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A channel flows through the mud flats along the Seward Highway and Turnagain Arm in Alaska on Oct. 25, 2014. Authorities said, a 20-year-old man from Illinois who was walking Sunday evening, May 21, 2023, on tidal mud flats with friends in an Alaska estuary, got stuck up to his waist in the quicksand-like silt and drowned as the tide came in before frantic rescuers could extract him.  (Bob Hallinen / Anchorage Daily News)

Illinois man gets stuck waist-deep in Alaska mud flats, drowns as tide comes in

“…It’s Mother Nature, and she has no mercy for humanity.”

A channel flows through the mud flats along the Seward Highway and Turnagain Arm in Alaska on Oct. 25, 2014. Authorities said, a 20-year-old man from Illinois who was walking Sunday evening, May 21, 2023, on tidal mud flats with friends in an Alaska estuary, got stuck up to his waist in the quicksand-like silt and drowned as the tide came in before frantic rescuers could extract him.  (Bob Hallinen / Anchorage Daily News)
On Monday the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly passed a motion in support of the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s intention to rename the two blocks of South Seward Street between Front Street and Marine Way to Heritage Way. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City signals support for renaming South Seward Street

Sealaska Heritage Institute applied for it to be renamed to Heritage Way.

On Monday the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly passed a motion in support of the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s intention to rename the two blocks of South Seward Street between Front Street and Marine Way to Heritage Way. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Racers start the Spring Tide Scramble at Fish Creek Park on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo)

Spring Tide Scramble beats the tide

Youth and adult runners get dirty on the mud flats

Racers start the Spring Tide Scramble at Fish Creek Park on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo)
The Thunder Mountain High School Lady Falcons soccer team pose for a photo at Redington High School in Wasilla. The Lady Falcons defeated the Huskies 8-0 for their final game of the season. (Courtesy Photo)

Lady Falcons earn first soccer win as season ends

Thunder Mountain tops Redington on the road

The Thunder Mountain High School Lady Falcons soccer team pose for a photo at Redington High School in Wasilla. The Lady Falcons defeated the Huskies 8-0 for their final game of the season. (Courtesy Photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Tuesday, May 23

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau state representatives Sara Hannan, left, and Andi Story discuss legislative business during a break in the House floor session on Tuesday. Both Democratic members were part of the minority caucus this session after being in the majority during their first two terms. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

A trio of Capitol recaps from the local delegation

From passage of PFAS limits to postponing vaping tax, Juneau’s legislators tally wins and losses.

Juneau state representatives Sara Hannan, left, and Andi Story discuss legislative business during a break in the House floor session on Tuesday. Both Democratic members were part of the minority caucus this session after being in the majority during their first two terms. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain junior third baseman Jack Lovejoy attempts to tag Juneau-Douglas senior base runner Amira Andrews during softball action Saturday at Melvin Park. Andrews was out on the play. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears top Lady Falcons in final home softball action

Tournament next for Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain

Thunder Mountain junior third baseman Jack Lovejoy attempts to tag Juneau-Douglas senior base runner Amira Andrews during softball action Saturday at Melvin Park. Andrews was out on the play. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer at sea during the 2022 Caribbean Mapping expedition. The ship will be in Alaska waters for much of this year. (Anna Sagatov / NOAA)
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer at sea during the 2022 Caribbean Mapping expedition. The ship will be in Alaska waters for much of this year. (Anna Sagatov / NOAA)
This is a picture of the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall in October 2022. The Assembly Finance Committee OK’d $10 million in funding to go toward a City Hall project on Wednesday, more than six months after voters narrowly rejected a city ballot proposal to approve $35 million in bond debt to fund the majority of the construction cost for a new City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Assembly OKs $10M in funds for future City Hall project

The funding could go toward building a new one or renovating the current building.

This is a picture of the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall in October 2022. The Assembly Finance Committee OK’d $10 million in funding to go toward a City Hall project on Wednesday, more than six months after voters narrowly rejected a city ballot proposal to approve $35 million in bond debt to fund the majority of the construction cost for a new City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Witty Youngman performs a set Saturday evening at Crystal Saloon during the Amplify Alaska Fundraising Festival on behalf of the Áak’w Rock Indigenous Music Festival scheduled in September. The event featuring five mini-concerts raised more than $5,000. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Stocking up for Aak’w Rock

Livestreamed multi-artist gig raises more than $5K for Indigenous music festival

Witty Youngman performs a set Saturday evening at Crystal Saloon during the Amplify Alaska Fundraising Festival on behalf of the Áak’w Rock Indigenous Music Festival scheduled in September. The event featuring five mini-concerts raised more than $5,000. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of the Juneau International Airport in April 2023. A Montana man pleaded guilty last Wednesday to assaulting a flight crew member while aboard a flight from Sitka to Juneau in early April. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Man pleads guilty to assault of crew member while on flight to Juneau

The assault occurred on April 1, according to court documents.

