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Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A crowd of visitors tours the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday. Officials announced Friday limits on commercial tours are being imposed as capacity limits are being rapidly reached, which will impact the second half of the summer tourism season. A plan by the U.S. Forest Service to overhaul the facilities of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area is now in the final stages, which would replace the existing capacity limits with newly defined management practices.

Objectors ask for more environmental protections as Mendenhall Glacier plan nears finish

Final OK of multiyear process may occur this fall, replace existing capacity limits with new policy

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A crowd of visitors tours the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday. Officials announced Friday limits on commercial tours are being imposed as capacity limits are being rapidly reached, which will impact the second half of the summer tourism season. A plan by the U.S. Forest Service to overhaul the facilities of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area is now in the final stages, which would replace the existing capacity limits with newly defined management practices.
Juneau residents have until 4:30 p.m. Monday to file as candidates for this year’s local election at City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

11 candidates now seeking four Juneau Assembly seats

First two candidates for two school board seats declare Friday as Monday’s filing deadline nears

Juneau residents have until 4:30 p.m. Monday to file as candidates for this year’s local election at City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This photo provided by North Slope Borough shows an aerial view of a shallow lake where a helicopter crashed on Alaska’s North Slope near Utqiagvik on Thursday. A North Slope Borough search and rescue team in a helicopter found debris matching the description of the missing helicopter, but officials said no bodies of the pilot or three passengers had been seen or recovered. (North Slope Borough via AP)

Helicopter carrying state workers crashes into remote Alaska lake, no survivors found, officials say

ANCHORAGE — No survivors were found after a helicopter carrying a pilot and three state workers crashed in a shallow lake in Alaska’s North Slope… Continue reading

  • Jul 21, 2023
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
This photo provided by North Slope Borough shows an aerial view of a shallow lake where a helicopter crashed on Alaska’s North Slope near Utqiagvik on Thursday. A North Slope Borough search and rescue team in a helicopter found debris matching the description of the missing helicopter, but officials said no bodies of the pilot or three passengers had been seen or recovered. (North Slope Borough via AP)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Thursday, July 20, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, July 19, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Tongass National Forest includes 16.7 million acres and was established in 1907. The islands, forests, salmon streams, mountains and coastlines of Southeast Alaska are the ancestral lands of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people who continue to depend on and care for their traditional territories. The Tongass was not created with the consent of Alaska Native people and today, the U.S. Forest Service is working to improve government-to-government relations with the federally recognized tribal governments of Southeast Alaska. (Bethany Goodrich / Sustainable Southeast Partnership)
Capital City Weekly

Resilient Peoples & Place: ‘Caring for the Land and Serving People’

A conversation with U.S. Forest Service Tribal Relations Specialist Jennifer Hanlon.

The Tongass National Forest includes 16.7 million acres and was established in 1907. The islands, forests, salmon streams, mountains and coastlines of Southeast Alaska are the ancestral lands of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people who continue to depend on and care for their traditional territories. The Tongass was not created with the consent of Alaska Native people and today, the U.S. Forest Service is working to improve government-to-government relations with the federally recognized tribal governments of Southeast Alaska. (Bethany Goodrich / Sustainable Southeast Partnership)
A moving truck that overturned blocks Fritz Cove Road in both directions Thursday. Nobody was injured by the accident, but traffic is being diverted to Engineers Cutoff Road, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Photo by Judy Hutchison)

Overturned moving truck blocks Fritz Cove Road

No injures reported, but traffic redirected to alternative road Thursday afternoon, police say

A moving truck that overturned blocks Fritz Cove Road in both directions Thursday. Nobody was injured by the accident, but traffic is being diverted to Engineers Cutoff Road, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Photo by Judy Hutchison)
Jonah Hurst harvests goose tongue on Shoemaker Beach in Wrangell as a gift to local Elders. (Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: Lessons from the goose tongue

Today we’re harvesting goose tongue to dry for distribution to local Elders. I’m also going to experiment with pickling it. Goose tongue is a beach… Continue reading

Jonah Hurst harvests goose tongue on Shoemaker Beach in Wrangell as a gift to local Elders. (Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott)
Pine needles on a tree in the Mendenhall Valley show aftermath of western blackheaded budworms damage Thursday. U.S. Forest officials said an outbreak that started a few ago in Southeast Alaska is declining in most places, but Juneau still has a high infestation rate that is expected to drop off next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

It’s not easy being evergreen in Juneau, as infestation of budworms lingers

Outbreak in Southeast Alaska since 2020 mostly tapering off elsewhere, officials say.

