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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)
Capital City Weekly

Southeast student-artists shine at Region V Art Fest

Students from JDHS and TMHS competed in Yakutat art show.

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)
Volunteer Educator Rosemary Walling shows a group of Montessori Borealis first through third graders images of the Earth on Friday at the Marie Drake Planetarium as part of a special presentation of the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

A journey to the stars was the final field trip of the year

Kids treated to the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight.

Volunteer Educator Rosemary Walling shows a group of Montessori Borealis first through third graders images of the Earth on Friday at the Marie Drake Planetarium as part of a special presentation of the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a key ally of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, talks to reporters outside the Speaker office after debt limit negotiations with President Joe Biden's mediators came to an abrupt halt, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, May 19, 2023. McHenry said "We've taken a pause and we have significant gaps that have to be bridged for us to merit more conversation." (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)

Debt limit talks in standstill as Republicans, White House face ‘real differences’

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said it’s time to “pause” negotiations…

  • May 19, 2023
  • By Kevin Freking, Lisa Mascaro and Zeke Miller Associated Press
  • Nation-World
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a key ally of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, talks to reporters outside the Speaker office after debt limit negotiations with President Joe Biden's mediators came to an abrupt halt, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, May 19, 2023. McHenry said "We've taken a pause and we have significant gaps that have to be bridged for us to merit more conversation." (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
Thunder Mountain Falcons senior TJ Womack and family were celebrated Wednesday at Adair-Kennedy Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

TMHS honors seniors ahead of cross-town game

JDHS comes out on winning end of game.

Thunder Mountain Falcons senior TJ Womack and family were celebrated Wednesday at Adair-Kennedy Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
This is a picture of houses on Douglas along the Gastineau Channel in May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

City receives nearly 400 residential property assessment appeals

The Board of Equalization began hearing cases Thursday.

This is a picture of houses on Douglas along the Gastineau Channel in May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ryan Becker, a teacher at the Eagle school, takes a photo of his students as part of a continuing Yukon River ice study on May 12, 2023. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: When river breakup came to Eagle

the Yukon River’s solid sheets were breaking into smaller pieces.

Ryan Becker, a teacher at the Eagle school, takes a photo of his students as part of a continuing Yukon River ice study on May 12, 2023. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Photos by Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Sayéik: Gastineau Community School students enjoy hands-on learning with mining for minerals with Hecla and Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine employees. The mining company was just one of many volunteer organizations that participated in a STEAM event held at the school. The event was held during school hours to maximize student involvement.

STEAM comes to Sayeik: Gastineau Community School

District’s first time hosting during school hours for more student involvement.

Photos by Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Sayéik: Gastineau Community School students enjoy hands-on learning with mining for minerals with Hecla and Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine employees. The mining company was just one of many volunteer organizations that participated in a STEAM event held at the school. The event was held during school hours to maximize student involvement.
Thunder Mountain High School senior Mallory Welling stretches before a Falcons track practice on Wednesday. The Region V Track & Field Championships are Friday and Saturday at Falcons Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

A late-season heat with capital city track stars

Region V Track and Field Championships begin this weekend at TMHS.

Thunder Mountain High School senior Mallory Welling stretches before a Falcons track practice on Wednesday. The Region V Track & Field Championships are Friday and Saturday at Falcons Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Friday, May 19, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
State Sen. Bert Stedman, a Sitka Republican who co-chairs the Senate Finance Committee, details a list of 24 projects costing about $34 million that were added to the state budget during negotiations with House members Thursday. Behind Stedman in the audience section is nearly the entire 16-member House minority caucus, which voted in favor of the budget along with 10 members of the Republican-led House majority. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Unusual House coalition OKs budget to end special session on first day

10 members of Republican-led majority join minority after $34M in targeted capital projects added

State Sen. Bert Stedman, a Sitka Republican who co-chairs the Senate Finance Committee, details a list of 24 projects costing about $34 million that were added to the state budget during negotiations with House members Thursday. Behind Stedman in the audience section is nearly the entire 16-member House minority caucus, which voted in favor of the budget along with 10 members of the Republican-led House majority. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

CCFR responds to two fires in same week

No injuries reported in either incident.

(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Teaser

Why the ‘tree’ bill won’t grow revenue

Most legislators seem to recognize that this isn’t the commencement of a visionary plan.

  • May 18, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
Teaser
A ballot is placed in a drop box during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Vote-by-mail elections now permanent in Juneau

Assembly voted for the change despite some public pushback.

A ballot is placed in a drop box during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Greg Smith and Christine Woll discuss the mill rate during Wednesday night’s Finance Committee meeting. Member voted to decrease the mill rate to 10.16. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly votes to lower property tax rate

The approved 10.16 mill rate means that for every $1,000 in property value there is a tax of $10.16.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Greg Smith and Christine Woll discuss the mill rate during Wednesday night’s Finance Committee meeting. Member voted to decrease the mill rate to 10.16. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)