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City and Borough of Juneau administration and Assembly members smile for a picture during the Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night, which was city Finance Director Jeff Rogers last finance meeting after serving four years in his position. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly and chamber bid farewell to outgoing city finance director

Jeff Rogers will depart from his position at the end of June.

City and Borough of Juneau administration and Assembly members smile for a picture during the Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night, which was city Finance Director Jeff Rogers last finance meeting after serving four years in his position. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Fenton Jacobs, 42, was sentenced to 53 years in prison Tuesday after being found guilty of a number of charges from his involvement in a 2019 stabbing. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Man sentenced to 53 years for fatal downtown stabbing

The sentencing follows a guilty verdict last June for the 2019 crime.

Fenton Jacobs, 42, was sentenced to 53 years in prison Tuesday after being found guilty of a number of charges from his involvement in a 2019 stabbing. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Wanda Fleming, a Juneau resident since 1973, eats dinner Wednesday with other new residents at the Riverview Senior Living complex. Fleming said she has been following the facility’s progress since she first read about it in 2021 and was among the first four residents to move in. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Riverview Senior Living complex opens

Initial group of residents and staff bond quickly, say facility helps address a critical shortage

Wanda Fleming, a Juneau resident since 1973, eats dinner Wednesday with other new residents at the Riverview Senior Living complex. Fleming said she has been following the facility’s progress since she first read about it in 2021 and was among the first four residents to move in. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Carol Beecher, the new director of the Alaska Division of Elections, answers questions from reporters on Feb. 16. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska to stay with voter fraud prevention network as other Republican states drop out

Other states are leaving ERIC, often based on unfounded 2020 election allegations

  • Jun 8, 2023
  • By James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
  • Elections
Carol Beecher, the new director of the Alaska Division of Elections, answers questions from reporters on Feb. 16. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Pedestrians cross by the newly repainted rainbow sidewalk downtown on Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Clear June skies mean rainbow crosswalk repainting downtown

“The community support for this and the support for this from visitors continues to grow.”

Pedestrians cross by the newly repainted rainbow sidewalk downtown on Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A bald eagle is seen on Feb. 6, 2018, perched in a tree in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. Bald eagles are near the top of the list of bird species in Alaska that have been killed by the currently circulating strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Avian influenza has returned to Alaska, and so have health advisories

Migrating birds have returned to Alaska, and so has the highly pathogenic avian influenza that began to sweep through global bird populations in 2020. That… Continue reading

A bald eagle is seen on Feb. 6, 2018, perched in a tree in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. Bald eagles are near the top of the list of bird species in Alaska that have been killed by the currently circulating strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
A graph shows how Southeast Alaska businesses feel about the region’s business climate in surveys conducted since 2010. Meilani Schijvens, owner and director of Rain Coast Data, said the survey she conducted this year shows the most optimistic responses in the annual survey’s history. (Rain Coast Data)

Optimism of Southeast Alaska businesses hits 14-year high

Annual survey shows 73% of businesses positive about business climate, but some sectors less hopeful

A graph shows how Southeast Alaska businesses feel about the region’s business climate in surveys conducted since 2010. Meilani Schijvens, owner and director of Rain Coast Data, said the survey she conducted this year shows the most optimistic responses in the annual survey’s history. (Rain Coast Data)
Capital City Fire/Rescue officials respond to a trailer fire that was reported at the Switzer Village Mobile Home Park in the Lemon Creek area Wednesday afternoon. No one was in the trailer at the time of the fire, and no injuries have been reported, officials say. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

CCFR: Wiring failure causes trailer fire in Lemon Creek area

Damages are estimated to be around $10,000 and the owner did not have insurance, officials say.

