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Members of United Academics - American Association of University Professors/American Federation of Teachers Local 4996 gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, to call on University of Alaska officials to agree to a negotiated contract. After an agreement failed to materialize Monday, negotiations are ongoing. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

University contract impasse continues as classes near

Union and administration schedule talks through September after negotiations fall short Monday

Members of United Academics - American Association of University Professors/American Federation of Teachers Local 4996 gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, to call on University of Alaska officials to agree to a negotiated contract. After an agreement failed to materialize Monday, negotiations are ongoing. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire William Stich-Smith stands on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday morning to showcase his pandemic quilt, which he’s currently touring all throughout the country. Alaska marks the 39th state he’s traveled to so far.

Washington teen tours country with his pandemic quilt

A Stich-Smith in time.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire William Stich-Smith stands on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday morning to showcase his pandemic quilt, which he’s currently touring all throughout the country. Alaska marks the 39th state he’s traveled to so far.
A female hairy woodpecker brings insect prey to chicks in an excavated nest cavity. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Cavity-nesting birds

Hole sweet home.

A female hairy woodpecker brings insect prey to chicks in an excavated nest cavity. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Fire trucks flash their lights in a line during an emergency drill at Juneau International Airport. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Fire department needs volunteers

Volunteerism reaches 20-year low for fire department.

Fire trucks flash their lights in a line during an emergency drill at Juneau International Airport. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A for sale sign sits outside a house in the Mendenhall Valley area. The City and Borough of Juneau’s finance staff recently released an online FAQ dedicated to answering a series of frequently asked questions about the borough’s real estate mandatory disclosure policy.

Disclosure FAQ met with more questions

Local Realtors share their take on new web page; city officials say more answers coming.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A for sale sign sits outside a house in the Mendenhall Valley area. The City and Borough of Juneau’s finance staff recently released an online FAQ dedicated to answering a series of frequently asked questions about the borough’s real estate mandatory disclosure policy.
A man was arrested at Don D. Statter Harbor Sunday evening following a disturbance for a Montana warrant for his arrest, according to Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Man arrested at Statter Harbor following altercation

The warrant had a Montana warrant out for his arrest.

A man was arrested at Don D. Statter Harbor Sunday evening following a disturbance for a Montana warrant for his arrest, according to Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
In this Jan. 17, 2017, photo state Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, talks with another legislator during a break in the opening session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau, Alaska. The son of the former Alaska lawmaker faces charges of manslaughter and evidence tampering in death of his father, according to charging documents. Tallon Westlake was arrested over the weekend. An online court records system did not show an attorney Monday, Aug. 22, 2022 who could speak on his behalf. The charging documents are dated Sunday. (AP File Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Son of ex-Alaska lawmaker faces charges in father’s death

He was arrested over the weekend.

In this Jan. 17, 2017, photo state Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, talks with another legislator during a break in the opening session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau, Alaska. The son of the former Alaska lawmaker faces charges of manslaughter and evidence tampering in death of his father, according to charging documents. Tallon Westlake was arrested over the weekend. An online court records system did not show an attorney Monday, Aug. 22, 2022 who could speak on his behalf. The charging documents are dated Sunday. (AP File Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Jayden Johnson smiles as he reaches the end zone in the fourth quarter. The Huskies were victorious in their home-opener against Bartlett High School. The score extended Juneau's lead to 26-14 and helped stave off a turnover-fueled comeback bid by Bartlett. The Huskies went on to win 33-14. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Huskies fight for frantic finish

Juneau beats Bartlett in home opener 33 to 14

Jayden Johnson smiles as he reaches the end zone in the fourth quarter. The Huskies were victorious in their home-opener against Bartlett High School. The score extended Juneau's lead to 26-14 and helped stave off a turnover-fueled comeback bid by Bartlett. The Huskies went on to win 33-14. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Gray whale shoots water from its spout while Angoon residents try to free it from being entangled in a broken crab pot Thursday evening inside Favorite Bay. (Courtesy Photo)

Angoon residents work to free gray whale

NOAA encourages public to call 24-hour hotline.

Gray whale shoots water from its spout while Angoon residents try to free it from being entangled in a broken crab pot Thursday evening inside Favorite Bay. (Courtesy Photo)
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022

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

  • Aug 20, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
A forecast for Alaska’s U.S. Senate race by FiveThirtyEight, long considered the gold standard in prediction punditry, following Tuesday’s primary is wildly at odds with virtually all polls and conventional wisdom by showing Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka is the dominant favorite to win in November’s general election. Most analysts expect incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski to be reelected under the new ranked choice voting system due to support from Democrats and Independents. Murkowski also defied some predictions by getting the most Republican votes in the primary, although that may have been because the leading Democratic candidate got considerably fewer votes than expected. (Screenshot from FiveThirtyEight)

Odds and unends from a primarily special campaign

Bits of weirdness from a uniquely mystifying election week.

A forecast for Alaska’s U.S. Senate race by FiveThirtyEight, long considered the gold standard in prediction punditry, following Tuesday’s primary is wildly at odds with virtually all polls and conventional wisdom by showing Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka is the dominant favorite to win in November’s general election. Most analysts expect incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski to be reelected under the new ranked choice voting system due to support from Democrats and Independents. Murkowski also defied some predictions by getting the most Republican votes in the primary, although that may have been because the leading Democratic candidate got considerably fewer votes than expected. (Screenshot from FiveThirtyEight)
Courtesy Photo /Chris Arp Harry Potter Lake, at the top of this photo, as it looked four years ago, perched 10 feet above and 30 feet away from the creek that in 2022 received most of its water.
Video

Alaska Science Forum: If a lake drains in northern Alaska…

Rarely do people get to see it.

Courtesy Photo /Chris Arp Harry Potter Lake, at the top of this photo, as it looked four years ago, perched 10 feet above and 30 feet away from the creek that in 2022 received most of its water.
Video
This photo shows an aerial view of the Montana Creek area. A master plan draft for the area is currently in the works. (Courtesy / CBJ Parks and Recreation)

Montana Creek’s draft master plan takes another step forward

It proposes projects like new public use cabins, parking areas, new trails and maintenance.

This photo shows an aerial view of the Montana Creek area. A master plan draft for the area is currently in the works. (Courtesy / CBJ Parks and Recreation)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Glacier Valley Rotary Club will be hosting its Donuts for Ducks event every Friday in front of the Juneau Radio Center until Sept. 10 in support of their annual Duckless Raffle Fundraiser.

Glacier Valley Rotary Club welcomes back Donuts for Ducks

Go nuts for donuts…and ducks

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Glacier Valley Rotary Club will be hosting its Donuts for Ducks event every Friday in front of the Juneau Radio Center until Sept. 10 in support of their annual Duckless Raffle Fundraiser.
A political sign that was later removed sits in a field near the Mendenhall Wetlands. Rules around standalone political signs are tightly regulated in Alaska. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Time of the signs: A rules rundown for campaign season

State road right of ways are off-limits for campaign signs.

A political sign that was later removed sits in a field near the Mendenhall Wetlands. Rules around standalone political signs are tightly regulated in Alaska. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to a report Thursday evening of a fire at a residence in the Mendenhall Valley. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Electrical issue starts small residential fire

A fire involving a battery-powered scooter broke out and was quickly extinguished.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to a report Thursday evening of a fire at a residence in the Mendenhall Valley. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
It's a police car until you look closely. The eye shies away, the . (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Friday, August 19, 2022

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

  • Aug 19, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
It's a police car until you look closely. The eye shies away, the . (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
This photo shows polls at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal along with all other poll stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Unpredecented election draws strong interest, some confusion

Juneau voters turn out steadily as world watches ranked choice vote, famous candidates

This photo shows polls at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal along with all other poll stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
A map shows land tracts where Alaska Native Vietnam veterans can apply for parcels under an allocation program finalized this month by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The most common land parcels potentially available are shaded in light yellow. Areas shaded in light green, including the ones nearest Juneau, represent potentially available state selected land. Applications processing and selection by the bureau is scheduled to start Sept. 14. (U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

28M acres of land now available for Vietnam-era Alaska Native veterans

160-acre parcels for Vietnam-era applicants viewable online, allocations to begin in September

A map shows land tracts where Alaska Native Vietnam veterans can apply for parcels under an allocation program finalized this month by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The most common land parcels potentially available are shaded in light yellow. Areas shaded in light green, including the ones nearest Juneau, represent potentially available state selected land. Applications processing and selection by the bureau is scheduled to start Sept. 14. (U.S. Bureau of Land Management)
The sun shines over Auke Bay on Aug. 18 as a sunny weekend belies the coming autumn. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Sun shines as weather edges toward autumn

A sunny weekend belies the coming of gray skies and cooling temperatures.

The sun shines over Auke Bay on Aug. 18 as a sunny weekend belies the coming autumn. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)