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Capital City Fire/Rescue will be escorting their Clauses around Juneau this year, with some slight modifications to the annual tradition. (Courtesy photo / City and Borough of Juneau)

Santa Claus is coming to town

Capital City Fire/Rescue, Mr. and Mrs. Claus ready for parade

Capital City Fire/Rescue will be escorting their Clauses around Juneau this year, with some slight modifications to the annual tradition. (Courtesy photo / City and Borough of Juneau)
Chief Master Sgt. Winfield Hinkley Jr., Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the Alaska National Guard, left, Makayla Hikley, middle, and Maj. John Brackenbury, divisional commander with the Salvation Army, Alaska Division, wrap gifts in Anchorage, Alaska, that will be sent to children in three rural Alaska villages, on Nov. 17, 2020. The Alaska National Guard and the Salvation Army were able to provide and deliver gifts for the program’s 65th year, but had to scale back distribution parties that are normally held in the villages because of COVID-19. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Pandemic prompts scaled back Christmas tradition in Alaska

This year’s edition of Operation Santa Claus didn’t have the pomp of previous incarnations.

  • Dec 15, 2020
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
Chief Master Sgt. Winfield Hinkley Jr., Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the Alaska National Guard, left, Makayla Hikley, middle, and Maj. John Brackenbury, divisional commander with the Salvation Army, Alaska Division, wrap gifts in Anchorage, Alaska, that will be sent to children in three rural Alaska villages, on Nov. 17, 2020. The Alaska National Guard and the Salvation Army were able to provide and deliver gifts for the program’s 65th year, but had to scale back distribution parties that are normally held in the villages because of COVID-19. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Lawmakers will return to the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Nov. 4, 2020, in January but the Legislature remains deeply divided, and new leadership has yet to emerge in either the House or Senate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers cautious of governor’s budget

Reactions mixed to big proposals.

Lawmakers will return to the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Nov. 4, 2020, in January but the Legislature remains deeply divided, and new leadership has yet to emerge in either the House or Senate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File The U.S. Flag and Alaska state flag fly on the roof of the Alaska State Capitol on Oct. 17. With just over a month before legislative session is set to begin, some lawmakers are waiting to lock down digs. One factor: uncertainty about how — and for how long — lawmakers plan to meet.

Virus causes session housing headaches for state lawmakers

Uncertainty shaped short-term housing plans.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File The U.S. Flag and Alaska state flag fly on the roof of the Alaska State Capitol on Oct. 17. With just over a month before legislative session is set to begin, some lawmakers are waiting to lock down digs. One factor: uncertainty about how — and for how long — lawmakers plan to meet.
The first doses of the vaccine for the coronavirus pandemic arrived in Anchorage on Dec. 13, 2020, and are due to begin being injected within days. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Department of Health and Social Services)

Alaska receives first coronavirus vaccine shipments

The first vaccinations are expected to happen this week.

The first doses of the vaccine for the coronavirus pandemic arrived in Anchorage on Dec. 13, 2020, and are due to begin being injected within days. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Department of Health and Social Services)
Division of Elections staff conducted an audit of the ballots for Measure 2 at the division's offices at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. DOE announced the audit found no changes from the original count and the results remained the same as originally certified. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Ballot Measure 2 audit shows no changes

Alaska’s election comes out clean.

Division of Elections staff conducted an audit of the ballots for Measure 2 at the division's offices at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. DOE announced the audit found no changes from the original count and the results remained the same as originally certified. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Opinion: Our hearts go out to Southeast Alaska

Governor shares thoughts, response information on recent disaster.

  • Dec 14, 2020
  • By Gov. Mike Dunleavy
Gov. Mike Dunleavy (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
First Student Inc. held a bus parade Saturday to remember recently killed employee Mark Sateri, driving by the Mountain View Apartments where Sateri lived and died as residents came out to remember him, Dec. 12, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Man remembered as kind, enthusiastic, hardworking

Residents at the Mountain View Apartment came out to remember their former friend and neighbor.

First Student Inc. held a bus parade Saturday to remember recently killed employee Mark Sateri, driving by the Mountain View Apartments where Sateri lived and died as residents came out to remember him, Dec. 12, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
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Slack Tide: Whole lotta latkes

Celebrate Hanukkah with these “excellent calorie shovels.”

