Home

Election signs at the corner of 12th and C streets on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

New reports reveal primary fundraising frontrunners

Downtown Juneau has the candidates, but the Mendenhall Valley has the money. With 30 days to go before the Aug. 21 statewide primary, new reports… Continue reading

Election signs at the corner of 12th and C streets on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Paul Kelly has announced his run for a seat on the Juneau School District’s Board of Education. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

School Board candidate has eye on community partnerships, lower class sizes

Paul Kelly has always been interested in politics, but recently his interest has become a little more personal. Kelly, who moved from Anchorage to Juneau… Continue reading

Paul Kelly has announced his run for a seat on the Juneau School District’s Board of Education. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Capital City Fire/Rescue responders prepare to load a man into an ambulance after he was hit by a bus at the AJ Dock on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. The man’s injuries were minor and he was set to be released from the hospital later in the day. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Man in wheelchair OK after being hit by bus

A pedestrian is in stable condition after being hit by a slow-moving bus at the AJ Dock on Tuesday morning, police and hospital officials said.… Continue reading

Capital City Fire/Rescue responders prepare to load a man into an ambulance after he was hit by a bus at the AJ Dock on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. The man’s injuries were minor and he was set to be released from the hospital later in the day. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
In this Dec. 22, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks with reporters after signing the tax bill and continuing resolution to fund the government, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. On Friday, the president signed two bills by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Trump signs two bills from Alaska Rep. Don Young

President Donald Trump has signed a pair of bills from Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska. In a Friday ceremony, the president signed House resolutions 219 and… Continue reading

In this Dec. 22, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks with reporters after signing the tax bill and continuing resolution to fund the government, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. On Friday, the president signed two bills by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Discovery Southeast staff photo</span> Above and at right, <p> Outdoor Explorer Campers participate in a Discovery Southeast summer camp.

STEM Corner: Use observations to make connections on the trail and in the mind

Where is Here? At Discovery Southeast, this is the question we gravitate toward when fostering curiosity and understanding in our natural environment. In our community,… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Discovery Southeast staff photo</span> Above and at right, <p> Outdoor Explorer Campers participate in a Discovery Southeast summer camp.
Elizabeth (Ebett) Siddon is running for a seat on the Juneau Board of Education. (Elizabeth Siddon | Courtesy Photo)

Biologist intends to run for school board

With municipal election season quickly approaching, more local candidates are beginning to emerge. Elizabeth Siddon, a research fishery biologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric… Continue reading

Elizabeth (Ebett) Siddon is running for a seat on the Juneau Board of Education. (Elizabeth Siddon | Courtesy Photo)
Trevor Kellar, a community navigator for St. Vincent de Paul, offers Sheila Robinson a cup of coffee on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘A picture of hope’: Social service program offers helping hand to homeless

Michael Good has spent most of his adult life homeless. Just one week ago that all changed and he said he has his faith in… Continue reading

Trevor Kellar, a community navigator for St. Vincent de Paul, offers Sheila Robinson a cup of coffee on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Cultural specialist John Smith tells stories about salmon while processing fish during a salmon preservation workshop on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Preserving salmon, culture: Goldbelt workshop look to sustain ancient tradition

Tommy Jimmi Jr. remembers dip-netting for hooligan as a child, his elders behind him on the beach, snow soaking through his clothes. It wasn’t a… Continue reading

Cultural specialist John Smith tells stories about salmon while processing fish during a salmon preservation workshop on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly and Finance Committee will meet this week. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire File)

City will receive CCFR staff update

Juneau’s city fire department could be receiving a boost in staffing. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly will hear an update on how many… Continue reading

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly and Finance Committee will meet this week. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire File)
Capital City Fire/Rescue cleans up after fighting a fire at 526 Seward Street, next to the Terry Miller Legislative Building, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

City taking time to examine CCFR staffing changes

In examining how to give money to Capital City Fire/Rescue, members of the Assembly are looking to gather more feedback and further examine their options.

Capital City Fire/Rescue cleans up after fighting a fire at 526 Seward Street, next to the Terry Miller Legislative Building, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Larry Hartig, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, speaks to the Alaska Legislature in 2014. On Friday, Hartig was among the state commissioners who spoke in front of the Alaska Senate’s State Affairs Committee about the effects of Ballot Measure 1. (Juneau Empire file photo)

State officials: Ballot Measure 1 will make some construction projects impossible

In legislative hearing, experts testify about proposal’s side effects.

Larry Hartig, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, speaks to the Alaska Legislature in 2014. On Friday, Hartig was among the state commissioners who spoke in front of the Alaska Senate’s State Affairs Committee about the effects of Ballot Measure 1. (Juneau Empire file photo)

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)