Kevin Gullufsen

Assembly to homeless: Sleep in the wrong place, pay a fine

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly sent a message to the town’s unsheltered at a Monday meeting: Go to sleep in the wrong place… Continue reading

Members of the public listen to public testimony on the Juneau School District’s 2018 budget Tuesday at Juneau-Douglas High School library.

Class size, STEM training priorities for Juneau school councils

Reducing class sizes topped the list of priorities at the first of two school district public budgeting forums Tuesday at Juneau-Douglas High School. Educators, school… Continue reading

Members of the public listen to public testimony on the Juneau School District’s 2018 budget Tuesday at Juneau-Douglas High School library.
Cole Cheeseman of Enco Alaska Inc. spreads rock during the construction of the West Douglas Pioneer Road on Friday. The two-and-a-half mile road is to be completed by mid-summer when it will become available to the public by non-motorized travel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City breaks ground on new road, first step to develop West Douglas

A new project at the end of North Douglas Highway will bring the City and Borough of Juneau two and a half miles closer to… Continue reading

Cole Cheeseman of Enco Alaska Inc. spreads rock during the construction of the West Douglas Pioneer Road on Friday. The two-and-a-half mile road is to be completed by mid-summer when it will become available to the public by non-motorized travel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Sadie Tuckwood, left, and Soldotna’s Mei Miller go for ball at JDHS on Friday. JDHS won 48-46. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Ailing Crimson Bears girls bounce Stars

With six players taking the court with an illness this Friday, the Juneau-Douglas High School girls were fortunate to escape their home court with a… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Sadie Tuckwood, left, and Soldotna’s Mei Miller go for ball at JDHS on Friday. JDHS won 48-46. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Garth Tupou screams in celebration after his shot at the buzzer gave TMHS the upset over Juneau-Douglas at JDHS on Friday. TMHS won 49-48. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Unlikely hero hits last-second shot in Juneau’s homecoming heartbreaker

Down 47-48 with 10 seconds left, Thunder Mountain High School basketball held possession at half court. It was homecoming for the defending state champion Crimson… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Garth Tupou screams in celebration after his shot at the buzzer gave TMHS the upset over Juneau-Douglas at JDHS on Friday. TMHS won 49-48. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The city of Hoonah on a Thursday afternoon. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

‘A little storm’: A call to anti-drug action in Hoonah

“I’m gonna ask you a favor, raise your hand if you had some family relation that has been impacted by drugs.” Making the request is… Continue reading

The city of Hoonah on a Thursday afternoon. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Weekend preview: JDHS, TMHS basketball clash in battle for Juneau

The Falcons and Crimson Bears clash this weekend in the first boys basketball crosstown matchups of the year. Those games take place Friday and Saturday,… Continue reading

Goldbelt Hotel in downtown Juneau on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Goldbelt Hotel set to reopen as Sheraton Four Points

The Goldbelt Hotel is changing hands again, this time with the backing of a national franchise. Starwood Hotels and Resorts will reopen the hotel as… Continue reading

Goldbelt Hotel in downtown Juneau on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
PHOTOS BY Michael Penn | Juneau Empire The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team practices at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday.

JDHS hockey peaks before playoffs this weekend in Fairbanks

It’s 7 a.m. at Treadwell Ice Arena. The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team unlaces their boots after their last regular season practice. They’ve been here… Continue reading

PHOTOS BY Michael Penn | Juneau Empire The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team practices at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday.
In this file photo from Oct. 1, 2016, Juneau-Douglas High School cross country runner Sadie Tuckwood leads at the state girls cross country championships at Bartlett High School. Tuckwood won the state championship that year.

The next Leah Francis? Tuckwood earns state Runner of the Year award

When Sadie Tuckwood won a state cross country championship as a freshman last fall, the Empire declared there was a new sheriff in town. Now… Continue reading

In this file photo from Oct. 1, 2016, Juneau-Douglas High School cross country runner Sadie Tuckwood leads at the state girls cross country championships at Bartlett High School. Tuckwood won the state championship that year.
TMHS sweeps MEHS: Reishus-O’Brien ties single-game record

TMHS sweeps MEHS: Reishus-O’Brien ties single-game record

When senior Noah Reishus-O’Brien is shooting well, his Thunder Mountain High School teammates know to find him. Find him they did Saturday in the second… Continue reading

TMHS sweeps MEHS: Reishus-O’Brien ties single-game record

Falcons basketball top Mount Edgecumbe

The Thunder Mountain High School boys topped the visiting Mount Edgecumbe Braves 64-52 on Friday, adding a third W to their current win streak. The… Continue reading

JDHS girls rout TMHS in first of two-game series

JDHS girls rout TMHS in first of two-game series

The Juneau-Douglas High School girls got it done and then some in the first of the a two-game crosstown rivalry series this weekend, routing the… Continue reading

JDHS girls rout TMHS in first of two-game series

Legislative Loops Nordic Ski Race

The Juneau Nordic Ski team will host its Legislative Loops Nordic ski race at 11 a.m. Saturday at Eaglecrest. The race is free with a… Continue reading

Weekend Preview: Conference basketball in full swing

Two conference basketball clashes and local 3A/4A games highlight this weekend’s high school sports matchups. Local hoops fans will have to decide between a girls… Continue reading

Thanks to Anchorage trust, Juneau Housing First Project gets $100K boost

Juneau’s Housing First Project is now $100,000 closer to its goal of providing housing for Juneau’s chronically homeless population. The project — a three story,… Continue reading

Eaglecrest General Manager Matt Lillard checks the quality of the snow while running a snow making machine for the first time this season on Oct. 11, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

‘Ski it if you can’: After five years at Eaglecrest’s helm, Lillard returns to Vermont

General Manager Matt Lillard’s ski season won’t end with a last slash through Eaglecrest’s wet spring snow. He didn’t break his leg in West Bowl… Continue reading

Eaglecrest General Manager Matt Lillard checks the quality of the snow while running a snow making machine for the first time this season on Oct. 11, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Gerald and Azela Guzman with their son, Gerald Jr., 8, stop to admire the field of fireweed near the Juneau International Airport.

Planning Commission recommends rezoning part of ‘Field of Fireweed’ for industrial use

Juneau’s Planning Commission recommended a portion of Honsinger Pond, a popular spot for waterfowl on the Mendenhall wetlands known locally as the “Field of Fireweed,”… Continue reading

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Gerald and Azela Guzman with their son, Gerald Jr., 8, stop to admire the field of fireweed near the Juneau International Airport.

Wild overtime finish falls in Falcons favor

Depending on a lot of composure and a little luck at the end of an overtime game, the Thunder Mountain High School boys basketball team… Continue reading

JDHS girls 2-1 at Elks Showdown, boys 1-2; Carson MVP

The Juneau-Douglas High School girls went 2-1 this weekend at the Palmer Elks Showdown, tying Bartlett and Palmer in the win-loss tally at the tournament.… Continue reading