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This photo shows humpack whales in Juneau. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows humpack whales in Juneau. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows an array of fireworks. Juneau Police Department this week reminded Juneau residents to adhere to the city’s fireworks ordinance this holiday weekend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

JPD encourages safe and respectful fireworks use for New Year’s

The weather may not be ideal for pyrotechnics as is.

This photo shows an array of fireworks. Juneau Police Department this week reminded Juneau residents to adhere to the city’s fireworks ordinance this holiday weekend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Moisture-laden air coming from the northwest is expected to dump more than a foot of snow on parts of Southeast Alaska, including Juneau, with the heaviest snowfall predicted to hit during the evening of New Year’s Eve. (Screenshot/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Get ready to ring in the new year with wet, heavy snow

Snow is expected to be heaviest as partygoers would be getting started.

Moisture-laden air coming from the northwest is expected to dump more than a foot of snow on parts of Southeast Alaska, including Juneau, with the heaviest snowfall predicted to hit during the evening of New Year’s Eve. (Screenshot/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
The Dan Austin Center, run by the St. Vincent De Paul Society of Juneau, is once again the home of Capital City Fire/Rescue’s Community Assistance Response and Emergency Services sobering center.

Officials say sobering center operating smoothly

Pickups for the community health program are split between the Valley and downtown.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
The Dan Austin Center, run by the St. Vincent De Paul Society of Juneau, is once again the home of Capital City Fire/Rescue’s Community Assistance Response and Emergency Services sobering center.
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire
Snow is piled up Tuesday outside the Mt Jumbo gym building in Douglas.

Snow removal debate sparks a flurry of comments

Resident asks city crews to stop blocking driveways

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire
Snow is piled up Tuesday outside the Mt Jumbo gym building in Douglas.
Teaser

City reports ‘significant’ increase in new COVID cases

Increase likely driven by omicron variant; no new hospitalizations shared.

Teaser
An emergency worker holds a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport in Juneau, Alaska, in October 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

COVID tests at airports catch 6K cases since June 2020

The program to test travelers will stop at Alaska airports at the end of January.

An emergency worker holds a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport in Juneau, Alaska, in October 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
This marbled murrelet seabird was found in the waters of Auke Bay in January looking “stunned.” Volunteers took the bird to the Juneau Raptor Center where it was treated for likely head trauma and released back into the wild. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Raptor Center)
This marbled murrelet seabird was found in the waters of Auke Bay in January looking “stunned.” Volunteers took the bird to the Juneau Raptor Center where it was treated for likely head trauma and released back into the wild. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Raptor Center)
Southeast Alaska’s rural communities are geographically isolated and the SSP works to connect them. While the SSP has programs and partners that span the region, it has historically focused on Yakutat, Sitka (pictured), Hoonah, Kake, Kasaan, and Klawock. With increased financial support, the SSP intends to expand in geography, depth, and focus.  (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Southeast Alaskans should care about the Seacoast Trust. Here’s why

What does this actually mean for the lives of Southeast Alaskans?

Southeast Alaska’s rural communities are geographically isolated and the SSP works to connect them. While the SSP has programs and partners that span the region, it has historically focused on Yakutat, Sitka (pictured), Hoonah, Kake, Kasaan, and Klawock. With increased financial support, the SSP intends to expand in geography, depth, and focus.  (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)
Alaska Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer announced the Election Integrity Bill on Tuesday, which combines a number of measures for the purpose of safeguarding election integrity. (Screenshot)

Lt. Gov. announces he will not seek reelection

Announcement came during new elections bill conference.

