Home

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Volunteers clear deadwood and undergrowth as part of the cleanup of the cemetery near Lawson Creek on May 14, 2022.

Clearing and healing: Lawson Creek Cemetery restoration continues

Volunteers are bringing what was neglected back to light.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Volunteers clear deadwood and undergrowth as part of the cleanup of the cemetery near Lawson Creek on May 14, 2022.
This October 2020 photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast campus. Neo (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

UA moves forward with faculty salary increases; union says negotiations aren’t done

The university and United Academics have recently been engaged in federal mediation.

This October 2020 photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast campus. Neo (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
This screenshot of Google Earth shows the area of a proposed “green corridor” from Seattle to Southeast Alaska. (Screenshot)

Juneau joins first effort at ‘green corridor’ for cruise ships

Government, industry officials in Seattle, Canda and Juneau set goal of net-zero emmisions by 2050.

This screenshot of Google Earth shows the area of a proposed “green corridor” from Seattle to Southeast Alaska. (Screenshot)
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, chair of the bicameral conference committee tasked with hammering out differences in the state's budget bill, signs the committee report as members finished their work on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire

Committee compromises on PFD in budget plan

Process moves forward as deadline looms.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, chair of the bicameral conference committee tasked with hammering out differences in the state's budget bill, signs the committee report as members finished their work on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Smoke and steam rise from a coal processing plant in Hejin in central China’s Shanxi Province on Nov. 28, 2019. A study released on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, blames pollution of all types for 9 million deaths a year globally, with the death toll attributed to dirty air from cars, trucks and industry rising 55% since 2000. (AP Photo / Sam McNeil File)

Study finds global pollution kills 9 million people a year, study finds

Overall pollution deaths in 2019 were about the same as 2015, according to the study.

Smoke and steam rise from a coal processing plant in Hejin in central China’s Shanxi Province on Nov. 28, 2019. A study released on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, blames pollution of all types for 9 million deaths a year globally, with the death toll attributed to dirty air from cars, trucks and industry rising 55% since 2000. (AP Photo / Sam McNeil File)
Coast Guard Sector Juneau deployed a number of assets including an MH-60 Jayhawk to search for a woman reported fallen overboard from a cruise ship near the Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal on May 17, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Search for cruise passenger reported overboard suspended

Multiple Coast Guard assets were deployed but no sign of the woman was found

Coast Guard Sector Juneau deployed a number of assets including an MH-60 Jayhawk to search for a woman reported fallen overboard from a cruise ship near the Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal on May 17, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
t

Senate effectively kills restrictive transgender sports bill

Bipartisan group of senators votes to table controversial bill.

t
From left to right, Nick Begich III, foreground, and John Coghill, state Sen. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, and Tara Sweeney, all Republican candidates for Alaska's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, were at Juneau's Baranoff Hotel on Tuesday, May 16, 2022, for a debate hosted by local Republicans. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Republican candidates for Congress make their case in Juneau

Republican roundtable.

From left to right, Nick Begich III, foreground, and John Coghill, state Sen. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, and Tara Sweeney, all Republican candidates for Alaska's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, were at Juneau's Baranoff Hotel on Tuesday, May 16, 2022, for a debate hosted by local Republicans. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The jury section stands empty between rounds of the jury selection process in the trial for a man charged in a stabbing in downtown Juneau in 2019 on May 16, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Jury selection begins for 2019 stabbing trial

The process, which can take several days, precedes the opening statements by the defense and prosecution.

The jury section stands empty between rounds of the jury selection process in the trial for a man charged in a stabbing in downtown Juneau in 2019 on May 16, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Alaska House of Representatives on Saturday, May 14, 2022, rejected the budget bill passed by the Senate earlier in the week. The bill will now go to a bicameral committee for negotiations, but the end of the legislative session is May 18. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Update: Budget to be shaped by committee as session nears end

Close vote.

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives on Saturday, May 14, 2022, rejected the budget bill passed by the Senate earlier in the week. The bill will now go to a bicameral committee for negotiations, but the end of the legislative session is May 18. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Candidate for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives Tara Sweeney, a Republican, was in Juneau on Monday, May 16, 2022, and sat down with the Empire for an interview. Sweeney said the three main pillars of her campaign are the economy, jobs and healthy communities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Sweeney cites experience in run for Congress

‘An Alaskan for all Alaska.’

