News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Ships in Port for the Week of May 21

Here’s what to expect this week.

  • May 21, 2023
The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This is a photo of the only crossing between the Juneau mainland and Douglas Island. On Thursday the City and Borough of Juneau Public Works and Facilities Committee hosted an open forum about a potential second crossing. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Salmon Creek site emerges as preference during second crossing meeting

“I feel like salmon creek has the least financial impacts, the least wetland impact.”

This is a photo of the only crossing between the Juneau mainland and Douglas Island. On Thursday the City and Borough of Juneau Public Works and Facilities Committee hosted an open forum about a potential second crossing. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
TMHS student Lelehua Fujimoto Vertido in her watercolor workshop for which she received an award at this year’s Alaska Student Activities Association’s Region V Art Fest in Yakutat. (Courtesy Photo / Heather Ridgway)
Capital City Weekly

Southeast student-artists shine at Region V Art Fest

Students from JDHS and TMHS competed in Yakutat art show.

TMHS student Lelehua Fujimoto Vertido in her watercolor workshop for which she received an award at this year’s Alaska Student Activities Association’s Region V Art Fest in Yakutat. (Courtesy Photo / Heather Ridgway)
Volunteer Educator Rosemary Walling shows a group of Montessori Borealis first through third graders images of the Earth on Friday at the Marie Drake Planetarium as part of a special presentation of the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

A journey to the stars was the final field trip of the year

Kids treated to the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight.

Volunteer Educator Rosemary Walling shows a group of Montessori Borealis first through third graders images of the Earth on Friday at the Marie Drake Planetarium as part of a special presentation of the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a key ally of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, talks to reporters outside the Speaker office after debt limit negotiations with President Joe Biden's mediators came to an abrupt halt, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, May 19, 2023. McHenry said "We've taken a pause and we have significant gaps that have to be bridged for us to merit more conversation." (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)

Debt limit talks in standstill as Republicans, White House face ‘real differences’

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said it’s time to “pause” negotiations…

  • May 19, 2023
  • By Kevin Freking, Lisa Mascaro and Zeke Miller Associated Press
  • Nation-World
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a key ally of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, talks to reporters outside the Speaker office after debt limit negotiations with President Joe Biden's mediators came to an abrupt halt, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, May 19, 2023. McHenry said "We've taken a pause and we have significant gaps that have to be bridged for us to merit more conversation." (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
This is a picture of houses on Douglas along the Gastineau Channel in May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

City receives nearly 400 residential property assessment appeals

The Board of Equalization began hearing cases Thursday.

This is a picture of houses on Douglas along the Gastineau Channel in May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ryan Becker, a teacher at the Eagle school, takes a photo of his students as part of a continuing Yukon River ice study on May 12, 2023. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: When river breakup came to Eagle

the Yukon River’s solid sheets were breaking into smaller pieces.

Ryan Becker, a teacher at the Eagle school, takes a photo of his students as part of a continuing Yukon River ice study on May 12, 2023. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Photos by Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Sayéik: Gastineau Community School students enjoy hands-on learning with mining for minerals with Hecla and Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine employees. The mining company was just one of many volunteer organizations that participated in a STEAM event held at the school. The event was held during school hours to maximize student involvement.

STEAM comes to Sayeik: Gastineau Community School

District’s first time hosting during school hours for more student involvement.

Photos by Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Sayéik: Gastineau Community School students enjoy hands-on learning with mining for minerals with Hecla and Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine employees. The mining company was just one of many volunteer organizations that participated in a STEAM event held at the school. The event was held during school hours to maximize student involvement.
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Friday, May 19, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
State Sen. Bert Stedman, a Sitka Republican who co-chairs the Senate Finance Committee, details a list of 24 projects costing about $34 million that were added to the state budget during negotiations with House members Thursday. Behind Stedman in the audience section is nearly the entire 16-member House minority caucus, which voted in favor of the budget along with 10 members of the Republican-led House majority. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Unusual House coalition OKs budget to end special session on first day

10 members of Republican-led majority join minority after $34M in targeted capital projects added

State Sen. Bert Stedman, a Sitka Republican who co-chairs the Senate Finance Committee, details a list of 24 projects costing about $34 million that were added to the state budget during negotiations with House members Thursday. Behind Stedman in the audience section is nearly the entire 16-member House minority caucus, which voted in favor of the budget along with 10 members of the Republican-led House majority. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

CCFR responds to two fires in same week

No injuries reported in either incident.

