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This February 2020 file photo shows the Alaska state flag on the bow of the MV Matanuska at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. The infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress includes significant funding for the ferry system, but coastal communities are still feeling the pinch of reduced service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Infrastructure bill will boost ferries, but winter service still sparse

New funds, old problems.

This February 2020 file photo shows the Alaska state flag on the bow of the MV Matanuska at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. The infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress includes significant funding for the ferry system, but coastal communities are still feeling the pinch of reduced service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Ed Garity, a vet technician, and Dr. Sam Smith, a veterinarian and owner of Tongass Veterinary Services, tend to a 17-year-old dog on Friday, Dec. 3. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Veterinarian shortage dogs Juneau

Burnout, specialization, high demand and location all factor in.

Ed Garity, a vet technician, and Dr. Sam Smith, a veterinarian and owner of Tongass Veterinary Services, tend to a 17-year-old dog on Friday, Dec. 3. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Pearl Harbor survivor and World War II Navy veteran David Russell, 101, reads a birthday card while talking about his time aboard the USS Oklahoma and his life after the war on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, in Albany, Ore. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

101-year-old returns to Pearl Harbor to remember those lost

By Audrey McAvoy and Gillian Flaccus Associated Press HONOLULU — When Japanese bombs began falling on Pearl Harbor, U.S. Navy Seaman 1st Class David Russell… Continue reading

  • Dec 6, 2021
  • By Audrey McAvoy and Gillian Flaccus Associated Press
  • Nation-World
Pearl Harbor survivor and World War II Navy veteran David Russell, 101, reads a birthday card while talking about his time aboard the USS Oklahoma and his life after the war on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, in Albany, Ore. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)
A number of people in Juneau have gone missing in 2021, including Clifford White, bottom left, who hasn’t been located. (Composite photo / Juneau Empire)

Rescues and recoveries: Police, searchers talk recent missing persons cases

2021 has had a number of high-profile missing persons cases.

A number of people in Juneau have gone missing in 2021, including Clifford White, bottom left, who hasn’t been located. (Composite photo / Juneau Empire)
This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)

State begins process of replacing ferry Tustumena

The state also has other plans for updating the marine highway.

This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)
Cheryl Fellman checks her watch before attempting an Ice Mile. An Ice Mile is a type of endurance swim that tasks swimmers with covering a mile in water that is 41 degrees or colder. Fellman swam a mile in just under 35 minutes on Saturday at Auke Recreation Area. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Ice day for a swim

Juneau woman completes a mile in near-freezing water

Cheryl Fellman checks her watch before attempting an Ice Mile. An Ice Mile is a type of endurance swim that tasks swimmers with covering a mile in water that is 41 degrees or colder. Fellman swam a mile in just under 35 minutes on Saturday at Auke Recreation Area. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Juneau residents enjoy Gallery Walk at Devil’s Club Brewing Company, which hosted artist Jacqui Tingey. (Courtesy photo / Mircea Brown)

Juneau shows up big for Gallery Walk

Hundreds turned out despite heavy snow that morning.

Juneau residents enjoy Gallery Walk at Devil’s Club Brewing Company, which hosted artist Jacqui Tingey. (Courtesy photo / Mircea Brown)
Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire Alexandra Pierce, the newly named City and Borough of Juneau Tourism Manager, stands on South Franklin Street on Dec. 3.

From the docks to a desk in city hall

Pierce prepares for Tourism Manager role

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire Alexandra Pierce, the newly named City and Borough of Juneau Tourism Manager, stands on South Franklin Street on Dec. 3.
Courtesy photo/Laura Martinson Laura Martinson, owner of Caribou Crossings downtown and her 4-year old daughter, Olivia McDonnell, deliver food to the Southeast Alaska Food Bank.

Food drive focuses on kid favorites

Food bank exec: ‘More need remains’

Courtesy photo/Laura Martinson Laura Martinson, owner of Caribou Crossings downtown and her 4-year old daughter, Olivia McDonnell, deliver food to the Southeast Alaska Food Bank.
Coast Guardsmen and state employees load the Together Tree bound for the Alaska Governor’s Mansion on a truck on Nov. 29, 2021. The annual open house at the governor's mansion is back this year, after having been suspended last year due to COVID-19. (USCG photo / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)

Christmas open house at governor’s mansion returns

Open to all.

