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The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill to create a new oversight board for the Alaska Marine Highway System and its ships like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill to create a new oversight board for the Alaska Marine Highway System and its ships like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire 
A sign reading “Masks Required” lies on the ground near a softball field at Melvin Park on Tuesday morning. In a community briefing, city officials clarified why the mask mandate changed last week and what to expect going forward.
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire 
A sign reading “Masks Required” lies on the ground near a softball field at Melvin Park on Tuesday morning. In a community briefing, city officials clarified why the mask mandate changed last week and what to expect going forward.
Supporters of the trail-building conservation corps started with CARES Act funding rallied in front of the Governor's Mansion on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, to urge state officials to continue funding the programs. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Supporters of the trail-building conservation corps started with CARES Act funding rallied in front of the Governor's Mansion on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, to urge state officials to continue funding the programs. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department investigated a suspicious package placed underneath the skybridge to the Capitol on May 18, 2021. It was determined not to be a threat. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department investigated a suspicious package placed underneath the skybridge to the Capitol on May 18, 2021. It was determined not to be a threat. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Geraldine Nelson, 78, is the subject of a search-and-rescue operation run by the Juneau Police Department. Police describe Nelson as Alaska Native, roughly 5 foot 1, about 120 pounds and last seen wearing a black winter coat and black pants.(Courtesy Photo)

Update: Search for missing woman continues

Alaska State Troopers, SEADOGS, JMR, and Tlingit and Haida are all involved in search efforts.

Geraldine Nelson, 78, is the subject of a search-and-rescue operation run by the Juneau Police Department. Police describe Nelson as Alaska Native, roughly 5 foot 1, about 120 pounds and last seen wearing a black winter coat and black pants.(Courtesy Photo)
Patrick is one of the good boys and girls at Juneau Animal Rescue that need a home. The shelter is dealing with a spike in returns and worries what the return to office work may do. (Courtesy P_hoto / JAR)

Animal shelters concerned about returns as workers return to offices

Juneau Animal Rescue has seen a spike in surrenders to the shelter.

Patrick is one of the good boys and girls at Juneau Animal Rescue that need a home. The shelter is dealing with a spike in returns and worries what the return to office work may do. (Courtesy P_hoto / JAR)
Members of the Senate Finance Committee discussed the state's capital budget bill in a meeting on Monday, May 17, 2021, but it's not clear when it might be debated on the floor. Lawmakers had been pushing to finish the bill before May 19, but a special session from the governor has given them more time. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Senate Finance Committee discussed the state's capital budget bill in a meeting on Monday, May 17, 2021, but it's not clear when it might be debated on the floor. Lawmakers had been pushing to finish the bill before May 19, but a special session from the governor has given them more time. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Residents of Mendenhall Towers were briefly evacuated Monday, May 17, while Capital City Fire/Rescue investigated smoke that had appeared, possibly from an electrical fire. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Residents of Mendenhall Towers were briefly evacuated Monday, May 17, while Capital City Fire/Rescue investigated smoke that had appeared, possibly from an electrical fire. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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Alicia Leamer, Visitor Services Manager at Travel Juneau stands ready to welcome visitors at the newly re-opened Visitor Information Center. The Center is now open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. The center, which frequently uses volunteer staff, will try to stay open seven days a week, starting in June. COVID mitigation measures, such as plexiglass partitions and mask-wearing, are in place to keep volunteers and visitors safe. Interested in volunteering? Call the Travel Juneau office at 586-1737. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Invite your friends to Juneau

Travel Juneau employs a two-pronged advertising approach

Alicia Leamer, Visitor Services Manager at Travel Juneau stands ready to welcome visitors at the newly re-opened Visitor Information Center. The Center is now open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. The center, which frequently uses volunteer staff, will try to stay open seven days a week, starting in June. COVID mitigation measures, such as plexiglass partitions and mask-wearing, are in place to keep volunteers and visitors safe. Interested in volunteering? Call the Travel Juneau office at 586-1737. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
The Gunnuk Creek hydropower project in Kake, shown here under construction in 2019, is one of a number of hydropower projects in the Southeast managed by the Inner Passage Electric Cooperative. (Courtesy photo / IPEC)

It’s all downhill: Looking at hydropower in Southeast Alaska

Organizations are striving to replace costly diesel generators with hydropower, among other sources.

The Gunnuk Creek hydropower project in Kake, shown here under construction in 2019, is one of a number of hydropower projects in the Southeast managed by the Inner Passage Electric Cooperative. (Courtesy photo / IPEC)
Courtesy Photo / Iola Young 
Marla Berg presents $22,750 in “mattress money” to the Glory Hall, recipient of this quarter’s 100+ Women Who Care’s donation. Shown here (left to right): Bruce Denton, president of the Glory Hall Board of Directors; Marla Berg, member of 100+ Women Who Care’s organizing team; Maria Lovishchuk, executive director of the Glory Hall; and Glory Hall board members Deb Maas and Jorden Nigro, who is also a member of 100+ Women. Nigro made the winning pitch to the giving circle that now numbers 279 members. When collection of each $100 donation is complete, the Glory Hall award will total $27,900. Enough to purchase all the beds, mattresses and locking trunks needed for the new facility.

Organization donates over $22K to the Glory Hall

100+ Women Who Care’s 279 members pitch in.

Courtesy Photo / Iola Young 
Marla Berg presents $22,750 in “mattress money” to the Glory Hall, recipient of this quarter’s 100+ Women Who Care’s donation. Shown here (left to right): Bruce Denton, president of the Glory Hall Board of Directors; Marla Berg, member of 100+ Women Who Care’s organizing team; Maria Lovishchuk, executive director of the Glory Hall; and Glory Hall board members Deb Maas and Jorden Nigro, who is also a member of 100+ Women. Nigro made the winning pitch to the giving circle that now numbers 279 members. When collection of each $100 donation is complete, the Glory Hall award will total $27,900. Enough to purchase all the beds, mattresses and locking trunks needed for the new facility.
This photo shows a wolf in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Park and Preserve(Courtesy Photo / Mathew Sorum)

Alaska Science Forum: Wolf-virus study shows the virtue of space

Scientists find wolves with adequate social distancing from humans tend to avoid nasty viruses.

This photo shows a wolf in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Park and Preserve(Courtesy Photo / Mathew Sorum)
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Here’s what it takes to repair undersea cables

It’s a little more involved than plugging the cord back in.

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Masks were made optional in the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, May 14, 2021, but lawmakers are still trying to get their work done. Gov. Mike Dunleavy called two special sessions Thursday, but the proposal was met with mixed reactions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Masks were made optional in the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, May 14, 2021, but lawmakers are still trying to get their work done. Gov. Mike Dunleavy called two special sessions Thursday, but the proposal was met with mixed reactions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This May 2020 photo shows an open sign illuminated on a Juneau business. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Tamika L. Ledbetter announced on Friday the state will stop participating next month in a federal program that provides an extra $300 a week in unemployment aid. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

State to stop $300 weekly federal unemployment aid boost

It’s “time to help people get back to work.”

This May 2020 photo shows an open sign illuminated on a Juneau business. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Tamika L. Ledbetter announced on Friday the state will stop participating next month in a federal program that provides an extra $300 a week in unemployment aid. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
A sign like this one, seen on a downtown Juneau business may soon come down as the city announced an end to the mask mandate for people who are fully vaccinated. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

A breath of fresh air

City updates its mask mandate following CDC guidelines

A sign like this one, seen on a downtown Juneau business may soon come down as the city announced an end to the mask mandate for people who are fully vaccinated. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gave his annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on May 3, 2021, but some Democratic lawmakers said the speech brought the partisanship of Washington D.C. to Alaska.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gave his annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on May 3, 2021, but some Democratic lawmakers said the speech brought the partisanship of Washington D.C. to Alaska.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, said at this Wednesday, May 12, 2021 news conference there may be a special session of the Alaska Legislautre. On Thursday he officially called two, one for late May and one for early August. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, said at this Wednesday, May 12, 2021 news conference there may be a special session of the Alaska Legislautre. On Thursday he officially called two, one for late May and one for early August. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bill that could allow cruise ships to come to Alaska. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a bill that could allow cruise ships to come to Alaska. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)