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A donor gives blood at the Blood Bank of Alaska’s Juneau center. The BBA recently issued a news release asking for donations to coincide with National Blood Donor Month.(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

‘There is an urgency’: Blood Bank of Alaska puts out call for donors

The request comes amid National Blood Donor Month.

A donor gives blood at the Blood Bank of Alaska’s Juneau center. The BBA recently issued a news release asking for donations to coincide with National Blood Donor Month.(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks with Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn. Before the eighth round of voting for speaker as the House meets for the third day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. (AP Photo / Andrew Harnik)

McCarthy makes big gains for speaker, but still falls short

House adjourned until 6 p.m. Alaska time.

  • Jan 6, 2023
  • By Lisa Mascaro and Farnoush Amiri Associated Press
  • Nation-World
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks with Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn. Before the eighth round of voting for speaker as the House meets for the third day to elect a speaker and convene the 118th Congress in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. (AP Photo / Andrew Harnik)
A wood frog pauses in the forest just off the Yukon River near the mouth of the Nation River. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Report of frog’s death greatly exaggerated

Alive and hopping.

A wood frog pauses in the forest just off the Yukon River near the mouth of the Nation River. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Alaska Sports Report This combination image shows many of the great women’s basketball players in Alaska’s history.

Alaska Sports Report: Picking Alaska’s greatest women’s basketball player

There were few layups, but there were definitely some slam dunks.

  • Jan 6, 2023
  • By Van Williams Alaska Sports Report
  • Basketball
Alaska Sports Report This combination image shows many of the great women’s basketball players in Alaska’s history.
Courtesy Photo / Bartlett Regional Hospital Hannah and Adam Weed with their daughter and newborn son Ethan on Tuesday at Bartlett Regional Hospital.

Rock-a-boat baby: Hospital welcomes 1st baby of 2023 with a special gift

Bartlett Hospital welcomes 1st baby of 2023 with special gift.

Courtesy Photo / Bartlett Regional Hospital Hannah and Adam Weed with their daughter and newborn son Ethan on Tuesday at Bartlett Regional Hospital.
A “sold” sign hangs outside the property that formerly housed Walmart in early December after it was announced it has been purchased by U-Haul. Company officials recently shared plans to unveil a temporary showroom at its new location by the end of January. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Moving fast: U-Haul plans to open doors at the end of the month for temporary showroom

The company is looking to hire around 15 people, according to U-Haul Company of Alaska president.

A “sold” sign hangs outside the property that formerly housed Walmart in early December after it was announced it has been purchased by U-Haul. Company officials recently shared plans to unveil a temporary showroom at its new location by the end of January. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A cycle rickshaw passes the North State Office Building parking garage located on Willoughby Avenue in downtown Juneau in September. A $30 million request to pay for upgrades to the parking garage tied for first on a list of requests for state legislative funding as ranked by Juneau Assembly members. Assembly Member Alicia Hughes-Skandijs said expanding parking there can free up other downtown space for housing and other development, which is a top overall goal of city leaders. The parking upgrade is officially ranked second on the list since a request to further development of the Pederson Hill Subdivision had a higher ranking on last year’s priority list. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City, school district draft legislative priorties

Assembly members rank housing projects high, while school board opts for new tactic of broader goals

A cycle rickshaw passes the North State Office Building parking garage located on Willoughby Avenue in downtown Juneau in September. A $30 million request to pay for upgrades to the parking garage tied for first on a list of requests for state legislative funding as ranked by Juneau Assembly members. Assembly Member Alicia Hughes-Skandijs said expanding parking there can free up other downtown space for housing and other development, which is a top overall goal of city leaders. The parking upgrade is officially ranked second on the list since a request to further development of the Pederson Hill Subdivision had a higher ranking on last year’s priority list. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, City Manager Rorie Watt and Finance Director Jeff Rogers discuss a package of proposals addressing recruiting and retaining city employees during the Wednesday evening Assembly Finance Committee meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City mulls package of perks to fill vacancies

It includes bigger sign-on bonus, retirement fund match and child care contribution.

From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, City Manager Rorie Watt and Finance Director Jeff Rogers discuss a package of proposals addressing recruiting and retaining city employees during the Wednesday evening Assembly Finance Committee meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Chunks of ice float on Mendenhall Lake in front of the Mendenhall Glacier on Monday, May 30, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A study of all of the world's 215,000 glaciers published on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, finds even if with the unlikely minimum warming of only a few tenths of a degrees more, the world will lose nearly half its glaciers by the end of the century. With the warming we're now on track to get, the world will lose two-thirds of its glaciers and overall glacier mass will drop by one-third while sea level rises 4.5 inches just from melting glaciers. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Study: Two-thirds of glaciers on track to disappear by 2100

The world’s glaciers are shrinking and disappearing faster than scientists thought…

Chunks of ice float on Mendenhall Lake in front of the Mendenhall Glacier on Monday, May 30, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A study of all of the world's 215,000 glaciers published on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, finds even if with the unlikely minimum warming of only a few tenths of a degrees more, the world will lose nearly half its glaciers by the end of the century. With the warming we're now on track to get, the world will lose two-thirds of its glaciers and overall glacier mass will drop by one-third while sea level rises 4.5 inches just from melting glaciers. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is surrounded by reporters as he walks to the House floor from the Speakers Office, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

McCarthy voted down time after time for House speaker

“Well, it’s Groundhog Day…”

  • Jan 4, 2023
  • By Lisa Mascaro and Farnoush Amiri Associated Press
  • Nation-World
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is surrounded by reporters as he walks to the House floor from the Speakers Office, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)
Cruise passengers walk near the docks in Juneau during the 2022 cruise ship season. Tourism-related industries and transportation had the highest rates of growth in Southeast Alaska last year as the region added 2,400 jobs instead of the 1,400 forecast in 2022, according to this month’s Alaska Economic Trends report. Seafood processing jobs saw the largest decline at 20%. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Southeast employment up 6.5% in ’22, 2.5% more expected in ’23

Record cruise season, construction growth will help post-pandemic recovery continue, state reports.