Coast Guardsmen and state employees load the Together Tree bound for the Alaska Governor’s Mansion on a truck on Nov. 29, 2021. The annual open house at the governor's mansion is back this year, after having been suspended last year due to COVID-19. (USCG photo / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)
A golden eagle captured as part of a population study near Gunsight Mountain between Palmer and Glennallen. (Courtesy Photo / Caitlin Davis)

Thousands of golden eagles depend on Alaska

Golden eagles fill your skies.

  • Dec 3, 2021
  • By Ned Rozell
A golden eagle captured as part of a population study near Gunsight Mountain between Palmer and Glennallen. (Courtesy Photo / Caitlin Davis)
A flu shot is administered at a free vaccine clinic in Juneau on Nov. 23, 2021, and on Thursday health officials nationwide urged people to get inoculated for both COVID-19 and the flu ahead of the holiday season. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Health officials push vaccines, boosters to combat variant

A lot of unknowns.

A flu shot is administered at a free vaccine clinic in Juneau on Nov. 23, 2021, and on Thursday health officials nationwide urged people to get inoculated for both COVID-19 and the flu ahead of the holiday season. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Commercial property owners throughout the city filed 210 tax appeals this year. On Wednesday night, Jeff Rogers, finance director for the City and Borough of Juneau, told the city’s Finance Committee that 130 appeals had been closed and 80 appeals remain open. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File) Mt. Juneau, looming above downtown, seen here on April 21, 2021, is a brisk hike with a good view from the summit. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Commercial property tax appeals continue

No appellant has won so far.

Commercial property owners throughout the city filed 210 tax appeals this year. On Wednesday night, Jeff Rogers, finance director for the City and Borough of Juneau, told the city’s Finance Committee that 130 appeals had been closed and 80 appeals remain open. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File) Mt. Juneau, looming above downtown, seen here on April 21, 2021, is a brisk hike with a good view from the summit. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. On Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly heard a rosy revenue report at the Finance Committee meeting. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)

Sales tax collection surpasses city’s projection

“Sales tax doesn’t lie,” says CBJ finance director.

This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. On Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly heard a rosy revenue report at the Finance Committee meeting. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)
AP Photo / Jae C. Hong Air China flight crew members in hazmat suits walk through the arrivals area Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport. The U.S. on Wednesday reported its first case of the omicron variant.

Biden to announce testing, booster expansion

Announcement Thursday.

AP Photo / Jae C. Hong Air China flight crew members in hazmat suits walk through the arrivals area Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport. The U.S. on Wednesday reported its first case of the omicron variant.
This photo shared under a Creative Commons license shows Wrangell. About 100 homes were without power on Wednesday with the outage expected to extend into Thursday. Power was knocked out by high winds on Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Photo / Wikimedia)

High winds knock out power in ‘about 100’ homes in Wrangell

Multiple downed trees knocked out high-voltage lines.

This photo shared under a Creative Commons license shows Wrangell. About 100 homes were without power on Wednesday with the outage expected to extend into Thursday. Power was knocked out by high winds on Tuesday afternoon. (Courtesy Photo / Wikimedia)
Nick Begich III, seen here in this undated photo, is challenging Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives saying Alaska needs new energy in Washington D.C. (Courtesy photo / Alaskans for Nick Begich)

Nick Begich III touts fiscal conservatism in U.S. House race

Young is old.

Nick Begich III, seen here in this undated photo, is challenging Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives saying Alaska needs new energy in Washington D.C. (Courtesy photo / Alaskans for Nick Begich)
A man missing for more than 40 years was identified by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation as a Chugiak resident who was last seen in 1979 before being discovered murdered years before on an island near Anchorage in 1989. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Department of Public Safety)

Body found in ’80s ID’d with DNA analysis

The body, found in 1989, had been unidentified until now.

A man missing for more than 40 years was identified by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation as a Chugiak resident who was last seen in 1979 before being discovered murdered years before on an island near Anchorage in 1989. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Department of Public Safety)
Viktor Bell rehearses his role in "The Nutcracker" on Saturday, Nov. 27. Lead soldiers Grace Bultez and Ainsley Mallott stand guard. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

‘The Nutcracker’ returns to the stage

Family tradition returns with four live shows this weekend

Viktor Bell rehearses his role in "The Nutcracker" on Saturday, Nov. 27. Lead soldiers Grace Bultez and Ainsley Mallott stand guard. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
Alex Vrabec recently began as the new director of Juneau’s Downtown Business Association. (Courtesy photo / Alex Vrabec)

Downtown Business Association gets new director in time for busy season

She’s arrived just in time to help organize the newly resuscitated Gallery Walk.

Alex Vrabec recently began as the new director of Juneau’s Downtown Business Association. (Courtesy photo / Alex Vrabec)