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A progressive pride flag hangs in teacher Winter Marshall-Allen’s classroom at Homer High School on Friday. Marshall-Allen was previously asked to remove the flag and other symbols displayed in her classroom, but was allowed to put it back up after she filed a grievance with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. (Photo courtesy winter Marshall-Allen)

‘The school building needs to be a safe haven’

Union forms commission in response to accusations of LGBTQ+ censorship in Kenai Peninsula schools

A progressive pride flag hangs in teacher Winter Marshall-Allen’s classroom at Homer High School on Friday. Marshall-Allen was previously asked to remove the flag and other symbols displayed in her classroom, but was allowed to put it back up after she filed a grievance with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District. (Photo courtesy winter Marshall-Allen)
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 Sunday, Oct. 31

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

  • Oct 31, 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)
The Mills family hands out candy at the trunk or treat event at Chapel by the Lake on Saturday, Oct. 30. Inspired by the movie "Rise of the Guardians," Andy Mills, left is dressed as Santa, 6-year-old Malcolm Mills, center left, is dressed as Jack Frost. Eden Mills, 3, center right, and Cori Mills, right, are dressed as the tooth fairy and a tooth fairy assistant. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Photos: Juneau residents embrace Halloween weekend

Merriment kicked off Saturday morning and continues all weekend

The Mills family hands out candy at the trunk or treat event at Chapel by the Lake on Saturday, Oct. 30. Inspired by the movie "Rise of the Guardians," Andy Mills, left is dressed as Santa, 6-year-old Malcolm Mills, center left, is dressed as Jack Frost. Eden Mills, 3, center right, and Cori Mills, right, are dressed as the tooth fairy and a tooth fairy assistant. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
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Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska.

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Elizabeth Azzuz stands in prayer with a handmade torch of dried wormwood branches before leading a cultural training burn on the Yurok reservation in Weitchpec, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Azzuz, who is Yurok, along with other native tribes in the U.S. West are making progress toward restoring their ancient practice of treating lands with fire, an act that could have meant jail a century ago. But state and federal agencies that long banned “cultural burns” are coming to terms with them and even collaborating as the wildfire crisis worsens. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

For tribes, ‘good fire’ a key to restoring nature and people

Working with fire, instead of against it.

Elizabeth Azzuz stands in prayer with a handmade torch of dried wormwood branches before leading a cultural training burn on the Yurok reservation in Weitchpec, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Azzuz, who is Yurok, along with other native tribes in the U.S. West are making progress toward restoring their ancient practice of treating lands with fire, an act that could have meant jail a century ago. But state and federal agencies that long banned “cultural burns” are coming to terms with them and even collaborating as the wildfire crisis worsens. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
The Alaska Permanent Fund saw record earnings this year and lawmakers are deeply divided about what to do with the earnings. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Permanent fund earnings were record-breaking, but annual draws are average

Record earnings.

The Alaska Permanent Fund saw record earnings this year and lawmakers are deeply divided about what to do with the earnings. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Fairbanks City Transit System No. 142 of “Into the Wild” fame inside the engineering building on the UAF campus, where UA Museum of the North conservators will work on its preservation. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Bus 142 to embark on final journey

No longer in transit.

Fairbanks City Transit System No. 142 of “Into the Wild” fame inside the engineering building on the UAF campus, where UA Museum of the North conservators will work on its preservation. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
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, Oct. 29

The latest local and state numbers.

  • Oct 29, 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)
Juneau School District food program administrative assistant Catherine Pusich, front, and supervisor Adrianne Schwartz deliver free groceries to the winner of a giveaway linked to a recent meals survey for the district on Oct. 27, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Family wins free groceries as school district promotes free student meals

All enrolled and attending students get free breakfast and lunch.

Juneau School District food program administrative assistant Catherine Pusich, front, and supervisor Adrianne Schwartz deliver free groceries to the winner of a giveaway linked to a recent meals survey for the district on Oct. 27, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Biden administration previously announced it would require employees of certain contractors and large employers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. On Friday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Attorney General Treg Taylor announced the state is joining a lawsuit over the announced mandate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Alaska joins lawsuit over federal vaccine mandate

Smallpox precedents.

