Home

Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, at center, chairs the first meeting of a bicameral conference committee tasked with negotiating the state's final budget bill in the Senate Finance Committee chambers on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Lawmakers had said they wanted to finish before Memorial Day, but Foster said that didn't seem like a possibility. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget negotiations begin, will likely continue into June

One day at a time.

Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, at center, chairs the first meeting of a bicameral conference committee tasked with negotiating the state's final budget bill in the Senate Finance Committee chambers on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Lawmakers had said they wanted to finish before Memorial Day, but Foster said that didn't seem like a possibility. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This year’s Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist is Ernestine Saankaláxt’ Hayes. The acclaimed author is former Alaska State Writer Laureate and resides in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Pat Race)
Video
Capital City Weekly

Hayes receives prestigious Distinguished Artist honor

Acclaimed writer from Juneau receives Rasmuson Foundation award.

This year’s Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist is Ernestine Saankaláxt’ Hayes. The acclaimed author is former Alaska State Writer Laureate and resides in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Pat Race)
Video
A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. Before cruise ships can sail to Alaska this summer, they must enter into a port agreement, which outlines health and safety terms. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

CBJ authorizes city manager to enter port agreements with cruise lines

CDC requires agreed-upon health and safety standards for cruises

A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. Before cruise ships can sail to Alaska this summer, they must enter into a port agreement, which outlines health and safety terms. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Juneauites walking the Airport Dike Trail, seen here on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, probably won’t see the monitoring wells being installed in the area around the Juneau International Airport to test for contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS chemicals. Ground water testing is set to take place over the next few years. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City testing for PFAS in soil, groundwater around airport

Multi-year process.

Juneauites walking the Airport Dike Trail, seen here on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, probably won’t see the monitoring wells being installed in the area around the Juneau International Airport to test for contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS chemicals. Ground water testing is set to take place over the next few years. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Starting next month, new rules will govern the use of fireworks in the City and Borough of Juneau. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire File)

CBJ adopts new fireworks rules

New rules ban mortar-style fireworks in neighborhoods

Starting next month, new rules will govern the use of fireworks in the City and Borough of Juneau. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire File)
JDHS graduates make their way from a graduation ceremony held Sunday, May 23. All three Juneau public high school held ceremonies on Sunday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

PHOTOS: 1 day, 3 graduation ceremonies

See photos of the big day.

JDHS graduates make their way from a graduation ceremony held Sunday, May 23. All three Juneau public high school held ceremonies on Sunday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Garrett Klein, a junior at TMHS, recalls his reaction to finding out his painting will hang in Washington D.C. "I was just blown away," Klein said. "I was in absolute shock." Klein thanked Angela Imboden, Nancy Lehnhart and MK MacNaughton for making the success possible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

From Juneau with love

Local artist’s work to hang in Washington, D.C.

Garrett Klein, a junior at TMHS, recalls his reaction to finding out his painting will hang in Washington D.C. "I was just blown away," Klein said. "I was in absolute shock." Klein thanked Angela Imboden, Nancy Lehnhart and MK MacNaughton for making the success possible. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Bob Sam and Jamiann Hasselquist touch the headstone of Chief Joseph, a tribal leader buried in the Lawson Creek Cemetery in 1917, as they work with other volunteers to restore the cemetery, on May 22, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Volunteers work to restore neglected Douglas cemetery

“We’re giving them a place with dignity, honor and respect.”

Bob Sam and Jamiann Hasselquist touch the headstone of Chief Joseph, a tribal leader buried in the Lawson Creek Cemetery in 1917, as they work with other volunteers to restore the cemetery, on May 22, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Firefighter medic Andy Tighe snaps a photo of the breakaway plus-class cruise ship Norwegian Bliss while Captain Tracy Mettler operates a fireboat in the Tongass Narrows in Ketchikan, Alaska, on June 4, 2018. President Joe Biden signed into law Monday, May 24, 2021, legislation that opens a door for resumed cruise ship travel to Alaska after the pandemic last year scrapped sailings. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News)

Biden signs bill opening door for Alaska cruises to resume

The measure will allow large cruise ships to sail directly from Washington state to Alaska.

Firefighter medic Andy Tighe snaps a photo of the breakaway plus-class cruise ship Norwegian Bliss while Captain Tracy Mettler operates a fireboat in the Tongass Narrows in Ketchikan, Alaska, on June 4, 2018. President Joe Biden signed into law Monday, May 24, 2021, legislation that opens a door for resumed cruise ship travel to Alaska after the pandemic last year scrapped sailings. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News)
From left to right: Sens. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau; Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak; Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, and Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speak on the floor of the Alaska Senate on Monday, May 24, 2021, the first day of one of two special sessions called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers: Budget negotiations to begin Wednesday

Buttoning up the budget.

