Dryden Middle School on Jan. 11, 2021, the first day of hybrid learning after nine months of distance learning due to COVID-19. The extended break from full-time, in-person learning has meant enrollment changes for the district, which has resulted in reduced grant money. On Wednesday night, the city Finance Committee unanimously agreed to transfer $56,646 to the Juneau School District to help shore up fiscal year 2021 coffers.

Juneau Finance Committee agrees to transfer money to Juneau School District

The money will offset reduced grant money.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss, center-right, talks to students as they re-enter Floyd Dryden Middle School on Jan. 11, 2021, the first day of hybrid learning after nine months of distance learning due to COVID-19. The extended break from full-time, in-person learning has meant enrollment changes for the district, which has resulted in reduced grant money. On Wednesday night, the city Finance Committee unanimously agreed to transfer $56,646 to the Juneau School District to help shore up fiscal year 2021 coffers.
Auditors reported that Juneau's municipal books are clean that their accounting methods follow generally accepted accounting principles. The audits included a look at the City and Borough of Juneau, Juneau Public Schools and Bartlett Hospital. This photo shows Juneau City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 24. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Audit shows CARES Act spending within guidelines

Juneau’s municipal books look good.

Auditors reported that Juneau's municipal books are clean that their accounting methods follow generally accepted accounting principles. The audits included a look at the City and Borough of Juneau, Juneau Public Schools and Bartlett Hospital. This photo shows Juneau City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 24. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Petersburg resident Sara Hadad-Dembs recently found her biological brother through a DNA testing kit. The pair recently met for the first time when she traveled to Chicago. "This is what it looks like when genetics kick in and a total stranger just gets you," she said in a recent interview. (Courtesy Photo/Sara Hadad-Dembs
Capital City Weekly

Petersburg woman finds long-lost brother after DNA test

Multi-year search ends with additional family members.

Petersburg resident Sara Hadad-Dembs recently found her biological brother through a DNA testing kit. The pair recently met for the first time when she traveled to Chicago. "This is what it looks like when genetics kick in and a total stranger just gets you," she said in a recent interview. (Courtesy Photo/Sara Hadad-Dembs
The Holland America Line cruise ships Eurodam, left, and Nieuw Amsterdam pull into Juneau’s downtown harbor on May 1, 2017. Large cruise ships are unlikely to visit Alaska this summer due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, restrictions at the Canadian border, and a lack of sailing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. However, in a close 5-4 vote Monday evening, the City Assembly decided to relax COVID-19-related travel mandates sooner rather than later and made other changes to make travel easier for the upcoming tourist season. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

Officials say end is in sight, but caution remains necessary

Assembly votes to relax travel restrictions earlier in May.

The Holland America Line cruise ships Eurodam, left, and Nieuw Amsterdam pull into Juneau’s downtown harbor on May 1, 2017. Large cruise ships are unlikely to visit Alaska this summer due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, restrictions at the Canadian border, and a lack of sailing guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. However, in a close 5-4 vote Monday evening, the City Assembly decided to relax COVID-19-related travel mandates sooner rather than later and made other changes to make travel easier for the upcoming tourist season. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
The City and Borough of Juneau’s City Assembly approved a tax-break Monday evening that allows people with eligible, new housing developments that include four or more units inside the downtown abatement zone to pay a reduced tax rate for 12 years. This photo shows Juneau City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau Assembly approves tax break for downtown residential development

The change supports a long-standing goal to increase housing.

