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Sens. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, left and Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, questioned acting Attorney General Treg Taylor about the administration’s approach to legal matters at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 23, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

AG defends pandemic emergency orders during hearing

Liberties can be limited.

Sens. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, left and Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, questioned acting Attorney General Treg Taylor about the administration’s approach to legal matters at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 23, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss checks someone in during a vaccine clinic held at a school district facility. The district will hold in-house clinics for any Juneau resident between 16 and 18 on April 9. (Courtesy photo / Juneau School District)

School district announces student-focused vaccine clinics

The clinic is open for any 16+ child in Juneau, not just school district students.

Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss checks someone in during a vaccine clinic held at a school district facility. The district will hold in-house clinics for any Juneau resident between 16 and 18 on April 9. (Courtesy photo / Juneau School District)
The sign for the Department of Motor Vehicles in Juneau on March 18, 2021. Had a proposal to close six rural DMVs gone through, Juneau woud be the closest DMV for residents in Haines, who aren't able to drive there. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Public pushback puts pause on DMV proposal

I want my DMV.

The sign for the Department of Motor Vehicles in Juneau on March 18, 2021. Had a proposal to close six rural DMVs gone through, Juneau woud be the closest DMV for residents in Haines, who aren't able to drive there. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a rig and supply vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, off the cost of Louisiana. Thirteen states sued the Biden administration Wednesday, March 24, 2021 to end a suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water and to reschedule canceled sales of offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska waters and western states. The Republican-leaning states, led by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, seek a court order ending the moratorium imposed after Democratic President Joe Biden signed executive orders on climate change on Jan. 27. (AP Photo / Gerald Herbert)

States sue to undo Biden pause on oil and gas lease sales

Thirteen states, including Alaska, sued the Biden administration Wednesday.

This photo shows a rig and supply vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, off the cost of Louisiana. Thirteen states sued the Biden administration Wednesday, March 24, 2021 to end a suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water and to reschedule canceled sales of offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska waters and western states. The Republican-leaning states, led by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, seek a court order ending the moratorium imposed after Democratic President Joe Biden signed executive orders on climate change on Jan. 27. (AP Photo / Gerald Herbert)
Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé player Tias Carney looks to pass to Lope Elizarde during the first half in the boys’ varsity Region V basketball championship against Ketchikan High School at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)

Boys basketball team members eye independent tournament

The team, unaffiliated with the school district, would travel to California to compete.

Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé player Tias Carney looks to pass to Lope Elizarde during the first half in the boys’ varsity Region V basketball championship against Ketchikan High School at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)
The shelves at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank were full on Feb. 18, 2021, as food banks around the state have been working hard to meet extra demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but starting in April its possible the state could lose $8 million a month in federal food stamp benefits. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Looming benefit loss causes food security concerns

Two bills are being considered to keep increased food stamp benefits.

The shelves at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank were full on Feb. 18, 2021, as food banks around the state have been working hard to meet extra demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but starting in April its possible the state could lose $8 million a month in federal food stamp benefits. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The City and Borough of Juneau is working to correct violations that occurred at two of their three wastewater treatment facilities between 2015 and 2019. Many of the violations occurred during a summer construction project at the Juneau-Douglas facility, which was accepting wastewater from cruise ships during the construction process. A number of effluent violations were reported from that timeframe. Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

Wastewater treatment violations result in fines

Juneau to pay $64,000 and undertake corrective actions

The City and Borough of Juneau is working to correct violations that occurred at two of their three wastewater treatment facilities between 2015 and 2019. Many of the violations occurred during a summer construction project at the Juneau-Douglas facility, which was accepting wastewater from cruise ships during the construction process. A number of effluent violations were reported from that timeframe. Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the federal coronavirus response on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)

White House drops Interior nominee after Murkowski objects

Tommy Beaudreau, who grew up in Alaska, is expected as new nominee.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the federal coronavirus response on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)
After months of discussion, the board of education gathered via Zoom late last week to finalize the district’s fiscal year 2021-2022 operating budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

School board OKs funds for teaching supplies, finalizes budget

An additional $5.5 million in federal money coming soon

After months of discussion, the board of education gathered via Zoom late last week to finalize the district’s fiscal year 2021-2022 operating budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
European starlings are among the birds that add fresh, green-leafy, nonstructural material to theirs nests. In general, the added greenery is from species that have aromatic leaves, rich in volatile compounds; these plants are a highly non-random, carefully selected portion of the plants available in the nesting habitat. (Mick Thompson / Flickr)

On The Trails: Greenery in avian nests

Behavior is less well-known to non-ornithologists.

