News

From left, onstage on Wednesday in Anchorage for a debate in Alaska’s U.S. House race: former Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Mary Peltola, Nick Begich III and Chris Bye. (Mark Thiessen/Associated Press)

Here’s what was said during the House debate — guess who said it

Democratic incumbent, two Republicans and a Libertarian often overlap in statewide TV forum

From left, onstage on Wednesday in Anchorage for a debate in Alaska’s U.S. House race: former Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Mary Peltola, Nick Begich III and Chris Bye. (Mark Thiessen/Associated Press)
Screenshot Republican Nick Begich, left, challenges Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola about her retaining much of former Rep. Don Young’s staff during a statewide televised debate Wednesday.

Begich attacks Young’s staff

Former chair of Congressman’s campaign says staff ignored calls to watch TV, let lobbyists pen bills

Screenshot Republican Nick Begich, left, challenges Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola about her retaining much of former Rep. Don Young’s staff during a statewide televised debate Wednesday.
A volleyball makes its way through the air. TMHS and JDHS are set for a pair of cross-town contests on Friday and Saturday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Volleyball senior nights set for cross-town matches

Will there be a bump in attendance or a spike?

  • Oct 27, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
A volleyball makes its way through the air. TMHS and JDHS are set for a pair of cross-town contests on Friday and Saturday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
U.S. Forest Service fish biologist Eric Castro prepares to drop a minnow trap into East Ohmer Creek. The crew moved hundreds of young fish prior to doing work in back channels. (Mary Catharine Martin / SalmonState)

The Salmon State: Growing ‘giant pumpkins’ and fish habitat in Petersburg

A tree grows in Petersburg.

U.S. Forest Service fish biologist Eric Castro prepares to drop a minnow trap into East Ohmer Creek. The crew moved hundreds of young fish prior to doing work in back channels. (Mary Catharine Martin / SalmonState)
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola dances with others attending a reelection campaign event Monday evening at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Peltola also attended a meet-and-greet at a coffee shop and met with local union members on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Peltola tells Juneau crowd reelection not a ‘slam dunk,’ encourages supporters to vote

“They’re not going to underestimate us a second time.”

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola dances with others attending a reelection campaign event Monday evening at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Peltola also attended a meet-and-greet at a coffee shop and met with local union members on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The former Glory Hall homeless shelter downtown, founded in 1982, is slated to be converted into seven low-income apartments after the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the project Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Glory Hall’s apartment project finally prevails

Planning Commission OKs turning former homeless shelter into low-income housing after one-year fight

The former Glory Hall homeless shelter downtown, founded in 1982, is slated to be converted into seven low-income apartments after the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the project Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Alaska Seaplanes co-owner and president Kent Craford seen in this photo at the Golden Shovel ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 26 to break ground on Alaska Seaplanes’ new cargo facility adjacent to the North Terminal at the Juneau International Airport. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Cargo-ing the distance: Seaplanes breaks ground on new building

New facility could be up and running by this summer.

Alaska Seaplanes co-owner and president Kent Craford seen in this photo at the Golden Shovel ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 26 to break ground on Alaska Seaplanes’ new cargo facility adjacent to the North Terminal at the Juneau International Airport. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
This carving by Jon Rowan has entered the realm of pricelessness thanks to the family memories and the carver himself. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Value appreciation

At some point, we start wrapping our heads around value, not just cost.

This carving by Jon Rowan has entered the realm of pricelessness thanks to the family memories and the carver himself. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Colleen Torrence and Kathryn Kurtz express mock terror during rehearsal for “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas.”
Capital City Weekly

Godzilla is coming to Juneau: Local ensemble preps for special Halloween themed concert

Let’s boo-gie

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Colleen Torrence and Kathryn Kurtz express mock terror during rehearsal for “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas.”
Officials at Catholic Community Service in Juneau, which operated a hospice and home care program for 20 years before discharging all patients as of Oct. 19, are now working with Bartlett Regional Hospital administrators and attorneys on a transition plan. Hospital leaders said it may take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years before a full hospice and home care program is implemented there. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Transition underway for hospice, elderly care

BRH hopes to provide hospice and home care within months; new grant boosts other elderly services

Officials at Catholic Community Service in Juneau, which operated a hospice and home care program for 20 years before discharging all patients as of Oct. 19, are now working with Bartlett Regional Hospital administrators and attorneys on a transition plan. Hospital leaders said it may take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years before a full hospice and home care program is implemented there. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a cauldron of halibut chowder around the firepit on a Fall evening. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: Chowder season

