Michael S. Lockett

The Juneau Police Department will be increasing its presence over Memorial Day weekend to keep holiday-makers safe, according to a news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police stepping up presence for Memorial Day weekend

Be safe over the long holiday weekend.

The Juneau Police Department will be increasing its presence over Memorial Day weekend to keep holiday-makers safe, according to a news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
Avery Kreischer winds up to deliver a pitch to Sydney Strong during a mid-April practice at Thunder Mountain High School. TMHS will play host to the Region V Tournament in the coming days. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Baseball and softball regional tournaments kick off Thursday

The end beckons for the bat and ball brigade.

Avery Kreischer winds up to deliver a pitch to Sydney Strong during a mid-April practice at Thunder Mountain High School. TMHS will play host to the Region V Tournament in the coming days. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Capt. Stephen White, right, presents a commendation to City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors port director Carl Uchytil during an Assembly meeting on May 24, 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard commends Docks and Harbors for Lumberman response

Docks and Harbors has played a key role in preventing several major spills, the citation says.

Capt. Stephen White, right, presents a commendation to City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors port director Carl Uchytil during an Assembly meeting on May 24, 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Bob Sam and Jamiann Hasselquist touch the headstone of Chief Joseph, a tribal leader buried in the Lawson Creek Cemetery in 1917, as they work with other volunteers to restore the cemetery, on May 22, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Volunteers work to restore neglected Douglas cemetery

“We’re giving them a place with dignity, honor and respect.”

Bob Sam and Jamiann Hasselquist touch the headstone of Chief Joseph, a tribal leader buried in the Lawson Creek Cemetery in 1917, as they work with other volunteers to restore the cemetery, on May 22, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Eli Mead of Thunder Mountain High School jumps a hurdle during the Region V Track Meet at TMHS on Saturday, May 22. Mead finished first in the 300 hurdles for Region V, Division 1. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Track teams wrap regionals, prepare for state meet

The state meet goes down in Anchorage this upcoming weekend.

Eli Mead of Thunder Mountain High School jumps a hurdle during the Region V Track Meet at TMHS on Saturday, May 22. Mead finished first in the 300 hurdles for Region V, Division 1. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The NASA Black Brant XII rocket lifts off with the KiNET-X experiment at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on May 16, 2021. (Terry Zaperach / NASA)

Chasing starlight: Alaska team shoots rocket searching for aurora data

Weather conditions on the East Coast nearly scrubbed the mission.

The NASA Black Brant XII rocket lifts off with the KiNET-X experiment at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on May 16, 2021. (Terry Zaperach / NASA)
Alaska State Trooper Josh Bentz, left, addresses volunteers searching for a missing woman in Juneau before they set out on May 21, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Update: Search for missing woman comes to tragic end

The death is not considered suspicious, police said.

Alaska State Trooper Josh Bentz, left, addresses volunteers searching for a missing woman in Juneau before they set out on May 21, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School player Meki Toutaoilepo, battles for a basket. (Courtesy Photo/Heather Holt)
Thunder Mountain High School player Meki Toutaoilepo, battles for a basket. (Courtesy Photo/Heather Holt)
Six people were arrested and charged following an investigation into a drug ring in Juneau on May 21, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

6 arrested and indicted in drug ring bust

Those arrested allegedly distributed drugs across the Southeast.

Six people were arrested and charged following an investigation into a drug ring in Juneau on May 21, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Norwegian Pearl, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. Big-deck cruise ships may be seen in Juneau this year yet as a bill allowing them to bypass Canada passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 20, 2021. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

US House passes bill that could allow an Alaska cruise season

The bill would allow cruise ships to skip Canada on their way north.

The Norwegian Pearl, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. Big-deck cruise ships may be seen in Juneau this year yet as a bill allowing them to bypass Canada passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 20, 2021. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Alaska State Trooper Josh Bentz briefs volunteer searchers in the search for missing woman Geraldine Nelson on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Search continues for missing woman close and far from home

Volunteers searched Nelson’s neighborhood and checked out possible sightings.

Alaska State Trooper Josh Bentz briefs volunteer searchers in the search for missing woman Geraldine Nelson on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department investigated a suspicious package placed underneath the skybridge to the Capitol on May 18, 2021. It was determined not to be a threat. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department investigated a suspicious package placed underneath the skybridge to the Capitol on May 18, 2021. It was determined not to be a threat. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Geraldine Nelson, 78, is the subject of a search-and-rescue operation run by the Juneau Police Department. Police describe Nelson as Alaska Native, roughly 5 foot 1, about 120 pounds and last seen wearing a black winter coat and black pants.(Courtesy Photo)

Update: Search for missing woman continues

Alaska State Troopers, SEADOGS, JMR, and Tlingit and Haida are all involved in search efforts.

Geraldine Nelson, 78, is the subject of a search-and-rescue operation run by the Juneau Police Department. Police describe Nelson as Alaska Native, roughly 5 foot 1, about 120 pounds and last seen wearing a black winter coat and black pants.(Courtesy Photo)
Patrick is one of the good boys and girls at Juneau Animal Rescue that need a home. The shelter is dealing with a spike in returns and worries what the return to office work may do. (Courtesy P_hoto / JAR)

Animal shelters concerned about returns as workers return to offices

Juneau Animal Rescue has seen a spike in surrenders to the shelter.

Patrick is one of the good boys and girls at Juneau Animal Rescue that need a home. The shelter is dealing with a spike in returns and worries what the return to office work may do. (Courtesy P_hoto / JAR)
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The Gunnuk Creek hydropower project in Kake, shown here under construction in 2019, is one of a number of hydropower projects in the Southeast managed by the Inner Passage Electric Cooperative. (Courtesy photo / IPEC)

It’s all downhill: Looking at hydropower in Southeast Alaska

Organizations are striving to replace costly diesel generators with hydropower, among other sources.

The Gunnuk Creek hydropower project in Kake, shown here under construction in 2019, is one of a number of hydropower projects in the Southeast managed by the Inner Passage Electric Cooperative. (Courtesy photo / IPEC)
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Here’s what it takes to repair undersea cables

It’s a little more involved than plugging the cord back in.

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Department of Veterans Affairs nurse Dale Cotton administers a dose of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a clinic at Coast Guard Station Juneau on March 13, 2021. On Thursday, the CDC announced revised masking guidelines for people who have been vaccinated. City officials had not announced changes to local mandates as Thursday evening. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

New CDC guidelines: Vaccinated people can largely ditch masks

City officials are reviewing the federal guidance, with updates coming

Department of Veterans Affairs nurse Dale Cotton administers a dose of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine during a clinic at Coast Guard Station Juneau on March 13, 2021. On Thursday, the CDC announced revised masking guidelines for people who have been vaccinated. City officials had not announced changes to local mandates as Thursday evening. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Zack Pursell, assistant coach for the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé track team, puts James Connally’s name on the school record board for breaking a long-standing record for the 100 meter dash on May 11, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

JDHS junior breaks 40-year-old school track record

The 100 meter dash record has stood since Reagan was president.

Zack Pursell, assistant coach for the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé track team, puts James Connally’s name on the school record board for breaking a long-standing record for the 100 meter dash on May 11, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Coast Guardsmen and partner organizations practice oil spill cleanup in the Gastineau Channel near Sandy Beach on May 11. 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

A well-oiled routine: Oil spill responders train in Gastineau Channel

Residents of the Savikko Park area might have been perplexed to see boats with oil booms swanning about near Douglas Harbor on Tuesday morning. The… Continue reading

Coast Guardsmen and partner organizations practice oil spill cleanup in the Gastineau Channel near Sandy Beach on May 11. 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)