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Communications outage downs phones and internet service

The cause is currently unknown.

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A drop box awaits ballots at Don D. Statter Harbor in late September 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Petition seeks to limit local vote-by-mail options

Group wants voters to weigh in on the future of municipal elections

A drop box awaits ballots at Don D. Statter Harbor in late September 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Members of Thunder Mountain High School's four robotics teams stand with four robots. (Courtesy Photo / Carol May)

Wired to win:Robotics teams earn awards in state contest

TMHS team took top honors but weren’t the only winners.

Members of Thunder Mountain High School's four robotics teams stand with four robots. (Courtesy Photo / Carol May)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, listens as residents discuss a levee they have concerns with on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Hyder, Alaska. Hyder was among the Southeast Alaska communities that Dunleavy visited as part of a one-day trip. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Dunleavy’s travel signals move to return to normalcy

Have Gov. will travel.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, listens as residents discuss a levee they have concerns with on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Hyder, Alaska. Hyder was among the Southeast Alaska communities that Dunleavy visited as part of a one-day trip. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
Dozens of amendments to a bill extending the state's disaster declaration are laid out on a table outside the Senate chambers on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Lawmakers eventually passed the bill, but didn't adjourned until late in the evening. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire.)

Lawmakers pass disaster bill, wait for governor

Disaster disagreement.

Dozens of amendments to a bill extending the state's disaster declaration are laid out on a table outside the Senate chambers on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Lawmakers eventually passed the bill, but didn't adjourned until late in the evening. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire.)
Courtesy image / Larry Johansen Local author Larry Johansen has written a book about the history of baseball in Alaska during the Gold Rush. The book, called “The Golden Days of Baseball, The Story of Baseball Played in Frontier Alaska and the Klondike” is the first about this previously unexplored topic. The book is available for purchase beginning May 5.
Capital City Weekly

Baseball in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Local author shares untold story of frontier baseball in a new book

Courtesy image / Larry Johansen Local author Larry Johansen has written a book about the history of baseball in Alaska during the Gold Rush. The book, called “The Golden Days of Baseball, The Story of Baseball Played in Frontier Alaska and the Klondike” is the first about this previously unexplored topic. The book is available for purchase beginning May 5.
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speaks to Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, before a floor session to debate a bill over a disaster declaration in the state on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The debate would take lawmakers into the evening Wednesday, as over 40 amendments were submitted on the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Disaster debate drags out in Senate

Even if bill advances, governor might not sign it.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speaks to Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, before a floor session to debate a bill over a disaster declaration in the state on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The debate would take lawmakers into the evening Wednesday, as over 40 amendments were submitted on the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
An Arizona man was arrested for his role bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to Fairbanks between 2019 and 2020 according to a Department of Justice news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Arizona man arrested for trafficking 60 pounds of meth to Fairbanks

The scale indicates it could be part of a larger operation.

An Arizona man was arrested for his role bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to Fairbanks between 2019 and 2020 according to a Department of Justice news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Bowls like those seen here will be available for sale or auction during the Glory Hall’s Empty Bowls fundraiser beginning Friday, April 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Mariya Lovishchuk)

Empty Bowls goes on amid reduced fanfare

The Glory Hall also recieved a major donation of cleaning supplies.

Bowls like those seen here will be available for sale or auction during the Glory Hall’s Empty Bowls fundraiser beginning Friday, April 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Mariya Lovishchuk)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Karl Lewkowski’s book “Cool Man Lewk: My Journey from Orphan to Crimefighter” talks about Lewkowski’s seven years as an officer in the Juneau Police Department, among other aspects of his life.
Capital City Weekly

Former JPD officer, PI reflects on time in Juneau in new book

Lewkowski was a man of many hats.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Karl Lewkowski’s book “Cool Man Lewk: My Journey from Orphan to Crimefighter” talks about Lewkowski’s seven years as an officer in the Juneau Police Department, among other aspects of his life.
An Alaska Department of Corrections news release announced that all DOC facilities, including Lemon Creek Correctional Center, shown above, will reopen for public visitation on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Prisons to reopen public visitation statewide

All visits will be subject to health and safety guidelines.

An Alaska Department of Corrections news release announced that all DOC facilities, including Lemon Creek Correctional Center, shown above, will reopen for public visitation on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Members of the JDHS boys soccer team help junior Callan Smith celebrate a goal in the season opener against TMHS Tuesday night. In the end, TMHS walked away with a 3-2 victory. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

High school boys soccer returns

TMHS bests JDHS in first game since 2019

Members of the JDHS boys soccer team help junior Callan Smith celebrate a goal in the season opener against TMHS Tuesday night. In the end, TMHS walked away with a 3-2 victory. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
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Rep Young announces reelection bid

He’s Congress’ longest-ever-serving Republican member.

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State officials are trying to facilitate the transfer of federal lands to the University of Alaska but where those lands are hasn’t yet been determined. What is known is the lands will be drawn from the state’s allotment of federal lands granted to it under statehood, seen here in this July 30, 2020 Bureau of Land Management map. (Courtesy Image / U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

State pushes for university land grant transfer

Stable fiscal future.

State officials are trying to facilitate the transfer of federal lands to the University of Alaska but where those lands are hasn’t yet been determined. What is known is the lands will be drawn from the state’s allotment of federal lands granted to it under statehood, seen here in this July 30, 2020 Bureau of Land Management map. (Courtesy Image / U.S. Bureau of Land Management)
In this September 2019 photo, then-Alaska Department of Administration Commissioner Kelly Tshibaka addresses reporters in Anchorage, Alaska. Tshibaka a candidate for U.S. Senate in Alaska previously wrote articles in support of an organization that espoused gay conversion therapy, questioned the integrity of elections and described the “Twilight” books and movies as evil. Many of the past articles, blogs and posts from candidate Tshibaka have been deleted but some are available through archived internet pages, as first reported Tuesday, April 27, 2021, by CNN. The CNN article, Tshibaka said in an email to The Associated Press, “is just proof that our campaign is gaining momentum, which has Lisa Murkowski and her allies scared to death. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Senate candidate shadowed by anti-gay article, election post

She previously wrote articles in support of an organization that espoused gay conversion therapy.

In this September 2019 photo, then-Alaska Department of Administration Commissioner Kelly Tshibaka addresses reporters in Anchorage, Alaska. Tshibaka a candidate for U.S. Senate in Alaska previously wrote articles in support of an organization that espoused gay conversion therapy, questioned the integrity of elections and described the “Twilight” books and movies as evil. Many of the past articles, blogs and posts from candidate Tshibaka have been deleted but some are available through archived internet pages, as first reported Tuesday, April 27, 2021, by CNN. The CNN article, Tshibaka said in an email to The Associated Press, “is just proof that our campaign is gaining momentum, which has Lisa Murkowski and her allies scared to death. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Maralee Guiher drops off her ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. On Monday, city assembly members decided to follow the 2020 playbook for the 2021 municipal election. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters and at least two polling places and drop boxes will be available. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Municipal election to be conducted mostly by mail

At least two polling places and drop boxes will be available

Maralee Guiher drops off her ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. On Monday, city assembly members decided to follow the 2020 playbook for the 2021 municipal election. Ballots will be mailed to eligible voters and at least two polling places and drop boxes will be available. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
The Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro is moored at the cutter’s homeport of Kodiak, Alaska, April 24, 2021. The Douglas Munro was decommissioned during a ceremony following 49-years of service. (Chief Petty Officer Matt Masaschi / U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard decommissions cutter Douglas Munro

The vessel has been in service since 1971 and undertaken many high-profile rescues and operations.

The Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro is moored at the cutter’s homeport of Kodiak, Alaska, April 24, 2021. The Douglas Munro was decommissioned during a ceremony following 49-years of service. (Chief Petty Officer Matt Masaschi / U.S. Coast Guard)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire A sign seen on a downtown Juneau business reminds customers that masks are required. On Monday night, CBJ officials voted to add flexibility to the city’s COVID-related ordinances and adopted a tiered mitigation strategy within the lowest risk level that changes as local vaccination rates increase.

CBJ adds flexibility, adopts tiered COVID mitigation strategies

Travel-related testing mandate expires Saturday

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire A sign seen on a downtown Juneau business reminds customers that masks are required. On Monday night, CBJ officials voted to add flexibility to the city’s COVID-related ordinances and adopted a tiered mitigation strategy within the lowest risk level that changes as local vaccination rates increase.
Thunder Mountain High School junior Kiah Dihle kicks the ball during a game against Ketchikan High School. (Courtesy Photo / Zach Hanna)

Girls soccer seasons off to energetic start

Both teams had solid wins over Ketchikan before facing off at home.

Thunder Mountain High School junior Kiah Dihle kicks the ball during a game against Ketchikan High School. (Courtesy Photo / Zach Hanna)
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Report recommends public database for police use of force

Mental health issues stand out.

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