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Visitors depart from the Baranoff Hotel in downtown Juneau on Thursday, June 3, 2021, just days after the typically year-round hotel reopened its doors after closing for the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers are returning, hoteliers say, but many of their rooms remain empty. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Visitor numbers rebound, but hotel vacancies remain high

Hotels, motels, nobody’s in.

Visitors depart from the Baranoff Hotel in downtown Juneau on Thursday, June 3, 2021, just days after the typically year-round hotel reopened its doors after closing for the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers are returning, hoteliers say, but many of their rooms remain empty. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department is investigating the death of a 48-year-old man found floating dead in Don D. Statter Harbor on June 3, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Man found dead in water at Statter Harbor

The death is not considered suspicious, but police are investigating how he ended up in the water.

The Juneau Police Department is investigating the death of a 48-year-old man found floating dead in Don D. Statter Harbor on June 3, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Cunard cruise ship Queen Elizabeth sails through Cook Inlet Thursday, May 16, 2019, for a port call in Anchorage. Federal officials say a lawsuit in Florida could block cruise ships from visiting Alaska in summer 2021. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

CDC: Florida lawsuit imperils summer cruises to Alaska

CDC lawyers say injunction win would “end cruising in Alaska for the season.”

The Cunard cruise ship Queen Elizabeth sails through Cook Inlet Thursday, May 16, 2019, for a port call in Anchorage. Federal officials say a lawsuit in Florida could block cruise ships from visiting Alaska in summer 2021. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
The New Squids on the Dock, the National Ocean Sciences Bowl team from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé is celebrating a top 10 finish at the national competition. Here, team members show off the hardware they brought home in the regional competition called the Tsunami Bowl. Team members include Elin Antaya, Jack Marx, team captain Tias Carney, Adrian Whitney and Addy Mallot. (Courtesy photo/Shannon Easterly)

JDHS students secure a top 10 spot in national ocean science competition

New Squids on the Dock hung tough through an unusual season

The New Squids on the Dock, the National Ocean Sciences Bowl team from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé is celebrating a top 10 finish at the national competition. Here, team members show off the hardware they brought home in the regional competition called the Tsunami Bowl. Team members include Elin Antaya, Jack Marx, team captain Tias Carney, Adrian Whitney and Addy Mallot. (Courtesy photo/Shannon Easterly)
This July 26, 2017 file photo shows the Emerald Princess cruise ship docked in Juneau, Alaska. Kenneth Manzanares, charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife Kristy while aboard the ship on a cruise to Alaska, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Juneau Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. Kristy Manzanares was found dead in a cabin last month on the ship while it was in U.S. waters off Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Man sentenced to 30 years for cruise ship murder

The brutality of the crime was cited as reason for the stiff sentence.

This July 26, 2017 file photo shows the Emerald Princess cruise ship docked in Juneau, Alaska. Kenneth Manzanares, charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife Kristy while aboard the ship on a cruise to Alaska, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Juneau Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. Kristy Manzanares was found dead in a cabin last month on the ship while it was in U.S. waters off Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
The Alaska State Capitol was quiet on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, with several lawmakers excused even as negotiations over the state's budget continue. Lawmakers said they couldn't say when the budget might be put to a vote, but talks were moving to the more contentious items in the budget.

With nothing to vote on, many lawmakers head home

Session ends June 19.

The Alaska State Capitol was quiet on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, with several lawmakers excused even as negotiations over the state's budget continue. Lawmakers said they couldn't say when the budget might be put to a vote, but talks were moving to the more contentious items in the budget.
A Utah man who pleaded guilty to killing his wife is being sentenced in United States District Court at the Hurff A. Saunders Federal Building, seen here on June 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Man charged for cruise ship killing to be sentenced soon

Suspect pleaded guilty to killing his wife aboard ship in 2017.

A Utah man who pleaded guilty to killing his wife is being sentenced in United States District Court at the Hurff A. Saunders Federal Building, seen here on June 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Karla Hart, who led the efforts to add a trio of initiatives to limit cruise ships in Juneau, talks about the failed effort at a press conference on June 2, shortly after announcing that the group did not collect enough signatures to move the questions to the October ballot. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Cruise-curbing initiatives won’t be on the ballot

Supporters failed to reach the signature threshold but vow to fight on

Karla Hart, who led the efforts to add a trio of initiatives to limit cruise ships in Juneau, talks about the failed effort at a press conference on June 2, shortly after announcing that the group did not collect enough signatures to move the questions to the October ballot. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
The first rule of wild harvesting is, “Don’t harvest what you don’t know.” It’s also the second rule. That’s because for a novice harvester, it can be easy to confuse the potentially deadly false hellebore with watermelon berry shoots. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Mork Yéilk’)
Capital City Weekly

Harvesting watermelon berry shoots. What to know before you go

“Don’t harvest what you don’t know.”

