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Jennifer Medley (left) practices literacy skills with students at Fireweed Academy on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

From Hope to Homer, how one school district is adjusting to Alaska Reads Act

Implementing the standards outlined by the legislation is not a one-size-fits-all approach

Jennifer Medley (left) practices literacy skills with students at Fireweed Academy on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A blueprint shows the planned second phase of a commercial and resident development project in downtown Juneau, which is currently used by seasonal food trucks and where the historic Elks Lodge was located. (Illustration by Northwind Architects submitted to the City and Borough of Juneau)

What’s next for old Elks Lodge site? Owner proposes ‘South Franklin Food Court and Housing’

Indoor/outdoor pavilion, food trucks, restaurant and up to 100 housing units in plan.

A blueprint shows the planned second phase of a commercial and resident development project in downtown Juneau, which is currently used by seasonal food trucks and where the historic Elks Lodge was located. (Illustration by Northwind Architects submitted to the City and Borough of Juneau)
Derek Bos of Colorado smiles for a photo Sept. 28 outside of City Hall during a visit to Juneau as a finalist for chief of the Juneau Police Department. He is scheduled to start the job on Feb. 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau’s newly named chief of police talks about the new job

Derek Bos talks philosophy of law enforcement, focus of faith-based communities and schools.

Derek Bos of Colorado smiles for a photo Sept. 28 outside of City Hall during a visit to Juneau as a finalist for chief of the Juneau Police Department. He is scheduled to start the job on Feb. 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Olivia Mills prepares to start the 50 free at last weekend’s Region V Championships in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Foy, Schwarting, Peimann top local title hopes as state championships come to Juneau

Two-day ASAA Swim Dive State Championships start Friday at Dimond Park Aquatic Center.

Thunder Mountain High School senior Olivia Mills prepares to start the 50 free at last weekend’s Region V Championships in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Patty Raymond-Turner, a coordinator for the Brain Injury Council of Alaska, demonstrates what happens to the brain when it is injured, on Sept. 26 in Anchorage. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Advocates link Alaska’s high rate of traumatic brain injury with domestic violence

A new diagnostic tool could increase access to care for survivors.

Patty Raymond-Turner, a coordinator for the Brain Injury Council of Alaska, demonstrates what happens to the brain when it is injured, on Sept. 26 in Anchorage. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Riley Woodford performs during the Gold Street Music Concert Series in 2020. He will return to perform solo and emcee the first show of this year’s series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Church of the Holy Trinity. (Photo courtesy of Gold Street Music)
Capital City Weekly

Variety of musicians look to shine at Gold Street Music Concert Series

Five sets by local performers young and old scheduled for first show Saturday.

Riley Woodford performs during the Gold Street Music Concert Series in 2020. He will return to perform solo and emcee the first show of this year’s series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Church of the Holy Trinity. (Photo courtesy of Gold Street Music)
Juneau Courthouse Courtroom C on Thursday, the day the trial started for Sonya Taton, a Juneau woman accused of fatally stabbing a man in 2019 and the non-fatal stabbing of another man in 2016. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Trial begins of Juneau woman accused of 2019 fillet knife murder

Sonya Taton, 46, is also accused of stabbing another man in 2016.

Juneau Courthouse Courtroom C on Thursday, the day the trial started for Sonya Taton, a Juneau woman accused of fatally stabbing a man in 2019 and the non-fatal stabbing of another man in 2016. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
Only a portion of the first floor of the historic Elks Lodge at 109 S. Franklin St. remains standing amidst debris and heavy equipment on Thursday afternoon due to ongoing demolition work this week. The building’s owner has told city officials he hopes to build housing at the site, which is adjacent to where he runs a food stall business. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Historic Elks Lodge torn down, contrary to owner’s claim action was likely months away

Most of 1908 building demolished as of Thursday; owner tells city he wants to build housing.

Only a portion of the first floor of the historic Elks Lodge at 109 S. Franklin St. remains standing amidst debris and heavy equipment on Thursday afternoon due to ongoing demolition work this week. The building’s owner has told city officials he hopes to build housing at the site, which is adjacent to where he runs a food stall business. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A tag is place on a evidence bag containing small baggies of drugs seized by the Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau grand jury indicts six people in Southeast Alaska drug distribution investigation

Illegal activity based in Petersburg, one suspect arrested in Juneau, according to police.

A tag is place on a evidence bag containing small baggies of drugs seized by the Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store had a side window smashed, one of several places vandalized early Wednesday morning, according to police and store employees. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Windows, some lights vandalized at businesses along three blocks

Police estimate total damage of $14,500 to businesses on Glacier Highway.