From left to right: Sens. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau; Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak; Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, and Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speak on the floor of the Alaska Senate on Monday, May 24, 2021, the first day of one of two special sessions called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The NASA Black Brant XII rocket lifts off with the KiNET-X experiment at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on May 16, 2021. (Terry Zaperach / NASA)

Chasing starlight: Alaska team shoots rocket searching for aurora data

Weather conditions on the East Coast nearly scrubbed the mission.

The NASA Black Brant XII rocket lifts off with the KiNET-X experiment at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on May 16, 2021. (Terry Zaperach / NASA)
Geoff Kirsch

Slack Tide’s Guide for Vaccinated Alaskans

There are still some things even vaccinated Alaskans should avoid.

  • May 23, 2021
  • By Geoff Kirsch For the Juneau Empire
Geoff Kirsch
Alaska State Trooper Josh Bentz, left, addresses volunteers searching for a missing woman in Juneau before they set out on May 21, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Update: Search for missing woman comes to tragic end

The death is not considered suspicious, police said.

Alaska State Trooper Josh Bentz, left, addresses volunteers searching for a missing woman in Juneau before they set out on May 21, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
In this April 22, 2021, photo, signs of spring thaw appear along the Tazlina River in Tazlina, Alaska. The Catholic Church wants to sell 462 acres that once housed the Copper Valley mission school to the Native Village of Tazlina, a federally recognized tribe. The tribe is scrambling to raise the nearly $1.9 million asking price so it can regain stewardship of its ancestral land. (John Tierney/Indian Country Today)

Alaska village eyes return of ancestral lands

A federally recognized tribe is scrambling to raise funds to regain stewardship of the lands.

In this April 22, 2021, photo, signs of spring thaw appear along the Tazlina River in Tazlina, Alaska. The Catholic Church wants to sell 462 acres that once housed the Copper Valley mission school to the Native Village of Tazlina, a federally recognized tribe. The tribe is scrambling to raise the nearly $1.9 million asking price so it can regain stewardship of its ancestral land. (John Tierney/Indian Country Today)
Courtesy photo/University of Alaska Fairbanks Pat Pitney, president of the University of Alaska system, will give the keynote address Sunday at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé commencement. She said her remarks will focus on the future ahead of the graduates as well as the skills they learned during COVID.

‘You can do hard things’: Commencement address comes together

UA President Pat Pitney said she was humbled to be selected.

Courtesy photo/University of Alaska Fairbanks Pat Pitney, president of the University of Alaska system, will give the keynote address Sunday at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé commencement. She said her remarks will focus on the future ahead of the graduates as well as the skills they learned during COVID.
Members of the class of 2021, including Anna Wu, JDHS (left), Chemery Marte,TMHS (second from left), Connor Carroll (center right), and Yarrow Platt, (far right) from YDHS. (Courtesy Photos)

Seniors reflect, look forward

Graduation day evokes a wide variety of feelings

Members of the class of 2021, including Anna Wu, JDHS (left), Chemery Marte,TMHS (second from left), Connor Carroll (center right), and Yarrow Platt, (far right) from YDHS. (Courtesy Photos)
Hikers traverse the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes on the Alaska Peninsula, walking on a sheet of ash and volcanic rock more than 500-feet thick. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Bringing the world to a standstill

On a fine June day about 100 years ago, the world fell apart.

Hikers traverse the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes on the Alaska Peninsula, walking on a sheet of ash and volcanic rock more than 500-feet thick. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Leslie Ishii, artistic director for Perseverance Theatre; Dennis Arashiro, Board President of the Alaska Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League; and Adriana Li, program coordinator and instructor for IMPACT; will be featured on a conversation panel that will be held in recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. (Courtesy Photos)

Community conversation to spotlight Alaska’s AAPI community

“We have to take a look at how we humanize each other.”

Leslie Ishii, artistic director for Perseverance Theatre; Dennis Arashiro, Board President of the Alaska Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League; and Adriana Li, program coordinator and instructor for IMPACT; will be featured on a conversation panel that will be held in recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. (Courtesy Photos)
Proclamations from Gov. Mike Dunleavy calling special sessions of the Alaska State Legislature for late May and early August were posted in the otherwise quiet office of the House Clerk on Friday, May 21, 2021. The first special session has started but the Capitol building was quiet as most of the work before lawmakers will take place in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Special session begins, aims to solve Alaska’s fiscal deficit for good

Get ready in May for August.

Proclamations from Gov. Mike Dunleavy calling special sessions of the Alaska State Legislature for late May and early August were posted in the otherwise quiet office of the House Clerk on Friday, May 21, 2021. The first special session has started but the Capitol building was quiet as most of the work before lawmakers will take place in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Teaser

Opinion: The plague of intellectual laziness

What’s become increasingly lazy, is our political discourse.

  • May 21, 2021
  • By Rich Moniak
Teaser