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Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Juneau Chief of Police Ed Mercer speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon ahead of his retirement slated for Monday, July 31.

Police chief talks recruitment woes, threat of illegal drugs ahead of retirement

Ed Mercer gives his final talk to the Chamber days before his departure from department.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Juneau Chief of Police Ed Mercer speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon ahead of his retirement slated for Monday, July 31.
A section of safety rail ends into a bull rail along the downtown cruise ship docks in July. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Dock and Harbors moves forward with proposed $2M installation of Seawalk safety railings

Safety concerns cited as reason for potential project.

A section of safety rail ends into a bull rail along the downtown cruise ship docks in July. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A children’s playground sits empty in Anchorage. (Photo by Sophia Carlisle/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Department of Health moves to ease parts of child care licensing burden

The state government is taking aim at eliminating one of the most common barriers for people who want to open child care centers in remote… Continue reading

A children’s playground sits empty in Anchorage. (Photo by Sophia Carlisle/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on April 28, 2022. Transgender girls would be barred from participating on high school girls' athletic teams in Alaska under a proposal being considered Wednesday by the state board of education. Opponents of the proposal call it discriminatory and unconstitutional and say it likely will lead to litigation. Supporters, including Dunleavy, say it is needed to ensure fairness in girls' sports. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Alaska board delays action on proposal to bar transgender girls from girls’ high school sports teams

Alaska board delays action on proposal to bar transgender girls from girls’ high school sports teams The state board of education Wednesday delayed action on… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on April 28, 2022. Transgender girls would be barred from participating on high school girls' athletic teams in Alaska under a proposal being considered Wednesday by the state board of education. Opponents of the proposal call it discriminatory and unconstitutional and say it likely will lead to litigation. Supporters, including Dunleavy, say it is needed to ensure fairness in girls' sports. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Foam floats trails alongside an entangled humpback whale calf near Juneau on July 17. (John Moran/NOAA Fisheries)

Whale woes continue with entanglements, boat strikes

Third whale snared in fishing gear this month freed; two whales also reportedly injured by vessels

Foam floats trails alongside an entangled humpback whale calf near Juneau on July 17. (John Moran/NOAA Fisheries)
A person departs Bartlett Regional Hospital on Wednesday morning. Hospital officials said Tuesday they expect to begin providing home health and hospice care services as soon as Thursday, after they were halted last October by an organization which had provided such services locally for 20 years. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hospice and home care services to resume this week, Bartlett officials say

Hospital expects to accept first patient by Friday after taking over program suspended last year

A person departs Bartlett Regional Hospital on Wednesday morning. Hospital officials said Tuesday they expect to begin providing home health and hospice care services as soon as Thursday, after they were halted last October by an organization which had provided such services locally for 20 years. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of Paul Jose Rodriguez Jr. shared by a friend who said he sent the photo to her the day he was reported missing on July 11. (Courtesy / JoAnna Pilapil)

Safety concerns put search for body of man who drowned kayaking at Mendenhall Lake on hold

Officials waiting for release of water from ice dam, which may have killed Paul Rodriguez Jr.

This is a photo of Paul Jose Rodriguez Jr. shared by a friend who said he sent the photo to her the day he was reported missing on July 11. (Courtesy / JoAnna Pilapil)
Tents fill a homeless camp near Davis Park in Mountain View on July 3 in Anchorage. An unfunded proposal by Anchorage’s mayor to pay for plane tickets to warmer climates for homeless people who would otherwise be forced to winter outside in the bitter cold has caused a stir in Alaska’s biggest city. If the program moves forward, people can choose to relocate to the Lower 48 or somewhere else in Alaska where it might be warmer or where they have relatives. (Bill Roth / AP)

Anchorage mayor wants to give homeless people a one-way ticket to warm climates before winter

ANCHORAGE — An unfunded proposal by Anchorage’s mayor to pay for plane tickets to warmer climates for homeless people who would otherwise be forced to… Continue reading

  • Jul 26, 2023
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • Homeless
Tents fill a homeless camp near Davis Park in Mountain View on July 3 in Anchorage. An unfunded proposal by Anchorage’s mayor to pay for plane tickets to warmer climates for homeless people who would otherwise be forced to winter outside in the bitter cold has caused a stir in Alaska’s biggest city. If the program moves forward, people can choose to relocate to the Lower 48 or somewhere else in Alaska where it might be warmer or where they have relatives. (Bill Roth / AP)
Michael Valore, senior director of advanced reactors energy systems, and Danielle Kline, test engineer, stand at a booth promoting Westinghouse’s microreactor technology at an Anchorage conference in 2022. Westinghouse plans to bid on a contract to build a nuclear microreactor at Eielson Air Force Base. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

No new nuclear facilities along vulnerable coasts, Alaska regulators say

You can build a small nuclear reactor in Alaska, but not within 2,700 feet of a house. On Monday, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom signed a… Continue reading

Michael Valore, senior director of advanced reactors energy systems, and Danielle Kline, test engineer, stand at a booth promoting Westinghouse’s microreactor technology at an Anchorage conference in 2022. Westinghouse plans to bid on a contract to build a nuclear microreactor at Eielson Air Force Base. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Flags fly outside the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Tuesday. The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, which operates the center, is celebrating its 50 anniversary Thursday with music, food and other events from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

JAHC celebrates 50th birthday with performances, food and awards Thursday

Council’s role in local arts and culture has expanded in imaginative ways over five decades

Flags fly outside the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Tuesday. The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, which operates the center, is celebrating its 50 anniversary Thursday with music, food and other events from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This screenshot from a court filing by the Alaska Department of Law shows two identical pairs of wool booties taken from a tourist shop near Denali National Park. One pair bears the label “made in Nepal,” while the other says that it was made in Alaska. (Screenshot)

Alaska accuses souvenir store of selling fake Native art and products from ‘Yakutat alpacas’

A state judge has ordered a tourist shop outside Denali National Park to stop selling products labeled as “made in Alaska” after the state of… Continue reading

This screenshot from a court filing by the Alaska Department of Law shows two identical pairs of wool booties taken from a tourist shop near Denali National Park. One pair bears the label “made in Nepal,” while the other says that it was made in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Alicia Bagoyo, right and her daughter, Madalyn, look for a pre-kindergarten backpack with assistance from staff member Julie James during the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s annual backpack distribution at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Saturday.

Annual backpack giveaway charges up students and parents

2,400 packs with features for all ages distributed by Tlingit and Haida throughout Southeast Alaska

Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Alicia Bagoyo, right and her daughter, Madalyn, look for a pre-kindergarten backpack with assistance from staff member Julie James during the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s annual backpack distribution at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Saturday.
Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard The Aiviq, a private icebreaker the U.S. Coast Guard is considering purchasing for Arctic operations with Juneau as its home port, is seen on March 24, 2012.

Juneau-based private icebreaker remains in Coast Guard’s plans as needs grow

Officials now say up to nine vessels needed for polar areas, but first may not be ready until 2028

Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard The Aiviq, a private icebreaker the U.S. Coast Guard is considering purchasing for Arctic operations with Juneau as its home port, is seen on March 24, 2012.
Actors rehearse for Theatre in the Rough’s “She Kills Monsters,” which opens Friday, at McPhetres Hall on Monday night. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

A present-day story of sisterhood, grief, and Dungeons and Dragons

Theatre in the Rough’s “She Kills Monsters” opens Friday, with free previews Tuesday and Thursday

Actors rehearse for Theatre in the Rough’s “She Kills Monsters,” which opens Friday, at McPhetres Hall on Monday night. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
A table in the Juneau city clerk’s office with forms for residents wanting to file as candidates for the Oct. 3 municipal election is unoccupied one minute before Monday’s 4:30 p.m. deadline. While there were no last-minute candidates, several people registered during the day, resulting in a total of 14 people seeking four available Assembly seats and four people seeking two Juneau Board of Education seats. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

All local election races set to be competitive this fall

After a year of controversies, 14 people seek four Assembly seats, four seek two school board seats.

A table in the Juneau city clerk’s office with forms for residents wanting to file as candidates for the Oct. 3 municipal election is unoccupied one minute before Monday’s 4:30 p.m. deadline. While there were no last-minute candidates, several people registered during the day, resulting in a total of 14 people seeking four available Assembly seats and four people seeking two Juneau Board of Education seats. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Riley Morehouse pitches to a Washington state player in the bottom half of the fourth inning in an elimination game Monday during the Little League World Series Northwest Region majors softball tournament in San Bernardino, California. Juneau’s team, representing Alaska after winning the statewide tournament, rallied to a 6-3 lead in the fourth inning after falling behind early, but Washington would take the lead at the end of the inning and go on to win 13-6. (Screenshot from recap video by littleleague.org)

Juneau girls eliminated from Little League World Series regional softball tournament

After dominating statewide tournament, team goes 0-2 at Northwest Region in California

Juneau’s Riley Morehouse pitches to a Washington state player in the bottom half of the fourth inning in an elimination game Monday during the Little League World Series Northwest Region majors softball tournament in San Bernardino, California. Juneau’s team, representing Alaska after winning the statewide tournament, rallied to a 6-3 lead in the fourth inning after falling behind early, but Washington would take the lead at the end of the inning and go on to win 13-6. (Screenshot from recap video by littleleague.org)
The Dimond Courthouse building, home to the Juneau offices of the Alaska Department of Law, is seen across the street from the Alaska State Capitol on May 27, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

As more Alaskans face eviction, courts and service providers aim for solutions

When Raven Tulugak Lopez got an eviction notice on his door, it came with another piece of paper that listed resources to help avoid eviction.… Continue reading

The Dimond Courthouse building, home to the Juneau offices of the Alaska Department of Law, is seen across the street from the Alaska State Capitol on May 27, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)
A line of electric-assisted bicycle sit on display at Juneau Bike Doctor in February. Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday vetoed a bill that would classify such bikes the same as regular bikes that passed the Legislature this year by a combined 57-2 vote. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy vetoes bill classifying e-bikes the same as regular bikes

Spokesperson calls bill, which passed the Legislature 57-2, “unnecessary bureaucracy.”

A line of electric-assisted bicycle sit on display at Juneau Bike Doctor in February. Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday vetoed a bill that would classify such bikes the same as regular bikes that passed the Legislature this year by a combined 57-2 vote. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A young black bear carries away a chum salmon at Salt Chuck near the Amalga boat ramp on July 20. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

Wild shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

A young black bear carries away a chum salmon at Salt Chuck near the Amalga boat ramp on July 20. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)
The Columbia ferry docks in Ketchikan earlier this month. Updates to the Alaska Marine Highway System are a major component of a draft statewide transportation improvement plan released Thursday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire).

Second Juneau-Douglas crossing, lots of ferry projects in state’s new four-year transportation plan

Public comments now being accepted on draft report detailing proposed statewide improvements

The Columbia ferry docks in Ketchikan earlier this month. Updates to the Alaska Marine Highway System are a major component of a draft statewide transportation improvement plan released Thursday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire).