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West Anchorage High School’s Zephaniah Sailele (6) breaks through Juneau defenders during Saturday’s game at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Huskies come up short at home in 28-27 nailbiter against West Anchorage

Juneau jumps out to 19-0 lead on Eagles’ mistakes, but end up in battle until final few seconds

West Anchorage High School’s Zephaniah Sailele (6) breaks through Juneau defenders during Saturday’s game at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A memorial in the doorway on Front Street where Steven Kissack was sitting when he was approached by a police officer on July 15, resulting in a 16-minute encounter that ended with him being fatally shot, includes photos, written messages and a “food for friends” dropoff box on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Some say minds not changed by bodycams of Steven Kissack’s death, but shooting has changed lives

Many suggest downtown confrontation could have been defused before police felt forced to shoot.

A memorial in the doorway on Front Street where Steven Kissack was sitting when he was approached by a police officer on July 15, resulting in a 16-minute encounter that ended with him being fatally shot, includes photos, written messages and a “food for friends” dropoff box on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The road entrance to Kenai Fjords National Park is marked by a sign, seen on Aug. 27, 2022. The National Park Service has released its annual report on the economic impact of park visitation. Alaska is among the states that reaps the most economic benefit from visitors to its national parks, according to the report. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Visitors to Alaska’s national parklands pumped $2.3 billion into the state’s economy, report says

Tourism to national parks in Alaska has rebounded from pre-pandemic levels after three years of lower numbers, according to a report released by the National… Continue reading

The road entrance to Kenai Fjords National Park is marked by a sign, seen on Aug. 27, 2022. The National Park Service has released its annual report on the economic impact of park visitation. Alaska is among the states that reaps the most economic benefit from visitors to its national parks, according to the report. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Abby Dolan (wearing green) tries to take down Sofia Contreras during a Juneau Youth Wrestling Club camp Sept. 1 at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Youths try to get a leg up — and opponents down — with help from pros at wrestling camps

With participation by girls rising and school teams getting bigger, every tip helps

Abby Dolan (wearing green) tries to take down Sofia Contreras during a Juneau Youth Wrestling Club camp Sept. 1 at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
William Steadman, a Juneau resident, is suspected producing child pornography, according to law enforcement officials. (Photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice)

Juneau man arrested on federal charge of producing child pornography

William Steadman, 34, has previous related conviction; officials say current case may have more victims.

William Steadman, a Juneau resident, is suspected producing child pornography, according to law enforcement officials. (Photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice)
An overhead view of the overflowing portion of the glacier-dammed lake at Suicide Basin. (Christian Kienholz / Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center)

Spending $3M to fund half of a Suicide Basin protection study gets Assembly consideration Monday

Meeting will also consider $700,000 in short-term flooding measures, plus help for hospital programs.

An overhead view of the overflowing portion of the glacier-dammed lake at Suicide Basin. (Christian Kienholz / Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center)
Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024, the first day of class for the current school year. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Consolidated schools during first month of classes are great, awful or illegal, depending on who’s asked

Superintendent offers praise; teachers fret about class sizes; TMMS students forced to repeat classes.

Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024, the first day of class for the current school year. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Alaska Supreme Court is seen in session on June 27 in Boney Courthouse in Anchorage. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Supreme Court rejects Democrats’ attempt to remove candidate from U.S. House ballot

Eric Hafner on ballot with Democrat Mary Peltola, Republican Nick Begich and AIP’s John Wayne Howe.

The Alaska Supreme Court is seen in session on June 27 in Boney Courthouse in Anchorage. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
Workers pave the surface of 10th Street near the intersection of Egan Drive on Wednesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Paving the way: 10th Street reconstruction scheduled for completion by end of September

Work part of larger project that includes upgrades to water, sewer, sidewalks, other infrastructure.

Workers pave the surface of 10th Street near the intersection of Egan Drive on Wednesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 14, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Sept. 14

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 14, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Steven Kissack (left) is seen holding a knife in this July 15 bodycam footage from Juneau Police Department Officer Terry Allen a few seconds before Kissack runs toward Allen. Two other officers at the scene said they shot Kissack because Allen was holding a non-lethal bean bag launcher that had fired off all of its rounds. (Screenshot from JPD bodycam video)

State report: Officers who shot Steven Kissack say he ran at officer who was holding an unloaded weapon

24-page letter from attorney general includes interviews, autopsy and other tests, and legal findings.

