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Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Lisa X’unyéil Worl, a longtime advocate for education and other issues, asks Juneau’s legislative delegation about the prospects for public broadcasting funding from the state during a town hall meeting Wednesday evening at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School.

Local lawmakers say there are ‘no simple answers’ ahead of session

However, Juneau’s delegation expresses optimism for progress on health, safety and education.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Lisa X’unyéil Worl, a longtime advocate for education and other issues, asks Juneau’s legislative delegation about the prospects for public broadcasting funding from the state during a town hall meeting Wednesday evening at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School.
Bartlett Regional Hospital announced it is implementing a three-phase action plan to address its estimated $10 million deficit this fiscal year and its anticipated $2 million loss during the upcoming fiscal year. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

‘We’re in unprecedented territory as a hospital’: Bartlett Regional Hospital announces cost-cutting plans

Measures are to address its estimated $10M deficit this fiscal year, $2 million in upcoming year.

Bartlett Regional Hospital announced it is implementing a three-phase action plan to address its estimated $10 million deficit this fiscal year and its anticipated $2 million loss during the upcoming fiscal year. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Visitors take images of Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau in summer 2022 from inside the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska’s small glaciers are on the way out

Even optimistic projections show half of glaciers gone by end of century.

Visitors take images of Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau in summer 2022 from inside the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
The only electric bus enters the City Borough of Juneau Capital Transit’s bus barn in late August. Capital Transit is preparing for the addition of seven electric buses which are slated to hit Juneau’s roads sometime in summer of 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Bus down: City preps for incoming electric bus fleet as its current electric bus remains out of commission

Capital Transit expects the new fleet to arrive during the summer of 2024

The only electric bus enters the City Borough of Juneau Capital Transit’s bus barn in late August. Capital Transit is preparing for the addition of seven electric buses which are slated to hit Juneau’s roads sometime in summer of 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Members of the Alaska State Legislature introduce themselves before a mock floor session for new lawmakers in the House chambers of the state Capitol on Friday. Most of the 19 new members, the most since 1984, are going through three days of orientation before the session starts Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

‘Freshmen 19’ bring unusual heft to Capitol

Class of incoming lawmakers includes many with legislative experience.

Members of the Alaska State Legislature introduce themselves before a mock floor session for new lawmakers in the House chambers of the state Capitol on Friday. Most of the 19 new members, the most since 1984, are going through three days of orientation before the session starts Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Fredrick Brower, center, helps cut up a bowhead whale caught by Inupiat subsistence hunters on a field near Barrow, Alaska, Oc. 7, 2014. After tidal surges and high winds from the remnants of a rare typhoon caused extensive flood damage to homes along Alaska's western coast in September, the U.S. government stepped in to help residents largely Alaska Natives repair property damage. Residents who opened Federal Emergency Management Agency brochures expecting to find instructions on how to file for aid in Alaska Native languages like Yup'ik or Inupiaq instead were reading nonsensical phrases. (AP Photo / Gregory Bull)

FEMA fires group for nonsensical Alaska Native translations

For many, it was a reminder of culture and language suppresion.

Fredrick Brower, center, helps cut up a bowhead whale caught by Inupiat subsistence hunters on a field near Barrow, Alaska, Oc. 7, 2014. After tidal surges and high winds from the remnants of a rare typhoon caused extensive flood damage to homes along Alaska's western coast in September, the U.S. government stepped in to help residents largely Alaska Natives repair property damage. Residents who opened Federal Emergency Management Agency brochures expecting to find instructions on how to file for aid in Alaska Native languages like Yup'ik or Inupiaq instead were reading nonsensical phrases. (AP Photo / Gregory Bull)
At its Tuesday night meeting the Juneau Board of Education OK’d a series of budget revisions that will balance the district’s operating fund deficit of over $620,000 along with its $63,000 deficit in total governmental funds it owes to the city. Members say it does not fix the district’s structural issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

School Board addresses deficits, members say the fix is a ‘Band-Aid’

The board OKs plan to ask Assembly for $2.5M in additional out-of-cap funding

At its Tuesday night meeting the Juneau Board of Education OK’d a series of budget revisions that will balance the district’s operating fund deficit of over $620,000 along with its $63,000 deficit in total governmental funds it owes to the city. Members say it does not fix the district’s structural issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Friday, Jan. 13

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

  • Jan 13, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy explains his plan for Alaska to cash in on carbon credits during the unveiling of his proposed state budget for next year Dec. 15 at the Alaska State Capitol. He outlined legislation to enter carbon markets during a press conference Thursday in Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire).

