News

This combination photo shows hiring signs in the windows of businesses in downtown Juneau this spring. As of Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau has 23 open employment positions, some with multiple vacancies within them according to the CBJ website. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire)

Help wanted Juneau: City feels the sting of the nationwide worker shortage

Openings include multiple City and Borough of Juneau departments.

This combination photo shows hiring signs in the windows of businesses in downtown Juneau this spring. As of Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau has 23 open employment positions, some with multiple vacancies within them according to the CBJ website. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of a young Gabrielle Shaawatgoox George-Frank smiling as she holds a fish caught near Angoon, Alaska where her family originates from. George-Frank is one of the five students who received this year’s Golden North Salmon Derby’s annual scholarships. (Courtesy Photo / Gabrielle Shaawatgoox George-Frank)

Salmon derby scholarship helps local student reach longtime goal

She shares what the upcoming event’s scholarship means to her.

This is a photo of a young Gabrielle Shaawatgoox George-Frank smiling as she holds a fish caught near Angoon, Alaska where her family originates from. George-Frank is one of the five students who received this year’s Golden North Salmon Derby’s annual scholarships. (Courtesy Photo / Gabrielle Shaawatgoox George-Frank)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police ID man missing from cruise ship

Coast Guard suspends search efforts

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Keke Tian Ke featured in this photo on First Friday next to her work which is on display at the Juneau Artist Gallery located at 175 S. Franklin St. Ke is the gallery’s artist of the month. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Artists showcase Alaska-influenced work during First Friday

First Friday holds up through bad weather

Keke Tian Ke featured in this photo on First Friday next to her work which is on display at the Juneau Artist Gallery located at 175 S. Franklin St. Ke is the gallery’s artist of the month. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Aaron Surma, the executive director for National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition, leads a safety plan workshop Tuesday night hosted by NAMI and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition. The workshop was a collaborative brainstorming session with Juneau residents about how to create a safety plan that people can use to help someone who is experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis.

Study shows a rise in anxiety and depression among children in Alaska

Increase may indicate growing openness to discussing mental health, according to experts.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Aaron Surma, the executive director for National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition, leads a safety plan workshop Tuesday night hosted by NAMI and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition. The workshop was a collaborative brainstorming session with Juneau residents about how to create a safety plan that people can use to help someone who is experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis.
Radio equipment sits atop Saddle Mountain near Juneau. The Juneau Police Department shares this equipment with other agencies. JPD is currently operating on a radio system that was dated to stop working eight years ago and faces an $11 million gap in funding to pay for a new one according to the police chief who presented a slideshow on the topic at the Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)

Juneau Police Department seeks to update radio system

The department faces an $11 million gap in funding to pay for a new one

Radio equipment sits atop Saddle Mountain near Juneau. The Juneau Police Department shares this equipment with other agencies. JPD is currently operating on a radio system that was dated to stop working eight years ago and faces an $11 million gap in funding to pay for a new one according to the police chief who presented a slideshow on the topic at the Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)

It’s a week until the vote — do you know where your candidates are?

A few contenders planning Juneau and Southeast Alaska stops before Tuesday’s primary/special election

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks with reporters about the state's budget at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Dunleavy, who received a conditional endorsement from former President Donald Trump, was among the first prominent Alaska politicians to weigh in on the FBI's search of Trump's property. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska pols buzzwording about FBI raid

Reactions by Trump backers — and lack thereof by opponents — mirror national furor

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks with reporters about the state's budget at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Dunleavy, who received a conditional endorsement from former President Donald Trump, was among the first prominent Alaska politicians to weigh in on the FBI's search of Trump's property. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
A northern oriole used dietary carotenoids to make its feathers bright orange. (Courtesy Photo / J. S. Willson)

On the Trails: The colorful world of birds

Colors are produced by cell structure, which can scatter light rays, making iridescence, and by pigments, which absorb or reflect particular wavelength of light. Pigments… Continue reading

A northern oriole used dietary carotenoids to make its feathers bright orange. (Courtesy Photo / J. S. Willson)
This photo shows the Holland America Line cruise ship Koningsdam in Juneau on Monday night. Hours later, the U.S. Coast Guard was notified a crew member had gone overboard near Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Update: Search suspended for man missing from cruise ship

Coast Guard asks help for information

This photo shows the Holland America Line cruise ship Koningsdam in Juneau on Monday night. Hours later, the U.S. Coast Guard was notified a crew member had gone overboard near Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
on Monday night the Assembly gave the OK for Docks & Harbors to begin formulating a plan that would use $20 million of city funds to go toward electrifying two city-own cruise ships docks and redo some of the work at Juneau’s’s already existing electrified dock built in 2001. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City takes step toward dock electrification

“There are many pieces to plugging in”

on Monday night the Assembly gave the OK for Docks & Harbors to begin formulating a plan that would use $20 million of city funds to go toward electrifying two city-own cruise ships docks and redo some of the work at Juneau’s’s already existing electrified dock built in 2001. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Alex Whetman, suffering leg cramps and numb hands moments after winning the inaugural Ironman Alaska on Sunday, found something sufficient to divert his attention a minute or so later while in the midst of explaining his victory to the surrounding cameras and voice recorders. Whetman, a Salt Lake City resident participating in his fifth Iron Man, finished with a time of 9 hours, 11 minutes and 17 seconds, more than 12 minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Ironman Alaska chills and thrills

Rain and numbing cold add extra challenge to inaugural race in Juneau, but warmth from locals shines

Alex Whetman, suffering leg cramps and numb hands moments after winning the inaugural Ironman Alaska on Sunday, found something sufficient to divert his attention a minute or so later while in the midst of explaining his victory to the surrounding cameras and voice recorders. Whetman, a Salt Lake City resident participating in his fifth Iron Man, finished with a time of 9 hours, 11 minutes and 17 seconds, more than 12 minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mr. Higgins, a large pony at Ridge Stables LLC owned by Chava Lee, munches on some grass as a smiling biker passes by. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire)

Slightly off course:Sights and stories from Ironman Alaska’s sidelines

Grazing horses, fundraising efforts and more.

Mr. Higgins, a large pony at Ridge Stables LLC owned by Chava Lee, munches on some grass as a smiling biker passes by. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire)
Police stand outside an entrance to former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump said in a lengthy statement that the FBI was conducting a search of his Mar-a-Lago estate and asserted that agents had broken open a safe. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)

Trump says FBI conducting search of Mar-a-Lago estate

People familiar with the matter said the search happened earlier Monday.

  • Aug 8, 2022
  • By Eric Tucker and Michael Balsamo Associated Press
  • Nation-World
Police stand outside an entrance to former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump said in a lengthy statement that the FBI was conducting a search of his Mar-a-Lago estate and asserted that agents had broken open a safe. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)
Kids take off during the Ironkids Alaska Fun Run Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School.

Kidding around: Hundreds partake in youth event ahead of Ironman Alaska

Despite the rain, Ironkids weren’t rusty.

Kids take off during the Ironkids Alaska Fun Run Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School.
Alex Whetman, suffering leg cramps and numb hands moments after winning the inaugural Ironman Alaska on Sunday, found something sufficient to divert his attention a minute or so later while in the midst of explaining his victory to the surrounding cameras and voice recorders. Whetman, a Salt Lake City resident participating in his fifth Iron Man, finished with a time of 9 hours, 11 minutes and 17 seconds, more than 12 minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Update: Freezing hands and cramping legs still make it across the Ironman Alaska finish line

Willpower and horsepower?

Alex Whetman, suffering leg cramps and numb hands moments after winning the inaugural Ironman Alaska on Sunday, found something sufficient to divert his attention a minute or so later while in the midst of explaining his victory to the surrounding cameras and voice recorders. Whetman, a Salt Lake City resident participating in his fifth Iron Man, finished with a time of 9 hours, 11 minutes and 17 seconds, more than 12 minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
President Joe Biden walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on his way to his Rehoboth Beach, Del., home after his most recent COVID-19 isolation, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022. (AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Senate Democrats approve big Biden deal; House to vote next

Both of Alaska’s Republican senators voted against the bill.

  • Aug 7, 2022
  • By Alan Fram and Lisa Mascaro Associated Press
  • Nation-World
President Joe Biden walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on his way to his Rehoboth Beach, Del., home after his most recent COVID-19 isolation, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022. (AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta)
A Princess Cruise Line ship is docked in Juneau on Aug. 25, 2021. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Ships in Port for the week of Aug. 7

Here’s what to expect this week.

A Princess Cruise Line ship is docked in Juneau on Aug. 25, 2021. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
A blank wood sign at the seaplane dock welcomes people to Tenakee Springs, where the adjacent moss-covered helipad has been in disrepair and unusable for years. The town is struggling with numerous infrastructure deficiencies, along with a shrinking population and uncertain future. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sharing shortfalls and stoutness in Tenakee Springs

Part 1 in a three-part series.

A blank wood sign at the seaplane dock welcomes people to Tenakee Springs, where the adjacent moss-covered helipad has been in disrepair and unusable for years. The town is struggling with numerous infrastructure deficiencies, along with a shrinking population and uncertain future. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A telephone booth, one of two in Tenakee Springs, awaits callers near the recreational boat harbor at the edge of town. While full-size phone booths have all but vanished in the United States, the two in Tenakee are all the more remarkable because both allows calls to be made free of charge. The drawback is the calls can only be local and calling cards for long-distance numbers aren’t always available for purchase. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Trivial Tenakee tidbits

Random bits of weirdness from a town with two phone booths and no bathhouse committee applicants

A telephone booth, one of two in Tenakee Springs, awaits callers near the recreational boat harbor at the edge of town. While full-size phone booths have all but vanished in the United States, the two in Tenakee are all the more remarkable because both allows calls to be made free of charge. The drawback is the calls can only be local and calling cards for long-distance numbers aren’t always available for purchase. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)