Steven Kissack (left) is seen holding a knife in this July 15 bodycam footage from Juneau Police Department Officer Terry Allen a few seconds before Kissack runs toward Allen. Two other officers at the scene said they shot Kissack because Allen was holding a non-lethal bean bag launcher that had fired off all of its rounds. (Screenshot from JPD bodycam video)
Joe Wanner (center), chief financial officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital, fills in to give the CEO report to the hospital’s board of directors during an Aug. 27 meeting. The appointment of Wanner as Bartlett’s new permanent CEO was announced Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Joe Wanner, chief financial officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital, will be its new CEO

Unanimous board vote, effective Sept. 29, will make him first permanent CEO in more than a year.

Joe Wanner (center), chief financial officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital, fills in to give the CEO report to the hospital’s board of directors during an Aug. 27 meeting. The appointment of Wanner as Bartlett’s new permanent CEO was announced Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
More than 100 local police, firefighters, military personnel and other people gather Wednesday morning at the September 11th Memorial at Riverside Rotary Park to observe the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed 2,996 people. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

An ‘invitation to remember’ on 9/11 for those who haven’t had a chance to ‘never forget’

More than 100 people attend Juneau anniversary ceremony where lessons for a new generation are shared.

More than 100 local police, firefighters, military personnel and other people gather Wednesday morning at the September 11th Memorial at Riverside Rotary Park to observe the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed 2,996 people. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Steven Kissack, sitting in a covered entryway on Front Street, is approached by Juneau Police Department officer Lee Phelps at about 1:10 p.m. July 15. (Screenshot from Phelps’s bodycam video)

The bodycam of the first officer to approach Steven Kissack is 17 minutes long. Here’s what it shows.

A calm beginning, a sudden escalation and a friend trying to help is told “call my sister if they kill me.”

Steven Kissack, sitting in a covered entryway on Front Street, is approached by Juneau Police Department officer Lee Phelps at about 1:10 p.m. July 15. (Screenshot from Phelps’s bodycam video)
Steven Kissack is seen holding a knife seconds before he is fatally shot July 15 by officers in this screenshot from bodycam footage from Juneau Police Department officer Lee Phelps that was made public Tuesday. (Screenshot from JPD bodycam footage)

State: Officers ‘legally justified in their use of deadly force’ in shooting of Steven Kissack

Bodycam footage from four JPD officers, plus a rooftop cellphone video, released to public.

Steven Kissack is seen holding a knife seconds before he is fatally shot July 15 by officers in this screenshot from bodycam footage from Juneau Police Department officer Lee Phelps that was made public Tuesday. (Screenshot from JPD bodycam footage)
An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau, Alaska on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Anchorage judge rules that imprisoned Democrat will remain on Alaska’s U.S. House ballot

The decision will be appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court.

An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau, Alaska on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
(Juneau Empire staff)

Juneau Empire’s voter guide for Oct. 1 municipal election

Mayor, Assembly, school board, municipal bond and cruise ship items on ballots being mailed Thursday.

(Juneau Empire staff)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Lily Weed, 4, visits with Cade Jobsis, 3, during a walkathon Saturday at the Mendenhall Mall to raise funds for treatment for a rare genetic disorder he has.

A lot of steps forward to help Cade Jobsis, 3, seek treatment for rare genetic disorder

Walkathon at Mendenhall Mall raises about $40K for Juneau youth with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Lily Weed, 4, visits with Cade Jobsis, 3, during a walkathon Saturday at the Mendenhall Mall to raise funds for treatment for a rare genetic disorder he has.
Juneau City Manager Katie Koester (right) and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr discuss the possibility of another flood this year from Suicide Basin with Mary Marks, a Juneau Assembly candidate, during a meeting of the Assembly’s Committee of the Whole on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Another large flood from Suicide Basin in October is possible, city leaders warn

Water building up again in ice dam could freeze, partially release or trigger another full release.

Juneau City Manager Katie Koester (right) and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr discuss the possibility of another flood this year from Suicide Basin with Mary Marks, a Juneau Assembly candidate, during a meeting of the Assembly’s Committee of the Whole on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Workers at the Alaska Division of Elections’ State Review Board consider ballots on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the division’s headquarters in Juneau. At background is the Alaska State Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

After Alaska’s primary election, here’s how the state’s legislative races are shaping up

Senate’s bipartisan coalition appears likely to continue, but control of the state House is a tossup.

Workers at the Alaska Division of Elections’ State Review Board consider ballots on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at the division’s headquarters in Juneau. At background is the Alaska State Capitol. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)