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Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File A “sold” sign hangs outside the former Walmart building that was empty for many years until U-Haul purchased it late last year. A bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday would allow municipalities to impose tax penalties on blighted properties, while offering breaks for owners doing development projects.

Legislature looks at more property tax shakeups

Bill allows municipalities to give breaks for economic development, penalize blighted properties

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File A “sold” sign hangs outside the former Walmart building that was empty for many years until U-Haul purchased it late last year. A bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday would allow municipalities to impose tax penalties on blighted properties, while offering breaks for owners doing development projects.
Graphic: Business Wire Characters explore the landscape in the Roblox game Beyond the Stars. A presentation to Alaska lawmakers this week by a Homer police official asserts that such games are used by child sex predators to lure victims.

Capitol’s culture wars get graphic

Presentation about proper parenting features mature imagary, talk of arresting librarians

Graphic: Business Wire Characters explore the landscape in the Roblox game Beyond the Stars. A presentation to Alaska lawmakers this week by a Homer police official asserts that such games are used by child sex predators to lure victims.
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Beth Leibowitz, Cecily Morris, Jacque Farnsworth, Phyllis Scott, Steve Tada, Jean Butler, Delores O’Mara and Steve Winker of Escape from Brooklyn perform for the 48th Annual Alaska Folk Festival which kicked off on Monday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center.

Folk Fest returns

New locations, same great time for 48th annual Alaska Folk Festival

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Beth Leibowitz, Cecily Morris, Jacque Farnsworth, Phyllis Scott, Steve Tada, Jean Butler, Delores O’Mara and Steve Winker of Escape from Brooklyn perform for the 48th Annual Alaska Folk Festival which kicked off on Monday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center.
This photo shows Resurrection Lutheran Church which provides a warming shelter to Juneau patrons during the winter months. The shelter is set to close for the season following Sunday night, and on Monday, the City and Borough of Juneau’s seasonal campground, the Mill Campground will open. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Warming shelter set for season closure, Mill Campground to open the following day

Shelter to close after Sunday night, campground to open Monday.

This photo shows Resurrection Lutheran Church which provides a warming shelter to Juneau patrons during the winter months. The shelter is set to close for the season following Sunday night, and on Monday, the City and Borough of Juneau’s seasonal campground, the Mill Campground will open. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A U.S. Forest Service crew works on a riverbed project in the Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service)

Public ideas sought for long-term Tongass strategy

U.S. Forest Service to conduct online, in-person sessions during coming weeks for 10-year plan

A U.S. Forest Service crew works on a riverbed project in the Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service)
Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighters move to extinguish a trailer fire in early March. CCFR officials talk about the importance of staying fire safe as spring approaches. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Recent fires emphasize importance smoke detectors, fire awareness

Two recent fatal incidents, illegal burns prompt reminders from local fire officials

Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighters move to extinguish a trailer fire in early March. CCFR officials talk about the importance of staying fire safe as spring approaches. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A snowboarder stays afloat on the skim pond at Eaglecrest Ski Area as they partake in the return of the Slush Cup Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Slush Cup returns to Eaglecrest

The ski area waves goodbye to the 2022-2023 winter season.

A snowboarder stays afloat on the skim pond at Eaglecrest Ski Area as they partake in the return of the Slush Cup Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Myrna Gardner drops off a completed Easter Basket near several others Saturday inside the Juneau Moose Family Center. The baskets were dropped off with AWARE later in the day. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Women of the Moose decide it’s eggs-actly the right time for giving

Volunteers prep Easter baskets for AWARE.

Myrna Gardner drops off a completed Easter Basket near several others Saturday inside the Juneau Moose Family Center. The baskets were dropped off with AWARE later in the day. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Saturday, April 8, 2023

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

  • Apr 8, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
In this Thursday, April 6, 2023, image provided by Providence Alaska, a moose stands inside a Providence Alaska Health Park medical building in Anchorage, Alaska. The moose chomped on plants in the lobby until security was able to shoo it out, but not before people stopped by to take photos of the moose. (Providence Alaska)

Moose feasts on lobby plants in Alaska hospital building

Even stranger than that John Mulaney bit.

In this Thursday, April 6, 2023, image provided by Providence Alaska, a moose stands inside a Providence Alaska Health Park medical building in Anchorage, Alaska. The moose chomped on plants in the lobby until security was able to shoo it out, but not before people stopped by to take photos of the moose. (Providence Alaska)
Former professional BMX race and Olympic coach Tony Hoffman speaks to a crowed in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall Thursday afternoon about his story of overcoming addiction. His speech marked the “Final Chapter” of the Pillars of America speakers series that has been put on by the Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club for more than three decades. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

From prison to Pillar: Tony Hoffman shares his journey from addiction to the Olympics in final Pillars of America speech.

The speaker series is now ended.

