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Job losses appear to be slowing across state

Alaska’s unemployment rate improved slightly in June, but detailed statistics show job losses continuing. According to figures from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce… Continue reading

Nic Sevic, left, and Elliot Sofhauser, of Above and Beyond Alaska gather canoes and kayaks from storage at Mendenhall Lake on Thursday, July 19, 2018, after a release of water from Suicide Basin on Wednesday caused the lake to rise. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Authorities, residents brace for annual flooding

Weather authorities and residents are getting used to responding to glacial floods in the Mendenhall Valley.

Nic Sevic, left, and Elliot Sofhauser, of Above and Beyond Alaska gather canoes and kayaks from storage at Mendenhall Lake on Thursday, July 19, 2018, after a release of water from Suicide Basin on Wednesday caused the lake to rise. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Paula Haug, of Folsom, California, and her daughter, Carlie, visit the grave of Haug’s great-grandmother Soyla Valentina Cardwell Lockhart on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Cardwell died in Juneau in 1918. With the help of the folks at Evergreen Cemetery, she was able to track down where Lockhart was buried and place a stone on her previously unmarked grave. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

A century later, woman who died in Juneau gets grave marker

Efforts of great-granddaughter lead to discovery of woman’s location, family history.

Paula Haug, of Folsom, California, and her daughter, Carlie, visit the grave of Haug’s great-grandmother Soyla Valentina Cardwell Lockhart on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Cardwell died in Juneau in 1918. With the help of the folks at Evergreen Cemetery, she was able to track down where Lockhart was buried and place a stone on her previously unmarked grave. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Connie Hulbert, President and General Manager of AEL&P, helps prepare food as the company celebrate its 125th year in business with a public picnic at Cope Park on Friday, July 20, 2018. The public was also invited to tour the Gold Creek Power Plant. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska Electric Light and Power reveals its historic roots

With sunny picnic and open house, company celebrates 125th anniversary.

Connie Hulbert, President and General Manager of AEL&P, helps prepare food as the company celebrate its 125th year in business with a public picnic at Cope Park on Friday, July 20, 2018. The public was also invited to tour the Gold Creek Power Plant. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A mountain goat in a still from “Alaskan Summer,” a newly-released nature documentary from Smithsonian Earth. (Courtesy Photo | Smithsonian Earth)

Southeast featured in Smithsonian documentary

Alaska summer gets Planet Earth-style treatment in hour-long film.

A mountain goat in a still from “Alaskan Summer,” a newly-released nature documentary from Smithsonian Earth. (Courtesy Photo | Smithsonian Earth)
(Courtesy Photo | National Park Service)

Pilot rescued after Glacier Bay emergency landing

The National Park Service rescued a German pilot from a Glacier Bay sand flat Friday after an engine malfunction forced the plane’s emergency landing. Pilot… Continue reading

(Courtesy Photo | National Park Service)
Melissa Garcia Johnson separates foraged wildflowers at a beach on North Douglas Highway. (Photo by Kevin Gullufsen/Juneau Empire)

Foraging a homemade bouquet

Homemade gifts hold a certain charm.

Melissa Garcia Johnson separates foraged wildflowers at a beach on North Douglas Highway. (Photo by Kevin Gullufsen/Juneau Empire)

Rambles in Gustavus

I recently spent a couple of days roaming the trails in Gustavus, along with three other curious naturalists.

With an iceberg grounded in front of them, Kelly Mercer and her father, Fred Gerle, relax on a bench at the Mendenhall Campground on Friday, July 20, 2018, after Thursday’s flood of Mendenhall Lake. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Response to flooding goes smoothly

The waters quickly abated after the peak and almost everything was back to normal Friday morning.

With an iceberg grounded in front of them, Kelly Mercer and her father, Fred Gerle, relax on a bench at the Mendenhall Campground on Friday, July 20, 2018, after Thursday’s flood of Mendenhall Lake. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A house at 8460 Kimberly Street burns as Capital City Fire/Rescue responses on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Anna Hay | Courtesy Photo)

Dog wakes residents, alerts them to house fire

In the case of a Friday afternoon house fire in the Mendenhall Valley, a small dog was the first responder.

