Wire Service

Eyebright flowers occur in abundance along local trails. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

On the Trails: Trailside flowers

On a gray morning in early September, with no cruise ships in town(!), I wandered up Basin Road and the first part of the Perseverance… Continue reading

Eyebright flowers occur in abundance along local trails. (Photo by Denise Carroll)
Kari Cravens, of Ashmo’s food truck in Sitka, takes cash from Jacil Lee, a cruise ship passenger stopping in town last week. Many business owners in Sitka are unable to accept credit and debit cards amid an outage in most phone and internet communications. (Sitka Sentinel, republished with permission)

In internet-less Sitka, it’s both ‘mayhem’ and a ‘golden moment’

Surgeries on hold and businesses are cash-only, but more people are talking and sharing stories.

Kari Cravens, of Ashmo’s food truck in Sitka, takes cash from Jacil Lee, a cruise ship passenger stopping in town last week. Many business owners in Sitka are unable to accept credit and debit cards amid an outage in most phone and internet communications. (Sitka Sentinel, republished with permission)
A student exits the University of Alaska Anchorage consortium library on Friday. Alaska now has had 12 years of net outmigration, with more people leaving the state than moving in, contrary to past history when Alaska drew large numbers of young adults. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

With Alaska outmigration continuing, community members contemplate responses

Two-day meeting at UAA gave attendees from different sectors a chance to brainstorm solutions.

A student exits the University of Alaska Anchorage consortium library on Friday. Alaska now has had 12 years of net outmigration, with more people leaving the state than moving in, contrary to past history when Alaska drew large numbers of young adults. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Friday, Sept. 6, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Emire file photo)

Police calls for Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Emire file photo)
Jasmine Chavez, a crew member aboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship, waves to her family during a cell phone conversation after disembarking from the ship at Marine Park on May 10. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ships in port for the week of Sept. 7

Here’s what to expect this week.

Jasmine Chavez, a crew member aboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship, waves to her family during a cell phone conversation after disembarking from the ship at Marine Park on May 10. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Members of the Alaska House watch for the vote tally on House Bill 17 on Thursday, March 21, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Governor vetoes bill that would have expanded Alaska women’s access to birth control medicine

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has vetoed a bill that would have eased access to contraceptives. Dunleavy on Wednesday vetoed House Bill 17, a measure that the… Continue reading

Members of the Alaska House watch for the vote tally on House Bill 17 on Thursday, March 21, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds (left) and Xáalnook Erin Tripp star in the play “Cold Case,” focusing on issues involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, which is now performing at Perseverance Theatre. (Akiko Nishijima Rotch / Perseverance Theatre)

Perseverance’s ‘Cold Case’ tops NYT’s list of ‘15 Shows to See on Stages Around the U.S. This Fall’

Award-winning play about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons showing in Juneau until Sept. 22.

Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds (left) and Xáalnook Erin Tripp star in the play “Cold Case,” focusing on issues involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, which is now performing at Perseverance Theatre. (Akiko Nishijima Rotch / Perseverance Theatre)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls lead the pack during the season-opening cross country meet at the state fairgrounds in Haines on Aug. 31, 2024. (Lex Treinen / For the Chilkat Valley News)

Bell, Hansen, lead Haines at season opener meet against powerhouse Juneau-Douglas

JDHS boys and girls both take nine of top 10 spots at Haines Invitational Cross-Country Meet.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls lead the pack during the season-opening cross country meet at the state fairgrounds in Haines on Aug. 31, 2024. (Lex Treinen / For the Chilkat Valley News)
James Montiver holds Cassie, and William Montiver holds Alani behind them, members of the Ketchikan Fire Department that helped rescue the dogs on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

Dogs saved after seven days in Ketchikan landslide

Ketchikan Fire Department firefighters with heroic efforts Sunday brought joy and some relief to the community as it grieves the loss of life and homes… Continue reading

James Montiver holds Cassie, and William Montiver holds Alani behind them, members of the Ketchikan Fire Department that helped rescue the dogs on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, speaks during a session of the Alaska House of Representatives on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Rauscher was the lead sponsor of House Bill 88. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Dunleavy vetoes work quota rules for Amazon-like warehouses

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has vetoed a bill that would have required the operators of large warehouses to provide their employees with a written work quota… Continue reading

Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton, speaks during a session of the Alaska House of Representatives on Sunday, May 12, 2024. Rauscher was the lead sponsor of House Bill 88. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Waiting for an answer

Thanks so much to Kathy Coghill for her My Turn, “Cruise ships are shifting air pollution into Juneau’s marine waters,” in the Sept. 4 Juneau… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: The tragedy of the commons

The commons in Juneau are many. We share clean air, clean water, wildlife, tranquility and easy access to outdoor activities. Our community has accepted these… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
The complex now known as Thunder Mountain Middle School. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Opinion: Schools alone aren’t the problem

According to the results of this year’s academic readiness tests only a third of all Alaska students are proficient in language arts and mathematics. Who… Continue reading

The complex now known as Thunder Mountain Middle School. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Florida State University graduate student Tyler Hunt scans a rock that contains several dinosaur footprints during a recent trip on the upper Colville River. (Patrick Druckenmiller, UA Museum of the North)

Alaska Science Forum: The lost world of northern dinosaurs

On a recent river trip in northern Alaska, scientists from the University of Alaska Museum of the North found a lost world, a time of… Continue reading

Florida State University graduate student Tyler Hunt scans a rock that contains several dinosaur footprints during a recent trip on the upper Colville River. (Patrick Druckenmiller, UA Museum of the North)
Boxed kits with naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug, and associated equipment are stacked on tables at the Alaska Department of Health’s Anchorage office on Aug. 9. The kits were assembled that day in preparation for distribution to school districts around the state, in accordance with House Bill 202. The bill requires schools to stock the kits and to have personnel trained to use them. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska schools to be stocked with anti-overdose kits, under new law

Emergency kits to save victims of opioid overdoses are on their way to Alaska schools, in accordance with a new law. The law is the… Continue reading

Boxed kits with naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug, and associated equipment are stacked on tables at the Alaska Department of Health’s Anchorage office on Aug. 9. The kits were assembled that day in preparation for distribution to school districts around the state, in accordance with House Bill 202. The bill requires schools to stock the kits and to have personnel trained to use them. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Cars and homes flooded by the break of Suicide Basin’s ice dam in August. (Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management photo)

Living and Growing: After the flood

It is Ordinary Time, the Season of Increase, the Season of Creation. During this season of Creation, the power of life renewing is manifest. In… Continue reading

Cars and homes flooded by the break of Suicide Basin’s ice dam in August. (Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management photo)
Abortion-rights advocates start a march along several downtown blocks to protest the U.S. Supreme Court ruling’s June 24, 2022, ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. An Alaska judge has ruled that a longstanding provision in state law specifying that licensed physicians are the only medical professionals allowed to provide abortion services violates the Alaska constitution’s equal-protection and privacy guarantees. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska judge strikes down requirement that only licensed physicians provide abortions

Ruling says barring clinicians from providing services violates equal-protection, privacy rights

Abortion-rights advocates start a march along several downtown blocks to protest the U.S. Supreme Court ruling’s June 24, 2022, ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. An Alaska judge has ruled that a longstanding provision in state law specifying that licensed physicians are the only medical professionals allowed to provide abortion services violates the Alaska constitution’s equal-protection and privacy guarantees. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)