News

A ballot is placed in a ballot drop box on Tuesday, Oct. 4. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Latest local election results show tight finish for two props

City Hall prop facing narrow defeat, disclosure repeal poised to pass.

A ballot is placed in a ballot drop box on Tuesday, Oct. 4. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire Harmony Wentz, Faith Rogers’ daughter, holds out her phone to show a photo of the pair sharing a hammock. According to Juneau Police Department spokesperson Erann Kalwara, authorities are working to identify a suspect responsible for Rogers’ death.

Authorities work to identify suspect in Juneau woman’s death

JPD is working with the State Crime Lab and the Medical Examiner.

Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire Harmony Wentz, Faith Rogers’ daughter, holds out her phone to show a photo of the pair sharing a hammock. According to Juneau Police Department spokesperson Erann Kalwara, authorities are working to identify a suspect responsible for Rogers’ death.
Heidi Drygas, who is running for lieutenant governor, and Bill Walker, who is running for governor, smile outside the Juneau Empire’s offices after an interview this week. Walker said he’s hopeful voters will understand his decision to draw from the Alaska Permanent Fund to fund state government. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Walker hopes voters willing to accept hard truths

Former independent governor seeking office again after “I threw myself on the Permanent Fund grenade. ”

Heidi Drygas, who is running for lieutenant governor, and Bill Walker, who is running for governor, smile outside the Juneau Empire’s offices after an interview this week. Walker said he’s hopeful voters will understand his decision to draw from the Alaska Permanent Fund to fund state government. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Kelsey Aho holds a jar of clay she collected while fishing for hooligan on Turnagain Arm near Anchorage in 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Kelsey Aho)

Alaska Science Forum: Grains of Alaska made into art

“I can hand a piece of the Yukon River or Mendenhall Glacier to someone thousands of miles away…”

Kelsey Aho holds a jar of clay she collected while fishing for hooligan on Turnagain Arm near Anchorage in 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Kelsey Aho)
Les Gara smiles outside of the Juneau Empire’s offices following an interview earlier this week. The former Anchorage lawmaker is the lone Democratic candidate in Alaska’s gubernatorial race. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Gara sticks to steady message on rocky campaign trail

Former Anchorage lawmaker seeking to become first Democrat elected governor since 1998.

Les Gara smiles outside of the Juneau Empire’s offices following an interview earlier this week. The former Anchorage lawmaker is the lone Democratic candidate in Alaska’s gubernatorial race. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Capital City Fire/Rescue engineer Peter Flynn and firefighter Connor Hoyt stand at the bottom of the department’s new truck ladder on Thursday, Oct. 6 during training operations at the Glacier Fire Station.

Sooner or ladder CCFR’s new truck will be in service

Firefighters say extended reach means increased safety.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Capital City Fire/Rescue engineer Peter Flynn and firefighter Connor Hoyt stand at the bottom of the department’s new truck ladder on Thursday, Oct. 6 during training operations at the Glacier Fire Station.
In this May 24, 2019, photo, teachers and students from Northwest Montessori School in Seattle examine the carcass of a gray whale after it washed up on the coast of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, just north of Kalaloch Campground in Olympic National Park. U.S. researchers say the number of gray whales off western North America has continued to fall over the last two years, a decline that resembles previous population swings over the past several decades. According to an assessment by NOAA Fisheries released Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, the most recent count put the population at 16,650 whales — down 38% from its peak in 2015-16. (AP Photo / Gene Johnson)

Gray whale population off western U.S. continues to decline

The most recent count put the population at 16,650 whales — down 38% from its peak in 2015-16.

In this May 24, 2019, photo, teachers and students from Northwest Montessori School in Seattle examine the carcass of a gray whale after it washed up on the coast of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, just north of Kalaloch Campground in Olympic National Park. U.S. researchers say the number of gray whales off western North America has continued to fall over the last two years, a decline that resembles previous population swings over the past several decades. According to an assessment by NOAA Fisheries released Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, the most recent count put the population at 16,650 whales — down 38% from its peak in 2015-16. (AP Photo / Gene Johnson)
A map shows more than 50 proposed cabin projects in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests the U.S. Forest Service is considering using $14.4 million in federal funds. About half of the projects are expected to be approved, with the public able to comment online about their preferences until Oct. 31. (U.S. Forest Service)

Cabin fever fueled by Forest Service funds

More than 50 proposed new Alaska sites, half in Tongass, draw strong opinions.

A map shows more than 50 proposed cabin projects in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests the U.S. Forest Service is considering using $14.4 million in federal funds. About half of the projects are expected to be approved, with the public able to comment online about their preferences until Oct. 31. (U.S. Forest Service)
Jensen-Olson Arboretum is switching to its winter hours. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Jensen-Olson Arboretum shifts hours ahead of winter season

Winter is coming

Jensen-Olson Arboretum is switching to its winter hours. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Workers replace a failed log culvert with a small foot bridge over Switzer Creek in a project funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with some materials provided by the Alaskan Brewing Company. The federal government on Thursday announced an additional $1 billion in grants is being made available during the next five years for culvert repairs in areas where fish passage is blocked. (Courtesy Photo / Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition)

Cash flow: $1B in fed funds for freer fish

Grants to replace culverts impeding streams available to tribal, local and state governments

Workers replace a failed log culvert with a small foot bridge over Switzer Creek in a project funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with some materials provided by the Alaskan Brewing Company. The federal government on Thursday announced an additional $1 billion in grants is being made available during the next five years for culvert repairs in areas where fish passage is blocked. (Courtesy Photo / Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition)
Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire Two cones and concrete barriers sit near the fallen trees and debris left over after a landslide occurred early last week. Officials determined in the aftermath of the event that the landslide occurred predominantly due to a large tree that fell and in the process pulled down mud and other debris with it as it slid down the hillside.

