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Sonya Taton, center, listens to the verdict as she is found guilty on all five counts, including second-degree murder, during her trial in Superior Court in Juneau on Friday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Jury finds Sonya Taton guilty on all counts, including murder

Verdict comes nearly 4.5 years after Bowen was stabbed

Sonya Taton, center, listens to the verdict as she is found guilty on all five counts, including second-degree murder, during her trial in Superior Court in Juneau on Friday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
A petition calling for non-renewal of assessor Michael Dahle’s contract at a Haines store. The petition gathered nearly 500 signatures in about a week. (Lex Treinen / Chilkat Valley News)

Haines Assembly ends assessor’s contract after 600 residents petition for removal

Michael Dahle formerly worked as a deputy assessor in Juneau.

A petition calling for non-renewal of assessor Michael Dahle’s contract at a Haines store. The petition gathered nearly 500 signatures in about a week. (Lex Treinen / Chilkat Valley News)
The 125-year-old building at the corner of Front and Seward as seen in summer of 2023. Juneau moved utilities underground and upgraded street lights in the mid-1980s and again recently. Each summer different sayings are displayed on colorful banners (“We are lucky to live here” on this banner) and flower baskets, bringing lively attention to downtown. (Photo by Laurie Craig)

Rooted in Community: Lewis/First National Bank

From cash to coffee, one building’s long history.

The 125-year-old building at the corner of Front and Seward as seen in summer of 2023. Juneau moved utilities underground and upgraded street lights in the mid-1980s and again recently. Each summer different sayings are displayed on colorful banners (“We are lucky to live here” on this banner) and flower baskets, bringing lively attention to downtown. (Photo by Laurie Craig)
Brian Holst, executive director of the Juneau Economic Development Council, presents findings from JEDC’s annual economic indicators report during a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s aging population and low fertility rates raise concerns about declining future

Annual JEDC report also shows growing income gap, plus high housing and healthcare costs.

Brian Holst, executive director of the Juneau Economic Development Council, presents findings from JEDC’s annual economic indicators report during a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A board at the University of Alaska Anchorage Student Union, seen on Nov. 16, 2022, holds notices of employment opportunities. Alaska’s minimum wage is set to rise on Jan. 1 to keep up with inflation, and an initiative campaign is underway to bring about faster increases. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska minimum wage increases next year; additional hikes proposed in ballot initiative

Alaska’s minimum wage will increase on Jan. 1, 2024 from $10.85 to $11.73 an hour, in accordance with a law put in place by a… Continue reading

A board at the University of Alaska Anchorage Student Union, seen on Nov. 16, 2022, holds notices of employment opportunities. Alaska’s minimum wage is set to rise on Jan. 1 to keep up with inflation, and an initiative campaign is underway to bring about faster increases. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau man arrested at airport on suspicion of carrying $62,540 of fentanyl

66 grams of powdered fentanyl, 4,500 pills believed to contain drug found in luggage, police say.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Samantha Schwarting and Thunder Mountain High School seniors PJ Foy and Olivia Mills (shown with Glacier Swim Club teammates) sign National Letters of Intent (NLI) on Tuesday at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center to swim and study in college. (Klas Stolpe for the Juneau Empire)

JDHS’ Schwarting, TMHS’ Foy, Mills sign

Longtime Glacier Swim Club teammates will compete collegiately.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Samantha Schwarting and Thunder Mountain High School seniors PJ Foy and Olivia Mills (shown with Glacier Swim Club teammates) sign National Letters of Intent (NLI) on Tuesday at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center to swim and study in college. (Klas Stolpe for the Juneau Empire)
Prosecutors Daniel K. Shorey and Kate Tallmadge (foreground) confer, as defense attorney Rex Butler and Sonya Taton await proceedings during Taton’s trial Thursday on murder and other charges at Superior Court in Juneau. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Jury begins deliberations in fillet knife murder case

Closing arguments conclude Thursday afternoon after two week-plus trial.

Prosecutors Daniel K. Shorey and Kate Tallmadge (foreground) confer, as defense attorney Rex Butler and Sonya Taton await proceedings during Taton’s trial Thursday on murder and other charges at Superior Court in Juneau. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
Ian Worden, interim CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, listens to a presentation during a board of directors meeting at the hospital on Oct. 30, his first day on the job. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett’s new interim CEO says he’s looking toward hospital’s future, not past problems

Ian Worden says operations are essentially sound, hopes to instill stability and sustainability.