  • Dec 13, 2020
  • By Geoff Kirsch For the Juneau Empire
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The Tailings Treatment Facility at Kensington Gold Mine, seen here on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, will need to be expanded in order for the mine to operate for another 10 years. Environmentalists are concerned about pollutants from the mine contaminating local waters. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Kensington public comment period extended

Another 10 years?

The Tailings Treatment Facility at Kensington Gold Mine, seen here on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, will need to be expanded in order for the mine to operate for another 10 years. Environmentalists are concerned about pollutants from the mine contaminating local waters. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. (Photo by the Canadian Press/AP-NIAID-RML via AP)

State reports 18 COVID-19 deaths

Of 18 deaths, five were recent, according to the state.

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. (Photo by the Canadian Press/AP-NIAID-RML via AP)
Margaret Keenan, 90, the first patient in the U.K. to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, receives an injection by nurse May Parsons at University Hospital, Coventry, England. (Jacob King/Pool via AP)

States will start getting COVID-19 vaccine Monday, US says

The U.S. gave the final go-ahead Friday.

Margaret Keenan, 90, the first patient in the U.K. to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, receives an injection by nurse May Parsons at University Hospital, Coventry, England. (Jacob King/Pool via AP)
Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a wreck in which a pickup truck slid off the road near Twin Lakes. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR)

Slick roads create hazards, lead to multiple wrecks

Authorities responded to multiple wrecks.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a wreck in which a pickup truck slid off the road near Twin Lakes. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Bartlett Regional Hospital is not concerned about its ability to medevac critically injured patients in spite of rising case numbers in the hospitals that would typically receive them in Anchorage and Seattle.

Officials: Out-of-town case spikes don’t impede medevacs

Patients requiring advanced care will still be able receive it elsewhere.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Bartlett Regional Hospital is not concerned about its ability to medevac critically injured patients in spite of rising case numbers in the hospitals that would typically receive them in Anchorage and Seattle.
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Opinion: The trouble with celebrity politicians

Judges calling balls and strikes are the last line of defense…

  • Dec 12, 2020
  • By Rich Monia
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Gov. Mike Dunleavy and his administration released a proposed budget Friday, Dec. 11. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Dunleavy proposes budget for ‘unprecedented’ times

“A Path Forward for Fiscal Year 2022.”

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and his administration released a proposed budget Friday, Dec. 11. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
This sea otter pup recovered from the beach in Homer has been admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center for care and rehabilitation. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)

Sea otter pup found in Homer recovering at Alaska SeaLife Center

The Alaska SeaLife Center recently overcame major financial setbacks spurred by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This sea otter pup recovered from the beach in Homer has been admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center for care and rehabilitation. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)
The Supreme Court is seen as sundown in Washington. The Supreme Court rejected on Dec. 11,a lawsuit backed by President Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory, ending a desperate attempt to get legal issues rejected by state and federal judges before the nation’s highest court. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)

Supreme Court rejects Texas-led election lawsuit

Polarizing suit had backing from Alaska among other states

  • Dec 11, 2020
  • By NOMAAN MERCHANT, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
  • National News
The Supreme Court is seen as sundown in Washington. The Supreme Court rejected on Dec. 11,a lawsuit backed by President Donald Trump to overturn Joe Biden’s election victory, ending a desperate attempt to get legal issues rejected by state and federal judges before the nation’s highest court. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
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Opinion: The Texas lawsuit is madness and supporting it borders on sedition

Even worse are the ramifications of this effort for the future of Alaska.

  • Dec 11, 2020
  • By Mark Roye
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Heritage Coffee Roasting Company is one of several Juneau businesses helping to prepare hundreds of meals for Haines residents and emergency relief workers following landslides that destroyed many homes and killed two. (Courtesy Photo / Kirk Stagg)

Juneau organizations serve up help for Haines

Hundreds of meals a day go north to help feed Haines.

Heritage Coffee Roasting Company is one of several Juneau businesses helping to prepare hundreds of meals for Haines residents and emergency relief workers following landslides that destroyed many homes and killed two. (Courtesy Photo / Kirk Stagg)