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Folkapotamus featuring Andrew Heist, Annie Bartholomew, Erin Heist and Nicole Lantz play to a pack house Saturday night at JDHS for the 48th annual Alaska Folk Festival. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Come rain or volcanoes, the show must folk on

48th annaul Alaska Folk Festival wraps up with a bang.

Folkapotamus featuring Andrew Heist, Annie Bartholomew, Erin Heist and Nicole Lantz play to a pack house Saturday night at JDHS for the 48th annual Alaska Folk Festival. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau’s city manager, Rorie Watt, speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce in July. On Friday Watt announced his plans to resign from his position at the end of September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau city manager to resign this fall

Rorie Watt announced his resignation Friday evening.

City and Borough of Juneau’s city manager, Rorie Watt, speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce in July. On Friday Watt announced his plans to resign from his position at the end of September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Members of the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee meet Wednesday as they hear department presentations about next year’s proposed budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Spending up, taxes up, population stagnant in Juneau

Last week, during a scheduled CBJ Assembly Finance Committee meeting, City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) staff introduced the FY2024 draft budget for consideration. This… Continue reading

  • Apr 15, 2023
  • By Win Gruening
Members of the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee meet Wednesday as they hear department presentations about next year’s proposed budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Residents in Juneau and across Alaska were subjected to dozens of flight cancellations due to air travel disruptions from ash that drifted from a volcanic eruption on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula earlier this week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Flight cancellations continue amid volcanic eruption disruptions

Alaska Airlines reported 84 cancelled flights as of Friday afternoon.

Residents in Juneau and across Alaska were subjected to dozens of flight cancellations due to air travel disruptions from ash that drifted from a volcanic eruption on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula earlier this week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Residents jog along the downtown cruise ship docks Friday morning. Downtown is about to become much busier starting Monday as Juneau welcomes the first cruise ship of the 2023 season. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

First cruise ship of the season to arrive Monday

Juneau is expected to welcome a record-breaking amount of passengers this summer.

Residents jog along the downtown cruise ship docks Friday morning. Downtown is about to become much busier starting Monday as Juneau welcomes the first cruise ship of the 2023 season. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Ron Soherville, a Juneau resident, testifies in favor of a bill restricting sex and gender content in public schools during a House Education Committee meeting Thursday night. He was surrounded by a crowd of mostly students who testified against the bill. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

‘Parental rights’ sequel: Six hours of separation

About 180 more people testify mostly in opposition to bill, but legislators’ minds appear unchanged

Ron Soherville, a Juneau resident, testifies in favor of a bill restricting sex and gender content in public schools during a House Education Committee meeting Thursday night. He was surrounded by a crowd of mostly students who testified against the bill. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A Transportation Security Administration officer checks luggage at the Juneau International Airport in March. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Two Juneau residents arrested on drug charges at airport

The seized narcotics have an estimated street value of $111,300.

A Transportation Security Administration officer checks luggage at the Juneau International Airport in March. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Leeann Thomas, third-generation owner of the Triangle Club, stands before the business her grandfather started in 1947. The location has a long history of Juneau businesses. (Laurie Craig / For the Downtown Business Association)

Rooted in Community: The Triangle Club and 76 years of the Thomas family

Historical photos hang in the building that once housed the famous Winter and Pond photo studio.

Leeann Thomas, third-generation owner of the Triangle Club, stands before the business her grandfather started in 1947. The location has a long history of Juneau businesses. (Laurie Craig / For the Downtown Business Association)
Gavel Alaska screenshot The House Finance Committee hears a presentation Monday by Joshua Strauss. The presentation informed legislators of the potential of carbon offset programs.

Bill proposing carbon offsets meets lukewarm reaction in key committee

House Finance members express skepticism about claimed benefits

Gavel Alaska screenshot The House Finance Committee hears a presentation Monday by Joshua Strauss. The presentation informed legislators of the potential of carbon offset programs.
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File A black bear looks around near the Shrine of St. Therese in 2021.

Experts offer advice as bears exit hibernation

Safety tips to bear in mind.

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File A black bear looks around near the Shrine of St. Therese in 2021.
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau Montessori School student Caleb Schane, 13, testifies in favor of a bill increasing education funding during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Thursday.

Hard math begins on education funding boost

Testimony nearly unanimous in favor of 22.5% proposed increase; senators ask how to pay for it

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau Montessori School student Caleb Schane, 13, testifies in favor of a bill increasing education funding during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Thursday.
A Juneau Police Department vehicle parks in front of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalè in early September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Police: Student arrested after firearm seized at JDHS

The student has been taken to the Johnson Youth Center.

A Juneau Police Department vehicle parks in front of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalè in early September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a crater and an ash cloud after the Shiveluch volcano erupted in Klyuchi village on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka Peninsula’s most active volcanoes, started erupting early Tuesday, spewing ash more than 300 miles (500 kilometers) northwest. Several Russian villages were covered in grey volcanic dust in the largest fallout in nearly 60 years. (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies via AP)

Russia eruption sets off chain of flight cancellations in Juneau and across the state

A volcanic eruption more than 2,500 miles away from Juneau on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has caused dozens of flight cancellations and delays across Alaska, including… Continue reading

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a crater and an ash cloud after the Shiveluch volcano erupted in Klyuchi village on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka Peninsula’s most active volcanoes, started erupting early Tuesday, spewing ash more than 300 miles (500 kilometers) northwest. Several Russian villages were covered in grey volcanic dust in the largest fallout in nearly 60 years. (Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies via AP)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl poses for a photo before heading to Anchorage over the weekend to participate in the AABC all-star exhibition game.

JDHS senior carries on family’s basketball tradition

Orion Dybdahl selected to play in AABC all-star game.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl poses for a photo before heading to Anchorage over the weekend to participate in the AABC all-star exhibition game.
Dave Scanlan, General Manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area, speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee Thursday evening about the municipal- owned ski area’s budget for fiscal year 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Eaglecrest proposes 10% rate increase on all products next year

Eaglecrest general manager outlines the ski area’s proposed budget to begin in July.

Dave Scanlan, General Manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area, speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee Thursday evening about the municipal- owned ski area’s budget for fiscal year 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Juneau Forest Service along with Hecla staff answer questions posed by the public regarding the Greens Creek Mine expansion alternatives on Wednesday during an open house hosted by the Juneau Ranger District. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Ranger District hosts open house for Greens Creek Mine expansion project

45-day comment period open until May 8.

Members of the Juneau Forest Service along with Hecla staff answer questions posed by the public regarding the Greens Creek Mine expansion alternatives on Wednesday during an open house hosted by the Juneau Ranger District. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Photos by Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Lisa Puananimôhala’ikalani Denny sings while on stage at the Alaskan Hotel and Bar during the Alaska Folk Festival side-stage event “Unceded” Tuesday evening. Below, Lester Joel Rodriguez also performed during the event.
Capital City Weekly

‘Unceded’ Folk Fest event celebrates artists of color and the diversity of folk music

Nearly a dozen Southeast Alaska-based Black, Indigenous and other artists of color took the stage.

Photos by Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Lisa Puananimôhala’ikalani Denny sings while on stage at the Alaskan Hotel and Bar during the Alaska Folk Festival side-stage event “Unceded” Tuesday evening. Below, Lester Joel Rodriguez also performed during the event.
Alaska House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, right, confers with other House members during a break in the floor debate last Wednesday about next year’s proposed budget. She said the original plan of passing a budget last week has shifted due to discussions with the Senate about resolving differences in their spending plans, with a floor vote now planned by early next week.

Budget stalls in House as leaders confer with Senate

Lawmakers trying to work out differences on PFD, education, deficit as final month of session nears

Alaska House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, right, confers with other House members during a break in the floor debate last Wednesday about next year’s proposed budget. She said the original plan of passing a budget last week has shifted due to discussions with the Senate about resolving differences in their spending plans, with a floor vote now planned by early next week.
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30 why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday.

Public gets another chance to opine on ‘parental rights’ bill

Supporters hoping for bigger presence than first meeting when 90% of testimony opposed proposal

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30 why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday.
(Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire File)

JDHS boys soccer starts season on the right foot

JDHS beat TMHS 6-1.

  • Apr 12, 2023
  • Dana Zigmund For the Juneau Empire
(Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire File)