Jasz Garrett

Andy Romanoff, the executive director of the nonprofit organization Alaska Heat Smart, speaks at an empty-chair town hall held for U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau shows up for democracy at empty-chair town hall

Constituents across Alaska feel unheard by congressional delegation, take the lead in community outreach.

 

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) walks through a hallway of protesters with his wife, Julie Fate Sullivan, before his annual address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Sullivan generates warmth and heat with energy filled speech to Alaska Legislature

Senator takes barrage of friendly and confrontational questions from lawmakers about Trump’s agenda.

 

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Alaska) chats with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) before her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on March 18, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski embraces many of Trump’s goals, but questions his methods

Senator addresses flood concerns, federal firings, Medicaid worries in annual speech to Legislature.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Alaska) chats with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) before her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on March 18, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Gabriel von Eisenstein (David Cangelosi) is pulled in two separate directions by his wife Rosalinda (Sara Radke Brown, right) and Rosalinda’s maid, Adele (Kayla Kohlhase, left) during a dress rehearsal of “Die Fledermaus” on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Lyric Opera celebrates a chorus of community for 50th anniversary

German operetta “Die Fledermaus” that launched JLO gets revival with old and new voices Friday night.

Gabriel von Eisenstein (David Cangelosi) is pulled in two separate directions by his wife Rosalinda (Sara Radke Brown, right) and Rosalinda’s maid, Adele (Kayla Kohlhase, left) during a dress rehearsal of “Die Fledermaus” on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Protesters gather for a protest against Medicaid cuts at the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Alaskans across the state rally to save Medicaid: their ‘lifeline’

Caregivers raise their voices to protect their jobs and the thousands of lives impacted if Medicaid is cut.

Protesters gather for a protest against Medicaid cuts at the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Jonathan Estes, a parent of three students attending the Dzantik’i Heeni campus, testifies for a safe playground at a special Juneau Board of Education meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau School District submits budget for next school year to Juneau Assembly

The plan assumes $400 BSA hike and no staff vacancies; board also advocates for DH playground.

Jonathan Estes, a parent of three students attending the Dzantik’i Heeni campus, testifies for a safe playground at a special Juneau Board of Education meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A mother and baby sperm whale swim together in a photo taken in 2013. (Photo by Gabriel Barathieu, under a Creative Commons license)
A mother and baby sperm whale swim together in a photo taken in 2013. (Photo by Gabriel Barathieu, under a Creative Commons license)
Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Fired and current federal employees find solidarity as community offers support

Trump administration seeks to make government more efficient; fired employees say opposite will happen.

Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A sign in Whitehorse shows Juneau as one of three sister cities on March 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Ensio Lera)

Juneau and Whitehorse seek to continue sibling ties amidst trade war

Mayor hopes to preserve decades of friendship with sister city during ‘time of political uncertainty.’

A sign in Whitehorse shows Juneau as one of three sister cities on March 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Ensio Lera)
Water spills into homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley following record flooding from the Mendenhall River on the morning of Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)

Site assessments begin in neighborhoods where flood barriers will be installed

HESCO barriers are on their way to Juneau. Funding to study a long-term solution is not guaranteed.

Water spills into homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley following record flooding from the Mendenhall River on the morning of Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)
A sign that gives a land acknowledgment greets visitors of the Egan Library on the University of Alaska Southeast Juneau campus. It’s also found in other buildings around UAS. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A sign that gives a land acknowledgment greets visitors of the Egan Library on the University of Alaska Southeast Juneau campus. It’s also found in other buildings around UAS. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is surrounded by reporters as she arrives on the Senate Subway to vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

Murkowski co-sponsors bill to help Ukrainians stay in the US

Alaska senator is first Republican to join Democrat-led effort to grant guest status to refugees.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is surrounded by reporters as she arrives on the Senate Subway to vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
The Planned Parenthood location in Juneau, seen here in June of 2023, is now closed permanently. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Planned Parenthood opens virtual health center for Alaska following Juneau closure

Online access to birth control, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing and other services offered.

The Planned Parenthood location in Juneau, seen here in June of 2023, is now closed permanently. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Huna Totem Corp. team members meet with the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly in a work session on the company’s proposed Aak’w Landing project on Feb. 24, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Huna Totem Corp. team members meet with the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly in a work session on the company’s proposed Aak’w Landing project on Feb. 24, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Tetyana Robbins, executive director of Project Alaska, embraces Deepika Ramesh Perumal, executive director of the Alaska Literacy Project, after a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Alaska State Capitol Building on Feb. 19, 2025. The presentation to the Alaska Legislature was one of many in Juneau this week by immigration leaders in the state. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Immigrants and refugees in Alaska feel uncertainty under Trump administration

Policy changes spur preparation outreach from immigration advocates.

Tetyana Robbins, executive director of Project Alaska, embraces Deepika Ramesh Perumal, executive director of the Alaska Literacy Project, after a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Alaska State Capitol Building on Feb. 19, 2025. The presentation to the Alaska Legislature was one of many in Juneau this week by immigration leaders in the state. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, talks with supporters during a campaign meet-and-greet Oct. 12, 2024, at the Southeast Alaska Real Estate office near the Nugget Mall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

‘This is no town hall. This is propaganda’; Begich takes heat at first virtual constituent forum

Congressman set to deliver his first joint address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, talks with supporters during a campaign meet-and-greet Oct. 12, 2024, at the Southeast Alaska Real Estate office near the Nugget Mall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A shelter staff member takes a dog who is currently boarding at Juneau Animal Rescue outside on Feb. 13, 2025. The animal shelter needs more space both outside and in, according to the executive director. It could also use a guillotine door to allow dogs easier access to the outdoors. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Animal Rescue hopes to be ‘feline’ the love at annual fundraiser

The shelter is still in need of a new building and hopes to continue educating the community.

A shelter staff member takes a dog who is currently boarding at Juneau Animal Rescue outside on Feb. 13, 2025. The animal shelter needs more space both outside and in, according to the executive director. It could also use a guillotine door to allow dogs easier access to the outdoors. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A skier crosses Mendenhall Lake in front of a large section of recently exposed ice on Mendenhall Glacier on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Update: Large calving of ice from Mendenhall Glacier prompts further safety warning

U.S. Forest Service on Thursday says more calving possible, people should stay far away from glacier.

A skier crosses Mendenhall Lake in front of a large section of recently exposed ice on Mendenhall Glacier on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Joann, the arts and crafts chain, announced it will close its Juneau location. An employee is seen working at the store on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s Joann craft store is one of 500 closing across the US

Company filing for bankruptcy; property manager at mall said it’s unknown when local store will close.

Joann, the arts and crafts chain, announced it will close its Juneau location. An employee is seen working at the store on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)