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Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s mask ahead of the first day of school. Kanani Dickinson is a student at Auke Bay Elementary School. Vanessa Dickinson said she’s excited the 7-year-old is back in school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Full-time, in-person learning returns for Juneau’s students

School is in session.

Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s mask ahead of the first day of school. Kanani Dickinson is a student at Auke Bay Elementary School. Vanessa Dickinson said she’s excited the 7-year-old is back in school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds up a graph showing the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund during a new conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. Lawmakers have asked the governor to amend the call of the special session, allowing them to address the budget which remains only partially funded. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers, governor spar over direction of special session

Lawmakers return to the capital city.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds up a graph showing the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund during a new conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. Lawmakers have asked the governor to amend the call of the special session, allowing them to address the budget which remains only partially funded. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gaby Soto crosses the goal line to put six points on the board for the Huskies in Juneau’s first high school football game in nearly two years. Soto scored three touchdowns for the Huskies in the first half. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

7 points: Juneau wins big in season opener

Seven takeaways from the first game in two years

Gaby Soto crosses the goal line to put six points on the board for the Huskies in Juneau’s first high school football game in nearly two years. Soto scored three touchdowns for the Huskies in the first half. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A seventh death from the coronavirus, which occurred at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this January 2021 photo, was reported on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

City reports 7th COVID death

It follows a sixth death last week.

A seventh death from the coronavirus, which occurred at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this January 2021 photo, was reported on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Capital City Fire/Rescue extinguished a fire at a residence in the Mendenhall Valley caused by a space heater igniting combustible materials on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. (Courtesy photo /CCFR)

Space heater causes trailer fire early Sunday

The fire was extinguished quickly, with care taken in ensuring it had been completely contained.

Capital City Fire/Rescue extinguished a fire at a residence in the Mendenhall Valley caused by a space heater igniting combustible materials on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. (Courtesy photo /CCFR)
Tiffany Listberger poses with her 31.7-pound king salmon turned in at the Auke Bay weight station on Sunday. According to provisional results, Listberger is the winner of the 75th annual Goldern North Salmon Derby. (Courtesy photo / Derek Listeberger)

King weighing over 31 pounds leads salmon derby results

Provisional results.

Tiffany Listberger poses with her 31.7-pound king salmon turned in at the Auke Bay weight station on Sunday. According to provisional results, Listberger is the winner of the 75th annual Goldern North Salmon Derby. (Courtesy photo / Derek Listeberger)
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, Aug. 15, 2021

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

  • Aug 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)
Shona Osterhout holds up a 26-pound king salmon turned into the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor weigh station for the 75th annual Golden North Salmon Derby on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Osterhout, a derby volunteer, said at the time the fish was leading the derby. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Derby days: Heavy rains and heavy fish

Rainy start, but Saturday sees more action.

Shona Osterhout holds up a 26-pound king salmon turned into the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor weigh station for the 75th annual Golden North Salmon Derby on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Osterhout, a derby volunteer, said at the time the fish was leading the derby. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo/ Kaiti Grant, Alaska SeaLife Center The Alaska SeaLife Center admitted its first sea otter pup of the year last week.

Alaska SeaLife Center admits 1st otter pup of the year

Pup was found by family camping nearby.

Courtesy Photo/ Kaiti Grant, Alaska SeaLife Center The Alaska SeaLife Center admitted its first sea otter pup of the year last week.
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File The Alaska State Capitol.

Dividend size is a sticking point for special session

Debate over the check size in recent years has become politically charged and overshadowed issues.

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File The Alaska State Capitol.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Participants burn an example of a commercial garment that led to a now-settled intellectual property lawsuit in a ceremony commemorating the settlement with the fashion company on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021.

Saga over garment design copyright infringement ends with ceremonial fire

The case was settled in March.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Participants burn an example of a commercial garment that led to a now-settled intellectual property lawsuit in a ceremony commemorating the settlement with the fashion company on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021.
The Power Cost Equalization program works with regional electrical utilities like the Inside Passage Electrical Cooperative, seen here on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, to provide subsidies to bring down electricity rates in rural Alaska. Payments for the program had been tied up by legislative deadlock but a Anchorage Superior Court Case Thursday said the money could be released. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Court ruling brings relief, but concern remains for PCE

‘Pleased with the ruling.’