Pine needles on a tree in the Mendenhall Valley show aftermath of western blackheaded budworms damage Thursday. U.S. Forest officials said an outbreak that started a few ago in Southeast Alaska is declining in most places, but Juneau still has a high infestation rate that is expected to drop off next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Dimitri Kusnezov, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s undersecretary for science and technology, stands by Lake Spenard on Tuesday. Kusnezov was on his first Alaska trip, with stops from Juneau to Utqiagvik. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

As climate change transforms the Arctic, Homeland Security must adapt, official says

Department undersecretary visits Coast Guard in Juneau, other parts of Alaska this week

Dimitri Kusnezov, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s undersecretary for science and technology, stands by Lake Spenard on Tuesday. Kusnezov was on his first Alaska trip, with stops from Juneau to Utqiagvik. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A female mountain goat on a rocky slope on Baranof Island. (Phil Mooney/Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

People now need to pass this quiz to hunt goats in Southeast Alaska

Officials hope online test helps hunters to identify and avoid shooting females.

A female mountain goat on a rocky slope on Baranof Island. (Phil Mooney/Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor speaks at a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)

Alaska AG opposes keeping abortion-related medical records private across state lines elsewhere

Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor joined 18 other Republican attorneys general last month in a letter calling on the federal government to preserve state governments’… Continue reading

Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor speaks at a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)
A candlelit vigil was held at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to honor Paul Rodriguez Jr., pictured, who drowned while kayaking on Mendenhall Lake last week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Candlelight vigil held for man who drowned kayaking at Mendenhall Lake

A recovery effort for the body of Paul Rodriguez Jr. continues.

A candlelit vigil was held at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to honor Paul Rodriguez Jr., pictured, who drowned while kayaking on Mendenhall Lake last week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Roald Simonson, a longtime resident of Juneau’s Telephone Hill, walks down Dixon Street in the Telephone Hill area on Wednesday evening. He said he plans to attend the upcoming city hosted meeting to discuss possible redevelopment plans for the area. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City to hold open house to discuss future fate of Telephone Hill

The meeting next Wednesday invites residents to share their ideas for the downtown land.

Roald Simonson, a longtime resident of Juneau’s Telephone Hill, walks down Dixon Street in the Telephone Hill area on Wednesday evening. He said he plans to attend the upcoming city hosted meeting to discuss possible redevelopment plans for the area. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Tuesday, July 18, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Monday, July 17, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This is a photo of humpback whales surfacing near a Juneau Tours and Whale Watch boat. (Courtesy / Juneau Tours and Whale Watch)

Unlimited numbers of whale watching boats causing wave of concern

Local operators and industry officials create committee to address impacts, potential limits.

This is a photo of humpback whales surfacing near a Juneau Tours and Whale Watch boat. (Courtesy / Juneau Tours and Whale Watch)
A cycle rickshaw and cars park outside the front of the Glory Hall’s former downtown homeless shelter Tuesday evening. The building is slated to begin its transformation into seven affordable housing units and additional commercial use space in mid-October. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown Glory Hall apartment project to begin construction this fall

The former homeless shelter will be converted into seven affordable housing units

A cycle rickshaw and cars park outside the front of the Glory Hall’s former downtown homeless shelter Tuesday evening. The building is slated to begin its transformation into seven affordable housing units and additional commercial use space in mid-October. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File City and Borough of Juneau Clerk Beth McEwen certifies areawide candidate Paul Kelly’s paperwork Friday morning within minutes of the local election filing period opening. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide Assembly positions open.

Candidates roll in as the filing period continues for local election

Two incumbents and three new faces file for Assembly, no candidates for school board.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File City and Borough of Juneau Clerk Beth McEwen certifies areawide candidate Paul Kelly’s paperwork Friday morning within minutes of the local election filing period opening. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide Assembly positions open.
Courtesy / JoAnna Pilapil This is a photo of Paul Jose Rodriguez Jr. shared by a friend who said he sent the photo to her the day he was reported missing on July 11.

Camera of missing man near Mendenhall Glacier discovered, reveals he drowned

Helmet with attached camera discovered during search.

Courtesy / JoAnna Pilapil This is a photo of Paul Jose Rodriguez Jr. shared by a friend who said he sent the photo to her the day he was reported missing on July 11.