The Biden administration previously announced it would require employees of certain contractors and large employers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. On Friday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Attorney General Treg Taylor announced the state is joining a lawsuit over the announced mandate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
This October 2021 photo provided by Pfizer shows kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Puurs, Belgium. On Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration paved the way for children ages 5 to 11 to get Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. One more regulatory hurdle remains, as advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will make more detailed recommendations on which youngsters should get vaccinated, with a final decision by the agency’s director expected shortly afterward. (Pfizer)

FDA paves way for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations in young kids

The FDA cleared kid-size doses for emergency use.

This October 2021 photo provided by Pfizer shows kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Puurs, Belgium. On Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration paved the way for children ages 5 to 11 to get Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. One more regulatory hurdle remains, as advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will make more detailed recommendations on which youngsters should get vaccinated, with a final decision by the agency’s director expected shortly afterward. (Pfizer)
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Empire deliveries are running late

Mechanical issues cause delay.

  • Oct 29, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
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On Oct. 26, Dan Earls stands among some of the ghosts and ghouls that greet people who visit the haunted garage he constructs at his home each year. Earls, who lives at 9420 Berners Ave., welcomes hundreds of people a season through his display, which winds through his garage and spreads onto a neighbor’s yard. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Haunting for canned goods

Donate a canned good for a haunting good time

On Oct. 26, Dan Earls stands among some of the ghosts and ghouls that greet people who visit the haunted garage he constructs at his home each year. Earls, who lives at 9420 Berners Ave., welcomes hundreds of people a season through his display, which winds through his garage and spreads onto a neighbor’s yard. (Dana Zigmund/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 Friday, Oct. 29, 2021

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

  • Oct 29, 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)
Friends and family put together a display during a vigil for Douglas Farnsworth, missing since late September, at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Oct. 27, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Community gathers for vigil for missing man, moment of support for searchers

The man, missing since late September, is still unaccounted for.

Friends and family put together a display during a vigil for Douglas Farnsworth, missing since late September, at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Oct. 27, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / 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 Thursday, Oct. 28

The latest local and state numbers.

  • Oct 28, 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)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy criticized state lawmakers at a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2022, for the lack of progress made during the fourth special session of the year. Dunleavy had called lawmakers to Juneau to work towards resolving the state's long term fiscal issues but deep divisions stalled work. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy, Republicans, decry lack of special session action

Sessions ends Tuesday.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy criticized state lawmakers at a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2022, for the lack of progress made during the fourth special session of the year. Dunleavy had called lawmakers to Juneau to work towards resolving the state's long term fiscal issues but deep divisions stalled work. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Nicholas Begich III, middle, speaks with supporters ahead of announcing his plans to run for Alaska's lone U.S. House seat on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in Wasilla, Alaska. Begich, a Republican, plans to run for the seat that has been held since 1973 by Republican Rep. Don Young. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Begich announces US House bid: ‘Alaska needs new energy’

“This race is not about Don Young,” Begich told The Associated Press.

Nicholas Begich III, middle, speaks with supporters ahead of announcing his plans to run for Alaska's lone U.S. House seat on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in Wasilla, Alaska. Begich, a Republican, plans to run for the seat that has been held since 1973 by Republican Rep. Don Young. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
A woman was hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after she struck another vehicle with the car she was driving, fled the scene, and crashed into a guardrail, said a police spokesperson. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Woman hospitalized following hit and run, attempted evasion

Charges against her are pending

A woman was hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after she struck another vehicle with the car she was driving, fled the scene, and crashed into a guardrail, said a police spokesperson. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
Cheryl Fellman enters the chilly waters of Auke Bay. Freeman is on the verge of becoming one of only 43 Americans — and 422 people worldwide — to swim an official Ice Mile. (Courtesy photo/Cheryl Fellman)

Juneau woman to attempt rare ice swimming feat

Brrrrrr!

Cheryl Fellman enters the chilly waters of Auke Bay. Freeman is on the verge of becoming one of only 43 Americans — and 422 people worldwide — to swim an official Ice Mile. (Courtesy photo/Cheryl Fellman)