News

Juneau School Board President Deedie Sorensen and Vice President Emil Mackey discuss ‘milk’ incident investigation bid and extending food vendor’s contract with board members Tuesday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

District discusses ‘milk’ incident investigation bid, extends food vendor’s contract

Juneau School Board discusses third-party bid, allows NANA to serve food for six more months

Juneau School Board President Deedie Sorensen and Vice President Emil Mackey discuss ‘milk’ incident investigation bid and extending food vendor’s contract with board members Tuesday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A map shows the planned phases for the Ridgeview subdivision, which as proposed will have up to 444 housing units upon completion. The Juneau Planning Commission approved 96 units as Phase 1 of the project, highlighted in the lower right, at its meeting Tuesday. (Rooftop Properties, LLC)

First 96 homes of 444-unit Ridgeview Subdivision OK’d

Planning Commission unanimously approves initial phase of complex, despite traffic volume concerns

A map shows the planned phases for the Ridgeview subdivision, which as proposed will have up to 444 housing units upon completion. The Juneau Planning Commission approved 96 units as Phase 1 of the project, highlighted in the lower right, at its meeting Tuesday. (Rooftop Properties, LLC)
Surrounded by other supporters, Jess Cobley, Juneau Education Association middle school representative at large, speaks to the Juneau District School board about the current status of the contract negotiation cycle between the pair at the board’s Tuesday evening meeting at Thunder Mountain High School.(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘How dare you?’: Teachers union rebuffs contract proposal during meeting

This follows an impasse declared by JEA a week earlier.

Surrounded by other supporters, Jess Cobley, Juneau Education Association middle school representative at large, speaks to the Juneau District School board about the current status of the contract negotiation cycle between the pair at the board’s Tuesday evening meeting at Thunder Mountain High School.(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Tlingit playwright and teacher Frank Henry Kaash Katasse poses for a photo on Tuesday during a welcoming home ceremony at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School. Katasse just returned from attending the Emmy Awards where the show he writes for “Molly of Denali” was nominated for two awards. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

‘Molly of Denali’ writer walks the red carpet…twice

A Q&A with Frank Henry Kaash Katasse.

Tlingit playwright and teacher Frank Henry Kaash Katasse poses for a photo on Tuesday during a welcoming home ceremony at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School. Katasse just returned from attending the Emmy Awards where the show he writes for “Molly of Denali” was nominated for two awards. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, Dec.14

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

  • Dec 14, 2022
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy greets visitors to the annual holiday open house at the governor’s mansion on Tuesday. Hundreds of people indulged in cookies and music by local students during the three-hour event. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cookies, carols and quizzes for Christmas

How the governor’s holiday favorites compare to his constituents visiting his annual open house.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy greets visitors to the annual holiday open house at the governor’s mansion on Tuesday. Hundreds of people indulged in cookies and music by local students during the three-hour event. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Republican state Rep. David Eastman speaks on the floor of the Alaska House on Jan. 31, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A lawyer said in opening arguments Tuesday, Dec. 13 in a case against Eastman that the Alaska lawmaker is unfit to hold office because he's a member of the far-right Oath Keepers, a group that has either advocated or engaged in concrete action to overthrow the U.S. government. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Trial starts: Alaska lawmaker with Oath Keepers ties

Trial before will determine whether state rep will be seated in the Legislature next month.

Alaska Republican state Rep. David Eastman speaks on the floor of the Alaska House on Jan. 31, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A lawyer said in opening arguments Tuesday, Dec. 13 in a case against Eastman that the Alaska lawmaker is unfit to hold office because he's a member of the far-right Oath Keepers, a group that has either advocated or engaged in concrete action to overthrow the U.S. government. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Juneau residents the streets in Douglas during a winter storm in December of 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

City officials “feel confident” amid plow driver shortage

Winter maintenance team down four operators as winter storms boom across the state

Juneau residents the streets in Douglas during a winter storm in December of 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy answers media questions about his proposed budget for next year and the upcoming legislative session shortly before the annual holiday open house at the governor’s mansion on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy offers holiday sneak peek of budget, agenda

Governor to seek new revenue in budget, abortion amendment, favors motorized Mendenhall access.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy answers media questions about his proposed budget for next year and the upcoming legislative session shortly before the annual holiday open house at the governor’s mansion on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska State Trooper patrol vehicle (Juneau Empire File)

Man cited for killing raven

Citation and courtdate to follow.

