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Images: 1. A crested auklet, a seabird that breeds on the islands of western Alaska including the Aleutians.(Courtesy Photo / Hector Douglas)

Alaska Science Forum: Fluorescent bill may be seabird’s neon sign

Follow your nose?

  • Oct 1, 2021
  • By Ned Rozell
Images: 1. A crested auklet, a seabird that breeds on the islands of western Alaska including the Aleutians.(Courtesy Photo / Hector Douglas)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Airlift Northwest flight nurse Diana Paul shows off some of the improved patient care features of the medevac organization’s new Learjet 45XR aircraft, recently arrived in Juneau for service around the Southeast, on Sept. 30, 2021.

Aid aloft: Medevac organization gets new aircraft

It’s not the cheapest way to travel but it may save your life.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Airlift Northwest flight nurse Diana Paul shows off some of the improved patient care features of the medevac organization’s new Learjet 45XR aircraft, recently arrived in Juneau for service around the Southeast, on Sept. 30, 2021.
Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Daniel Winfree spoke with the Empire about Alaska's court system and its judicial selection process. Winfree is the first Chief Justice to be born in Alaska and spent 25 years in private practice before joining the court. (Courtesy photo/ Alaska Court System)

Chief Justice: Cases decided on merit, not politics

Merit-based system.

Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Daniel Winfree spoke with the Empire about Alaska's court system and its judicial selection process. Winfree is the first Chief Justice to be born in Alaska and spent 25 years in private practice before joining the court. (Courtesy photo/ Alaska Court System)
Water rushes down Gold Creek on Aug. 13, 2021. Juneau residents can expect heavy rain and strong winds beginning Friday. Forecasters expect the strongest winds late Friday night. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

A hard rain’s a-gonna fall: National Weather Service predicts heavy rain and wind

Forecasters suggest securing lawn furniture, loose items

Water rushes down Gold Creek on Aug. 13, 2021. Juneau residents can expect heavy rain and strong winds beginning Friday. Forecasters expect the strongest winds late Friday night. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Les Gara, who represented Anchorage in the Alaska House of Representatives from 2003-2018, is running as a Democrat to unseat Gov. Mike Dunleavy in the 2022 general election. He told the Empire in an interview he wanted to ensure oppportunities were available in Alaska in the future. (Courtesy photo / Les Gara)

Looking to unseat Dunleavy, Les Gara says Alaska doesn’t need austerity

Former Anchorage House rep running for governor is coming to Juneau.

Les Gara, who represented Anchorage in the Alaska House of Representatives from 2003-2018, is running as a Democrat to unseat Gov. Mike Dunleavy in the 2022 general election. He told the Empire in an interview he wanted to ensure oppportunities were available in Alaska in the future. (Courtesy photo / Les Gara)
Jamiann Hasselquist, vice president of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2, speaks to an invited crowd at the Juneau Montessori School about Orange Shirt Day, a day of remembrance for the victims of residential school systems for Indigenous people in Canada and the United States on Sept. 28, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Local groups recognize and remember victims of residential schools

Sept. 30 is an annual day of remembrance for the victims of that system.

Jamiann Hasselquist, vice president of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2, speaks to an invited crowd at the Juneau Montessori School about Orange Shirt Day, a day of remembrance for the victims of residential school systems for Indigenous people in Canada and the United States on Sept. 28, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Norwegian Encore sails past Douglas Island on Sept. 8, 2021. The Encore was visiting Juneau as part of an abbreviated cruise season this summer after COVID-19 canceled the 2020 season. The City and Borough of Juneau is currently offering an online survey for residents to share their views on the tourism industry. One of the survey questions addresses the proposal from Norwegian Cruise Lines to build a cruise ship dock on its waterfront property on Egan Drive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

CBJ surveys residents about tourism

Residents can weigh in until Oct. 15

The Norwegian Encore sails past Douglas Island on Sept. 8, 2021. The Encore was visiting Juneau as part of an abbreviated cruise season this summer after COVID-19 canceled the 2020 season. The City and Borough of Juneau is currently offering an online survey for residents to share their views on the tourism industry. One of the survey questions addresses the proposal from Norwegian Cruise Lines to build a cruise ship dock on its waterfront property on Egan Drive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A bear feasts on the salmon run at Katmai National Park and Preserve on July 13, 2021. (Courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)

Bears show off full bellies at Katmai for Fat Bear Week

KENAI — The bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve are preparing to show the world their beefy bodies starting today for this year’s Fat… Continue reading

A bear feasts on the salmon run at Katmai National Park and Preserve on July 13, 2021. (Courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)
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Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: The more we give

The richer we are.

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Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: A grumble of fishermen and a squabble of seagulls

Whatever we’re called as a collective, we’re a noisy bunch.

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Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire On Sept. 27, Bridget Weiss, superintendent of Juneau Public Schools, stood outside the classroom of former math teacher and basketball coach Bill Szepanski, who inspired her to pursue a degree in education and a teaching and coaching career. Later this week, Weiss will accept the 2022 Alaska Superintendent of the year award in Anchorage.

Words from the Weiss: Catching up with Alaska’s superintendent of the year

She’s had one heck of a year.

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire On Sept. 27, Bridget Weiss, superintendent of Juneau Public Schools, stood outside the classroom of former math teacher and basketball coach Bill Szepanski, who inspired her to pursue a degree in education and a teaching and coaching career. Later this week, Weiss will accept the 2022 Alaska Superintendent of the year award in Anchorage.
Alaskans with GCI Communications email accounts reported having trouble signing up for a free credit monitor service being offered by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, their Juneau offices seen here in this Jan. 13, 2021, file photo, in the wake of a data breach. GCI said Tuesday the issue should be resolved soon. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

GCI working to fix issues registering for credit monitoring offered by state

Some email accounts had trouble signing up for free post-data breach service.

Alaskans with GCI Communications email accounts reported having trouble signing up for a free credit monitor service being offered by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, their Juneau offices seen here in this Jan. 13, 2021, file photo, in the wake of a data breach. GCI said Tuesday the issue should be resolved soon. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
This screenshot of the Department of Health and Social Services COVID-19 cases dashboard shows the alert level in communities in Southeast Alaska. Red areas are at a high alert level and based on more than 100 cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period. Yellow areas are at a moderate risk level based on 10-50 cases per 100,000 people over a week. Blue areas are at a low level based on 10 or fewer cases per 100,000. (Screenshot)

Some Southeast communities see COVID cases rise

Mitigation in place.

This screenshot of the Department of Health and Social Services COVID-19 cases dashboard shows the alert level in communities in Southeast Alaska. Red areas are at a high alert level and based on more than 100 cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day period. Yellow areas are at a moderate risk level based on 10-50 cases per 100,000 people over a week. Blue areas are at a low level based on 10 or fewer cases per 100,000. (Screenshot)
A bill aimed at helping Alaska’s hospitals died Monday after provisions were added by lawmakers barring vaccine mandates. In this file photo, a nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

Boosters are now available. Here’s who’s eligible and how to get one

COVID-19 booster vaccinations are available in Juneau, the City and Borough of Juneau announced. The booster shots are available to certain people who received the… Continue reading

A bill aimed at helping Alaska’s hospitals died Monday after provisions were added by lawmakers barring vaccine mandates. In this file photo, a nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)
Lawmakers will return to the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Sept. 24, for a fourth special session. Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office confirmed the start date of the next session will be changed from a Friday to a Monday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Next special session to begin Monday, not Friday

Fourth special session.

Lawmakers will return to the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Sept. 24, for a fourth special session. Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office confirmed the start date of the next session will be changed from a Friday to a Monday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball and the Japanese Ship Kashima, a naval training vessel of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, transit together during a maritime exercise near Dutch Harbor on Sept. 20, 2021. (Courtesy photo / USCG)

Coast Guard and Japanese military conduct joint training at sea

The partner nations were able to take advantage of the serendiptious opportunity.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball and the Japanese Ship Kashima, a naval training vessel of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, transit together during a maritime exercise near Dutch Harbor on Sept. 20, 2021. (Courtesy photo / USCG)
James Connally, a senior, makes his way toward the end zone to open the scoring for the Juneau Huskies. Connally also caught a pair of touchdowns in a 42-7 win against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

7 points: The Huskies are conference champs

Takeways from the Week 7 win and a look ahead to the playoffs.

James Connally, a senior, makes his way toward the end zone to open the scoring for the Juneau Huskies. Connally also caught a pair of touchdowns in a 42-7 win against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Joy Lyon, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children since 1996, left the post on Sept. 1, — precisely 25 years after she first stepped into the role. At her retirement party last week, friends celebrated her love of Dolly Parton and her work to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to children in Juneau and other parts of Southeast Alaska. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

An ode to Joy

Longtime early childhood advocate retires

Joy Lyon, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children since 1996, left the post on Sept. 1, — precisely 25 years after she first stepped into the role. At her retirement party last week, friends celebrated her love of Dolly Parton and her work to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to children in Juneau and other parts of Southeast Alaska. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Amelia Conrad, 4, presents Zara Rutherford with a stuffed moose donning aviator goggles while Mclain Patterson, 7, holds a sign reading “Fly Zara Fly!” at Ward Air. Rutherford is flying her way around the world in pursuit of the Guinness world record for youngest woman solo pilot to circumnavigate the world. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Plane determination: Teen contends with weather, forest fires while flying around the world

Young pilot passes through Juneau on global journey.

Amelia Conrad, 4, presents Zara Rutherford with a stuffed moose donning aviator goggles while Mclain Patterson, 7, holds a sign reading “Fly Zara Fly!” at Ward Air. Rutherford is flying her way around the world in pursuit of the Guinness world record for youngest woman solo pilot to circumnavigate the world. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Within the City and Borough of Juneau, four museums collect objects to tell the tale of the area and its people. The Juneau Empire visited each museum to learn about some of the oldest human-made objects each has on hand. Objects include a Chilkat robe (upper left), a 5,450 year old spruce root basket (upper right), a fish trap (lower left), and a piece of moon rock (lower right). (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Turning the clock way, way back

A tour of the oldest objects on display in Juneau’s museums

Within the City and Borough of Juneau, four museums collect objects to tell the tale of the area and its people. The Juneau Empire visited each museum to learn about some of the oldest human-made objects each has on hand. Objects include a Chilkat robe (upper left), a 5,450 year old spruce root basket (upper right), a fish trap (lower left), and a piece of moon rock (lower right). (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)