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Josh Fortenbery performs a song written about Steven Kissack as three of his siblings, seated, listen during a memorial gathering Sunday at Marine Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Family, friends of Steven Kissack united from afar at memorial gathering after his death

Remembered as a youth who loved to read, dreamed of Alaska and kept giving even while on the streets.

Josh Fortenbery performs a song written about Steven Kissack as three of his siblings, seated, listen during a memorial gathering Sunday at Marine Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department’s wellness room, seen on Friday, offers a retreat from stress. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

The work of the Juneau Police Department’s Wellness Program is never done

JPD destigmatizes mental health needs of officers, who also get crisis and de-escalation training.

The Juneau Police Department’s wellness room, seen on Friday, offers a retreat from stress. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Homes in Ketchikan are damaged by a landslide on Sunday. (Ketchikan Gateway Borough photo)

One person killed as major landslide impacts homes in Ketchikan, forces evacuations

Emergency agencies, including statewide and in Juneau, responding as state disaster declared.

Homes in Ketchikan are damaged by a landslide on Sunday. (Ketchikan Gateway Borough photo)
Sigrid Bogert and Fathom Mitchell, both 11, toss straw used during a children’s game into a wheelbarrow to place on a garden plot during the 30th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Community Garden celebrates bountiful 30th annual Harvest Festival

Founders had to make own soil to start garden; now a chef makes festival food from what’s grown.

Sigrid Bogert and Fathom Mitchell, both 11, toss straw used during a children’s game into a wheelbarrow to place on a garden plot during the 30th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé linemen Ricky Tupou, (77), Jonah Mahle (54), Walter Haube-Law (55) and Benny Zukas (58) block for Ethan Van Kirk (3) during Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Huskies run over Service 48-6 in season home opener

Offensive line plays “best game in more than a year” as JDHS overcomes injury to starting QB.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé linemen Ricky Tupou, (77), Jonah Mahle (54), Walter Haube-Law (55) and Benny Zukas (58) block for Ethan Van Kirk (3) during Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Sportfishers can’t keep king salmon caught in Southeast waters under emergency order starting Monday

Ban in effect until Oct. 1 unlikely to affect fishing tours since few kings being caught, operators say.

A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people gather in Juneau for the opening of Celebration on June 5, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska appeals federal court ruling that was a step toward new ‘Indian country’ here

The state of Alaska is continuing its effort to oppose Alaska Native tribes’ effort to protect traditional lands via federal trust. On Friday, the Alaska… Continue reading

Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people gather in Juneau for the opening of Celebration on June 5, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Five of the six candidates seeking three open seats on the Juneau Board of Education participate in a forum hosted by the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce at the Juneau Moose Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School board candidate forum focuses on lessons learned from consolidation process

Five of six candidates running for three seats answer questions about “what ifs” and “what’s next.”

Five of the six candidates seeking three open seats on the Juneau Board of Education participate in a forum hosted by the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce at the Juneau Moose Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Coast Guard participates in the annual heat-and-beat on Coast Guard cutter Kukui on Wednesday, a competition where teams from different cutters heat up a pin in order for it to be smashed down and sealed tightly. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard members buoy each other up in annual training

The Buoy Tender Olympics teaches teamwork, cohesive training for cutters across the Pacific.

The U.S. Coast Guard participates in the annual heat-and-beat on Coast Guard cutter Kukui on Wednesday, a competition where teams from different cutters heat up a pin in order for it to be smashed down and sealed tightly. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom talks with city officials before a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, June 24, 2024, at Aurora Harbor. She dropped out of the U.S. House race on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom drops out of U.S. House race after third-place primary finish

Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola now faces one-on-one matchup against Republican Nick Begich III.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom talks with city officials before a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, June 24, 2024, at Aurora Harbor. She dropped out of the U.S. House race on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 24, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 24, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Huskies players face off against each other during practice Tuesday in preparation for Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Huskies enter first home game of season with key players who are stronger, faster and more confident

After opening loss against East Anchorage, football team sets sights on beating Service High School.

