News

This 2020 photo provided by Polar Bears International shows a polar bear in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada during migration. At risk of disappearing, the polar bear is dependent on something melting away on our warming planet: sea ice. (Kieran McIver/Polar Bears International via AP)

The warming Arctic affects sea ice and polar bears. Here’s how

Majestic, increasingly hungry and at risk of disappearing…

  • Nov 6, 2021
  • Seth Borenstein, Camille Fassett and Kati Perry Associated Press
  • Nation-World
This 2020 photo provided by Polar Bears International shows a polar bear in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada during migration. At risk of disappearing, the polar bear is dependent on something melting away on our warming planet: sea ice. (Kieran McIver/Polar Bears International via AP)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer said that crime numbers were looking good as Juneau steers its way out of the pandemic.

Police: Crime numbers trend down as Juneau navigates out of pandemic

Property crimes were Juneau’s biggest category for the last several years.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer said that crime numbers were looking good as Juneau steers its way out of the pandemic.
Artists of the inaugural Rock Aak’w Indigenous Music Festival gather beneath the mural of Elizabeth Peratrovich on the Juneau waterfront on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. This year the ceremony was all virtual, but organizers wanted to open the festival in person. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Rock Aak’w festival opens with songs, dancing and drumming

Rock Aak’w by seawalk.

Artists of the inaugural Rock Aak’w Indigenous Music Festival gather beneath the mural of Elizabeth Peratrovich on the Juneau waterfront on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. This year the ceremony was all virtual, but organizers wanted to open the festival in person. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies may be a good treatment option for some people who test positive for the illness, according to state health officials. However, vaccination remains the best tool for limiting spread of COVID-19 and limiting hospitalizations. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)

COVID at a glance for Friday, Nov. 5

The latest local and state numbers.

  • Nov 5, 2021
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies may be a good treatment option for some people who test positive for the illness, according to state health officials. However, vaccination remains the best tool for limiting spread of COVID-19 and limiting hospitalizations. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)
An Exam Corp Lab employee, right, wears a mask as she talks with a patient lined up for COVID-19 testing in Niles, Ill. Millions of U.S. workers now have a Jan. 4 deadline to get a COVID vaccine. The federal government on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021 announced new vaccine requirements for workers at companies with more than 100 employees as well as workers at health care facilities that treat Medicare and Medicaid patients. (AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh)

Lawsuits over workplace vaccine rule focus on states’ rights

Alaska among states suing.

  • Nov 5, 2021
  • By David A. Liev, Geoff Mulvihill and Andrew Associated Press
  • Nation-World
An Exam Corp Lab employee, right, wears a mask as she talks with a patient lined up for COVID-19 testing in Niles, Ill. Millions of U.S. workers now have a Jan. 4 deadline to get a COVID vaccine. The federal government on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021 announced new vaccine requirements for workers at companies with more than 100 employees as well as workers at health care facilities that treat Medicare and Medicaid patients. (AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh)
A male bar-tailed godwit near Prudhoe Bay during the summer breeding season. (Courtesy Photo / Zachary Pohlen)

Alaska Science Forum: Shorebirds depend on wee slivers of Alaska

By Ned Rozell Pencil-beaked shorebirds with the ability to stay airborne for a week — flying all the way from Alaska to New Zealand —… Continue reading

A male bar-tailed godwit near Prudhoe Bay during the summer breeding season. (Courtesy Photo / Zachary Pohlen)
Heidi Pearson is an associate professor of marine biology at the University of Alaska Southeast and lives in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo)

Sustainable Alaska: Climate change, reality and hope

We all have the ability to reduce our own carbon footprint

Heidi Pearson is an associate professor of marine biology at the University of Alaska Southeast and lives in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo)
Loren Jones addresses the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in this January 2019 photo. In October, he completed his third, three-year term on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. Term limits prevented him from running again, and he recently attended his last official meeting. But, he has no plans to slow down. Earlier this week, he answered nine questions for the Empire — one question for each year of service on the assembly. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Q&A: Jones steps back, but not away

