Kevin Gullufsen

In this undated photo, a bald eagle feeds on a salmon carcass in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve outside Haines. (Cheryl McRoberts | American Bald Eagle Foundation via AP)

Native village, conservation groups sue BLM over mine on Chilkat River

The tribal government of Klukwan filed a lawsuit Monday against the Bureau of Land Management, accusing it of failing to protect culturally-important salmon habitat and… Continue reading

In this undated photo, a bald eagle feeds on a salmon carcass in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve outside Haines. (Cheryl McRoberts | American Bald Eagle Foundation via AP)
Chris King, 26, and his girlfriend, Chellsy Melton, 32, set up their cots at a new warming shelter in the old Public Safety Building on Whittier Street on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Homeless come in from the cold

With the exception of a yellow handbag, Chellsy Milton brought just the clothes on her back. The outfit included three jackets, on top of which… Continue reading

Chris King, 26, and his girlfriend, Chellsy Melton, 32, set up their cots at a new warming shelter in the old Public Safety Building on Whittier Street on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Matt Roda and his wife, Emily Smith, haulout their freshly cut spruce tree for Christmas from under the powerlines on Fish Creek Road on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Cutting your own Christmas tree? Know the rules

If you hear a hearty “timber!” when walking through the woods this December, it’s a good idea to look up: you may be hiking in… Continue reading

Matt Roda and his wife, Emily Smith, haulout their freshly cut spruce tree for Christmas from under the powerlines on Fish Creek Road on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Wolf sightings have increased this year

Wolf sightings in the wetlands area have hikers worried for their safety. At least two people posted to social media about wolf encounters on the… Continue reading

Mark Kiessling, Assistant General Manager for the Kensington Mine, speaks to members of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017.

Seven years in, Kensington hits production high

Kensington gold mine General Manager Mark Kiessling has a few statistics he’s optimistic about. The underground mine has milled three times more ore in 2016… Continue reading

Mark Kiessling, Assistant General Manager for the Kensington Mine, speaks to members of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017.

Declining Taku River chinook subject of Fish Board proposals

Taku River chinook salmon are returning in alarmingly low numbers. Three Board of Fisheries proposals, each up for public comment, could affect who gets to… Continue reading

Dave Scanlan is the new General Manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Dave Scanlan takes over as the new head honcho at Eaglecrest ski area

Dave Scanlan is new to Eaglcrest Ski Area, but he’s no stranger to small community ski areas. At 40, he’s spent his professional life working… Continue reading

Dave Scanlan is the new General Manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Maj. Gen. Laurel Hummel speaks during a town hall meeting at the National Guard Armory at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Thursday. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Guard brass talk Southeast challenges

Retaining Alaska National Guardsmen in Southeast Alaska isn’t as easy as it used to be. Cultural and institutional shifts have made it harder, Guard personnel… Continue reading

Maj. Gen. Laurel Hummel speaks during a town hall meeting at the National Guard Armory at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Thursday. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Oke and Robert Rodman talk about their experiences of owning and operating Percy’s Liquor on Front Street on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. They are closing the business after 30 years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mom and pop close bottle shop

After 29 years running their downtown bottle shop together, Oke and Robert Rodman have decided to stop and smell the roses. Percy’s Liquor, a stalwart… Continue reading

Oke and Robert Rodman talk about their experiences of owning and operating Percy’s Liquor on Front Street on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. They are closing the business after 30 years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Father Gordon Blue, left, and Mary Alice McKeen, middle, prepare pie filling at a the Holy Trinity Church on Saturday. Blue and McKeen helped with the church’s “pie-a-thon” charity event, where they made 300 pies for sale and for donation in preparation for Thanksgiving Day. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Pie prep pandemonium

What does it take to create 300 apple pies in a day? About 45 volunteers, 600 pounds of apples, hot coffee and careful planning. A… Continue reading

Father Gordon Blue, left, and Mary Alice McKeen, middle, prepare pie filling at a the Holy Trinity Church on Saturday. Blue and McKeen helped with the church’s “pie-a-thon” charity event, where they made 300 pies for sale and for donation in preparation for Thanksgiving Day. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Erik Scholl with his partner, Tianna Banua, and their children Ezra and Ezlyn Vidal, stand in front of one of their two food businesses in the State Office Building on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. They operate SOB Grinds and Shaka Shack, both located on either end of the eighth floor atrium. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Say aloha to the SOB’s newest eateries