The City and Borough of Juneau’s City Assembly approved a tax-break Monday evening that allows people with eligible, new housing developments that include four or more units inside the downtown abatement zone to pay a reduced tax rate for 12 years. This photo shows Juneau City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
City and Borough of Juneau emergency program manager Tom Mattice stands outside Centennial Hall, appropriated as an evacuation shelter for those in the path of possible avalanches on Feb. 27, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Update: Avalanche danger remains high

Natural avalanches likely, and human triggered avalanches are very likely

City and Borough of Juneau emergency program manager Tom Mattice stands outside Centennial Hall, appropriated as an evacuation shelter for those in the path of possible avalanches on Feb. 27, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Like many municipal bodies, the City and Borough of Juneau has been conducting business via public meetings hosted on Zoom. While this has helped to keep the wheels of government turning, it's also opened the door to Zoom bombing. Zoom bombing happens when an anonymous party joins the meeting and shares graphic or lewd content. City officials are considering an ordinance that makes it illegal to Zoom bomb a meeting hosted from Juneau. This screen grab from CBJ's website shows the city assembly meeting via Zoom. (Screenshot)

Potential ordinance seeks to curb lewd, obscene and threatening language in virtual meetings

There’s no three-second delay in Zoom

Like many municipal bodies, the City and Borough of Juneau has been conducting business via public meetings hosted on Zoom. While this has helped to keep the wheels of government turning, it's also opened the door to Zoom bombing. Zoom bombing happens when an anonymous party joins the meeting and shares graphic or lewd content. City officials are considering an ordinance that makes it illegal to Zoom bomb a meeting hosted from Juneau. This screen grab from CBJ's website shows the city assembly meeting via Zoom. (Screenshot)
In this Feb. 2019 photo, students wait for rides outside Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale. Classes will be in session this summer with programs focused on credit recovery for high school students. Children in lower grades will focus on overall learning recovery after COVID-19 upended the traditional school year and process by forcing a suspension in in-person learning. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)

Summer break to include school for some Juneau students

School’s in for summer.

In this Feb. 2019 photo, students wait for rides outside Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale. Classes will be in session this summer with programs focused on credit recovery for high school students. Children in lower grades will focus on overall learning recovery after COVID-19 upended the traditional school year and process by forcing a suspension in in-person learning. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)
The City and Borough of Juneau’s Augustus G. Brown Swimming Pool, pictured here last spring, and the Dimond Park Aquatic Center will both expand their capacity and offer additional flexibility for lap swims beginning March 1. They are among the CBJ facilities that will expand offerings now that the city’s COVID risk level has been reduced to Level 1, or minimal risk. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

City officials optimistic about local COVID-19 situation

The numbers look good, but city leaders call for continued vigilance

The City and Borough of Juneau’s Augustus G. Brown Swimming Pool, pictured here last spring, and the Dimond Park Aquatic Center will both expand their capacity and offer additional flexibility for lap swims beginning March 1. They are among the CBJ facilities that will expand offerings now that the city’s COVID risk level has been reduced to Level 1, or minimal risk. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Singer Taylor Vidic, a local Juneau resident, shown here, will perform the opening act at Perseverance Theatre's Friday evening concert. The event will be broadcast live via Zoom. Tickets are available until the 7:30 showtime. But, buying a ticket before 7:15 reduces the chance of technical hiccups. (Courtesy Photo/Sydney Akagi)
Capital City Weekly

Missing live music? Perseverance Theatre to offer Zoom-based concert

The concert will feature Alaksa-based musicians.

Singer Taylor Vidic, a local Juneau resident, shown here, will perform the opening act at Perseverance Theatre's Friday evening concert. The event will be broadcast live via Zoom. Tickets are available until the 7:30 showtime. But, buying a ticket before 7:15 reduces the chance of technical hiccups. (Courtesy Photo/Sydney Akagi)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Aviation traffic at the Juneau International Airport was down 62% in 2020. Here, travelers arrive at the Juneau International Airport on Nov. 25, one of many days when air travel was much lower than historical norms.

Airport traffic down 62% in 2020

Pandemic-related air travel losses could lead to higher fees, fewer services in future.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Aviation traffic at the Juneau International Airport was down 62% in 2020. Here, travelers arrive at the Juneau International Airport on Nov. 25, one of many days when air travel was much lower than historical norms.
Juneau's Capitol Disposal Landfill, seen in this June 2013 photo, sits in the middle of the industrial Lemon Creek district. Recent complaints about odors coming from the location prompted the city to discuss this issue at their Monday night Committee of the Whole meeting. Private ownership of trash collection and the landfill mean the city has limited options for action. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

City officials discuss odor at Lemon Creek-area dump

That stinks.

