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Elizabeth Graham, entomologist for the U.S. Forest Service, talks about the black-headed budworm outbreak in front of a spot on Mount McGinnis that shows the effects of defoliation. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Find out more about the very hungry caterpillars munching on Southeast Alaska’s hemlock trees

No need to bug out. They’re a natural part of the forest.

Elizabeth Graham, entomologist for the U.S. Forest Service, talks about the black-headed budworm outbreak in front of a spot on Mount McGinnis that shows the effects of defoliation. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
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Slack Tide: Alaskæpœdia: Everything You Want to Know About the Last Frontier… And Less — Rain

Or, as some Alaskans like to call it “liquid sunshine.”

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Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire AmeriCorps members pack emergency preparedness kits for Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Tribal Emergency Operations Center as part of a day of service on Sept. 10, 2021.

AmeriCorps members help Tlingit and Haida on day of service

Members were making emergency preparedness kits for Tribal children.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire AmeriCorps members pack emergency preparedness kits for Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Tribal Emergency Operations Center as part of a day of service on Sept. 10, 2021.
Senate Majority Leader Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, right, speaks with Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, and Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, during a floor debate in the Alaska Senate over vaccine mandates on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Vaccine mandate debate roils Alaska

Mandate minefield.

Senate Majority Leader Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, right, speaks with Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, and Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, during a floor debate in the Alaska Senate over vaccine mandates on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Sgt. Joemicheal Cristobal, Spc. Osias Passi, and Spc. Brennon Westfall, members of the Alaska Army National Guard and Task Force-Alaska, log trailer and driver information on a yard dog sheet, at a transportation yard in Roseland, Louisiana, Sept. 7, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard / Staff Sgt. Jacob Tyrrell)

Alaska National Guard lends a hand in Louisiana

A small detachment deployed down south to assist recovery from Hurricane Ida.

Sgt. Joemicheal Cristobal, Spc. Osias Passi, and Spc. Brennon Westfall, members of the Alaska Army National Guard and Task Force-Alaska, log trailer and driver information on a yard dog sheet, at a transportation yard in Roseland, Louisiana, Sept. 7, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard / Staff Sgt. Jacob Tyrrell)
Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, holds a press in front of the doors to the Senate chambers on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Reinbold requested an excusal from the state Senate until mid-January, citing the challenges of traveling to Juneau from Anchorage after she was suspended from flying on Alaska Airlines earlier this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

State senator suspended by airline seeks Senate excusal

She requested the excusal from Saturday through Jan. 15.

Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, holds a press in front of the doors to the Senate chambers on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Reinbold requested an excusal from the state Senate until mid-January, citing the challenges of traveling to Juneau from Anchorage after she was suspended from flying on Alaska Airlines earlier this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club’s 9/11 memorial, shown undergoing beautification and final preparations before the ceremony, will be the site of the organization’s ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the attacks on Saturday.

Reflection and remembrance: Ceremony planned for 9/11 20th anniversary

The memorial will honor the 20th anniversary of the attack with some new improvements.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club’s 9/11 memorial, shown undergoing beautification and final preparations before the ceremony, will be the site of the organization’s ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the attacks on Saturday.
Photos by Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire City officials and commercial entities broke ceremonial ground Wednesday for the Riverview Senior Living community near Vintage Boulevard.

Company breaks ground on elder living facility

The facility, near Safeway, will provide more housing so elder citizens can stay in Juneau.

Photos by Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire City officials and commercial entities broke ceremonial ground Wednesday for the Riverview Senior Living community near Vintage Boulevard.
Juneau Docks and Harbors has issued a warning to boat owners to make sure their vessels are made fast and pumps functional as a large weather system is due to hit Juneau on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Autumn storm expected to bring heavy rain and wind

Docks and Harbors says to rig for a rough one.

Juneau Docks and Harbors has issued a warning to boat owners to make sure their vessels are made fast and pumps functional as a large weather system is due to hit Juneau on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday he was filing suit against the Biden administration for an Environmental Protection Agency decision to potentially protect Bristol Bay waters under the Clean Water Act. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Gov criticizes Biden admin over Bristol Bay review

Ready for litigation.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday he was filing suit against the Biden administration for an Environmental Protection Agency decision to potentially protect Bristol Bay waters under the Clean Water Act. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
A health care worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. There’s concern that COVID-19 vaccination could be made mandatory by businesses for activities such as travel— or employment. President Joe Biden is announcing sweeping new federal vaccine requirements affecting as many as 100 million Americans in an all-out effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations and curb the surging delta variant. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Sweeping new vaccine mandates for 100 million Americans

The order includes exceptions for workers seeking religious or medical exemptions from vaccination.

A health care worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. There’s concern that COVID-19 vaccination could be made mandatory by businesses for activities such as travel— or employment. President Joe Biden is announcing sweeping new federal vaccine requirements affecting as many as 100 million Americans in an all-out effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations and curb the surging delta variant. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Coast Guardsmen stand in formation at Juneau International Airport as the body of Chief Petty Officer Jeffery DeRonde, who died over the weekend, is loaded on an airplane on Sept. 7, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Capital City Fire/Rescue)

Man drowns after raft overturns

The man was on the Eagle River, returning from an overnight cabin stay.

Coast Guardsmen stand in formation at Juneau International Airport as the body of Chief Petty Officer Jeffery DeRonde, who died over the weekend, is loaded on an airplane on Sept. 7, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Capital City Fire/Rescue)
This Aug. 5 picture shows Thomas Buzard, who is a candidate for an open seat on the Juneau Board of Education. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Candidate seeks open school board seat

Buzard calls for curriculum changes, end to masking

This Aug. 5 picture shows Thomas Buzard, who is a candidate for an open seat on the Juneau Board of Education. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A worker with the Pebble Mine project digs in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska near the village of Iliamma, Alaska. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, it would seek to restart a process that could restrict mining in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, which is renowned for its salmon runs. The announcement is the latest in a long-running dispute over a proposed copper-and-gold mine in the southwest Alaska region. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)

EPA seeks to restart process that could restrict proposed Pebble Mine

The announcement is the latest in a long-running dispute.

A worker with the Pebble Mine project digs in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska near the village of Iliamma, Alaska. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, it would seek to restart a process that could restrict mining in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, which is renowned for its salmon runs. The announcement is the latest in a long-running dispute over a proposed copper-and-gold mine in the southwest Alaska region. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies may be a good treatment option for some people who test positive for the illness, according to state health officials. However, vaccination remains the best tool for limiting spread of COVID-19 and limiting hospitalizations. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)

Answering questions about antibody COVID treatment

Health officials say vaccination remains best option but treatment may help some.

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies may be a good treatment option for some people who test positive for the illness, according to state health officials. However, vaccination remains the best tool for limiting spread of COVID-19 and limiting hospitalizations. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)
Bridget Weiss, seen here outside of Harborview Elementary School on Sept. 8, 2021, was named by Time Magazine as one of 29 educators or school staff across the country to be recognized for their exemplary efforts in the face of the pandemic. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Time in the spotlight: Juneau school superintendent named as year-saving educator by magazine

The Juneau School District was on of 29 educators and staff named nationwide.

Bridget Weiss, seen here outside of Harborview Elementary School on Sept. 8, 2021, was named by Time Magazine as one of 29 educators or school staff across the country to be recognized for their exemplary efforts in the face of the pandemic. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A completed ballot is dropped into the ballot drop box in the Don D. Statter Harbor parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

WATCH: Municipal candidate forum

School board, Assembly candidates talk issues ahead of Oct. 5 election.

A completed ballot is dropped into the ballot drop box in the Don D. Statter Harbor parking lot on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This Feb. 9, 2016, photo shows ice forming on pipelines built near the Colville-Delta 5 field, or as it's more commonly known, CD5, drilling site on Alaska's North Slope. The Trump administration will consider a new management plan and expanded oil drilling for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, an Indiana-size area that former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar characterized as an "iconic place on our Earth." The Bureau of Land Management announced Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, it will take public comment through Jan. 21 on four alternatives for the reserve in northern Alaska. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Feds to reevaluate review of Alaska petroleum reserve

Review was basis for plans to open an additional roughly 6.8 million acres to oil and gas leasing.

This Feb. 9, 2016, photo shows ice forming on pipelines built near the Colville-Delta 5 field, or as it's more commonly known, CD5, drilling site on Alaska's North Slope. The Trump administration will consider a new management plan and expanded oil drilling for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, an Indiana-size area that former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar characterized as an "iconic place on our Earth." The Bureau of Land Management announced Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, it will take public comment through Jan. 21 on four alternatives for the reserve in northern Alaska. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
In this Juneau Empire file photo, voter Maralee Guiher drops off her ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. The city announced Wednesday it was looking to hire election workers for this year's city elections. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

City looking to hire workers for election

Variety of jobs.

In this Juneau Empire file photo, voter Maralee Guiher drops off her ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. The city announced Wednesday it was looking to hire election workers for this year's city elections. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Tucked along the side of the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, passers-by will find Juneau’s newest art gallery—the museum’s Free Little Art Gallery or FLAG for short. Anyone is free to add to the collection or take a pocket-sized treasure home. The gallery is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Free Little Art Gallery opens downtown

Juneau joins growing list of cities hosting FLAGs

Tucked along the side of the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, passers-by will find Juneau’s newest art gallery—the museum’s Free Little Art Gallery or FLAG for short. Anyone is free to add to the collection or take a pocket-sized treasure home. The gallery is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)