Juneau Huskies players face off against each other during practice Tuesday in preparation for Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Bruce Scandling receives his ballot for Alaska’s primary election at the Mendenhall Mall Annex on Saturday morning from election officials Jackie Rosenbruch and Barb Murray. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Juneau has higher turnout, more liberal voting compared to statewide results in primary election

Klukwan defies low turnout statewide, with 55.56% of village’s registered voters casting ballots.

Bruce Scandling receives his ballot for Alaska’s primary election at the Mendenhall Mall Annex on Saturday morning from election officials Jackie Rosenbruch and Barb Murray. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Pins supporting the repeal of ranked choice voting are seen on April 20, 2024, at the Republican state convention in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Supreme Court upholds ranked choice repeal initiative, now bound for November vote

A ballot measure that could repeal Alaska’s ranked choice election system is headed to a vote in November, the Alaska Supreme Court confirmed Thursday. In… Continue reading

Pins supporting the repeal of ranked choice voting are seen on April 20, 2024, at the Republican state convention in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Students heading to Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé board a bus at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Wednesday morning. While the stop is designated as a park-and-ride option for students, those boarding the bus either walked to the stop or were dropped off by parents. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Changes in student transportation are all over the map after consolidation of schools

Many students say things are fine, but illegal parking and bus woes are prompting course corrections.

Students heading to Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé board a bus at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Wednesday morning. While the stop is designated as a park-and-ride option for students, those boarding the bus either walked to the stop or were dropped off by parents. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Tlingít Code Talker Robert Jeff David Sr., is buried in the Jones Point Cemetery in Haines. (Francisco Martínezcuello / Chilkat Valley News)

Q&A: The role of Alaska Native and Tlingít soldiers in WWII code talking

A conversation with author William Meadows

Tlingít Code Talker Robert Jeff David Sr., is buried in the Jones Point Cemetery in Haines. (Francisco Martínezcuello / Chilkat Valley News)
Finalists to be Bartlett Regional Hospital’s new chief executive officer are, from left to right, Jon Friedenberg, Melanee Tiura and Joe Wanner. (Photos provided by Bartlett Regional Hospital)

Bartlett Regional Hospital schedules public meetings, interviews with three CEO finalists

Candidates include hospital’s CFO, leader at Alaska health entities, and longtime out-of-state medical CEO.

Finalists to be Bartlett Regional Hospital’s new chief executive officer are, from left to right, Jon Friedenberg, Melanee Tiura and Joe Wanner. (Photos provided by Bartlett Regional Hospital)
A large primnoid coral loaded with brittle stars, a marine relative of sea stars. The underwater image was captured on the Dickins Seamount during a 2004 research cruise in the Gulf of Alaska. A new lawsuit claims fishery managers have failed to adequately protect Gulf of Alaska corals and sponges. (Photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Lawsuit claims fishery managers have failed to adequately protect Alaska’s coral gardens

Environmental group seeks stronger limits to bottom trawling in the Gulf of Alaska.

A large primnoid coral loaded with brittle stars, a marine relative of sea stars. The underwater image was captured on the Dickins Seamount during a 2004 research cruise in the Gulf of Alaska. A new lawsuit claims fishery managers have failed to adequately protect Gulf of Alaska corals and sponges. (Photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau woman arrested on suspicion of robberies during past week at gas station, cafe

Suspect twice robbed a gas station at knifepoint, coffee shop/dispensary with mask.

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Republican businessperson Nick Begich III, Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom and Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola are among 12 candidates competing in the primary for the seat currently held by Peltola. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Peltola leads in Alaska U.S. House primary, with Begich ahead of Dahlstrom

Turnout appears to be low in primary with only one statewide race.

Republican businessperson Nick Begich III, Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom and Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola are among 12 candidates competing in the primary for the seat currently held by Peltola. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)