Long-serving CBJ Assembly member plans to stay busy

Loren Jones addresses the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in this January 2019 photo. In October, he completed his third, three-year term on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. Term limits prevented him from running again, and he recently attended his last official meeting. But, he has no plans to slow down. Earlier this week, he answered nine questions for the Empire — one question for each year of service on the assembly. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
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 Friday, Nov. 5, 2021

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

  • Nov 5, 2021
  • 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)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies may be a good treatment option for some people who test positive for the illness, according to state health officials. However, vaccination remains the best tool for limiting spread of COVID-19 and limiting hospitalizations. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)

COVID at a glance for Thursday, Nov. 4

The latest local and state numbers.

  • Nov 4, 2021
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies may be a good treatment option for some people who test positive for the illness, according to state health officials. However, vaccination remains the best tool for limiting spread of COVID-19 and limiting hospitalizations. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)
In this Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, photo provided by Primary Health Medical Group, Ben Weiss, 10, gets a COVID-19 vaccine at Primary Health Medical Group in Meridian, Idaho. (Tracy Morris/Primary Health Medical Group via AP)

Officials recommend vaccination ahead of holidays

Safe holiday gatherings.

In this Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, photo provided by Primary Health Medical Group, Ben Weiss, 10, gets a COVID-19 vaccine at Primary Health Medical Group in Meridian, Idaho. (Tracy Morris/Primary Health Medical Group via AP)
The Healing Hand Foundation is holding a black tie dinner honoring Ethel Lund, a pioneer in tribal healthcare, on her 90th birthday as it fundraises for a new scholarship. (Courtesy photo / HHF)

Nonprofit holding 90th birthday gala for tribal health care trailblazer

The gala is funraising for a scholarship for other prospective Alaska Native healthcare workers.

The Healing Hand Foundation is holding a black tie dinner honoring Ethel Lund, a pioneer in tribal healthcare, on her 90th birthday as it fundraises for a new scholarship. (Courtesy photo / HHF)
The Celebrity Millennium sails into the Port of Juneau early on the morning of July 26, 2021. During this voyage, onboard purchases were exempt from the City and Borough of Juneau’s sales tax. However, a new ordinance winding through the City Assembly could change that for next year. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

City seeks to tax onboard purchases

“An issue of tax fairness”

The Celebrity Millennium sails into the Port of Juneau early on the morning of July 26, 2021. During this voyage, onboard purchases were exempt from the City and Borough of Juneau’s sales tax. However, a new ordinance winding through the City Assembly could change that for next year. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File) This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

City considers whether to weigh in on state revenue options

City leaders generally oppose a statewide sales tax

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File) This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Police are seeking information about a 29-year-old man after his family reported him missing on Saturday. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)

Police seeking information on missing man

The 29-year-old hasn’t been seen for several weeks.

Police are seeking information about a 29-year-old man after his family reported him missing on Saturday. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)
Icy conditions caused a wreck on Egan Drive near the hospital on Nov. 4, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Two taken to hospital following crash

Two were injured, but no one was killed.

Icy conditions caused a wreck on Egan Drive near the hospital on Nov. 4, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
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 Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021

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

  • Nov 4, 2021
  • 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)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies may be a good treatment option for some people who test positive for the illness, according to state health officials. However, vaccination remains the best tool for limiting spread of COVID-19 and limiting hospitalizations. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)

COVID at a glance for Wednesday, Nov. 3

The latest local and state numbers.

  • Nov 3, 2021
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the virus that causes COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies may be a good treatment option for some people who test positive for the illness, according to state health officials. However, vaccination remains the best tool for limiting spread of COVID-19 and limiting hospitalizations. (NIAID-RML via AP, File)
A voter fills out their ballot in the Thunder Mountain High School gymnasium during the 2020 general election. With more than a year to go before the 2022 election, spending is ramping up. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Statewide campaign coffers are filling up

Lots more to come.

A voter fills out their ballot in the Thunder Mountain High School gymnasium during the 2020 general election. With more than a year to go before the 2022 election, spending is ramping up. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Judge grants request to expand medication abortion providers

The ruling came on an injunction request by Planned Parenthood.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)