Cruise passengers walk near the docks in Juneau during the 2022 cruise ship season. Tourism-related industries and transportation had the highest rates of growth in Southeast Alaska last year as the region added 2,400 jobs instead of the 1,400 forecast in 2022, according to this month’s Alaska Economic Trends report. Seafood processing jobs saw the largest decline at 20%. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Students smile as they walk to their classes for the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast. The University of Alaska is set to receive 360,000 acres of federal land within the next four years, set in motion by a clause included in the recently passed $1.7 trillion federal spending bill. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

University of Alaska set to receive 360,000 acres of federal land

UAS chancellor hopeful Southeast Alaska lands will be included in transfer

Students smile as they walk to their classes for the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast. The University of Alaska is set to receive 360,000 acres of federal land within the next four years, set in motion by a clause included in the recently passed $1.7 trillion federal spending bill. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The City and Borough of Juneau will host its annual holiday tree recycling program Friday or Saturday, Jan. 20-21, from 10am - 4p.m. (Courtesy Photo / City and Borough of Juneau)

Free your tree after the holidays: CBJ offers free holiday tree recycling program Jan. 20-21

JDHS Cheer will also offer a pick up option

The City and Borough of Juneau will host its annual holiday tree recycling program Friday or Saturday, Jan. 20-21, from 10am - 4p.m. (Courtesy Photo / City and Borough of Juneau)
Takin’ Care of Bluegrass, seen here at Sandbar, consists of Jeremy Kane on banjo, Josh Fortenbery on guitar, Lindsay Clark on violin, James Cheng on bass and Andrew Heist on mandolin. They’re just one of five acts appearing on this month’s line up for the return of Gold Street Music concerts. (Courtesy photo / Annie Bartholomew)
Capital City Weekly

Gold Street Music returns home

“We’re really excited to be back where it all started.”

Takin’ Care of Bluegrass, seen here at Sandbar, consists of Jeremy Kane on banjo, Josh Fortenbery on guitar, Lindsay Clark on violin, James Cheng on bass and Andrew Heist on mandolin. They’re just one of five acts appearing on this month’s line up for the return of Gold Street Music concerts. (Courtesy photo / Annie Bartholomew)
TMHS junior forward James Polasky prepares to take a free throw Tuesday night during a home game against Service. Polasky missed the shot, but did sink a subsequent follow-up opportunity. Coach John Blasco said Polasky's play was among the positive takeaways from the 47-43 loss. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Falcons lose a close one to Service

Cougars sank their claws into a narrow lead.

TMHS junior forward James Polasky prepares to take a free throw Tuesday night during a home game against Service. Polasky missed the shot, but did sink a subsequent follow-up opportunity. Coach John Blasco said Polasky's play was among the positive takeaways from the 47-43 loss. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council’s office in Juneau is where the executive director is facing a challenge from several non-management employees who voted in December to unionize and are petitioning the National Labor Relations Board for recognition of that vote by the non-profit conservation organization . (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

SEACC entangled in union dispute

Non-management employees petition NLRB after vote to unionize not recognized by management

The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council’s office in Juneau is where the executive director is facing a challenge from several non-management employees who voted in December to unionize and are petitioning the National Labor Relations Board for recognition of that vote by the non-profit conservation organization . (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, sits in the House on April 29, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Eastman, accused of violating the state constitution’s disloyalty clause over his lifetime membership in Oath Keepers, has not condemned the organization in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S Capitol. “No, I generally don’t condemn groups,” Eastman, a Wasilla Republican, said during his bench hearing on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, his second day on the witness stand. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Man who challenged Eastman’s eligibility won’t appeal

The man who unsuccessfully challenged Alaska state Rep. David Eastman’s eligibility to hold office — over Eastman’s membership in the far-right Oath Keepers group —… Continue reading

Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, sits in the House on April 29, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Eastman, accused of violating the state constitution’s disloyalty clause over his lifetime membership in Oath Keepers, has not condemned the organization in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S Capitol. “No, I generally don’t condemn groups,” Eastman, a Wasilla Republican, said during his bench hearing on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, his second day on the witness stand. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., listens as the second round of votes are cast for the next Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

McCarthy fails in marathon votes for speaker

U.S. House adjourns in disarray.

  • Jan 3, 2023
  • By Lisa Mascaro, Farnoush Amiri and Kevin Freking Associated Press
  • Nation-World
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., listens as the second round of votes are cast for the next Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Juneau resident Denny DeWitt looks at the options for a second Douglas crossing during an open house as part of the evaluation process in early December at the Juneau Arts Humanities Council building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Second crossing’s 1st phase receives $7M in federal funding

City official says project is still long way from fruition

Juneau resident Denny DeWitt looks at the options for a second Douglas crossing during an open house as part of the evaluation process in early December at the Juneau Arts Humanities Council building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
While a lot about the year-to-come is sure to be a surprise some things, including housing, an impending legislative session and budget-making at all levels of government, among many others are certain to impact Juneau and its residents. (Moritz Knöringer / Unsplash)

Stories likely to break big in 2023

New housing, federally-funded projects, school leadership changes among items affecting Juneau

While a lot about the year-to-come is sure to be a surprise some things, including housing, an impending legislative session and budget-making at all levels of government, among many others are certain to impact Juneau and its residents. (Moritz Knöringer / Unsplash)