Former professional BMX race and Olympic coach Tony Hoffman speaks to a crowed in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall Thursday afternoon about his story of overcoming addiction. His speech marked the “Final Chapter” of the Pillars of America speakers series that has been put on by the Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club for more than three decades. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A chart shows the number and type of Alaska residents receiving Medicaid coverage based on either 2022 Alaska Medicaid Claims data (yellow) or 2021 U.S. Census data (orange). More than 260,000 residents are currently enrolled, about 30,000 more than 2020, due to a federal provision that kept states from removing people during the COVID-19 pandemic. That provision ended April 1 and Alaska officials are scheduled review eligibility of all residents enrolled during the next 12 months. (Alaska Division of Public Assistance)

Medicaid eligibility for all enrollees under review

Coverage for more than 260,000 Alaskans to be checked during next year as COVID-19 protection ends

A chart shows the number and type of Alaska residents receiving Medicaid coverage based on either 2022 Alaska Medicaid Claims data (yellow) or 2021 U.S. Census data (orange). More than 260,000 residents are currently enrolled, about 30,000 more than 2020, due to a federal provision that kept states from removing people during the COVID-19 pandemic. That provision ended April 1 and Alaska officials are scheduled review eligibility of all residents enrolled during the next 12 months. (Alaska Division of Public Assistance)
This March 10 photo shows fentanyl pills seized by police. A Juneau woman was arrested Saturday on a felony drug charge and police seized over 6,000 pills suspected to contain fentanyl. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Police: Over 6,000 fentanyl pills seized after traffic stop

A Juneau woman was arrested on a drug-related charge, after police found more than 6,000 pills, believed to contain fentanyl, inside a vehicle she was… Continue reading

This March 10 photo shows fentanyl pills seized by police. A Juneau woman was arrested Saturday on a felony drug charge and police seized over 6,000 pills suspected to contain fentanyl. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Assembly members listen to a discussion about the near and long-term future of Juneau’s solid waste management during “Talkin’ Trash” work session held by members of the Assembly Public Works and Facilities Committee Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s dumping dilemma: City and waste officials discuss short and long-term goals for Juneau’s dying landfill

“There is no one thing that can fix this.”

Assembly members listen to a discussion about the near and long-term future of Juneau’s solid waste management during “Talkin’ Trash” work session held by members of the Assembly Public Works and Facilities Committee Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Iditarod checkpoint volunteers turned a light on in the ghost town of Ophir during the 2023 race. (Courtesy Photo / Jay Cable)

Alaska Science Forum: Biking 1,000 miles of Iditarod trail

During a human-powered journey of that length, things will not go as planned.

Iditarod checkpoint volunteers turned a light on in the ghost town of Ophir during the 2023 race. (Courtesy Photo / Jay Cable)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks, offers an apology Thursday on the House floor for “escalating” tensions during a heated session on Wednesday when most members of the minority caucus staged a walkout over what they called a “hostage” situation involving education funding. A few other lawmakers also expressed similar sentiments.

Extra education funding restored – with a catch

House majority ties increase to minority’s willingness to balance budget with reserve funds

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks, offers an apology Thursday on the House floor for “escalating” tensions during a heated session on Wednesday when most members of the minority caucus staged a walkout over what they called a “hostage” situation involving education funding. A few other lawmakers also expressed similar sentiments.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces the formation of a child care task force that is scheduled to issue a report of recommendation in July of 2024 during a press conference Thursday in Anchorage. (Screenshot from official video of press conference)

Governor creates child care task force

Group scheduled to issue final report in mid-2024; some lawmakers seeking quicker action

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces the formation of a child care task force that is scheduled to issue a report of recommendation in July of 2024 during a press conference Thursday in Anchorage. (Screenshot from official video of press conference)
Brian Erickson, vice president and general manager of Hecla Greens Creek Mine, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Mine VP gives update, addresses report on elevated lead levels in Hawk Inlet

“They made numerous unsupported comparisons and conclusions to support their allegation.”

Brian Erickson, vice president and general manager of Hecla Greens Creek Mine, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
In this aerial view is the Donlin Gold project, located around 12 miles north of the Kuskokwim River community of Crooked Creek, Alaska, on Aug. 11, 2022. Three Alaska Native tribes have sued to block what they say would be one of the largest gold mines in the world. Tribes from the communities of Kwethluk, Tuluksak and Bethel filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, April 5, 2023, challenging the adequacy of a 2018 environmental review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and issuances of a key permit and lease by federal agencies for the Donlin Gold project. (Loren Holmes / Anchorage Daily News)

Three tribes sue to block major gold mine project

ANCHORAGE — Three Alaska Native tribes have sued to block what they say would be one of the largest gold mines in the world, arguing… Continue reading

In this aerial view is the Donlin Gold project, located around 12 miles north of the Kuskokwim River community of Crooked Creek, Alaska, on Aug. 11, 2022. Three Alaska Native tribes have sued to block what they say would be one of the largest gold mines in the world. Tribes from the communities of Kwethluk, Tuluksak and Bethel filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, April 5, 2023, challenging the adequacy of a 2018 environmental review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and issuances of a key permit and lease by federal agencies for the Donlin Gold project. (Loren Holmes / Anchorage Daily News)
The American island of Little Diomede, Alaska, left, and on the right, the Russian island of Big Diomede, are seen from the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica in the Bering Strait, on July 14, 2017. The Alaska Air National Guard on April 3, 2023, traveled nearly 660 miles to rescue a pregnant woman on a small island two miles from Russia who had severe abdominal pains, a reflection of the challenges patients face in the nation's largest state where the most remote areas have no roads and hospitals can be hundreds of miles away. (AP Photo / David Goldman)

660-mile rescue flight highlights Alaska’s unique challenges

The rescue call came Monday morning…

The American island of Little Diomede, Alaska, left, and on the right, the Russian island of Big Diomede, are seen from the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica in the Bering Strait, on July 14, 2017. The Alaska Air National Guard on April 3, 2023, traveled nearly 660 miles to rescue a pregnant woman on a small island two miles from Russia who had severe abdominal pains, a reflection of the challenges patients face in the nation's largest state where the most remote areas have no roads and hospitals can be hundreds of miles away. (AP Photo / David Goldman)