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Jake Blount, an award winning banjo player, is the featured artist for the Alaska Folk Festival’s 2022 show. (Courtesy photo / Michael Last)
Capital City Weekly

Q&A: Renowned East Coast banjo performer to headline Folk Fest

Drawing his inspiration from Black and Indigenous communties back east, Blount is the featured artist for 2022.

Jake Blount, an award winning banjo player, is the featured artist for the Alaska Folk Festival’s 2022 show. (Courtesy photo / Michael Last)
Cam Byrnes will be the April featured artist at Juneau Artists Gallery. (Courtesy Photo / Cam Bryrnes)
Capital City Weekly

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

No foolin’.

Cam Byrnes will be the April featured artist at Juneau Artists Gallery. (Courtesy Photo / Cam Bryrnes)
This December 2021 photo shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau. Heist's debut album "From the Land of Rusted Dreams" is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)
Capital City Weekly

Roots music: New album draws from memories and connections made in Southeast Alaska

Steel (pedal) yourself for new music.

This December 2021 photo shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau. Heist's debut album "From the Land of Rusted Dreams" is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Riverbend Elementary School principal Elizabeth Pisel-Davis gestures at drawings of things schoolchildren were thankful for that currently decorate the walls of the school after massive flooding from a burst pipe in January meant much the school’s interior had to be gutted.

New walls, news roof, new name: Riverbend undergoing major changes

The school board will vote on the name change in April.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Riverbend Elementary School principal Elizabeth Pisel-Davis gestures at drawings of things schoolchildren were thankful for that currently decorate the walls of the school after massive flooding from a burst pipe in January meant much the school’s interior had to be gutted.
Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson smiles during a meeting with Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, March 28, 2022. Following Judge Jackson's confirmation hearing last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee meets today to begin moving her nomination to the floor but Republicans on the panel are expected to delay the process. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Alaska’s senators say minds aren’t made up as Jackson’s confirmation pushes ahead

Upcoming votes.

Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson smiles during a meeting with Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, March 28, 2022. Following Judge Jackson's confirmation hearing last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee meets today to begin moving her nomination to the floor but Republicans on the panel are expected to delay the process. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
House Chaplain Margaret G. Kibben speaks during a ceremony for the late Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, as he lies in state in Statuary Hall, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the Capitol in Washington. Young, the longest-serving member of Alaska's congressional delegation, died Friday, March 18, 2022. He was 88. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)

His absence will leave Congress less colorful and certainly less punctual

“His absence will leave Congress less colorful and certainly less punctual…”

House Chaplain Margaret G. Kibben speaks during a ceremony for the late Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, as he lies in state in Statuary Hall, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the Capitol in Washington. Young, the longest-serving member of Alaska's congressional delegation, died Friday, March 18, 2022. He was 88. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)
An injured coyote with only three usable legs has survived over a year, hunting small mammals. (Courtesy Photo / Cheryl Cook)

On the Trails: Wild animals surviving serious injuries

To be adaptive, the benefits have to outweigh such costs.

An injured coyote with only three usable legs has survived over a year, hunting small mammals. (Courtesy Photo / Cheryl Cook)
A notice board at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, shows the cancellation of the House of Representatives floor session for that morning. For the second day running the House has canceled floor sessions over disagreements between caucuses over masking rules amid an outbreak of COVID-19 among some lawmakers and their staff. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House again cancels floor session amid masking debate

Two days running.

A notice board at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, shows the cancellation of the House of Representatives floor session for that morning. For the second day running the House has canceled floor sessions over disagreements between caucuses over masking rules amid an outbreak of COVID-19 among some lawmakers and their staff. (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 Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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

  • Mar 29, 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)
Vials for the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are seen at a temporary clinic in Exeter, N.H. on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021. The Food and Drug Administration has authorized another booster dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people age 50 and up, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo / Charles Krupa)

FDA OKs another Pfizer, Moderna COVID booster for 50 and up

The Food and Drug Administration’s decision opens a fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

  • Mar 29, 2022
  • By Lauran Neergaard and Matthew Perrone Associated Press
  • Coronavirus
Vials for the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are seen at a temporary clinic in Exeter, N.H. on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021. The Food and Drug Administration has authorized another booster dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people age 50 and up, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo / Charles Krupa)
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 Tuesday, March 29, 2022