European starlings are among the birds that add fresh, green-leafy, nonstructural material to theirs nests. In general, the added greenery is from species that have aromatic leaves, rich in volatile compounds; these plants are a highly non-random, carefully selected portion of the plants available in the nesting habitat. (Mick Thompson / Flickr)
Rose Lawhorne has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Bartlett Regional Hospital, officials announced in a news release on Monday. Lawhorne is a long-time hospital employee and is currently serving as Bartlett’s chief nursing officer. She will begin the CEO role on April 4. (Courtesy Photo/Bartlett REgional Hospital)

Longtime Bartlett employee Rose Lawhorne named CEO

She is currently the chief nursing officer

Rose Lawhorne has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Bartlett Regional Hospital, officials announced in a news release on Monday. Lawhorne is a long-time hospital employee and is currently serving as Bartlett’s chief nursing officer. She will begin the CEO role on April 4. (Courtesy Photo/Bartlett REgional Hospital)
A bear statue near the Alaska State Capitol Building stares pensively into the snow as inches fall on Juneau as part of a series of winter storm systems on March 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Snow is falling, and the avalanche risk rising

March will be a hefty but not record-breaking month for snow.

A bear statue near the Alaska State Capitol Building stares pensively into the snow as inches fall on Juneau as part of a series of winter storm systems on March 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé player Cooper Kriegmont holds the 2021 Region V championship plaque up for Juneau spectators following a 87-68 win over Ketchikan in the boys’ varsity Region V basketball championship at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS’ boys formidable season ends with win at Region V tournament

The Thunder Mountain girls were not so fortunate.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé player Cooper Kriegmont holds the 2021 Region V championship plaque up for Juneau spectators following a 87-68 win over Ketchikan in the boys’ varsity Region V basketball championship at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)
Volunteers with the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network perform a necropsy on a beached humpback whale on Kuzof Island on Thursday, March 18, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network)

Beached humpback provides rare opportunity for scientists

Volunteers led by UAS researchers dissect whale near Sitka.

Volunteers with the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network perform a necropsy on a beached humpback whale on Kuzof Island on Thursday, March 18, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network)
This June 2016 photo shows then-Alaska Marijuana Control Board member Brandon Emmett at the board's meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Regulators amid much fanfare in early 2020 approved the first cannabis lounges in Alaska. It was a milestone for the state's legal marijuana industry. Then the pandemic hit. An owner of one of the shops hopes to open later this year. An owner of the other said his shop opened briefly last fall before having to hit pause amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the state. Emmett, a former member of the Marijuana Control Board who strongly advocated for rules to allow onsite use, said he thinks the number of cannabis lounges or cafes in the state will be limited "for at least a couple years." (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Pandemic puts pause on on-site use for some Alaska pot shops

By Becky Bohrer Associated Press Regulators amid much fanfare in early 2020 approved two cannabis lounges in Alaska, making it one of the few states… Continue reading

This June 2016 photo shows then-Alaska Marijuana Control Board member Brandon Emmett at the board's meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Regulators amid much fanfare in early 2020 approved the first cannabis lounges in Alaska. It was a milestone for the state's legal marijuana industry. Then the pandemic hit. An owner of one of the shops hopes to open later this year. An owner of the other said his shop opened briefly last fall before having to hit pause amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the state. Emmett, a former member of the Marijuana Control Board who strongly advocated for rules to allow onsite use, said he thinks the number of cannabis lounges or cafes in the state will be limited "for at least a couple years." (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Composite image / Juneau Empire Juneau has had 1,326 confirmed cases, including five deaths, since its first confirmed case of the coronavirus on March 22, 2020.

Juneau’s institutions look back on a year of COVID

March 22, 2020 was Juneau’s first confirmed case.

Composite image / Juneau Empire Juneau has had 1,326 confirmed cases, including five deaths, since its first confirmed case of the coronavirus on March 22, 2020.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after a closed-door morning session of US-China talks in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown / Pool via AP)

US, China wrap up testy 1st face-to-face talks under Biden

The Anchorage meetings were a new test in increasingly troubled relations between the two countries.

  • Mar 19, 2021
  • By Matthew Lee and Mark Thiessen Associated Pressz
  • National News
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after a closed-door morning session of US-China talks in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown / Pool via AP)
On Friday, Juneau school officials announced that two new principals have been named for the upcoming school year. Harborview School, will welcome Kelley Harvey as the new principal in August. William Sarandria was named the new principal at Auke Bay Elementary School, starting in August. Both Harvey and Sarandria are long-time Juneau educators. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau educators named to local principal posts

Auke Bay and Harborview Schools to welcome new principals in August

On Friday, Juneau school officials announced that two new principals have been named for the upcoming school year. Harborview School, will welcome Kelley Harvey as the new principal in August. William Sarandria was named the new principal at Auke Bay Elementary School, starting in August. Both Harvey and Sarandria are long-time Juneau educators. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Chris Kurka, R-Wasilla, leaves the chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, March 19, 2021, after an hour of delays concerning the wording on his mask. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Mask rules standoff derails House floor session

Rescheduled for Saturday.

Rep. Chris Kurka, R-Wasilla, leaves the chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, March 19, 2021, after an hour of delays concerning the wording on his mask. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A northern red-backed vole climbing down a tree. (Courtesy Photo / Todd Paris, UAF)

Alaska Science Forum: Why did the vole climb the tree?

Despite the small mammal being common, nobody had studied or written about them climbing trees.

A northern red-backed vole climbing down a tree. (Courtesy Photo / Todd Paris, UAF)