Alaska Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer announced the Election Integrity Bill on Tuesday, which combines a number of measures for the purpose of safeguarding election integrity. (Screenshot)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File 
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. The Capitol will be the site of a committee hearing next month that will focus on the recent firing of Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File 
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. The Capitol will be the site of a committee hearing next month that will focus on the recent firing of Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell.
Staff members at the Alaska SeaLife Center near Seward attend to a harbor seal pup. This summer, one of the pups in the center's care came from Juneau. The seal received treatment at the center and was released into the wild in September. (Courtesy photo/Alaska SeaLife Center/Kaiti Chritz)
Staff members at the Alaska SeaLife Center near Seward attend to a harbor seal pup. This summer, one of the pups in the center's care came from Juneau. The seal received treatment at the center and was released into the wild in September. (Courtesy photo/Alaska SeaLife Center/Kaiti Chritz)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File 
Capital City Fire/Rescue fire marshal Dan Jager demonstrates the proper stance for use of a fire extinguisher on Oct. 30, 2020. Jager had a number of winter safety tips for residents.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File 
Capital City Fire/Rescue fire marshal Dan Jager demonstrates the proper stance for use of a fire extinguisher on Oct. 30, 2020. Jager had a number of winter safety tips for residents.
This photo shows the stern of the MV Matanuska on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Matanuska delayed as repair work continues

Jan. 24 sailing to Bellingham canceled.

This photo shows the stern of the MV Matanuska on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Rainbow, a Sitka black-tail deer now lives at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center after being found alone in the woods near Kruzof Island over the summer. Although Rainbow’s story has a happy ending, officials urge people who find animals not to touch or remove them. (Courtesy photo/Sarah Howard/Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center)
Rainbow, a Sitka black-tail deer now lives at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center after being found alone in the woods near Kruzof Island over the summer. Although Rainbow’s story has a happy ending, officials urge people who find animals not to touch or remove them. (Courtesy photo/Sarah Howard/Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center)
Petco had a small fire in a ceiling heating unit on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, said a Capital City Fire/Rescue officer in a phone interview. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Fire department responds to small fire at Petco

No one was injured and damage was minor.

Petco had a small fire in a ceiling heating unit on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, said a Capital City Fire/Rescue officer in a phone interview. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy art /SHI 
There are ten proposed locations for a “totem pole trail” that the Sealaska Heritage Foundation just received a $2.9 million dollar grant for, as well as the location of a new 360-degree totem pole to be raised separately in the SHI arts campus downtown.

Sealaska Heritage gets multimillion dollar grant for totem pole trail

Before these ten go up, however, a unique totem pole will be raised in the new arts campus downtown.

Courtesy art /SHI 
There are ten proposed locations for a “totem pole trail” that the Sealaska Heritage Foundation just received a $2.9 million dollar grant for, as well as the location of a new 360-degree totem pole to be raised separately in the SHI arts campus downtown.
In this photo provided by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a 22 Wing member is seen showing how they track Santa on his sleigh on Christmas evening during a media preview at the Canadian Forces Base in North Bay on Dec. 9, 2021. In a Christmas Eve tradition going on its 66th year, a wildly popular program run by the U.S. and Canadian militaries is providing real-time updates on Santa’s progress around the globe — and fielding calls from children who want to know St. Nick’s exact whereabouts. (Sable Brown / NORAD)

Yes, there is a Santa Claus. And no, COVID-19 won’t stop him

Santa’s coming this Christmas Eve, and a second holiday with COVID-19 won’t stop him.

In this photo provided by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, a 22 Wing member is seen showing how they track Santa on his sleigh on Christmas evening during a media preview at the Canadian Forces Base in North Bay on Dec. 9, 2021. In a Christmas Eve tradition going on its 66th year, a wildly popular program run by the U.S. and Canadian militaries is providing real-time updates on Santa’s progress around the globe — and fielding calls from children who want to know St. Nick’s exact whereabouts. (Sable Brown / NORAD)
This photo illustration shows some of the things city, state and federal officials told the Empire what they want for Christmas. Less COVID-19 cases and an end to the pandemic were popular requests. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This photo illustration shows some of the things city, state and federal officials told the Empire what they want for Christmas. Less COVID-19 cases and an end to the pandemic were popular requests. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 12 years sits ready for use at a vaccination site in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Vaccine mix-up leads to underdosing

Problem found through routine safety checks

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 12 years sits ready for use at a vaccination site in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero)