Dixie Belcher talks about her experience as an musician and organizer who brings people across the globe together through music during an interview at her Fritz Cove home on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. Belcher is one of 11 women inducted into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame this year. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Social activist Dixie Belcher inducted into Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame

While recounting moments in her life, Dixie Belcher does not start off as you might expect. “I think we all have our own path and… Continue reading

  • May 22, 2017
  • By Ray Friedlander
Dixie Belcher talks about her experience as an musician and organizer who brings people across the globe together through music during an interview at her Fritz Cove home on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. Belcher is one of 11 women inducted into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame this year. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Kara James holds her newborn baby, Andrew Price Jr., at Bartlett Regional Hospital on Saturday. The day before, James received a scholarship that will allow her to attend college and pursue her goal of becoming a teacher in her hometown of Angoon. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Angoon woman earns scholarship to pursue teaching goal

On the day she gave birth to her third child, Kara James learned that her life will be changing even more than planned. Talking via… Continue reading

Kara James holds her newborn baby, Andrew Price Jr., at Bartlett Regional Hospital on Saturday. The day before, James received a scholarship that will allow her to attend college and pursue her goal of becoming a teacher in her hometown of Angoon. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
A Note From the Editor’s Desk: The beauty of listening

A Note From the Editor’s Desk: The beauty of listening

I found something I was looking for the other day - a bit of free time. I grabbed my dog, Iro, drove to Auke Lake,… Continue reading

A Note From the Editor’s Desk: The beauty of listening
Amy Skilbred, left, Doug Harris, Chief Intergrated Services Officer of Juneau Alliance for Mental Health Inc., Mariya Lovishchuk, Executive Director of the Glory Hole, Karen West of Wells Fargo, and Steve Sorensen, board president of the Juneau Housing First Collaborative, take a tour of rooms near completion.

Housing First facility nearly finished, set to open in July

A year to the day after breaking ground for Juneau’s Housing First facility, many of the organizers gathered there Tuesday. First they accepted a check… Continue reading

Amy Skilbred, left, Doug Harris, Chief Intergrated Services Officer of Juneau Alliance for Mental Health Inc., Mariya Lovishchuk, Executive Director of the Glory Hole, Karen West of Wells Fargo, and Steve Sorensen, board president of the Juneau Housing First Collaborative, take a tour of rooms near completion.
Diane Casto has been named the new Executive Director of Alaska’s Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. She talks about her background during an interview in her office. Michael Penn |  Juneau Empire

Meet the new director of Alaska’s Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

The new executive director of Alaska’s Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault stepped into her new position and a new office space simultaneously on… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2017
  • By LIZ KELLAR
Diane Casto has been named the new Executive Director of Alaska’s Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. She talks about her background during an interview in her office. Michael Penn |  Juneau Empire

Legislature approves some fixes to last year’s criminal justice reform

Alaska’s prosecutors, police and rape victims are getting some extra help from the Alaska Legislature. In one of its final actions of the regular session,… Continue reading

Above and Beyond Alaska tour guides Ben Hines, left, and Sarah Galvin, middle, talk with tourists Miguel Faur and Maria Isabel Ramos in the Mendenhall Glacier ice caves on Wednesday. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Treading on Blue Ice

We pulled our 20-foot canoe onto a rocky beach about 100 yards from the western edge of the Mendenhall Glacier. Our tour guide, Above and… Continue reading

Above and Beyond Alaska tour guides Ben Hines, left, and Sarah Galvin, middle, talk with tourists Miguel Faur and Maria Isabel Ramos in the Mendenhall Glacier ice caves on Wednesday. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Police & Fire for Sunday, May 21, 2017

Police & Fire for Sunday, May 21, 2017

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement and public safety agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2017
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Police & Fire for Sunday, May 21, 2017
Sm’algyax language learners listen to linguist Margaret Anderson and fluent speaker Velna Nelson walk through grammar and sentence structure as part of the Sm’algyax language conference organized by Professor Mique’l Dangeli and University of Alaska Southeast. (Erin Granger | Juneau Empire)

Sm’algyax conference works to save Tsimshian language

There are only six fluent speakers of the Tsimshian language, Sm’algyax, left in Alaska. Interest in the language is on the rise, however. “I try… Continue reading

  • May 20, 2017
  • By ERIN GRANGER
Sm’algyax language learners listen to linguist Margaret Anderson and fluent speaker Velna Nelson walk through grammar and sentence structure as part of the Sm’algyax language conference organized by Professor Mique’l Dangeli and University of Alaska Southeast. (Erin Granger | Juneau Empire)
Last-minute add ons make Egan’s simple bill a ‘turducken’

Last-minute add ons make Egan’s simple bill a ‘turducken’

A bill proposed by Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, to expand abilities of municipalities to levy taxes and expand service areas now awaits the governor’s approval… Continue reading

Last-minute add ons make Egan’s simple bill a ‘turducken’
Fire calls for Friday, May 19, 2017

Fire calls for Friday, May 19, 2017

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement and public safety agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction… Continue reading

  • May 20, 2017
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Fire calls for Friday, May 19, 2017

Alaska State Museum named one of nation’s 10 best

The Alaska State Museum has been selected as one of the nation’s 10 best museums by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The award… Continue reading

Delta begins seasonal service to Juneau

Delta begins seasonal service to Juneau

Another sure sign of summer appeared in the air above Juneau this week, as Delta Air Lines’ seasonal service to the capital city began Thursday… Continue reading

Delta begins seasonal service to Juneau

JPD chief eyes Idaho position

Juneau Police Department Chief Bryce Johnson, hired four years ago to replace retiring Chief Greg Browning, is one of four finalists for a position in… Continue reading

Alyssa London, Miss Alaska USA 2017, competes as a top 10 finalist in her evening gown during The MISS USA&

‘I am Tlingit’: Miss Alaska brings Tlingit culture to national stage

Forty-eight hours after she wore a Tlingit-inspired robe and a flowing red evening gown on national television, Alyssa London wore a gray zip-up hoodie and… Continue reading

Alyssa London, Miss Alaska USA 2017, competes as a top 10 finalist in her evening gown during The MISS USA&

Missing Juneau woman quickly located after social media alert

A woman who had been reported missing was quickly found Wednesday, thanks to social media. The Juneau Police Department issued a release on its Facebook… Continue reading

The Gastineau Apartments in 2012. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

City suit against Gastineau owners postponed to December

The city’s lawsuit against owners of the Gastineau Apartments, which was scheduled to go to trial next month, has been postponed. The City and Borough… Continue reading

The Gastineau Apartments in 2012. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Juneau hits 70 degrees for the first time in 2017

Alaska’s capital city saw a high temperature of 71 degrees Tuesday, hitting the 70-degree mark at Juneau International Airport for the first time in 2017.… Continue reading

Police & Fire for Thursday, May 18, 2017

Police & Fire for Thursday, May 18, 2017

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement and public safety agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2017
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Police & Fire for Thursday, May 18, 2017
PHOTOS BY Michael Penn | Juneau Empire U.S. Coast Guard personnel aboard a 25-foot Response Boat conduct a Maritime Security Response operation in the Juneau harbor on Wednesday.

‘Wear it!’: Coast Guard reminds boaters to wear life jackets

Joshua Link has been stationed all over the country in working for the Coast Guard, and the Station Executive Petty Officer in believes boat owners… Continue reading

PHOTOS BY Michael Penn | Juneau Empire U.S. Coast Guard personnel aboard a 25-foot Response Boat conduct a Maritime Security Response operation in the Juneau harbor on Wednesday.