Ian Worden, interim CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, listens to a presentation during a board of directors meeting at the hospital on Oct. 30, his first day on the job. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A cultural learning center operated by the Douglas Indian Association in South Douglas, seen here in an illustration, received a conditional use permit from the Juneau Planning Commission on Tuesday. (Illustration by NorthWind Architects)

Douglas Indian Association cultural center near Treadwell trail gets planning commission OK

Some neighbors, commissioners concerned about traffic, other impacts of 4,000-square-foot building.

A cultural learning center operated by the Douglas Indian Association in South Douglas, seen here in an illustration, received a conditional use permit from the Juneau Planning Commission on Tuesday. (Illustration by NorthWind Architects)
Stacked logs are seen in Yakutat on June 3. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Yakutat ousted its village corporations’ leaders. Here’s what’s next.

The saga in the Southeast Alaska village of Yakutat is over. Or, it’s just starting. After years of conflict, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Laura Hartz… Continue reading

Stacked logs are seen in Yakutat on June 3. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a garage fire on El Camino Street on the evening of Monday, Nov. 13. CCFR issued a reminder for people to be proactive in protecting their homes after four fires were reported over the course of five days. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Spate of fires prompts CCFR to issue reminder about fire safety

Fires have killed 19 people in Alaska so far this year, none in Juneau.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a garage fire on El Camino Street on the evening of Monday, Nov. 13. CCFR issued a reminder for people to be proactive in protecting their homes after four fires were reported over the course of five days. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Transgender sports ban now in effect, but Juneau and other school districts in no rush to comply

“I’ve never seen such unity against a policy,” local school member says after statewide conference.

Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
An exploration site at ConocoPhillips’ Willow prospect is seen from the air in the 2019 winter season. Willow is located in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. (Photo by Judy Patrick/provided by ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.)

Environmental groups ask federal appeals court to halt Willow oil project

Two coalitions of environmental groups, having lost their case in an Alaska courthouse, are asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to issue an… Continue reading

An exploration site at ConocoPhillips’ Willow prospect is seen from the air in the 2019 winter season. Willow is located in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. (Photo by Judy Patrick/provided by ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.)
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom addresses the crowd during an inaugural celebration for her and Gov. Mike Dunleavy at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Jan. 20. Dahlstrom on Tuesday announced she is seeking Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat in the 2024 election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom says she’s seeking Peltola’s U.S. House seat in 2024

Former state lawmaker and corrections commissioner joins fellow Republican Nick Begich in race.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom addresses the crowd during an inaugural celebration for her and Gov. Mike Dunleavy at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Jan. 20. Dahlstrom on Tuesday announced she is seeking Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat in the 2024 election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
A 15-year-old male student at Thunder Mountain High School was detained Tuesday for bringing a BB-style handgun into the building on Tuesday, according to officials. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

15-year-old student detained after bringing BB gun to Thunder Mountain High School, officials say

Quick intervention by principal prevented need for lockdown, according to police.

A 15-year-old male student at Thunder Mountain High School was detained Tuesday for bringing a BB-style handgun into the building on Tuesday, according to officials. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka helicopter hovers over Sitka Sound during routine hoist training on April 25. (Lt. Cmdr. Wryan Webb/Coast Guard)

Coast Guard helicopter crashes on Southeast Alaska island, seriously injuring two crew members

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter on a search and rescue mission crashed in Southeast Alaska, seriously injuring two of the four crew members on board.… Continue reading

  • Nov 14, 2023
  • Associated Press
A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka helicopter hovers over Sitka Sound during routine hoist training on April 25. (Lt. Cmdr. Wryan Webb/Coast Guard)
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor speaks at a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. (James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)

Auditor: Alaska Department of Law ‘likely violated’ state law and constitution

Dispute involves large contract between the state and a Washington, D.C. law firm.

Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor speaks at a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. (James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)
Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire
The women of the Kit Kat Club in “Cabaret” take center stage during a rehearsal Monday night at McPhetres Hall for the production by Theatre in the Rough that opens Friday

Director says history is repeating itself, old chum

“Cabaret” kicks off at McPhetres Hall on Friday, with free previews Tuesday and Thursday

Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire
The women of the Kit Kat Club in “Cabaret” take center stage during a rehearsal Monday night at McPhetres Hall for the production by Theatre in the Rough that opens Friday
People arriving on a shuttle bus enter the city’s new cold weather emergency shelter on Oct. 20, the first night it was open. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Emergency cold weather shelter in Thane gets official OK from Assembly

City officials call shelter a success so far; skeptics say some homeless people are avoiding it.

People arriving on a shuttle bus enter the city’s new cold weather emergency shelter on Oct. 20, the first night it was open. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)