This is a photo of the Juneau International Airport in April 2023. A Montana man pleaded guilty last Wednesday to assaulting a flight crew member while aboard a flight from Sitka to Juneau in early April. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
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Opinion: Improvements are needed in mental health care and oversight

The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is presenting full-page updates touting the improvements in mental health care in the Anchorage Daily News. I would like… Continue reading

  • May 22, 2023
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Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Tobin Montalbo, far right, cheers his 4x400 teammates on as senior Robbie Gabel sprints to pass the baton to junior Wilder Dillingham in the Crimson Bears final event of the Region V Track & Field Championships, Saturday, at Thunder Mountain Field. JDHS defeated Ketchikan for the team title with this win. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys secure Region V track title with final event

Ketchikan’s Lorig earns Male Athlete of the Meet

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Tobin Montalbo, far right, cheers his 4x400 teammates on as senior Robbie Gabel sprints to pass the baton to junior Wilder Dillingham in the Crimson Bears final event of the Region V Track & Field Championships, Saturday, at Thunder Mountain Field. JDHS defeated Ketchikan for the team title with this win. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Mallory Welling leads the field en route to winning the girls 100 meter hurdles during the Region V Track & Field Championships, Saturday, at TMHS. From left: Ketchikan junior Linnea Loretan, Welling, Juneau-Douglas junior Hannah Brennell and JDHS freshman Isabella Reyes-Boyer. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Falcons girls nip Crimson Bears for DI track title

Welling honored as Female Athlete of the Meet

Thunder Mountain High School senior Mallory Welling leads the field en route to winning the girls 100 meter hurdles during the Region V Track & Field Championships, Saturday, at TMHS. From left: Ketchikan junior Linnea Loretan, Welling, Juneau-Douglas junior Hannah Brennell and JDHS freshman Isabella Reyes-Boyer. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire
Sitka High School senior Silas Demmert cruises to a win in the Division II boys 1,600-meter race.

Sitka dominates DII at Region V Track & Field Championships

Wolves’ Silas Demmert, Clare Mullin named athletes of the meet

Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire
Sitka High School senior Silas Demmert cruises to a win in the Division II boys 1,600-meter race.
The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Ships in Port for the Week of May 21

Here’s what to expect this week.

  • May 21, 2023
The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
JDHS junior Brendan West wins the DI high jump as coach Jesse Stringer looks on during the Region V Track & Field Championships, Friday, at Thunder Mountain. The championships resume Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls, KHS boys lead regions early

Sitka boys and girls leading small schools

JDHS junior Brendan West wins the DI high jump as coach Jesse Stringer looks on during the Region V Track & Field Championships, Friday, at Thunder Mountain. The championships resume Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Athlete Tammy Birch carries the torch with help from Branden Horst during the Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run at Twin Lakes Park Saturday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Annual fundraiser run torches last year’s total

Around $15,000 was raised to go toward athletes on the Special Olympics Alaska Juneau team.

Athlete Tammy Birch carries the torch with help from Branden Horst during the Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run at Twin Lakes Park Saturday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of the only crossing between the Juneau mainland and Douglas Island. On Thursday the City and Borough of Juneau Public Works and Facilities Committee hosted an open forum about a potential second crossing. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Salmon Creek site emerges as preference during second crossing meeting

“I feel like salmon creek has the least financial impacts, the least wetland impact.”

This is a photo of the only crossing between the Juneau mainland and Douglas Island. On Thursday the City and Borough of Juneau Public Works and Facilities Committee hosted an open forum about a potential second crossing. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
TMHS student Lelehua Fujimoto Vertido in her watercolor workshop for which she received an award at this year’s Alaska Student Activities Association’s Region V Art Fest in Yakutat. (Courtesy Photo / Heather Ridgway)
TMHS student Lelehua Fujimoto Vertido in her watercolor workshop for which she received an award at this year’s Alaska Student Activities Association’s Region V Art Fest in Yakutat. (Courtesy Photo / Heather Ridgway)