Capital City Fire/Rescue officials respond to a trailer fire that was reported at the Switzer Village Mobile Home Park in the Lemon Creek area Wednesday afternoon. No one was in the trailer at the time of the fire, and no injuries have been reported, officials say. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Boats jockey for position minutes before the opening of the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery on March 23, 2014, in Sitka, Alaska. Sitka is the home port for a charter fishing boat that sank in nearby waters killing three and leaving two lost at sea in late May 2023. The tragedy has put a spotlight on the safety of southeast Alaska’s vibrant charter fishing industry and on the port town of Sitka, where charter operators charge thousands of dollars per person for guided fishing trips. (James Poulson/The Daily Sitka Sentinel via AP, File)

Tragedy that left 5 dead or missing puts spotlight on safety in Alaska charter fishing industry

Morgan Robidou posed next to the bright aluminum hull of his prized new vessel, a 30-foot (9-meter) fishing boat that he could use to take… Continue reading

  • Jun 7, 2023
  • Becky Bohrer, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher and Gene Johnson Associated Press
Boats jockey for position minutes before the opening of the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery on March 23, 2014, in Sitka, Alaska. Sitka is the home port for a charter fishing boat that sank in nearby waters killing three and leaving two lost at sea in late May 2023. The tragedy has put a spotlight on the safety of southeast Alaska’s vibrant charter fishing industry and on the port town of Sitka, where charter operators charge thousands of dollars per person for guided fishing trips. (James Poulson/The Daily Sitka Sentinel via AP, File)
Water and wastewater rates in the City and Borough of Juneau will increase 2% starting July 1. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire File)

Water, wastewater rates to increase starting July 1

The 2% increase is to match inflationary costs, city says.

Water and wastewater rates in the City and Borough of Juneau will increase 2% starting July 1. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire File)
A progress pride flag flies in the wind below an U.S. flag outside of the Hurff Ackerman Saunders Federal Building on Monday evening. Last week the flag was raised for the first time by members of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and will remain up through the month of June. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

LGBTQ+ pride flag raised at federal building sparks backlash, support

Varying reactions to the flag that was raised for the first time outside the building.

A progress pride flag flies in the wind below an U.S. flag outside of the Hurff Ackerman Saunders Federal Building on Monday evening. Last week the flag was raised for the first time by members of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and will remain up through the month of June. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Fire/ Rescue respond to a structure fire Tuesday morning in the Fritz Cove area near Fox Farm Trail. No injuries were reported. (CCFR)

‘It’s like a bombshell’: Cigarette causes substantial damage to house in Fritz Cove area

“I’m just getting what’s salvageable out of there.”

Capital City Fire/ Rescue respond to a structure fire Tuesday morning in the Fritz Cove area near Fox Farm Trail. No injuries were reported. (CCFR)
Courtesy Photo / Chris Blake The <strong>Hōkūleʻa</strong>, a double-hulled and wind-powered traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe, navigates throughout Southeast Alaska in May. On Saturday the canoe and crew members will be welcomed to Juneau in preparation for the canoes launch days later for its four-year-long global canoe voyage called the <strong>Moananuiākea</strong>.

Celebration of four-year Polynesian canoe voyage to kick off Saturday at Auke Bay

Voyage set to circumnavigate 43,000 nautical miles of the Pacific Ocean beginning in Juneau.

Courtesy Photo / Chris Blake The <strong>Hōkūleʻa</strong>, a double-hulled and wind-powered traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe, navigates throughout Southeast Alaska in May. On Saturday the canoe and crew members will be welcomed to Juneau in preparation for the canoes launch days later for its four-year-long global canoe voyage called the <strong>Moananuiākea</strong>.
Cars and people move past the City and Borough of Juneau current City Hall downtown on Monday. The Assembly Committee of the Whole unanimously OK’d an ordinance Monday night that, if passed by the full Assembly, would again ask Juneau voters during the upcoming municipal election whether to approve $27 million in bond debt to fund the construction of a new City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Voters could see proposal for a new City Hall back on the ballot this fall

City signals support for $27 million initiative, after $35M bond last year fails.

Cars and people move past the City and Borough of Juneau current City Hall downtown on Monday. The Assembly Committee of the Whole unanimously OK’d an ordinance Monday night that, if passed by the full Assembly, would again ask Juneau voters during the upcoming municipal election whether to approve $27 million in bond debt to fund the construction of a new City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A lifeboat from the Sapphire Princess cruise ship loads passengers and crew from the Wilderness Discoverer after an engine fire on the vessel Monday morning. No significant injuries were reported and U.S. Coast Guard officials said the disabled vessel will be towed to Ketchikan. (Photo by Dan Reilly)

Nearly 70 people rescued after engine fire aboard small cruise ship in Glacier Bay

No significant injuries reported as large cruise ship, Coast Guard respond to disabled vessel Monday

A lifeboat from the Sapphire Princess cruise ship loads passengers and crew from the Wilderness Discoverer after an engine fire on the vessel Monday morning. No significant injuries were reported and U.S. Coast Guard officials said the disabled vessel will be towed to Ketchikan. (Photo by Dan Reilly)
TMHS senior Mallory Welling, running for team North/Southeast, competes in the 100 hurdles at the Brian Young Invitational on Saturday in Kodiak. (Photo courtesy Brandi Adams)

Local athletes qualify for Junior Olympics

Southeast track stars impress at Kodiak’s Brian Young Invitational

TMHS senior Mallory Welling, running for team North/Southeast, competes in the 100 hurdles at the Brian Young Invitational on Saturday in Kodiak. (Photo courtesy Brandi Adams)
JDHS senior Mariah Schauwecker, junior Mila Hargrave and senior Anna Dale were selected to the All-State Tournament team Saturday at the ASAA Division II State Softball Championship at Anchorage’s Cartee Fields. (Courtesy Photo /JDHS Softball)

JDHS softball nips Sitka for state title

Dale walk-off single sends JDHS to trophy case, the mall, dinner and Cold Stone

  • Jun 5, 2023
  • By Klas Stolpe Juneau Empire
JDHS senior Mariah Schauwecker, junior Mila Hargrave and senior Anna Dale were selected to the All-State Tournament team Saturday at the ASAA Division II State Softball Championship at Anchorage’s Cartee Fields. (Courtesy Photo /JDHS Softball)
The Dusky Rock sits at Aurora Harbor on Saturday morning. The vessel was towed there from Sandy Beach on Friday evening after three people died within a three-day period aboard the vessel while anchored offshore. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Police continue investigation into three ‘unusual’ deaths on boat anchored off Sandy Beach

Causes of the deaths remain undetermined, police say Monday.

The Dusky Rock sits at Aurora Harbor on Saturday morning. The vessel was towed there from Sandy Beach on Friday evening after three people died within a three-day period aboard the vessel while anchored offshore. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The Yées Ḵu.Oo Dancers perform at the end of the Celebration of Life Walk on Sunday at Bill Overstreet Park. The walk, hosted locally by Cancer Connection for more than two decades, occurs on National Cancer Survivors Day. This year’s local celebration featured the first bagpiper, Alaska Native dance group and Native land acknowledgement. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Bagpipes and dancers bring new life to annual cancer survivors walk

“Everyone is touched by cancer,” organizer says at Sunday event.

The Yées Ḵu.Oo Dancers perform at the end of the Celebration of Life Walk on Sunday at Bill Overstreet Park. The walk, hosted locally by Cancer Connection for more than two decades, occurs on National Cancer Survivors Day. This year’s local celebration featured the first bagpiper, Alaska Native dance group and Native land acknowledgement. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Chris Meade, a board member of Trail Mix and Juneau resident since 1991, uses a vibrating plate compactor to compress gravel leading to a viewing platform along the Kingfisher Pond Loop Trail on Saturday. (Mark Sabatini / Juneau Empire)

Trail Mix celebrates wild 30th birthday

Birds and the bears add ardor to outdoor trail improvement and cookout gathering.

Chris Meade, a board member of Trail Mix and Juneau resident since 1991, uses a vibrating plate compactor to compress gravel leading to a viewing platform along the Kingfisher Pond Loop Trail on Saturday. (Mark Sabatini / Juneau Empire)