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store had a side window smashed, one of several places vandalized early Wednesday morning, according to police and store employees. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Nov. 1, 2005. (Photo by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Nov. 5

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Nov. 1, 2005. (Photo by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Lamar Blatnick signed a letter of intent Wednesday in the JDHS gymnasium to play baseball for Dallas Christian College. From left are father and assistant coach Larry Blatnick, assistant coach Erik McCormick, Lamar Blatnick and JDHS head coach Chad Bentz. (Klas Stolpe for the Juneau Empire)

JDHS’ Blatnick signs for college ball

Catcher will exchange Alaska plate duties for Dallas heat

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Lamar Blatnick signed a letter of intent Wednesday in the JDHS gymnasium to play baseball for Dallas Christian College. From left are father and assistant coach Larry Blatnick, assistant coach Erik McCormick, Lamar Blatnick and JDHS head coach Chad Bentz. (Klas Stolpe for the Juneau Empire)
Fishing boats line the docks in Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor on Oct. 2, 2022. Fish-harvesting employment has been declining since 2015, with multiple factors at play, according to an Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development analysis. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska seafood harvesting jobs decline as fish crashes, pandemic and other factors take toll

Alaska fish-harvesting employment declined in 2022, a continuing yearslong slide caused by a variety of factors, according to an analysis by the state Department of… Continue reading

Fishing boats line the docks in Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor on Oct. 2, 2022. Fish-harvesting employment has been declining since 2015, with multiple factors at play, according to an Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development analysis. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Randal Jim (center) and Joey Ludlam replace a “Seward St.” with a “Heritage Way” sign at midday Wednesday, the day the new name became official for a two-block portion of the downtown street. About 50 local tribal leaders, city officials and others attended a ceremony at Sealaska Plaza marking the name change effort that originated in April. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Two blocks of what used to be Seward Street are now officially Heritage Way

Tribal and city leaders celebrate renaming as part of “reclaiming” area’s Alaska Native heritage.

Randal Jim (center) and Joey Ludlam replace a “Seward St.” with a “Heritage Way” sign at midday Wednesday, the day the new name became official for a two-block portion of the downtown street. About 50 local tribal leaders, city officials and others attended a ceremony at Sealaska Plaza marking the name change effort that originated in April. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sample jellies, jams, and dried goods to gift to local elders and tribal citizens. (Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: Fall into gifting

Southeast Alaska has a short growing season, but a long tradition of sharing.

Sample jellies, jams, and dried goods to gift to local elders and tribal citizens. (Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott)
A view of Juneau is seen from Mt. Roberts on Nov. 1, 2022. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Domestic violence in Alaska: A crisis at home

Survivors and advocates shed light on how far the state has come and the work yet to be done.

A view of Juneau is seen from Mt. Roberts on Nov. 1, 2022. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Crew members adjust the net as it releases fish aboard the Northern Hawk factory trawler on Saturday, Aug. 5 in the Bering Sea. (Photo by Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News)

With little movement on salmon bycatch, Alaska advocates look to Biden administration for action

Amid catastrophic shortfalls in salmon harvests in some of Alaska’s rural, Indigenous communities, advocates have pleaded for a crackdown on unintentional catch of those same… Continue reading

Crew members adjust the net as it releases fish aboard the Northern Hawk factory trawler on Saturday, Aug. 5 in the Bering Sea. (Photo by Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News)
Derek Bos of Colorado smiles for a photo Sept. 28 outside of City Hall during a visit to Juneau as a finalist for chief of the Juneau Police Department. He was named the new chief on Tuesday and is scheduled to start Feb. 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau reaches to Colorado for new police chief

Derek Bos replaces Chief Ed Mercer, who retired July 31

Derek Bos of Colorado smiles for a photo Sept. 28 outside of City Hall during a visit to Juneau as a finalist for chief of the Juneau Police Department. He was named the new chief on Tuesday and is scheduled to start Feb. 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Troy Michael Smith, a part-time Juneau resident, at the Mr. Gay World competition in Cape Town, South Africa, where he prevailed among the 11 candidates. (Photo courtesy of Rudi Du Toit Photography)

Juneau resident crowned Mr. Gay World

Troy Michael Smith bests 11 international candidates in Cape Town.

Troy Michael Smith, a part-time Juneau resident, at the Mr. Gay World competition in Cape Town, South Africa, where he prevailed among the 11 candidates. (Photo courtesy of Rudi Du Toit Photography)
Dmytro Haiman looks out the window from the Ukrainian Cultural Institute in Dickinson, N.D., on Monday, July 17, 2023. Haiman is one of several Ukrainians who are part of a pilot effort of the North Dakota Petroleum Council’s Bakken Global Recruitment of Oilfield Workers program. Haiman is from Chernihiv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)

Alaskans see largest drop in pay, residents of Midwest and Mountain West see biggest bumps

Study measures inflation-adjusted income during the past four years

  • Oct 31, 2023
  • By Tim Henderson Stateline
Dmytro Haiman looks out the window from the Ukrainian Cultural Institute in Dickinson, N.D., on Monday, July 17, 2023. Haiman is one of several Ukrainians who are part of a pilot effort of the North Dakota Petroleum Council’s Bakken Global Recruitment of Oilfield Workers program. Haiman is from Chernihiv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Jack Dura)