Erik Scholl’s coffee comes from the side of a volcano in Hawaii. His salt, straight from the island’s famed beaches. Everything at his two new… Continue reading

Erik Scholl with his partner, Tianna Banua, and their children Ezra and Ezlyn Vidal, stand in front of one of their two food businesses in the State Office Building on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. They operate SOB Grinds and Shaka Shack, both located on either end of the eighth floor atrium. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
John Cloud, an independent historian of geography and cartography, gives a lecture titled “The Treaty of Cession, as Seen through the Lenses of Art, Cartography, and Photography,” at the Walter Soboleff Center on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Sleuthing historian connects the dots on uncredited Alaska Native cartographers

In 1869, two years after the United States purchased Alaska from Russia, the U.S. Coast Survey’s George Davidson departed Sitka with a small party of… Continue reading

John Cloud, an independent historian of geography and cartography, gives a lecture titled “The Treaty of Cession, as Seen through the Lenses of Art, Cartography, and Photography,” at the Walter Soboleff Center on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Greg Gallant and his fishing partner, Kodi, show off their king crab catch in August 2009. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Look out, king crab: Juneau area fishery opens for first time in six years

Starting today, Juneauites will have the chance to catch king crab in the waters surrounding their backyards. It’s the first time in six years a… Continue reading

Greg Gallant and his fishing partner, Kodi, show off their king crab catch in August 2009. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
In this April 2011 photo, Private Gabriel Jones of Wasilla, right, and Private Joshua Bollick of Anchorage, stand guard next to three armoured personel carriers belonging to the Alaska Army National Guard 297th Military Police Company as they practice in downtown Juneau. (Juneau Empire File)

Public input needed on increasing National Guard in Juneau

Correction: An earlier version of this article provided the incorrect location of the upcoming town hall meeting, due to incorrect information provided by the organizers. The… Continue reading

In this April 2011 photo, Private Gabriel Jones of Wasilla, right, and Private Joshua Bollick of Anchorage, stand guard next to three armoured personel carriers belonging to the Alaska Army National Guard 297th Military Police Company as they practice in downtown Juneau. (Juneau Empire File)
A volunteer handles ski boots to be sold at the Juneau Ski Sale on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Saturday Ski Sale kicks off winter season

It’s anticipated like Black Friday, only the lineup is for used skis, not the new iPhone. Recreationalists will mark the unofficial beginning of winter with… Continue reading

A volunteer handles ski boots to be sold at the Juneau Ski Sale on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Mendenhall Glacier on Nov. 7, 2017. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire)

Tourism businesses to Congress: Step up for recreation

Southeast tourism leaders are asking Congress to increase U.S. Forest Service recreation funding, they wrote in an open letter this week. USFS’ recreation budget has… Continue reading

The Mendenhall Glacier on Nov. 7, 2017. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire)
Water remains open in front of Nugget Falls on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau man found dead at Mendenhall Glacier

A man has been found dead in the water at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, according to Alaska State Troopers. Ryan Johanson, age 25 of… Continue reading

Water remains open in front of Nugget Falls on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
(Courtesy Photo | Janae Kesey)

Why did this pond turn pink near Herbert Glacier Trail?

University of Alaska Southeast student Jenae Kesey was on a bike ride with her mom and dad last Saturday on Herbert Glacier Trail when she… Continue reading

(Courtesy Photo | Janae Kesey)
Kyle Worl talks at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Worl, a veteran of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics, will be coaching teams at both Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain High Schools and hopes to organize a team representing Juneau at next spring’s Native Youth Olympics in Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

For the first time since the 1980s, Juneau will compete at the Native Youth Olympics

His body curled like a pretzel, Kyle Worl focused his eyes on a ball dangling from a string more than 6 feet in the air.… Continue reading

Kyle Worl talks at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. Worl, a veteran of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics, will be coaching teams at both Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain High Schools and hopes to organize a team representing Juneau at next spring’s Native Youth Olympics in Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
State wildlife biologist Kris Larson photographed this wolf on Prince of Wales Island in November 2016. (Courtesy Photo | Kris Larson ADF&G)

A predator and a pedestal

Judy and Herb Wright operate the Point Baker Trading Post from May to September, selling milk and eggs to passing fishing boats and residents of… Continue reading

State wildlife biologist Kris Larson photographed this wolf on Prince of Wales Island in November 2016. (Courtesy Photo | Kris Larson ADF&G)