A house at 8460 Kimberly Street burns as Capital City Fire/Rescue responses on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Anna Hay | Courtesy Photo)
Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel care for victims who overturned their canoe during a guided trip on Mendenhall Lake on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Five passengers safe after canoe flips at glacier

As part of their honeymoon, Adam and Gianna Kersch took a canoe tour to the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday afternoon. They were part of a… Continue reading

Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel care for victims who overturned their canoe during a guided trip on Mendenhall Lake on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Heidi Brocious speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce about the Housing First project during its weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, July 19, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Housing First facility may more than double in size

The Housing First facility may be more than doubling its residents. Bruce Denton, Vice Chair on the Housing First board, said Housing First — a… Continue reading

Heidi Brocious speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce about the Housing First project during its weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, July 19, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. (Courtesy Photo | Art of Living Foundation)

Spiritual guru to visit Juneau

A spiritual leader with an enormous international following is visiting Juneau this month — with 1,000 followers in tow. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s devotees will… Continue reading

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. (Courtesy Photo | Art of Living Foundation)
Gov. Bill Walker signs House Bill 44 in a ceremony under a temporary tent Thursday evening at Jewel Lake in Anchorage while a curious child looks on. (Screenshot)

Walker signs bill that will block lawmakers’ per diem expenses if budget is late

A late budget will now bring consequences for Alaska’s lawmakers. In a Thursday evening ceremony in Anchorage, Gov. Bill Walker signed House Bill 44 into… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker signs House Bill 44 in a ceremony under a temporary tent Thursday evening at Jewel Lake in Anchorage while a curious child looks on. (Screenshot)
A brown bear on the trail at Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory on Aug. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Comment period on controversial hunting rule changes extended

The National Park Service has extended the public comment period for a proposed rule to amend its regulations for sport hunting and trapping in National… Continue reading

A brown bear on the trail at Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory on Aug. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Empire File

Feds sign death certificate for Juneau Road construction

Nineteen months after Gov. Bill Walker killed the Juneau Access Project, the federal government has signed the death certificate.

Juneau Empire File
In this file photo from April 5, 2017, Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, stands to speak in the House chambers against a bill establishing October 25 of each year as African American Soldiers’ Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway Day. The bill passed 39-1 with Rep. Eastman casting the only no vote. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Ruling: Alaska lawmaker violated ethics laws by disclosing complaint to press

The ethics subcommittee of the Alaska House of Representatives ruled Thursday that Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, violated state law by leaking the existence of a confidential ethics complaint to the press.

In this file photo from April 5, 2017, Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, stands to speak in the House chambers against a bill establishing October 25 of each year as African American Soldiers’ Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway Day. The bill passed 39-1 with Rep. Eastman casting the only no vote. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircew locates a downed aircraft inverted in Crillon Lake, in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, July 18, 2018. The National Park Service requested Coast Guard assistance in locating the pilot of the aircraft, who was found and hoisted from a Crillon Lake shore with minor injuries. (U.S. Coast Guard | Courtesy Photo)

Man survives plane crash into lake

Thanks in part to prior preparation, a man is safe after his plane flipped and crash landed in a lake in Glacier Bay National Park… Continue reading

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircew locates a downed aircraft inverted in Crillon Lake, in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, July 18, 2018. The National Park Service requested Coast Guard assistance in locating the pilot of the aircraft, who was found and hoisted from a Crillon Lake shore with minor injuries. (U.S. Coast Guard | Courtesy Photo)
Gold Town Nickelodeon will be premiering the film “Andy Irons: Kissed By God” which focuses on the pro surfer’s struggle with mental illness and addiction. (Courtesy Photo | Alaska Mental Health Board)

Film shows pro surfer’s struggle with mental illness, addiction

Mark Landvik grew up in Juneau and is now a professional snowboarder. Just three years ago he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. That diagnosis is… Continue reading

Gold Town Nickelodeon will be premiering the film “Andy Irons: Kissed By God” which focuses on the pro surfer’s struggle with mental illness and addiction. (Courtesy Photo | Alaska Mental Health Board)
In this August 2017 file photo, Juneau Police Department officers serve notices of eviction to homeless Juneauites living on Mental Health Trust Authority land in downtown Juneau. A legislative committee has suggested the Trust’s CEO, Mike Abbott, might be guilty of a crime for leaking an under-development audit. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Mental Health Trust boss accused of leaking audit

A legislative audit committee has suggested the executive director of the Alaska Mental Health Trust could be charged with a crime for giving an under-development… Continue reading

In this August 2017 file photo, Juneau Police Department officers serve notices of eviction to homeless Juneauites living on Mental Health Trust Authority land in downtown Juneau. A legislative committee has suggested the Trust’s CEO, Mike Abbott, might be guilty of a crime for leaking an under-development audit. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)