News

Deedie Sorensen smiles for a photo at her home. Sorensen is seeking a second term on the Juneau School District Board of Education. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Sorensen soars again: School board member talks reelection goals

The sky’s the limit for the district

Deedie Sorensen smiles for a photo at her home. Sorensen is seeking a second term on the Juneau School District Board of Education. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Emily Mackey smiles for a photo at his office in the Nugget Mall. Mackey is seeking a third term on the Juneau School District Board of Education. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Return of the Mackey: The school board member talks future of Juneau’s district

Mackey is back-y

Emily Mackey smiles for a photo at his office in the Nugget Mall. Mackey is seeking a third term on the Juneau School District Board of Education. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
“Hurricane Hal” Needham smiles on a benign day on a Galveston, Texas, beach. The extreme weather and disaster scientist for CNC Catastrophe & National Claims recently drove to a parking garage in southwest Florida to document Hurricane Ian. (Courtesy Photo / Hal Needham)

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska megastorms vs. East Coast hurricanes

Unlike the giant storm that hit Alaska in mid-September, hurricanes and typhoons both have eyes.

“Hurricane Hal” Needham smiles on a benign day on a Galveston, Texas, beach. The extreme weather and disaster scientist for CNC Catastrophe & National Claims recently drove to a parking garage in southwest Florida to document Hurricane Ian. (Courtesy Photo / Hal Needham)
Keagan Hasselquist, 15, holds up a flag bearing the message "Every child matters" during an Orange Shirt Day event Friday morning in Juneau. The event started at 6:45 a.m. Hasselquist said he usually isn't out and about at that time "but I'm doing good with it so far." He said it was awesome to see strong turnout for the event)(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Undoing erasure: Orange Shirt Day brings attention to boarding school history

Too vibrant, too active, too many to go unseen.

Keagan Hasselquist, 15, holds up a flag bearing the message "Every child matters" during an Orange Shirt Day event Friday morning in Juneau. The event started at 6:45 a.m. Hasselquist said he usually isn't out and about at that time "but I'm doing good with it so far." He said it was awesome to see strong turnout for the event)(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Faith Rogers’ loved ones, from left to right, James Rogers (father), Michelle Rogers (sister), Harmony Wentz (daughter), Maria Rogers (mother) and Mindy Voigt (friend) sit with Faith’s three dogs in their family home. Faith Rogers, 55, of Juneau was found dead along a popular trail on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Police are investigating the death as a homicide.

‘It’s shocking’: Family hopes for answers after suspicious death of loved one

“She wanted to make things beautiful, to help make people beautiful…”

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Faith Rogers’ loved ones, from left to right, James Rogers (father), Michelle Rogers (sister), Harmony Wentz (daughter), Maria Rogers (mother) and Mindy Voigt (friend) sit with Faith’s three dogs in their family home. Faith Rogers, 55, of Juneau was found dead along a popular trail on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Police are investigating the death as a homicide.
A parking sign awaits the new executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund at its Juneau headquarters, Three finalists will be interviewed for the job during a public meeting Monday by the fund’s board of trustees, who are expected to deliberate and announce the new director immediately afterward. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Interviews, selection of new Permanent Fund CEO set for Monday

Three finalists seeking to manage $73.7B fund to appear before trustees at public meeting in Juneau

A parking sign awaits the new executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund at its Juneau headquarters, Three finalists will be interviewed for the job during a public meeting Monday by the fund’s board of trustees, who are expected to deliberate and announce the new director immediately afterward. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Laura Talpey, executive director of Juneau Montessori School speaks into the mic next to Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist, vice president of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2 Juneau, in front of a crowd gathered at Sayé ik: Gastineau Community School Wednesday evening. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Healing from the past: Local organizations bring awareness to boarding school history

Orange Shirt Day is this Friday.

Laura Talpey, executive director of Juneau Montessori School speaks into the mic next to Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist, vice president of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2 Juneau, in front of a crowd gathered at Sayé ik: Gastineau Community School Wednesday evening. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Mindy and Will Jones, who lived next door to Resurrection Lutheran Church, talk to neighbor Elva Bontrager in their yard on Wednesday. The couple said they are sympathetic to disadvantaged residents staying at the church’s warming shelter during sub-freezing winter nights, but there have been incidents with people being loud and rowdy outside late at night. The church provided the warming shelter for the first time last winter and on Tuesday the city approved extending the number of days and hours the shelter can be open during the coming winter. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Longer season, hours OK’d for warming shelter

Extended operations for church’s second year as host seeks less frigid winter for homeless, neighbors

Mindy and Will Jones, who lived next door to Resurrection Lutheran Church, talk to neighbor Elva Bontrager in their yard on Wednesday. The couple said they are sympathetic to disadvantaged residents staying at the church’s warming shelter during sub-freezing winter nights, but there have been incidents with people being loud and rowdy outside late at night. The church provided the warming shelter for the first time last winter and on Tuesday the city approved extending the number of days and hours the shelter can be open during the coming winter. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. building in Juneau is scheduled to be the site where the board of trustees will select a new executive director on Monday, following the investigation into the firing of former CEO Angela Rodell last December being presented to state lawmakers on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Investigators: Permanent Fund CEO’s firing legal but departed from policy