Alaska State Trooper patrol vehicle (Juneau Empire File)
A plane flies in front of a downtown Juneau neighborhood in early May. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly approved $2 million in funding during the Monday night Assembly meeting toward four affordable housing projects. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Assembly approves $2M in funding for four affordable housing projects

Four applicants awarded funding set to be dispersed around February, according to city officials.

A plane flies in front of a downtown Juneau neighborhood in early May. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly approved $2 million in funding during the Monday night Assembly meeting toward four affordable housing projects. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
President Joe Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo / Andrew Harnik)

Gay marriage bill signed at White House ceremony

“This law and the love it defends strike a blow against hate in all its forms,” president says.

President Joe Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo / Andrew Harnik)
Steve Noble, senior project manager for Dowl, discusses new options for a second Douglas crossing during an open house as part of the evaluation process Monday at the Juneau Arts Humanities Council building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

New airport, Fritz Cove sites add dimensions to second Douglas crossing

Proposed subsurface route by runway, long bridge across path of incoming planes may be short-lived

Steve Noble, senior project manager for Dowl, discusses new options for a second Douglas crossing during an open house as part of the evaluation process Monday at the Juneau Arts Humanities Council building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Wilson's warblers are sometimes seen in early winter (Courtesy Photo / Gus van Vliet photo)

On the Trails: Surviving winter is no small feat

Here’s how some diminutive vertebrates do it.

Wilson's warblers are sometimes seen in early winter (Courtesy Photo / Gus van Vliet photo)
In this Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 file photo, dead common murres lie washed up on a rocky beach in Whittier, Alaska. Arctic seabirds unable to find enough food in warmer ocean waters are just one sign of the vast changes in the polar region, where the climate is being transformed faster than anywhere else on Earth. An annual report, to be released Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022 by U.S. scientists, also documents rising Arctic temperatures and disappearing sea ice. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen File)

Starving seabirds on Alaska coast show climate change peril

The seabirds are struggling because of climate-linked ecosystem shifts…

In this Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 file photo, dead common murres lie washed up on a rocky beach in Whittier, Alaska. Arctic seabirds unable to find enough food in warmer ocean waters are just one sign of the vast changes in the polar region, where the climate is being transformed faster than anywhere else on Earth. An annual report, to be released Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022 by U.S. scientists, also documents rising Arctic temperatures and disappearing sea ice. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Tuesday, Dec.13

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

  • Dec 13, 2022
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A plate of jelly doughnuts are displayed in New York on Nov. 15, 2021. In Jewish homes, jelly doughnuts are often enjoyed during Hanukkah and are known as Sufganiyot. (Cheyenne Cohen via AP)

How to make the ultimate Hanukkah pastry

Jelly doughnuts, also known as sufganiyot, have become a classic Hanukkah treat, one of a number of foods fried in oil that are popular on… Continue reading

  • Dec 13, 2022
  • By Katie Workman Associated Press
  • food
A plate of jelly doughnuts are displayed in New York on Nov. 15, 2021. In Jewish homes, jelly doughnuts are often enjoyed during Hanukkah and are known as Sufganiyot. (Cheyenne Cohen via AP)
“I Voted” stickers await Alaskan voters during in-person voting at Mendenhall Mall. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Congressional winners raise, spend and save big bucks

Murkowski and Peltola have plenty of funds left over after heavy spending sprees to end elections

“I Voted” stickers await Alaskan voters during in-person voting at Mendenhall Mall. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
A candle lighting by Juneau and other Alaska residents on the night of the winter solstice in 2020 was initiated by state officials as a show of solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were both separated from other community members and experiencing the loss of loved ones. The winter solstice, by tradition a Wiccan/Pagan holiday, also is observed by other people and cultures both spiritual and secular worldwide. (Juneau Empire file photo)

The 12 days of not Christmas

December has lots religious and winter solstice holidays; here’s how some are celebrated locally.

A candle lighting by Juneau and other Alaska residents on the night of the winter solstice in 2020 was initiated by state officials as a show of solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were both separated from other community members and experiencing the loss of loved ones. The winter solstice, by tradition a Wiccan/Pagan holiday, also is observed by other people and cultures both spiritual and secular worldwide. (Juneau Empire file photo)
A snow plow pulls off of Glacier Highway to clear the sidewalks near a bus stop during heavy snow fall on Monday morning. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Flaky weather: Heavy snow was expected, an inch or 2 fell

When it rains, it snows.

A snow plow pulls off of Glacier Highway to clear the sidewalks near a bus stop during heavy snow fall on Monday morning. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)