Brandon and Jackson Kessler, at front of boat, haul the first-place duck worth $5,000 in a net after it was snagged from among 5,768 others dropped over Twin Lakes on Saturday during the Glacier Valley Rotary Duck Derby. Will Fischer was the purchaser of the lucky duck. (Photo by Kelly Moore)

After four years on the ground, Duck Derby flies anew

Glacier Valley Rotary fundraiser raises nets about $40,000

Brandon and Jackson Kessler, at front of boat, haul the first-place duck worth $5,000 in a net after it was snagged from among 5,768 others dropped over Twin Lakes on Saturday during the Glacier Valley Rotary Duck Derby. Will Fischer was the purchaser of the lucky duck. (Photo by Kelly Moore)
People explore the vendor tents in the parking lot of the Juneau Arts & Culture Center during the Annual Food Festival & Farmer’s Market on Saturday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Annual Food Festival features more and varied vendors

Popular JAHC event fills parking lot and interior.

People explore the vendor tents in the parking lot of the Juneau Arts & Culture Center during the Annual Food Festival & Farmer’s Market on Saturday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior racer Oliver Zigmund leads a pack of runners as they charge up a hill during the Sayeik Invitational on Douglas Saturday morning. Zigmund finished the race 10th with a time of 18 minutes and 18 seconds. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau cross-country teams have successful start at first home meet

Alumni and high school runners go neck-and-neck on their home turf.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior racer Oliver Zigmund leads a pack of runners as they charge up a hill during the Sayeik Invitational on Douglas Saturday morning. Zigmund finished the race 10th with a time of 18 minutes and 18 seconds. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Workers load cars aboard the Columbia ferry during a stop in mid-July. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire File)

State ferry board pushes for measures to boost hiring

Motion calls on Dunleavy and Legislature to grant marine director more power.

Workers load cars aboard the Columbia ferry during a stop in mid-July. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire File)
The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Ships in Port for t​​he Week of Aug. 27

Here what to expect this week

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Kelly Tshibaka speaks at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in October 2022. A group led by the former Republican U.S. Senate candidate has been accused of violating state campaign finance laws. (Photo by Yereth Rosen./Alaska Beacon)

Report from Alaska campaign regulator says Tshibaka-linked group violated state law

Staff for the Alaska Public Offices Commission have recommended a $16,450 fine against Preserve Democracy, a group led by former U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka.… Continue reading

Kelly Tshibaka speaks at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in October 2022. A group led by the former Republican U.S. Senate candidate has been accused of violating state campaign finance laws. (Photo by Yereth Rosen./Alaska Beacon)
This photo of the bar on the Columbia ferry was taken in July. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Columbia bar soon to be back online after minor fire

11 people, two of them crew, were treated in Wrangell and returned to the ship

This photo of the bar on the Columbia ferry was taken in July. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
Neil Steininger, appointed director of the state Office of Management and Budget by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2020, testifies before the House Finance Committee at the Alaska State Capitol in January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Governor’s budget director departing

Neil Steininger, head of OMB since 2020, latest in series of staff moves by Dunleavy.

Neil Steininger, appointed director of the state Office of Management and Budget by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2020, testifies before the House Finance Committee at the Alaska State Capitol in January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This is a picture of a half-pipe at the Pipeline Skate Park in the Mendenhall Valley. The City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation Department is looking for residents to drop in some ideas about what they’d like to see that would improve or enhance Jackie Renninger Park in a survey. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Big changes could be on deck for Pipeline Skate Park and surrounding land

City opens survey seeking input about possible improvements to Jackie Renninger Park.

This is a picture of a half-pipe at the Pipeline Skate Park in the Mendenhall Valley. The City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation Department is looking for residents to drop in some ideas about what they’d like to see that would improve or enhance Jackie Renninger Park in a survey. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Jerry Adams (right) discusses what being a hospice and home care volunteer means to him while being filmed by Gabe Strong in a pop-up video booth in a hallway at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The filming, where people offering and receiving such services were invited to participate, was part a celebration of the hospital resuming hospice and home care services after they were discontinued by Catholic Community Service last fall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Caretakers and families celebrate Bartlett’s resumption of hospice and home care services

Hospital takes over end-of-life programs nearly a year after they was halted locally.

