News

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Regional task force announces drug arrest in Ketchikan

A Ketchikan man was arrested on drug charges after police say he took possession of a shipment containing heroin and methamphetamine. On Monday, Larry P.… Continue reading

  • Sep 1, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022

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

  • Sep 1, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
(Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
Democratic U.S. House Candidate Mary Peltola hugs a supporter during a campaign event in Juneau. After ranked choice voting tabulation, Peltola won the special election to fill Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Peltola is the first Alaska Native to be elected to U.S. Congress. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Peltola makes history

Democrat set to become first Alaska Native elected to Congress in ranked choice win.

Democratic U.S. House Candidate Mary Peltola hugs a supporter during a campaign event in Juneau. After ranked choice voting tabulation, Peltola won the special election to fill Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Peltola is the first Alaska Native to be elected to U.S. Congress. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Christine Kleinhenz of Tide Watcher is the featured artist for the month of September at the Juneau Artists Gallery, 175 S. Franklin St. (Courtesy Photo / Christine Kleinhenz)
Capital City Weekly

Here’s what’s happening on First Frday

Friday, Sept. 1.

Christine Kleinhenz of Tide Watcher is the featured artist for the month of September at the Juneau Artists Gallery, 175 S. Franklin St. (Courtesy Photo / Christine Kleinhenz)
This March 2020 photo shows the Juneau’s current City Hall. A lot near Centennial Hall has emerged as a preferred location for a proposed new City Hall. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

City announces hours change for cash office and sales tax office starting Sept. 19

City points to staffing shortage as the reason behind the cut.

This March 2020 photo shows the Juneau’s current City Hall. A lot near Centennial Hall has emerged as a preferred location for a proposed new City Hall. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau musician Taylor Dallas Vidic was among this year’s Individual Artist Award recipient through the Rasmuson Foundation. (Courtesy Photo / Sydney Akagi)
Capital City Weekly

Juneau artists among this year’s Rasmuson Foundation award winners

“I feel 100% like a product of my environment, that environment being Juneau.”

Juneau musician Taylor Dallas Vidic was among this year’s Individual Artist Award recipient through the Rasmuson Foundation. (Courtesy Photo / Sydney Akagi)
A bus is raised for repairs at the City Borough of Juneau Capital Transit’s bus barn. Capital Transit announced last week that it is set to be awarded close to $2.3 million from a federal grant which will go toward infrastructure replacement to aid the city’s long-term goal of electrifying its transit system moving forward. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Charge pending on electric bus fleet: City awarded grant for bus barn roof in preparation for addition of seven new electric buses

Beep beep, new roof coming through.

A bus is raised for repairs at the City Borough of Juneau Capital Transit’s bus barn. Capital Transit announced last week that it is set to be awarded close to $2.3 million from a federal grant which will go toward infrastructure replacement to aid the city’s long-term goal of electrifying its transit system moving forward. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A paranormal filing cabinet plays a key role in the surrealistic office caper “All Sorts,” which is scheduled to screen at the Gold Town Theater at 7 p.m. Sept. 8. (Vibrant Penguin publicity photo)
Capital City Weekly

‘All Sorts’ a film for those feeling out of sorts

Microbudget movie about a surreal commune of cubical drones screens at Gold Town Theater on Sept. 8

A paranormal filing cabinet plays a key role in the surrealistic office caper “All Sorts,” which is scheduled to screen at the Gold Town Theater at 7 p.m. Sept. 8. (Vibrant Penguin publicity photo)
Postcards promoting a new podcast about the Star of Bengal hang on a Juneau refrigerator. (Ben Hohenstatt / Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Tale of historic Wrangell shipwreck surfaces in podcast

1908 sinking of Star of Bengal, which killed 111, is narrated by locals in 5-part series.

Postcards promoting a new podcast about the Star of Bengal hang on a Juneau refrigerator. (Ben Hohenstatt / Capital City Weekly)
The author looks over a mountain near Ketchikan in the late evening sun on an alpine deer hunt. (Courtesy Photo / Abby Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Turning the corner

The corner from summer to fall is a casual turn.

The author looks over a mountain near Ketchikan in the late evening sun on an alpine deer hunt. (Courtesy Photo / Abby Lund)
The new hats and shoulder bars for the graduates sit on a table before the start of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 141st Commencement Exercises Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in New London, Conn. The Coast Guard Academy is “disenrolling” seven cadets for failing to comply with the military’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate, after their requests for religious exemptions were denied and they were ordered to leave campus. The academy in New London, Connecticut, confirmed the disenrollments Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, The Day newspaper reported. (AP Photo / Stephen Dunn, File)

Unvaccinated cadets ordered off Coast Guard Academy campus

The academy in New London, Connecticut, confirmed the disenrollments Tuesday.

The new hats and shoulder bars for the graduates sit on a table before the start of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 141st Commencement Exercises Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in New London, Conn. The Coast Guard Academy is “disenrolling” seven cadets for failing to comply with the military’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate, after their requests for religious exemptions were denied and they were ordered to leave campus. The academy in New London, Connecticut, confirmed the disenrollments Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, The Day newspaper reported. (AP Photo / Stephen Dunn, File)
(Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022

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

  • Aug 31, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
(Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire A long line of residents stand with bags in hand, digging through scarce supplies on a rainy Tuesday afternoon in Juneau at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank.

Southeast Alaska Food Bank asks for help in the face of hard times

September is National Hunger Action Month

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire A long line of residents stand with bags in hand, digging through scarce supplies on a rainy Tuesday afternoon in Juneau at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank.
People walk the docks as the sun sets in downtown Juneau on Monday night. The City and Borough of Juneau recently signed a memorandum of agreement with member companies of Cruise Lines International Association to come to an agreement on a number of tourism management issues in Juneau. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire)

City, cruise lines agree on goals to manage tourism impacts

The list includes communication on scheduling, less landfill waste and a focus on local businesses

People walk the docks as the sun sets in downtown Juneau on Monday night. The City and Borough of Juneau recently signed a memorandum of agreement with member companies of Cruise Lines International Association to come to an agreement on a number of tourism management issues in Juneau. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire)
The City Borough of Juneau Assembly and the Planning Commission members convened at a joint meeting Monday to discuss city priorities and to hear an update on the city’s community development department. Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City officials discuss ‘carrot or stick’ approach to addressing housing issues

Assembly and Planning Commission talk priorities and housing crisis, no action taken

The City Borough of Juneau Assembly and the Planning Commission members convened at a joint meeting Monday to discuss city priorities and to hear an update on the city’s community development department. Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Hemp nettle shows its bristles and spines (Mary F. Willson/ For the Juneau Empire)

On the Trails: Autumn arrives — gradually

Fireweed has gone to seed, sending parachuted offspring into the breezes…

  • Aug 30, 2022
  • By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire
Hemp nettle shows its bristles and spines (Mary F. Willson/ For the Juneau Empire)
(Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022

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

  • Aug 30, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
(Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
Students smile as the walk to their classes for the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast on Monday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Fall semester starts at the University of Alaska Southeast

For many returning students, it also marks the first day back after the news of loan forgiveness

Students smile as the walk to their classes for the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast on Monday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Biobot Analytics has partnered with the Center for Disease Control for a program that collects wastewater samples from treatment plants across the country for COVID-19 variants. Starting at the end of August, Juneau’s Mendenhall Wastewater Facility began participating in the program by sending samples to Biobot twice a week. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

City participates in wastewater surveillance program

It’s flush with information.

Biobot Analytics has partnered with the Center for Disease Control for a program that collects wastewater samples from treatment plants across the country for COVID-19 variants. Starting at the end of August, Juneau’s Mendenhall Wastewater Facility began participating in the program by sending samples to Biobot twice a week. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Charlie Pierce recently announced he would resign as Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor to focus on his gubernatorial bid. The move was preceded by a confidential investigation. Kenai officials declined to say whether the investigation was related to Pierce.(Photo provided)

Secret investigation preceded Alaska governor candidate’s resignation as mayor

Kenai borough officials declined to say whether the investigation involved Mayor Charlie Pierce.

  • Aug 29, 2022
  • By James Brooks Alaska Beacon
Charlie Pierce recently announced he would resign as Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor to focus on his gubernatorial bid. The move was preceded by a confidential investigation. Kenai officials declined to say whether the investigation was related to Pierce.(Photo provided)