The Power Cost Equalization program works with regional electrical utilities like the Inside Passage Electrical Cooperative, seen here on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, to provide subsidies to bring down electricity rates in rural Alaska. Payments for the program had been tied up by legislative deadlock but a Anchorage Superior Court Case Thursday said the money could be released. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Mariya Lovishchuk, executive director of the Glory Hall, gestures toward where the shelter’s garden will soon be built on Thursday.

Glory Hall operating at near normal capacity

The shelter personnel are confident they’re ready for the winter.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Mariya Lovishchuk, executive director of the Glory Hall, gestures toward where the shelter’s garden will soon be built on Thursday.
This photo shows a “shore-pine” version of lodgepole pine near the town of Yakutat. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Pine grove near Yakutat is farthest north

By Ned Rozell YAKUTAT — “There they are,” Ben Gaglioti said, after a short hike off a gravel road leading away from this small fishing… Continue reading

  • Aug 13, 2021
This photo shows a “shore-pine” version of lodgepole pine near the town of Yakutat. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
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, Aug. 13, 2021

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

  • Aug 13, 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 S. Lockett / Juneau Empire With heavy rains predicted, City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors asked boat owners to check on their vessels. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch, which may be upgraded to a warning, in light of the expected weather.

National Weather Service, city warn of severe rain

The worst of the rain should be over by Friday afternoon, meteorologists say.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire With heavy rains predicted, City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors asked boat owners to check on their vessels. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch, which may be upgraded to a warning, in light of the expected weather.
This photo shows an envelope containing a 2020 census letter mailed to a U.S. resident. On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the state of Ohio that tried to get the U.S. Census Bureau to provide data used for drawing congressional and legislative districts ahead of its planned release. (AP Photo / Matt Rourke)

Census data for state show population gains and losses

Mat-Su Borough population gew by over 20%..

This photo shows an envelope containing a 2020 census letter mailed to a U.S. resident. On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the state of Ohio that tried to get the U.S. Census Bureau to provide data used for drawing congressional and legislative districts ahead of its planned release. (AP Photo / Matt Rourke)
Members of the Nude & Rude Review will perform burlesque at the Skagway Expose, which takes place August 12-15. The Better Than Boobs band will provide the music. The burlesque show is one of many types of live entertainment on tap for the long weekend. (Courtesy photo/ Kaley McGoey )
Capital City Weekly

Update: Skagway Expose canceled

The event is no longer happening as scheduled.

Members of the Nude & Rude Review will perform burlesque at the Skagway Expose, which takes place August 12-15. The Better Than Boobs band will provide the music. The burlesque show is one of many types of live entertainment on tap for the long weekend. (Courtesy photo/ Kaley McGoey )
Dana Zigmund / Capital City Weekly Shara Kay Diamond, left, of Anchorage and Chelsea Bighorn, right, of Sante Fe, apply paint to a section of a mural that will depict Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich, a Tlingit civil rights icon. The mural is the work of Tlingit and Athabascan artist, designer, and activist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl. Kay Diamond and Bighorn are apprentices on the project. Right, local artist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl, center, and her apprentices, Shara Kay Diamond, left, and Chelsea Bighorn, right, assemble sections of the mural to apply paint in Worl’s downtown studio on Aug. 10.

A mural is born

Local artist works to prepare pieces

Dana Zigmund / Capital City Weekly Shara Kay Diamond, left, of Anchorage and Chelsea Bighorn, right, of Sante Fe, apply paint to a section of a mural that will depict Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich, a Tlingit civil rights icon. The mural is the work of Tlingit and Athabascan artist, designer, and activist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl. Kay Diamond and Bighorn are apprentices on the project. Right, local artist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl, center, and her apprentices, Shara Kay Diamond, left, and Chelsea Bighorn, right, assemble sections of the mural to apply paint in Worl’s downtown studio on Aug. 10.
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes Monday, students will attend each weekday, and COVID mitigations will be in place. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Hello, school: Juneau’s students make full-time return to classroom

What a difference a year makes.

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes Monday, students will attend each weekday, and COVID mitigations will be in place. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)