Fall reminds me of cupping my hands around a bowl of warm halibut chowder…

This photo shows a cauldron of halibut chowder around the firepit on a Fall evening. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
In this Sept. 27 2021, photo Bridget Weiss, superintendent of Juneau Public Schools, stands outside the classroom of former math teacher and basketball coach Bill Szepanski, who inspired her to pursue a degree in education and a teaching and coaching career. Weiss recently informed district staff she will be stepping away from her position at the end of June. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

Weiss departing as Juneau School District superintendent

Announcement comes after intense few years, and she is stepping away at the end of June.

In this Sept. 27 2021, photo Bridget Weiss, superintendent of Juneau Public Schools, stands outside the classroom of former math teacher and basketball coach Bill Szepanski, who inspired her to pursue a degree in education and a teaching and coaching career. Weiss recently informed district staff she will be stepping away from her position at the end of June. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
The conference began Wednesday night, September 7, with Warming of the Hands, a greeting by local clan leaders. (Peter Metcalfe / Sharing Our Knowledge Conference)
Capital City Weekly

Resilient Peoples & Place: When a time for peace is facilitated through partnership

There was a light mist in the air as I walked across the wooden bridge…

The conference began Wednesday night, September 7, with Warming of the Hands, a greeting by local clan leaders. (Peter Metcalfe / Sharing Our Knowledge Conference)
Dan Earl stands in front of his home which temporarily is transformed into Earl’s Haunted Garage around the time of Halloween in Juneau for nearly the last 20 years. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Haunted garage seeks to scare up donations

He’s putting the caring in scaring.

Dan Earl stands in front of his home which temporarily is transformed into Earl’s Haunted Garage around the time of Halloween in Juneau for nearly the last 20 years. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, Oct. 26

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

  • Oct 26, 2022
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Darrell Harmon, left, is challenging state Rep. Sara Hannan for the newly drawn House District 4 seat in Juneau. The other two Juneau candidates, District 3 Rep. Andi Story and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, are unopposed.

Many differences in lone competitive local legislative race

Two-term Democratic state Rep. Sara Hannan faces low-profile challenger Darrell Harmon

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Darrell Harmon, left, is challenging state Rep. Sara Hannan for the newly drawn House District 4 seat in Juneau. The other two Juneau candidates, District 3 Rep. Andi Story and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, are unopposed.
Question

Candidate questionnaires

Candidates for statewide office fielded questions from the Empire.

Question
Courtesy Photo / Stephany Day The Juneau Huskies cheer team poses for a photo on Saturday in Palmer after competing in this year’s Rally in the Valley Cheer competition. The team took first place in the game time and half time divisions, as well as earned the title of grand champion for garnering the highest score within the competition.

Juneau cheer team leads the way at Rally in the Valley

Team takes top spot among other honors.

Courtesy Photo / Stephany Day The Juneau Huskies cheer team poses for a photo on Saturday in Palmer after competing in this year’s Rally in the Valley Cheer competition. The team took first place in the game time and half time divisions, as well as earned the title of grand champion for garnering the highest score within the competition.
Then-Lieutenant Governor candidate Edie Grunwald speaks at a Charlie Pierce campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Grunwald announced she is withdrawing from the race after gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce was sued last week by a woman who said he sexually harassed her when she worked as an assistant. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion File)

Pierce running mate Grunwald urges support for Dunleavy

Edie Grunwald withdraws from campaign.

Then-Lieutenant Governor candidate Edie Grunwald speaks at a Charlie Pierce campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Grunwald announced she is withdrawing from the race after gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce was sued last week by a woman who said he sexually harassed her when she worked as an assistant. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion File)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members unanimously agreed on a city ordinance which appropriates $700,000 — pulled from the Affordable Housing Fund — to fund a predevelopment loan for the proposed Gastineau Lodges project which, if developed, would create a 72-unit apartment building in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown housing project takes step forward

Assembly agrees to predevelopment loan for 72-unit Gastineau Lodges project.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members unanimously agreed on a city ordinance which appropriates $700,000 — pulled from the Affordable Housing Fund — to fund a predevelopment loan for the proposed Gastineau Lodges project which, if developed, would create a 72-unit apartment building in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)