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

  • Mar 29, 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 Coast Guardsmen rescues a 70-year-old man who fell off Mt. Verstovia while hiking on March 26, 2022. (Screenshot / USCG)

Coast Guard rescues 70-year-old hiker near Sitka after 200-foot fall

The man fell several hundred feet, according to the Coast Guard

A Coast Guardsmen rescues a 70-year-old man who fell off Mt. Verstovia while hiking on March 26, 2022. (Screenshot / USCG)
A floor session of the Alaska House of Representatives was canceled on Monday, March 28, 2022, after some lawmakers refused to wear face masks in the chamber. House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, reinstated the masking rule for the floor after several members of the body tested positive for COVID-19. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

COVID cases, mask debates delay House

Lawmaker absences push back timeline for budget bill.

A floor session of the Alaska House of Representatives was canceled on Monday, March 28, 2022, after some lawmakers refused to wear face masks in the chamber. House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, reinstated the masking rule for the floor after several members of the body tested positive for COVID-19. (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 Sunday, March 27, 2022

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

  • Mar 27, 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 map from the Bureau of Land Management shows lands that may be available for selection by Alaska Native veterans from the Vietnam War-era. Veterans have been waiting a long time to be able to select lands, and some have expressed frustration at the length of the process. (Screenshot)

Land selection process for Alaska Native veterans moves ahead, but slowly

Still a long time coming.

A map from the Bureau of Land Management shows lands that may be available for selection by Alaska Native veterans from the Vietnam War-era. Veterans have been waiting a long time to be able to select lands, and some have expressed frustration at the length of the process. (Screenshot)
A map from the Alaska Redistricting Board shows proposed House Districts in Anchorage, two of which were the subject of a lawsuit against the board for their being paired together in a single senate seat.The Alaska Supreme Court Ruled Friday the board acted unconstitutionally in one of its Senate district pairings. (Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board)

Alaska Supreme Court says redistricting board acted unconstitutionally

A tight timeline.

A map from the Alaska Redistricting Board shows proposed House Districts in Anchorage, two of which were the subject of a lawsuit against the board for their being paired together in a single senate seat.The Alaska Supreme Court Ruled Friday the board acted unconstitutionally in one of its Senate district pairings. (Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board)
The Naqsralugiaq Pass in the Brooks Range is one of two passes added to FAA charts in a recent update after consulting with Alaskan aviators. (Courtesy photo / FAA)

FAA adds two passes in Brooks Range to charts

The addition comes as part of a push by FAA for improved aviation safety in Alaska.

The Naqsralugiaq Pass in the Brooks Range is one of two passes added to FAA charts in a recent update after consulting with Alaskan aviators. (Courtesy photo / FAA)
Pharmacist Sandra Baker with the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium shows the safe where opioid medications are kept for Front Street Clinic's newly opened medically-assisted treatment program on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

New medically assisted treatment clinic opens

Harm reduction.

Pharmacist Sandra Baker with the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium shows the safe where opioid medications are kept for Front Street Clinic's newly opened medically-assisted treatment program on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This pre-COVID-19 photo shows Amy Rautiainen the 2022 Alaska Arts Education Consortium’s 2022 Arts Leader Champion of Arts in Education. (Courtesy Photo)

Artful Teaching coordinator earns award for championing arts in education

Amy Rautiainen is the 2022 Alaska Arts Education Consortium’s 2022 Arts Leader Champion of Arts in Education, the AAEC recently announced. Rautiainen coordinates the Artful… Continue reading

This pre-COVID-19 photo shows Amy Rautiainen the 2022 Alaska Arts Education Consortium’s 2022 Arts Leader Champion of Arts in Education. (Courtesy Photo)
Henry Allen a few decades after he — as a 26-year-old — crossed Alaska on foot and by boats in a U.S. government-sponsored expedition. (Public domain photo)

Alaska Science Forum: Across Alaska in one summer

Rotten moose meat unlikely to supplant birthday cake.

Henry Allen a few decades after he — as a 26-year-old — crossed Alaska on foot and by boats in a U.S. government-sponsored expedition. (Public domain photo)