The first rule of wild harvesting is, “Don’t harvest what you don’t know.” It’s also the second rule. That’s because for a novice harvester, it can be easy to confuse the potentially deadly false hellebore with watermelon berry shoots. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Mork Yéilk’)
Members of a bicameral conference committee of lawmakers, seen here at their first meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, will meet again Wednesday, June 2. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget talks to resume Wednesday

19 days left.

Members of a bicameral conference committee of lawmakers, seen here at their first meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, will meet again Wednesday, June 2. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé baseball and softball teams will travel to Anchorage this weekend to compete in their respective state tournaments. (Unsplash / Thomas Park)

Beginnings and ends: Teams head to state as others wind down

Young teams will make for lively seasons next year.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé baseball and softball teams will travel to Anchorage this weekend to compete in their respective state tournaments. (Unsplash / Thomas Park)
Members of the TMHS boys soccer team celebrate winning the school’s first-ever, state-wide soccer championship besting Soldotna in a hard-fought 3-2 victory on May 29, 2021. (Courtesy Photo/Tim Lewis)

TMHS boys soccer brings home state championship

JDHS came in third

Members of the TMHS boys soccer team celebrate winning the school’s first-ever, state-wide soccer championship besting Soldotna in a hard-fought 3-2 victory on May 29, 2021. (Courtesy Photo/Tim Lewis)
An adult male American redstart is brightly attired with contrasting black and orange (Courtesy Photo /Mark Schwann)

On the Trails: Hither and yon in late May

Daily walks seldom lead to disappointment.

An adult male American redstart is brightly attired with contrasting black and orange (Courtesy Photo /Mark Schwann)
COVID-19 vaccines, like these seen at a March 13, 2021 Department of Veteran’s Affairs vaccine clinic, will be available at Alaska three main airports and open to anyone who wants one. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Vaccines for visitors: Shots now available at 3 Alaska airports

Ages 12 and up.

COVID-19 vaccines, like these seen at a March 13, 2021 Department of Veteran’s Affairs vaccine clinic, will be available at Alaska three main airports and open to anyone who wants one. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
This undated aerial photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a herd of caribou on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. The Biden administration is suspending oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as it reviews the environmental impacts of drilling in the remote region.(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Biden suspends oil leases in Alaska’s Arctic refuge

Move draws rebuke from the state.

This undated aerial photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a herd of caribou on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. The Biden administration is suspending oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as it reviews the environmental impacts of drilling in the remote region.(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau residents sing together outside the Juneau Montessori School, formerly the Mayflower School built by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to honor the 215 dead Indigenous children found at a residential school in Canada, on May 31, 2021.

Locals mourn deceased children found at Canadian residential school

The local Montessori school was adorned with flowers and feathers.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau residents sing together outside the Juneau Montessori School, formerly the Mayflower School built by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to honor the 215 dead Indigenous children found at a residential school in Canada, on May 31, 2021.
Members of the JDHS girls soccer team celebrate after clinching the state soccer title. The team capped a perfect season by besting the Soldotna Stars 5-1 to clinch the Division II title. (Courtesy Photo/Carolyn Kelley)

JDHS girls soccer clinches state title

Juneau’s soccer teams dominate state tournament

Members of the JDHS girls soccer team celebrate after clinching the state soccer title. The team capped a perfect season by besting the Soldotna Stars 5-1 to clinch the Division II title. (Courtesy Photo/Carolyn Kelley)
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5559 junior vice commander David Carroll, nearer, and post service officer Tom Armstrong, further, salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery on May 31, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Rain does little to dampen larger-than-usual Memorial Day ceremony

Many gathered at Evergreen Cemetery to honor America’s war dead.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5559 junior vice commander David Carroll, nearer, and post service officer Tom Armstrong, further, salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery on May 31, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Dick Hand, a Coast Guard veteran, stands at salute after laying a wreath at Alaskan Memorial Park in remembrance of Americans who gave their lives for the country on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Remembering the fallen

Rain didn’t deter the crowd from remembering America’s lost service members

Dick Hand, a Coast Guard veteran, stands at salute after laying a wreath at Alaskan Memorial Park in remembrance of Americans who gave their lives for the country on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Local fireworks ordinance makes too many exceptions

I applaud (adopting the ordinance) but am of the opinion that it does not go far enough.

  • May 31, 2021
  • By Don Koch
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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