(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
A ballot is placed in a drop box during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Vote-by-mail elections now permanent in Juneau

Assembly voted for the change despite some public pushback.

A ballot is placed in a drop box during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Greg Smith and Christine Woll discuss the mill rate during Wednesday night’s Finance Committee meeting. Member voted to decrease the mill rate to 10.16. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly votes to lower property tax rate

The approved 10.16 mill rate means that for every $1,000 in property value there is a tax of $10.16.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Greg Smith and Christine Woll discuss the mill rate during Wednesday night’s Finance Committee meeting. Member voted to decrease the mill rate to 10.16. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A wire cable stretches high above the forest ground and connects two platforms for zip lining at Eaglecrest Ski Area. Zip line tours are set to be offered again this summer at the ski area starting in late June after three years of halted operations due to COVID-19 and staffing issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Zip line tours to restart at Eaglecrest in late June

It remained out of commission for the past three years.

A wire cable stretches high above the forest ground and connects two platforms for zip lining at Eaglecrest Ski Area. Zip line tours are set to be offered again this summer at the ski area starting in late June after three years of halted operations due to COVID-19 and staffing issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
U.S. first lady Jill Biden, left, and first lady of Alaska Rose Dunleavy watch a performance by Ayaprun Elitnaurvik students during an event at Bethel Regional High School in Bethel, Alaska on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Ayaprun Elitnaurvik is a Yugtun immersion school in Bethel. Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland traveled to Bethel to highlight the Biden-Harris administration's investments to expand broadband internet connectivity in Native American communities, including Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Digital divide: Jill Biden visit touts efforts to connect Alaska Native villages to outside world

Jill Biden visited Bethel on a stopover to Japan to highlight internet-access progress.

U.S. first lady Jill Biden, left, and first lady of Alaska Rose Dunleavy watch a performance by Ayaprun Elitnaurvik students during an event at Bethel Regional High School in Bethel, Alaska on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Ayaprun Elitnaurvik is a Yugtun immersion school in Bethel. Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland traveled to Bethel to highlight the Biden-Harris administration's investments to expand broadband internet connectivity in Native American communities, including Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
State House Rules Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, exits the House chambers Wednesday night after members voted to adjourn the session without passing the Senate’s version of a budget bill for next year. Gov Mike Dunleavy immediately ordered a 30-day special session beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Special session set to begin today after Legislature adjourns without budget

House refuses to consider Senate spending bill sent over hours before adjournment deadline

State House Rules Chair Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, exits the House chambers Wednesday night after members voted to adjourn the session without passing the Senate’s version of a budget bill for next year. Gov Mike Dunleavy immediately ordered a 30-day special session beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Thursday, May 18, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
In this aerial photo chunks of ice follow flooding from an ice jam in Crooked Creek, Alaska, May 15, 2023. Ice jams along two Alaska rivers unleashed major flooding over the weekend. (Jennifer Wallace / Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management)

Surging Alaska rivers leave behind huge chunks of ice, damaged homes

ANCHORAGE — Ice jams that blocked two Alaska rivers broke loose over the weekend, unleashing a surge of ice and water that caused major floods,… Continue reading

In this aerial photo chunks of ice follow flooding from an ice jam in Crooked Creek, Alaska, May 15, 2023. Ice jams along two Alaska rivers unleashed major flooding over the weekend. (Jennifer Wallace / Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management)
State senators leave the chamber after adjourning for the year Wednesday evening, leaving the fate of passing the bill for next year’s budget — and a special session if they fail to do so — to the House. The House gaveled in at 8 p.m., four hours before the adjournment deadline. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Capitol Live: House adjourns after refusing to OK Senate’s budget; Governor orders special session

The latest from the Captiol.

State senators leave the chamber after adjourning for the year Wednesday evening, leaving the fate of passing the bill for next year’s budget — and a special session if they fail to do so — to the House. The House gaveled in at 8 p.m., four hours before the adjournment deadline. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaskan Brewing Company’s Chillin’ Cold IPA recently won a Gold Crushie award for Best Can Design at this year’s 2023 Craft Beer Marketing Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. (Courtesy Photo / Alaskan Brewing Co.)
Capital City Weekly

Alaskan Brewing Co. takes gold at 2023 Craft Beer Marketing Awards

Juneau-based brewery wins “Crushie” for best can design.

Alaskan Brewing Company’s Chillin’ Cold IPA recently won a Gold Crushie award for Best Can Design at this year’s 2023 Craft Beer Marketing Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. (Courtesy Photo / Alaskan Brewing Co.)