Jerry Adams (right) discusses what being a hospice and home care volunteer means to him while being filmed by Gabe Strong in a pop-up video booth in a hallway at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The filming, where people offering and receiving such services were invited to participate, was part a celebration of the hospital resuming hospice and home care services after they were discontinued by Catholic Community Service last fall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ricardo Galindo tattoos a raven onto Juneau resident Sky Martin on Thursday afternoon at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall during the Ink Masters Tattoo Show. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Got ink? Hundreds flock to tattoo expo in Juneau

Founders of Ink Masters bringing national expo to Juneau for the first time.

Ricardo Galindo tattoos a raven onto Juneau resident Sky Martin on Thursday afternoon at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall during the Ink Masters Tattoo Show. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Fishing boats are lines up on Oct. 3, 2022, at a dock at Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy names ad consultant, talk show host Porcaro to Juneau-based fisheries agency

New appointee is one of two who oversees commercial fishing commission with about 20 employees.

Fishing boats are lines up on Oct. 3, 2022, at a dock at Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Rorie Watt, manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce about the new City Hall project on Thursday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City manager: A new City Hall ‘just makes financial sense’

Rorie Watt advocates for the project set to be proposed to voters on the ballot this fall

Rorie Watt, manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce about the new City Hall project on Thursday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of a feature story on a page of the Juneau Empire published on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 1995, from an archived book. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of a feature story on a page of the Juneau Empire published on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 1995, from an archived book. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A group of people gather in front of the stone fireplace at Taku Lodge including Leigh Hackley “Hack” Smith, who inherited one-quarter of the estate from his grandparents at age nine, his mother Erie Smith next to fireplace on the right and Mary Joyce who took over the lodge when “Hack” died in 1934. (Courtesy of Ken and Mic Ward)

A centennial tribute to the people who built the Taku Glacier Lodge

The former hunting and fishing camp has gone through generations of owners and changes.

A group of people gather in front of the stone fireplace at Taku Lodge including Leigh Hackley “Hack” Smith, who inherited one-quarter of the estate from his grandparents at age nine, his mother Erie Smith next to fireplace on the right and Mary Joyce who took over the lodge when “Hack” died in 1934. (Courtesy of Ken and Mic Ward)
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom is seen during the governor’s annual holiday open house on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2022 at the Governor’s Mansion in Juneau. (James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)

Alaska lieutenant governor disqualifies legislative term-limits ballot measure

Alaska Supreme Court ruled in 1994 legislative term limits require a constitutional amendment.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom is seen during the governor’s annual holiday open house on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2022 at the Governor’s Mansion in Juneau. (James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)
A photo of the Palmer Project north of Haines provided to the Empire in 2019 by Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. (Courtesy photo)

State decision on Palmer mine project a win and a loss, environmentalists say

DEC issues waste management permit for exploratory drilling; plaintiffs weigh further challenge.

A photo of the Palmer Project north of Haines provided to the Empire in 2019 by Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. (Courtesy photo)
Rosemarie Becker looks toward the parking lot during Floyd Dryden Middle School’s 50th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Her father, Ed Becker, looks on as they wait in the hot dog line. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Floyd Dryden celebrates 50th birthday with flair

Hundreds show up at middle school for party with bouncy house, hot dogs and instrument petting zoo.

Rosemarie Becker looks toward the parking lot during Floyd Dryden Middle School’s 50th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Her father, Ed Becker, looks on as they wait in the hot dog line. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
Heidi Drygas, executive director of the 8,000-member Alaska State Employees Association, addresses a rally outside the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 10. The union prevailed in a lawsuit against Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration alleging union dues rules were illegally changed, but the state on Wednesday appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear case about state employee union dues

Dunleavy administration claims state supreme court decision violates workers’ First Amendment rights.

Heidi Drygas, executive director of the 8,000-member Alaska State Employees Association, addresses a rally outside the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 10. The union prevailed in a lawsuit against Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration alleging union dues rules were illegally changed, but the state on Wednesday appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)