News

This 2011 photo shows the Taku and Malaspina ferries at the Auke Bay Terminal. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Costs add up as ferry idled nearly 2 years

The cost to the state for docking an Alaska ferry that has been idled for nearly two years is close to $900,000 a year, with… Continue reading

This 2011 photo shows the Taku and Malaspina ferries at the Auke Bay Terminal. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A body was found in the water near the Indian Cove dock on Sunday morning, Oct. 17, 2021 after a call to emergency services that she hadn’t returned from a walk. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Body found near Indian Cove dock early Sunday

Police are investigating, and the state medical examiner will perform an autopsy.

A body was found in the water near the Indian Cove dock on Sunday morning, Oct. 17, 2021 after a call to emergency services that she hadn’t returned from a walk. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A driver and passenger were taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital for injuries sustained as they crashed attempting to avoid a U.S. Forest Service officer on Oct. 16, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Two hospitalized following crash

The driver of the vehicle was attempting to avoid a U.S. Forest Service officer.

A driver and passenger were taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital for injuries sustained as they crashed attempting to avoid a U.S. Forest Service officer on Oct. 16, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This October 2020 file photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast Campus, which doesn’t currently have a broad COVID-19 vaccine mandate but UA President Pat Pitney said Monday one would have to come eventually. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

UA president: No systemwide mandate for now, but vaccine requirement coming

It’s coming.

This October 2020 file photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast Campus, which doesn’t currently have a broad COVID-19 vaccine mandate but UA President Pat Pitney said Monday one would have to come eventually. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Capital City Fire/Rescue’s Cadet Program is in session once again, meeting at Hagevig Regional Fire Training Center the on the first three Saturdays of each month for high schoolers to learn more about the job. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

CCFR rekindles Cadet Program for high schoolers

Nineteen high schoolers are taking part in the freshly restarted program.

Capital City Fire/Rescue’s Cadet Program is in session once again, meeting at Hagevig Regional Fire Training Center the on the first three Saturdays of each month for high schoolers to learn more about the job. (Peter Segall / 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 Saturday, Oct. 17, 2021

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

  • Oct 17, 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)
Teaser

Then Now: Looking back on pandemic response

Comparing messaging from 1918 to 2021

Teaser
Juneau Huskies quarterback Noah Chambers, a senior, celebrates after moving through a tunnel of fans and cheerleaders following Juneau’s second-round playoff win. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Huskies are heading to state

Huskies dominate in home win.

Juneau Huskies quarterback Noah Chambers, a senior, celebrates after moving through a tunnel of fans and cheerleaders following Juneau’s second-round playoff win. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The sun was shining on Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, giving a clear view of the downtown seawalk recently given a design award by a non-profit that promotes waterfront development. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s Seawalk wins design award

Ceremony via webinar.

The sun was shining on Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, giving a clear view of the downtown seawalk recently given a design award by a non-profit that promotes waterfront development. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, heads to a briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington. She reported raising almost $1.1 million last quarter. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)

Reports show Murkowski with fundraising lead

Tshibaka reported raising just over $465,000.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, heads to a briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington. She reported raising almost $1.1 million last quarter. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
This photo shows a ballot for the 2021 municipal election. Friday night, unofficial results including all ballots approved for counting were released. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Inching closer to final results

City clerk releases new batch of election returns Friday evening

This photo shows a ballot for the 2021 municipal election. Friday night, unofficial results including all ballots approved for counting were released. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Pastor Karen Perkins of Resurrection Lutheran Church shows where the city’s warming shelter would be sited if the church’s bid to host it is approved on Oct. 15, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Church might be new host of Juneau’s warming shelter

The new host will work with other organizations to maximize resources.

Pastor Karen Perkins of Resurrection Lutheran Church shows where the city’s warming shelter would be sited if the church’s bid to host it is approved on Oct. 15, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File Informal floor sessions were held this week at the Alaska State Capitol, shown in this September photo, but committee meetings were held remotely as many lawmakers have returned home. But only the House of Representatives was busy as the Senate was stalled by COVID-positive senators.

Senate is stalled while House gets to work

Two weeks left.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File Informal floor sessions were held this week at the Alaska State Capitol, shown in this September photo, but committee meetings were held remotely as many lawmakers have returned home. But only the House of Representatives was busy as the Senate was stalled by COVID-positive senators.
Sunset at Beaver Lake. (Courtesy Photo / Michael Humling)

The Salmon State: Bear man of Admiralty Island Allen Hasselborg — and climate change

By Mary Catharine Martin The Salmon State Every day for decades, bear hunter, guide, and early 20th century Southeast Alaska homesteader Allen Hasselborg logged the… Continue reading

Sunset at Beaver Lake. (Courtesy Photo / Michael Humling)
A voter casts his ballot in Juneau’s municipal election at the Douglas Library on Sept. 23. On Monday evening, City and Borough of Juneau election officials issued updated election results. The count continued today and city officials expect to have additional returns on Oct. 15. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Vote count continues

Write-in candidate pulls ahead for likely spot on school board

A voter casts his ballot in Juneau’s municipal election at the Douglas Library on Sept. 23. On Monday evening, City and Borough of Juneau election officials issued updated election results. The count continued today and city officials expect to have additional returns on Oct. 15. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Tone and Charles Deehr in Fairbanks, October 2021. Both photos courtesy Charles Deehr. 3. (Courtesy Photo / Charles Deehr)

Alaska Science Forum: Red aurora rare enough to be special

In decades of sky-watching in the north, he has seen a few red auroras, but not many.

Tone and Charles Deehr in Fairbanks, October 2021. Both photos courtesy Charles Deehr. 3. (Courtesy Photo / Charles Deehr)
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. 15, 2021

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

  • Oct 15, 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)
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File David Kimbrough, 7, right, Clayton Haywood, 6, center, and Kyla Belcourt, 8, play in sprinklers set up during the RALLY program at Harborview Elementary School on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. RALLY provides before- and after-school care to families with school-age children and offers care during school breaks. Recently, some parents have complained that the price of the program is too high. Meanwhile, school officials say RALLY routinely loses money and that changes are needed to make it more sustainable.

RALLY attendance stresses family and program budgets

School administrators look for a sustainable operating model

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File David Kimbrough, 7, right, Clayton Haywood, 6, center, and Kyla Belcourt, 8, play in sprinklers set up during the RALLY program at Harborview Elementary School on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. RALLY provides before- and after-school care to families with school-age children and offers care during school breaks. Recently, some parents have complained that the price of the program is too high. Meanwhile, school officials say RALLY routinely loses money and that changes are needed to make it more sustainable.
Then-Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho, left, and former Juneau Representative Bill Hudson, right, speak with John Torgerson, chairman of the Alaska Redistricting Board during a break in hearing public testimony at the Capitol Wednesday, April 20, 2011. Alaska’s state flags were lowered Thursday for longtime Alaska lawmaker, Hudson, who died Oct. 11. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

‘A large legacy’: Hudson remembered for dedication to Juneau and the state

Alaska’s state flags were lowered Thursday for longtime Alaska lawmaker Bill Hudson.

Then-Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho, left, and former Juneau Representative Bill Hudson, right, speak with John Torgerson, chairman of the Alaska Redistricting Board during a break in hearing public testimony at the Capitol Wednesday, April 20, 2011. Alaska’s state flags were lowered Thursday for longtime Alaska lawmaker, Hudson, who died Oct. 11. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML

COVID at a glance for Thursday, Oct. 14

The most recent state and local figures

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML