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On the Trails: Seeing sea stars makes for intertidal fun

Intertidal fun

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Patrick is one of the good boys and girls at Juneau Animal Rescue that need a home. The shelter is dealing with a spike in returns and worries what the return to office work may do. (Courtesy P_hoto / JAR)

Animal shelters concerned about returns as workers return to offices

Juneau Animal Rescue has seen a spike in surrenders to the shelter.

Patrick is one of the good boys and girls at Juneau Animal Rescue that need a home. The shelter is dealing with a spike in returns and worries what the return to office work may do. (Courtesy P_hoto / JAR)
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, May 18, 2021

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

  • May 18, 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)
Members of the Senate Finance Committee discussed the state's capital budget bill in a meeting on Monday, May 17, 2021, but it's not clear when it might be debated on the floor. Lawmakers had been pushing to finish the bill before May 19, but a special session from the governor has given them more time. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

With more time, lawmakers take step back on budget

Work to be done.

Members of the Senate Finance Committee discussed the state's capital budget bill in a meeting on Monday, May 17, 2021, but it's not clear when it might be debated on the floor. Lawmakers had been pushing to finish the bill before May 19, but a special session from the governor has given them more time. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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 Monday, May 17

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
Residents of Mendenhall Towers were briefly evacuated Monday, May 17, while Capital City Fire/Rescue investigated smoke that had appeared, possibly from an electrical fire. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Mendenhall Tower Apartments briefly evacuated for smoke

An electrical fault in a light was suspected.

Residents of Mendenhall Towers were briefly evacuated Monday, May 17, while Capital City Fire/Rescue investigated smoke that had appeared, possibly from an electrical fire. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Baby

What’s first in the Last Frontier? List of most popular baby names in Alaska for 2020 released

Oliver popular all over.

Baby
Alicia Leamer, Visitor Services Manager at Travel Juneau stands ready to welcome visitors at the newly re-opened Visitor Information Center. The Center is now open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. The center, which frequently uses volunteer staff, will try to stay open seven days a week, starting in June. COVID mitigation measures, such as plexiglass partitions and mask-wearing, are in place to keep volunteers and visitors safe. Interested in volunteering? Call the Travel Juneau office at 586-1737. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Invite your friends to Juneau

Travel Juneau employs a two-pronged advertising approach

Alicia Leamer, Visitor Services Manager at Travel Juneau stands ready to welcome visitors at the newly re-opened Visitor Information Center. The Center is now open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. The center, which frequently uses volunteer staff, will try to stay open seven days a week, starting in June. COVID mitigation measures, such as plexiglass partitions and mask-wearing, are in place to keep volunteers and visitors safe. Interested in volunteering? Call the Travel Juneau office at 586-1737. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
The Gunnuk Creek hydropower project in Kake, shown here under construction in 2019, is one of a number of hydropower projects in the Southeast managed by the Inner Passage Electric Cooperative. (Courtesy photo / IPEC)

It’s all downhill: Looking at hydropower in Southeast Alaska

Organizations are striving to replace costly diesel generators with hydropower, among other sources.

The Gunnuk Creek hydropower project in Kake, shown here under construction in 2019, is one of a number of hydropower projects in the Southeast managed by the Inner Passage Electric Cooperative. (Courtesy photo / IPEC)
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, May 14, 2021

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

  • May 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)
This photo shows a wolf in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Park and Preserve(Courtesy Photo / Mathew Sorum)

Alaska Science Forum: Wolf-virus study shows the virtue of space

Scientists find wolves with adequate social distancing from humans tend to avoid nasty viruses.

This photo shows a wolf in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Park and Preserve(Courtesy Photo / Mathew Sorum)
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Here’s what it takes to repair undersea cables

It’s a little more involved than plugging the cord back in.

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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, May 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
Masks were made optional in the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, May 14, 2021, but lawmakers are still trying to get their work done. Gov. Mike Dunleavy called two special sessions Thursday, but the proposal was met with mixed reactions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers mixed on governor’s special sessions

A lot of work to do.

Masks were made optional in the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, May 14, 2021, but lawmakers are still trying to get their work done. Gov. Mike Dunleavy called two special sessions Thursday, but the proposal was met with mixed reactions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Annie Bartholomew, a Juneau-based singer-songwriter, wrote the musical play “Sisters of White Chapel: A Short But True Story,” which will be read as part of Theater Alaska’s Alaska Theater Festival. (Courtesy Photo /Sydney Akagi)

During the Gold Rush: ‘Victorian folk opera’ tells stories inspired by Klondike history

The piece’s origins are no simple A-to-B journey.

Annie Bartholomew, a Juneau-based singer-songwriter, wrote the musical play “Sisters of White Chapel: A Short But True Story,” which will be read as part of Theater Alaska’s Alaska Theater Festival. (Courtesy Photo /Sydney Akagi)
This May 2020 photo shows an open sign illuminated on a Juneau business. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Tamika L. Ledbetter announced on Friday the state will stop participating next month in a federal program that provides an extra $300 a week in unemployment aid. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

State to stop $300 weekly federal unemployment aid boost

It’s “time to help people get back to work.”

This May 2020 photo shows an open sign illuminated on a Juneau business. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Tamika L. Ledbetter announced on Friday the state will stop participating next month in a federal program that provides an extra $300 a week in unemployment aid. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
A sign like this one, seen on a downtown Juneau business may soon come down as the city announced an end to the mask mandate for people who are fully vaccinated. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

A breath of fresh air

City updates its mask mandate following CDC guidelines

A sign like this one, seen on a downtown Juneau business may soon come down as the city announced an end to the mask mandate for people who are fully vaccinated. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gave his annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on May 3, 2021, but some Democratic lawmakers said the speech brought the partisanship of Washington D.C. to Alaska.

In letter, Alaska Democrats say Sullivan brought D.C. partisanship to Juneau

Not what Alaskans do.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gave his annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on May 3, 2021, but some Democratic lawmakers said the speech brought the partisanship of Washington D.C. to Alaska.
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, May 14, 2021

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

  • May 14, 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)
Kensey Jenkins (foreground, right) performs as a Lilac Fairy Attendant during a rehearsal for Juneau Dance Theatre's "Spring Showcase" on Thursday, May 6. The showcase will be available to stream at certain times on May 14, 15 and 16. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Juneau Dance Theatre springs into action

Annual showcase to be available as streaming event.

Kensey Jenkins (foreground, right) performs as a Lilac Fairy Attendant during a rehearsal for Juneau Dance Theatre's "Spring Showcase" on Thursday, May 6. The showcase will be available to stream at certain times on May 14, 15 and 16. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)