City’s portion of landslide cleanup finished

Remaining debris is in the hands of property owners, according to city officials.

Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire Two cones and concrete barriers sit near the fallen trees and debris left over after a landslide occurred early last week. Officials determined in the aftermath of the event that the landslide occurred predominantly due to a large tree that fell and in the process pulled down mud and other debris with it as it slid down the hillside.
This screenshot of Google Earth shows Gambell, Alaska. Alaska's senators, Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, on Thursday said the Russian asylum seekers landed at a beach near the town of Gambell. The Russians said they fled the country to avoid compulsory military service. (Screenshot)

2 Russians seek asylum after reaching remote Alaska island

Russians more commonly try to enter the U.S. through Mexico.

This screenshot of Google Earth shows Gambell, Alaska. Alaska's senators, Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, on Thursday said the Russian asylum seekers landed at a beach near the town of Gambell. The Russians said they fled the country to avoid compulsory military service. (Screenshot)
Characters Rose (Xáalnook Erin Tripp) and Anthony (Kenny Ramos) smile and chat midway through the Wednesday night rehearsal performance of “Where the Summit Meets the Stars” at Perseverance Theatre. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘Where the Summit Meets the Stars’ opens Perseverance Theatre season on uncharted waters

New play draws from traditional stories, Tlingit arts

Characters Rose (Xáalnook Erin Tripp) and Anthony (Kenny Ramos) smile and chat midway through the Wednesday night rehearsal performance of “Where the Summit Meets the Stars” at Perseverance Theatre. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Fat Bear Week bracket (Photo courtesy Katmai National Park & Preserve)

Survival of the fattest: Voters decide on the heftiest Katmai brown bear

Voters decide on the heftiest Katmai brown bear

Fat Bear Week bracket (Photo courtesy Katmai National Park & Preserve)
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Les Gara, left, discusses hospitality industry issues during a forum Wednesday with independent candidate Bill Walker, right, at Louie’s Douglas Inn. The forum was hosted by the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association, with the organization’s president and CEO Sarah Oates acting as the moderator. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Walker, Gara get into a bar debate

Candidates for governor talk about serving, shortages and ships during industry forum in Juneau

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Les Gara, left, discusses hospitality industry issues during a forum Wednesday with independent candidate Bill Walker, right, at Louie’s Douglas Inn. The forum was hosted by the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association, with the organization’s president and CEO Sarah Oates acting as the moderator. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn. According to data provided by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute in its latest update, the statewide preliminary harvest is estimated to be more than 153 million salmon — across all species — caught during the 14 weeks spanning mid-June to mid-September that the data was analyzed. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Salmon season winds down with ‘middle of the road’ statewide harvest

See the salmon stats here.

Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn. According to data provided by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute in its latest update, the statewide preliminary harvest is estimated to be more than 153 million salmon — across all species — caught during the 14 weeks spanning mid-June to mid-September that the data was analyzed. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
An array of I Voted stickers lie on a table at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Election Day votes were not among the ballots tallied in unofficial results released late Tuesday night. A photo shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall. A ballot proposition that would fund construction of a new City Hall saw a nearly 50-50 split of the vote in unofficial results shared Tuesday night. Cars drive past a sign encouraging voters to support Proposition 4, which would repeal a local ordinance requiring the disclosure of the sales price of real property. The proposition was heavily supported by local Realtors. Signs encouraging voters to support Proposition 2, which would OK $6.6 million in bond debt for recreation improvements, sit in a chair on the track at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park ahead of a football game. Upgrading the track is among the projects Prop 2 would fund. (Juneau Empire Photos)

Votes on new City Hall, real estate disclosure both extremely close

Next batch of results expected on Friday.

An array of I Voted stickers lie on a table at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Election Day votes were not among the ballots tallied in unofficial results released late Tuesday night. A photo shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall. A ballot proposition that would fund construction of a new City Hall saw a nearly 50-50 split of the vote in unofficial results shared Tuesday night. Cars drive past a sign encouraging voters to support Proposition 4, which would repeal a local ordinance requiring the disclosure of the sales price of real property. The proposition was heavily supported by local Realtors. Signs encouraging voters to support Proposition 2, which would OK $6.6 million in bond debt for recreation improvements, sit in a chair on the track at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park ahead of a football game. Upgrading the track is among the projects Prop 2 would fund. (Juneau Empire Photos)
Artist Rick Kauzlarich, created portraits of each Juneau Artists Gallery member to commemorate our yearly Juneau Appreciation Event Sale. (Courtesy Photo / Rick Kauzlarich)
Capital City Weekly

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

A world premiere, closing exhibitions and so much more.

Artist Rick Kauzlarich, created portraits of each Juneau Artists Gallery member to commemorate our yearly Juneau Appreciation Event Sale. (Courtesy Photo / Rick Kauzlarich)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau Police Department announces technology and reporting updates

Emergency services and direct reporting will not be interrupted.

  • Oct 5, 2022
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Alaska Native artist Logan Terry holds the latest edition of Thrasher Magazine, displaying the spread of his work as a featured artist for the month. (Courtesy Photo / Patrick Vanpool)
Capital City Weekly

Talent on deck: Skating and art intersect for local artist

Logan Terry lands spread in Thrasher Magazine.

Alaska Native artist Logan Terry holds the latest edition of Thrasher Magazine, displaying the spread of his work as a featured artist for the month. (Courtesy Photo / Patrick Vanpool)