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Tensions were running high during the Senate debate over the budget, and Sen. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, spoke to Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, about comments he made on the floor on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State avoids shutdown, but PFD questions remain

Capitol reopened, and lawmakers prepare for take off.

Tensions were running high during the Senate debate over the budget, and Sen. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, spoke to Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, about comments he made on the floor on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Eirn Heist plays guitar during the recording of her forthcoming single and EP, which share a title, "Another Rainy Day." (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)
Capital City Weekly

Forecast calls for ‘Another Rainy Day’

Singer-songwriter Erin Heist records 1st EP, releases single.

Eirn Heist plays guitar during the recording of her forthcoming single and EP, which share a title, "Another Rainy Day." (Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew)
A former Juneau chiropractor who was indicted for multiple sexual assault charges in April was charged with more assaults in early June. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Former chiropractor faces additional sexual assault charges

The former Juneau resident was indicted for five more felony charges early in June.

A former Juneau chiropractor who was indicted for multiple sexual assault charges in April was charged with more assaults in early June. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland appears before the Senate Appropriations Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Senators press Interior Secretary Haaland on oil lease pause

Murkowski said she was flabbergasted that Haaland did not address the court ruling.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland appears before the Senate Appropriations Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
I have flies with barbell eyes, jig heads, cone heads, bead heads and no heads. I have flies with stinger hooks that trail and long-shanked salmon hooks that don’t. I have red, pink, salmon, fuchsia, cerise, purple, orange, flesh, green, olive, chartreuse, white and black flies made of feathers, chenille, hackle, marabou, flashabou and silicone. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: One good fish

Three is the magic number.

I have flies with barbell eyes, jig heads, cone heads, bead heads and no heads. I have flies with stinger hooks that trail and long-shanked salmon hooks that don’t. I have red, pink, salmon, fuchsia, cerise, purple, orange, flesh, green, olive, chartreuse, white and black flies made of feathers, chenille, hackle, marabou, flashabou and silicone. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. Juneau School District Officials are working to find two new principals for the school. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

Principal seats are open at TMHS

Search begins for new leaders

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. Juneau School District Officials are working to find two new principals for the school. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
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Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: Spruce tip bathing

The perfect spruce tip is tightly bound needles without the brown papery casing.

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(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House passes budget, fails key vote affecting PFD

House leaders left open the potential for continued talks or even possibly another vote.

(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, June 16, 2021

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

  • Jun 16, 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)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, looks on as Senators vote whether to adjourn the long-awaited budget vote on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Budget talks were derailed Tuesday after lawmakers and the governor balked at the budget proposal.

Budget talks break down as shutdown looms

Legislative leadership met for most of the day Tuesday.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, looks on as Senators vote whether to adjourn the long-awaited budget vote on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Budget talks were derailed Tuesday after lawmakers and the governor balked at the budget proposal.
Iris, a baby Sitka black-tailed deer found on Kruzof Island, was rehomed by Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Wildlife Trooper personnel after being “rescued” over the weekend. (Courtesy photo / Corrine Ferguson)

Wildlife officials: Fawn rehomed but serves as cautionary example

Don’t mess with the wildlife.

Iris, a baby Sitka black-tailed deer found on Kruzof Island, was rehomed by Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Wildlife Trooper personnel after being “rescued” over the weekend. (Courtesy photo / Corrine Ferguson)
The Norwegian Bliss pulls out of Juneau’s downtown harbor on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Norwegian Cruise Lines recently offered to donate $2 million to the City and Borough of Juneau to help alleviate the economic impact of the pandemic-related pause on cruises. On Monday evening, city officials declined the donation and asked the company to redirect the money to the Juneau Community Foundation, a local charitable organization. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)

CBJ redirects cruise line’s donation offer

City asks NCL to give proposed $2M donation to Juneau Community Foundation.

The Norwegian Bliss pulls out of Juneau’s downtown harbor on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Norwegian Cruise Lines recently offered to donate $2 million to the City and Borough of Juneau to help alleviate the economic impact of the pandemic-related pause on cruises. On Monday evening, city officials declined the donation and asked the company to redirect the money to the Juneau Community Foundation, a local charitable organization. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. The Biden administration’s suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water was blocked Tuesday, June 15, 2021, by a federal judge in Louisiana. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty’s ruling came in a lawsuit filed in March by Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, Jeff Landry and officials in 12 other states. Doughty’s ruling granting a preliminary injunction to those states said his order applies nationwide. (AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Federal judge blocks Biden’s pause on new oil, gas leases

The decision is a blow to Biden’s efforts to rapidly transition the nation away from fossil fuels.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. The Biden administration’s suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water was blocked Tuesday, June 15, 2021, by a federal judge in Louisiana. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty’s ruling came in a lawsuit filed in March by Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, Jeff Landry and officials in 12 other states. Doughty’s ruling granting a preliminary injunction to those states said his order applies nationwide. (AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
Juneau City Hall on Monday, March 30, 2020. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire file)

Assembly members vote to increase pay for elected officials

Soon service to the City and Borough of Juneau will offer better pay.

Juneau City Hall on Monday, March 30, 2020. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire file)
A male western tanager’s red color comes by a different pathway than the yellow, although both are carotenoid pigments. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: On tanagers and silverweed

We live near the northern limit of the western tanager range.

A male western tanager’s red color comes by a different pathway than the yellow, although both are carotenoid pigments. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
On Monday evening, assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale introduced an amendment to reduce the mill rate for the 2021 property tax levy to 10.56. The measure passed and the .10 reduction will reduce 2021 property taxes by about $10 on every $100,000 of valuation. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

CBJ Assembly changes course, lowers property tax rate

Lower rates mean savings for homeowners

On Monday evening, assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale introduced an amendment to reduce the mill rate for the 2021 property tax levy to 10.56. The measure passed and the .10 reduction will reduce 2021 property taxes by about $10 on every $100,000 of valuation. (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 Tuesday, June 15, 2021

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

  • Jun 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)
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 Friday, June 11

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
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, spoke to the Empire on Monday, June 14, 2021, about the final budget proposal for the state which he helped craft. Some lawmakers said they felt bullied by the budget's contents. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers decry ‘bully tactics’ in budget proposal

Legislative leverage.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, spoke to the Empire on Monday, June 14, 2021, about the final budget proposal for the state which he helped craft. Some lawmakers said they felt bullied by the budget's contents. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Drag performers dance Saturday to “YMCA” by the Village People at the Zach Gordon Youth Center’s Pride Month event at the center. Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire

Youth center holds Pride event for LGBTQ youth

Food, music, and age-appropriate fun for the community’s LGBTQ teenagers.

Drag performers dance Saturday to “YMCA” by the Village People at the Zach Gordon Youth Center’s Pride Month event at the center. Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire