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The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, contracting with Coastal Helicopters, works to reduce avalanche risk on Thane Road by setting off avalanches in a controlled fashion on Feb. 5, 2021.(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Update: Thane Road closure canceled.

Weather conditions cause cancellation.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, contracting with Coastal Helicopters, works to reduce avalanche risk on Thane Road by setting off avalanches in a controlled fashion on Feb. 5, 2021.(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Courtesy Photo/ Consortium for Ocean Leadership A group of students from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé won the Tsunami Bowl, a regional ocean science academic competition that is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The team, which uses the name New Squids on the Dock, will join winners from 20 other regional bowls for virtual finals in May.

JDHS students win regional ocean science competition

Next up: virtual finals

Courtesy Photo/ Consortium for Ocean Leadership A group of students from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé won the Tsunami Bowl, a regional ocean science academic competition that is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The team, which uses the name New Squids on the Dock, will join winners from 20 other regional bowls for virtual finals in May.
Lisa X’unyéil Worl was recently awarded the Carla Timpone Award for Activism from the Alaska Women’s Lobby for her work in the education system. (Courtesy photo / Konrad Frank)

Local education advocate wins award for activism

The award is the result of years of work on behalf of equity of education for Juneau’s children

Lisa X’unyéil Worl was recently awarded the Carla Timpone Award for Activism from the Alaska Women’s Lobby for her work in the education system. (Courtesy photo / Konrad Frank)
Someone holds up an inflatable Alaska Marine Highway ferry at at a rally to support of the Alaska Marine Highway System on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Biden’s infrastructure plan and new ferries

Does Gov. Mike Dunleavy want new ferries that would require a long-term state subsidy to operate?

  • Apr 3, 2021
  • By Rich Moniak
Someone holds up an inflatable Alaska Marine Highway ferry at at a rally to support of the Alaska Marine Highway System on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
City and Borough of Juneau Public Library Director Robert Barr was announced Friday, April 2, 2021, as Juneau’s next deputy city manager. Barr was also announced this week as the winner of the American Library Association’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession for his work as the city’s planning section chief through the pandemic. (Courtesy photo / CBJ)

Raising the Barr: Library chief picked for deputy city manager job

He also won a national award for his work through the pandemic.

City and Borough of Juneau Public Library Director Robert Barr was announced Friday, April 2, 2021, as Juneau’s next deputy city manager. Barr was also announced this week as the winner of the American Library Association’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession for his work as the city’s planning section chief through the pandemic. (Courtesy photo / CBJ)
Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department displayed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. The state is suing prescription drug companies, accusing them of helping to fuel a drug crisis in the state. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

State sues drug companies over opioids

Not Alaska’s first opioid lawsuit.

Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department displayed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. The state is suing prescription drug companies, accusing them of helping to fuel a drug crisis in the state. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
George J. Bennett Sr., left, and Arsenio “Pastor” Credo, right, were among the hundreds of Alaskans who deployed to Vietnam during the war and were collectively welcomed home during an event held by the Southeast Intertribal Collective for National Vietnam War Veterans Day over Facebook Live on March 29, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska Native group honors, welcomes Vietnam veterans home

The event was held to give veterans a welcoming they may not have received 50 years ago.

George J. Bennett Sr., left, and Arsenio “Pastor” Credo, right, were among the hundreds of Alaskans who deployed to Vietnam during the war and were collectively welcomed home during an event held by the Southeast Intertribal Collective for National Vietnam War Veterans Day over Facebook Live on March 29, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
The beak of a female white-winged crossbill. This one died when it flew into a window. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Video

Alaska Science Forum: White-winged crossbills and yellow snow

Why might songbirds have a thing for yellow snow?

The beak of a female white-winged crossbill. This one died when it flew into a window. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Video
Second grade teacher Katie Koski reacts to the news that a student lost a tooth and was visited by the Tooth Fairy, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. Juneau’s students started this school year with distance learning. In January, some students started attending partial, in-person learning. Late Thursday, district officials announced a broader return to in-person learning for elementary school students. Starting next week, students will attend four full days each week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

District expands schedule for in-person learning for elementary schools

School is in session.

Second grade teacher Katie Koski reacts to the news that a student lost a tooth and was visited by the Tooth Fairy, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. Juneau’s students started this school year with distance learning. In January, some students started attending partial, in-person learning. Late Thursday, district officials announced a broader return to in-person learning for elementary school students. Starting next week, students will attend four full days each week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File Hundreds gathered at Marine Park in downtown Juneau on June 7, 2020, for a rally and march calling for an end to police violence and systemic racism in America. On Thursday, Juneau’s newly formed Systemic Racism Review Committee held its first meeting.

Systemic Racism Review Committee holds organizing meeting

Municipal attorney will guide the group

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File Hundreds gathered at Marine Park in downtown Juneau on June 7, 2020, for a rally and march calling for an end to police violence and systemic racism in America. On Thursday, Juneau’s newly formed Systemic Racism Review Committee held its first meeting.
(Courtesy Photo / Brian Wallace for Juneau's Climate Change Solutionists)

Tending to Sustainable Diets and Healthy Lands with Vivian Yéilk’ Mork

Plainly put, what we eat matters for the health of the planet

  • Apr 1, 2021
  • By Anjuli Grantham
(Courtesy Photo / Brian Wallace for Juneau's Climate Change Solutionists)
The banner at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court case on display at the Newseum in Washington D.C. The banner's owner was unable to find it a home in Juneau, and it's been sent to the First Amendment Museum in Maine. (Wikicommons)

Banner at center of Supreme Court case leaves Juneau

Student speech still relevant.

The banner at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court case on display at the Newseum in Washington D.C. The banner's owner was unable to find it a home in Juneau, and it's been sent to the First Amendment Museum in Maine. (Wikicommons)
House lawmakers are hoping to see at least some cruise ship passengers like these seen in this Sept. 2017 file photo, and passed a resolution urging Congress and the president to take action on behalf of Alaska's tourist sector. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

House OKs resolution urging federal action to allow cruise ships to come to Alaska

Juneau’s lawmakers say tourism needed for Southeast.

House lawmakers are hoping to see at least some cruise ship passengers like these seen in this Sept. 2017 file photo, and passed a resolution urging Congress and the president to take action on behalf of Alaska's tourist sector. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A person holds their thumb over a fingerprint sensor to log into an application. Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday introduced a bill that would make companies that collect and sell private information have to receive user's consent first. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

New bill would allow Alaskans to know when data is collected

Governor introduced Consumer Data Privacy Act on Wednesday.

A person holds their thumb over a fingerprint sensor to log into an application. Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday introduced a bill that would make companies that collect and sell private information have to receive user's consent first. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The pageantry of western opera will join forces with the Tlingit culture’s rich history of storytelling, song and dance to create the world’s first Tlingit opera. The opera, which is currently untitled, will premiere at the Perseverance Theatre around 2025. (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage Institute)
Capital City Weekly

First-ever first Tlingit opera will premiere locally

It is a collaboration between Perseverance Theatre and the Sealaska Heritage Institute.

The pageantry of western opera will join forces with the Tlingit culture’s rich history of storytelling, song and dance to create the world’s first Tlingit opera. The opera, which is currently untitled, will premiere at the Perseverance Theatre around 2025. (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage Institute)
Juneau’s breweries, with a funds-matching donation from the Rasmuson Foundation, donated $36,000 to the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation to assist with relief from last year’s fatal landslides as part of the “Pour the Love” fundraiser on March 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Meghan Chambers)

Pilgrimage of pints raises thousands of dollars for Haines

The Pour the Love event was a big success

Juneau’s breweries, with a funds-matching donation from the Rasmuson Foundation, donated $36,000 to the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation to assist with relief from last year’s fatal landslides as part of the “Pour the Love” fundraiser on March 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Meghan Chambers)
Roman Motyka, Juneau Nordic Ski Club board member, grooms the trail along Montana Creek Road on Dec. 29. A new trail could be in the works for the popular recreation area. The Juneau Off-Road Association submitted a request to build a hardened trail in the Montana Creek area, making it easier for people to operate all-terrain vehicles there. The proposed trail is approximately 6,800 feet long and 25 feet wide, containing about 3.90 acres and an additional quarter acre for a campsite. Other organizations who make use of the area have expressed reservations about the plan. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

A new road ahead? There’s a proposal for an access road at Montana Creek

State opens comment period for possible work.

Roman Motyka, Juneau Nordic Ski Club board member, grooms the trail along Montana Creek Road on Dec. 29. A new trail could be in the works for the popular recreation area. The Juneau Off-Road Association submitted a request to build a hardened trail in the Montana Creek area, making it easier for people to operate all-terrain vehicles there. The proposed trail is approximately 6,800 feet long and 25 feet wide, containing about 3.90 acres and an additional quarter acre for a campsite. Other organizations who make use of the area have expressed reservations about the plan. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Members from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys basketball team traveled to California to compete in an independent tournament on March 26, 2021 after high coronavirus levels squashed their hopes of going to the Alaska state championship. (Courtesy photo / Zoey Kriegmont)

Basketball players get final games in California

It may not have been a perfect ending but they got there together.

Members from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys basketball team traveled to California to compete in an independent tournament on March 26, 2021 after high coronavirus levels squashed their hopes of going to the Alaska state championship. (Courtesy photo / Zoey Kriegmont)
Steve and Jenn’s 2020 boat crew in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo / Steve Kurian)

Pride of Bristol Bay: A Conversation with Sockeye Salmon Guru Steve Kurian

It was love at first sight — or maybe taste — for Steve and Jenn and sockeye salmon.

Steve and Jenn’s 2020 boat crew in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo / Steve Kurian)
The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Deputy commissioner to fill in for Tshibaka

Departure effective immediately.

The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)