Candidate for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives Tara Sweeney, a Republican, was in Juneau on Monday, May 16, 2022, and sat down with the Empire for an interview. Sweeney said the three main pillars of her campaign are the economy, jobs and healthy communities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Law enforcement personnel salute as officer lay a ceremonial wreath on the grave of a dead officer at Evergreen Cemetery for Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 13, 2022.

‘The ultimate sacrifice’: Law enforcement personnel gather for Peace Officers Memorial Day

The ceremony was held for Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Law enforcement personnel salute as officer lay a ceremonial wreath on the grave of a dead officer at Evergreen Cemetery for Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 13, 2022.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Players at a disc golf community workshop held by Uplay throw discs at the target at Dimond Park Field House on May 12, 2022.

Disc-y business: Nonprofit brings love, art of disc golf to Juneau residents

Juneau has disc fever.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Players at a disc golf community workshop held by Uplay throw discs at the target at Dimond Park Field House on May 12, 2022.
Of the more than 460 stoOf the more than 460 stocks managed by NOAA, 322 have a known overfishing status (296 not subject to overfishing and 26 subject to overfishing) and 252 have a known overfished status (201 not overfished and 51 overfished). (Courtesy Image / NOAA)

Southeast fisheries hoping for less turbulent waters

Regions and species see wildly variably conditions due to climate and COVID-19, according to two new NOAA reports.

Of the more than 460 stoOf the more than 460 stocks managed by NOAA, 322 have a known overfishing status (296 not subject to overfishing and 26 subject to overfishing) and 252 have a known overfished status (201 not overfished and 51 overfished). (Courtesy Image / NOAA)
Members of the House Majority Coalition spent most of Friday, May 13, 2022 in caucus meetings at the Alaska State Capitol, discussing how to proceed with a large budget bill some have called irresponsible. With a thin majority in the House of Representatives, there's a possibility the budget could pass. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House schedules Saturday floor session for budget debate

Close vote expected.

Members of the House Majority Coalition spent most of Friday, May 13, 2022 in caucus meetings at the Alaska State Capitol, discussing how to proceed with a large budget bill some have called irresponsible. With a thin majority in the House of Representatives, there's a possibility the budget could pass. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Yukon River ice flows down from the Canada portion of the river about 24 hours after the river broke up in front of Eagle, Alaska, the first U.S. town on the Yukon. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska’s big river breaks up at Eagle

The shell of ice fractured. A torrent of the cold, brown river water shoved the shards downstream.

  • May 13, 2022
  • By Ned Rozell
Yukon River ice flows down from the Canada portion of the river about 24 hours after the river broke up in front of Eagle, Alaska, the first U.S. town on the Yukon. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss, right, and other district leaders present a request for extra funding for middle school wrestling mats to the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday. The request was first requested Monday by a wrestling coach who stating student safety is endangered by the aging and damaged mats currently in use, but the committee rejected the request due to concerns about a deficit in next year’s budget and worries about motivating others to make similar last-minute requests. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

City confronts spending today, paying tomorrow

Assembly considers items on its “decision list” as budget process moves along.

Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss, right, and other district leaders present a request for extra funding for middle school wrestling mats to the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday. The request was first requested Monday by a wrestling coach who stating student safety is endangered by the aging and damaged mats currently in use, but the committee rejected the request due to concerns about a deficit in next year’s budget and worries about motivating others to make similar last-minute requests. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau City Finance Director Jeff Rogers, left, explains how $5,500 payments to residents approved by the Alaska Senate may endanger a $16 million school bond reimbursement payment to the city during a meeting of the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

$5,500 checks to residents may come at city’s expense

Record payments to residents OK’d by state Senate could cost city school bond debt reimbursement.

Juneau City Finance Director Jeff Rogers, left, explains how $5,500 payments to residents approved by the Alaska Senate may endanger a $16 million school bond reimbursement payment to the city during a meeting of the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pamela Miller, executive director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, speaks at a rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 12, 2022, calling on lawmakers to pass legislation regulating PFAS chemicals, so-called 'forever chemicals' that have been found to contaminate water and cause health issues. PFAS contamination has been found at several sites around the state, mainly around airports where the chemicals are used in fire-fighting foams. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Activists call for PFAS action

Forever chemicals.

Pamela Miller, executive director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, speaks at a rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 12, 2022, calling on lawmakers to pass legislation regulating PFAS chemicals, so-called 'forever chemicals' that have been found to contaminate water and cause health issues. PFAS contamination has been found at several sites around the state, mainly around airports where the chemicals are used in fire-fighting foams. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
1

City mulls trading food tax for higher summer sales tax

Further food for thought.

1