Juneau's Capitol Disposal Landfill, seen in this June 2013 photo, sits in the middle of the industrial Lemon Creek district. Recent complaints about odors coming from the location prompted the city to discuss this issue at their Monday night Committee of the Whole meeting. Private ownership of trash collection and the landfill mean the city has limited options for action. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Juneau School District building and Harborview Elementary School, seen here on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, will begin to offer expanded in-person instruction over the next few weeks. School officials cite the community’s stable infection rate and new science-based guidance for opening schools are driving factors behind the expanded offerings. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lower COVID numbers mean more school options for Juneau students

District looks to add more in-person learning.

The Juneau School District building and Harborview Elementary School, seen here on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, will begin to offer expanded in-person instruction over the next few weeks. School officials cite the community’s stable infection rate and new science-based guidance for opening schools are driving factors behind the expanded offerings. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A conceptual drawing shows a possible use for Norwegian Cruise Line’s property on Egan Drive. This drawing shows the property with NCL’s largest ship, the Bliss, shown for scale. (Courtesy Image / MRV Architects)

New cruise ship dock project moves ahead

Memorandum of understanding signed with proposed Alaska Ocean Center.

A conceptual drawing shows a possible use for Norwegian Cruise Line’s property on Egan Drive. This drawing shows the property with NCL’s largest ship, the Bliss, shown for scale. (Courtesy Image / MRV Architects)
Youths play sandlot baseball at Miller Field in the summer of 2020. After COVID-19 sidelined a competitive season last summer, local players gathered to play sandlot ball. Thanks to a city-approved COVID-19 mitigation plan, the Gastineau Channel Baseball and Softball Leagues are planning a full, competitive season this summer. Registration is now open for players between the ages of 5 and 16. (Courtesy Photo / Geoff Kirsch)

Take me out to the ball game

The Gastineau Channel Baseball and Softball Leagues expect a full, competitive season.

Youths play sandlot baseball at Miller Field in the summer of 2020. After COVID-19 sidelined a competitive season last summer, local players gathered to play sandlot ball. Thanks to a city-approved COVID-19 mitigation plan, the Gastineau Channel Baseball and Softball Leagues are planning a full, competitive season this summer. Registration is now open for players between the ages of 5 and 16. (Courtesy Photo / Geoff Kirsch)
Sebastian Taylor-Manning pauses to sketch at a replica of an Alaskan illustrator’s desk. His brother McClain Taylor-Manning and his father, Chris Taylor, look on during a recent visit to the State Museum to see the new exhibit, "Illustrating Alaska: Artists Making Children’s Books", on display through April 3. (Courtesy Photo/Jackie Manning)
Capital City Weekly

Drawing inspiration: State museum debuts new exhibit featuring the work of local illustrators

State museum debuts exhibit featuring the work of local illustrators.

Sebastian Taylor-Manning pauses to sketch at a replica of an Alaskan illustrator’s desk. His brother McClain Taylor-Manning and his father, Chris Taylor, look on during a recent visit to the State Museum to see the new exhibit, "Illustrating Alaska: Artists Making Children’s Books", on display through April 3. (Courtesy Photo/Jackie Manning)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File Despite the expiration of a statewide emergency declaration, COVID-19 testing remains available at the Juneau airport. Travelers into the capital city must show proof of a negative test or test at the airport after travel, based on local ordinance. Also, travelers must practice strict social distancing for five days after arriving in town.

CBJ mitigation measures continue

Despite state’s expired emergency declaration, city rules still in effect

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File Despite the expiration of a statewide emergency declaration, COVID-19 testing remains available at the Juneau airport. Travelers into the capital city must show proof of a negative test or test at the airport after travel, based on local ordinance. Also, travelers must practice strict social distancing for five days after arriving in town.