Governor previews carbon market bills

Dunleavy outlines legislation for plan he hopes will earn $900 million a year.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy explains his plan for Alaska to cash in on carbon credits during the unveiling of his proposed state budget for next year Dec. 15 at the Alaska State Capitol. He outlined legislation to enter carbon markets during a press conference Thursday in Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire).
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Lanie Downs with Cruise Lines International Association Alaska addresses the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce along with other members of the community on cruise line projections and economic impact expected for 2023.

Cruise ships projected to be closer to capacity this season

Last year ships were about 74% full, industry official says 90% projected for 1st quarter 2023.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Lanie Downs with Cruise Lines International Association Alaska addresses the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce along with other members of the community on cruise line projections and economic impact expected for 2023.
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Thursday, Jan. 12

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

  • Jan 12, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Geraldine Young / Alaska DOTPF The Columbia docks at the terminal in Haines while in service previously. The Alaska Marine Highway vessel, which was taken out of service as a cost-cutting measure in 2019, is scheduled to resume voyages between Bellingham and Southeast Alaska in February while the Matanuska undergoes renovations.

Columbia to resume mainline ferry service next month

Vessel grounded in 2019 to save costs now needed due to extra repairs planned for Matanuska

Geraldine Young / Alaska DOTPF The Columbia docks at the terminal in Haines while in service previously. The Alaska Marine Highway vessel, which was taken out of service as a cost-cutting measure in 2019, is scheduled to resume voyages between Bellingham and Southeast Alaska in February while the Matanuska undergoes renovations.
Safeway district manager Stephanie Kennedy and store director Mark Jones hand out a donation check to the Southeast Alaska Foodbank during a grand reopening ceremony on Wednesday. Foodbank manager Chris Schapp accepted the check on behalf of the foodbank. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Safeway celebrates grand reopening

Local foodbank receives donation at Wednesday ceremony.

Safeway district manager Stephanie Kennedy and store director Mark Jones hand out a donation check to the Southeast Alaska Foodbank during a grand reopening ceremony on Wednesday. Foodbank manager Chris Schapp accepted the check on behalf of the foodbank. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Lisa Phu holds her daughter, Acacia, near a waterfall on a trail just south of Thane in October of 2016.(Courtesy of Lisa Phu)
Features

The story of a lifetime

Longtime reporter Lisa Phu finally unveils family’s escape from genocide in Cambodia in podcast.

Lisa Phu holds her daughter, Acacia, near a waterfall on a trail just south of Thane in October of 2016.(Courtesy of Lisa Phu)
Seven months after a June 2022 incident in which a dozen students and two adults drank chemical floor sealant served as milk during a Juneau School District summer program, the District Board of Education on Tuesday night narrowly voted against moving forward with a third-party investigation of the district’s emergency notification and public communication. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

School board nixes plans for ‘milk’ incident investigation

In narrow vote, members cited past investigations, fiscal impact as reasons for not moving forward.

Seven months after a June 2022 incident in which a dozen students and two adults drank chemical floor sealant served as milk during a Juneau School District summer program, the District Board of Education on Tuesday night narrowly voted against moving forward with a third-party investigation of the district’s emergency notification and public communication. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
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State Supreme Court to hear arguments in residency case

The Alaska Supreme Court plans to hear arguments on Friday.

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Kat Moore of The Forest That Never Sleeps plays for a live audience. She’ll be joined by Seattle-based musician Ollella for new concert series Underground Connection’s first show on Friday and Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Taylor Vidic)
Features

Making a new Connection: Concert series links Alaska and Lower 48 scenes

New concert series brings talent to town for two nights.

Kat Moore of The Forest That Never Sleeps plays for a live audience. She’ll be joined by Seattle-based musician Ollella for new concert series Underground Connection’s first show on Friday and Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Taylor Vidic)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Amy Nye and her family await a ride after flying to Juneau from Seattle Wednesday morning. Juneau International Airport Manager Patty Wahto said no flights in or out of Juneau have been delayed due to the overnight outage to the Federal Administration Aviation Notice to Air Missions System caused more than 8,300 delayed flights and 1,200 cancellations across the U.S.

Juneau flights spared worst of U.S. flight disruptions

Airport manager monitoring situation after FAA system outage causes

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Amy Nye and her family await a ride after flying to Juneau from Seattle Wednesday morning. Juneau International Airport Manager Patty Wahto said no flights in or out of Juneau have been delayed due to the overnight outage to the Federal Administration Aviation Notice to Air Missions System caused more than 8,300 delayed flights and 1,200 cancellations across the U.S.
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, Jan. 11

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

  • Jan 11, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Pieces of the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria sit scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. would invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project.

Gondola project on track for $10M investment

It is expected to open in the spring of 2027

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Pieces of the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria sit scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. would invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project.