Trustees acted legally, despite not following official policy, and governor didn’t influence decision

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. building in Juneau is scheduled to be the site where the board of trustees will select a new executive director on Monday, following the investigation into the firing of former CEO Angela Rodell last December being presented to state lawmakers on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Assembly member Greg Smith smiles for a photo outside of the Juneau Empire office. Smith is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election along with four other candidates in the running for assembly and school board positions, which all remain uncontested. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Smithing a better future: Assembly member talks continuing the city’s momentum for next term

He’s got a whole Smith-list of goals

Assembly member Greg Smith smiles for a photo outside of the Juneau Empire office. Smith is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election along with four other candidates in the running for assembly and school board positions, which all remain uncontested. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Public Works Department clears debris Wednesday morning on Gastineau Avenue. A landslide Monday evening brought down a large tree, which caused damage to homes and a vehicle. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Juneau man stunned by loss of home, community support

“If you’re going to have your home destroyed, Juneau is the best place to do it.”

City and Borough of Juneau Public Works Department clears debris Wednesday morning on Gastineau Avenue. A landslide Monday evening brought down a large tree, which caused damage to homes and a vehicle. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
The author grew up near this mountain, but never hiked it until he moved home in 2013 and started hunting. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: A look in the archives

Reading old writing is an experience.

The author grew up near this mountain, but never hiked it until he moved home in 2013 and started hunting. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
People work together to raise the Xa’Kooch story pole, which commemorates the Battle of the Inian Islands. (Shaelene Grace Moler / For the Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Resilient Peoples & Place: The Xa’Kooch story pole — one step toward a journey of healing

“This pole is for the Chookaneidi, but here among us, many clans are represented…”

People work together to raise the Xa’Kooch story pole, which commemorates the Battle of the Inian Islands. (Shaelene Grace Moler / For the Capital City Weekly)
Kéet, Oscar, and Ada out on a fall berry picking adventure in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: The essence of the rainforest

Drinking naturally flavored water is one of the best things about living in Lingit Aani.

Kéet, Oscar, and Ada out on a fall berry picking adventure in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
CCFR officials and residents gathered at the section of Gastineau Avenue that sustained damage from the landslide on Monday evening. At the time of 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday officials said they were still trying to assess the damage and no cleanup efforts had started yet. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City set to begin cleanup after landslide

Three homes were damaged; at least a dozen people displaced.

CCFR officials and residents gathered at the section of Gastineau Avenue that sustained damage from the landslide on Monday evening. At the time of 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday officials said they were still trying to assess the damage and no cleanup efforts had started yet. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Visitors take in the view from the porch of the U.S. Forest Service’s Mount Flemer Cabin in the Wrangell Ranger District. The Forest Service is preparing to accept public input on how to spend about $14.4 million in federal funds for new cabins and repairing existing ones in Alaska, including an anticipated 10 to 12 new cabins in the Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

Where to put a dozen new cabins in Southeast Alaska?

U.S. Forest Service seeking public’s input on spending $14.4M at new and upgraded state sites

Visitors take in the view from the porch of the U.S. Forest Service’s Mount Flemer Cabin in the Wrangell Ranger District. The Forest Service is preparing to accept public input on how to spend about $14.4 million in federal funds for new cabins and repairing existing ones in Alaska, including an anticipated 10 to 12 new cabins in the Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
A chart shows what critics claim is poor financial performance by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, especially in subsidizing private industry projects intended to boost the state’s economy, during its 55-year existence. The chart is part of a report released Tuesday criticizing the agency. (MB Barker/LLC Erickson & Associates/EcoSystems LLC)

AIDEA’s fiscal performance fishy, critics say

Report presented by salmon industry advocates asserts state business subsidy agency cost public $10B

A chart shows what critics claim is poor financial performance by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, especially in subsidizing private industry projects intended to boost the state’s economy, during its 55-year existence. The chart is part of a report released Tuesday criticizing the agency. (MB Barker/LLC Erickson & Associates/EcoSystems LLC)
Assembly member Carole Triem smiles in front of a Juneau backdrop. Triem is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election, which comes to an end in less than a week on Oct. 4. (Courtesty / Carole Triem)

Living the Triem: The Assembly member talks ambitions for next term

Addressing the housing shortage is a top priority

Assembly member Carole Triem smiles in front of a Juneau backdrop. Triem is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election, which comes to an end in less than a week on Oct. 4. (Courtesty / Carole Triem)
Assembly member Wade Bryson smiles while sitting in his office space located above the Juneau Bike Doctor off Old Dairy Road. Bryson is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election, which comes to an end in less than a week on Oct. 4. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Wading into the candidate pool: Bryson talks reelection goals ahead of local election.

Addressing trash problem is a top priority.

Assembly member Wade Bryson smiles while sitting in his office space located above the Juneau Bike Doctor off Old Dairy Road. Bryson is seeking reelection in this year’s City and Borough of Juneau municipal election, which comes to an end in less than a week on Oct. 4. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A bracket fungus exudes guttation drops and a small fly appears to sip one of them.( Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Water drops on plants

Guttation drops contain not only water but also sugars, proteins, and probably minerals.

A bracket fungus exudes guttation drops and a small fly appears to sip one of them.( Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)