News

Employees use large knives to chop up bull kelp as it makes it was down the conveyor belt. (Clarise Larson // Juneau Empire)

Kelp is on the way: After a pandemic setback, mariculture farming is on the rise — and could help combat climate change

Self-help-kelp.

Employees use large knives to chop up bull kelp as it makes it was down the conveyor belt. (Clarise Larson // Juneau Empire)
Potential shoppers line the sidewalk of South Franklin Street in downtown Juneau. As business returns to near normal, Southeast Alaska's business community reports optimism about the future, according to a survey shared Thursday with the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Positive growth in the forecast for Juneau’s economic climate

Survey results show optimism in Southeast Alaska’s business community.

Potential shoppers line the sidewalk of South Franklin Street in downtown Juneau. As business returns to near normal, Southeast Alaska's business community reports optimism about the future, according to a survey shared Thursday with the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Foggy Mountain Shop now at their new location at 234 Seward St. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Foggy Mountain Shop celebrates grand opening at new location

Juneau’s well-known outdoor retailer Foggy Mountain Shop has moved locations, but they’re just a hop and a skip away from their previous location on North… Continue reading

Foggy Mountain Shop now at their new location at 234 Seward St. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Happy ramp agent featured in good spirits as Fulton’s TISABAS does the labor intensive part of loading the aircraft. (Courtesy photo / Ramper Innovations)

Sitka man hopes crowdfunding helps ramp up business

He’s got your back.

Happy ramp agent featured in good spirits as Fulton’s TISABAS does the labor intensive part of loading the aircraft. (Courtesy photo / Ramper Innovations)
A pharmacy sign outside the Foodland IGA will soon disappear as the pharmacy inside is closing as of Wednesday, June 1, due to the inability to hire a new pharmacist. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Pharmacy at Foodland closing June 1

Owner says months-long effort to hire new pharmacist has been unsuccessful.

A pharmacy sign outside the Foodland IGA will soon disappear as the pharmacy inside is closing as of Wednesday, June 1, due to the inability to hire a new pharmacist. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A ball streaks down the lane at an unbroken formation of pins at Pinz, Juneau’s bowling alley, on May 5, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Let the good times roll: Management brings new life to an old bowling alley

“If you’re throwing a ball down a lane and having a good time, you’re bowling.”

A ball streaks down the lane at an unbroken formation of pins at Pinz, Juneau’s bowling alley, on May 5, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File In this April 24, 2015, filephoto, a worker empties oilfield wastewater from a tank truck into storage tanks on Carl and Justin Johnson’s ranch near Crossroads, N.M. Labor shortages, supply problems and volatile prices have made oil companies cautious about new drilling even as U.S. politicians push for increased production.

Ukraine war ups pressure for US oil; industry faces hurdles

Rhetoric about quickly ramping up U.S. crude output is at odds with the industry’s reality.

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File In this April 24, 2015, filephoto, a worker empties oilfield wastewater from a tank truck into storage tanks on Carl and Justin Johnson’s ranch near Crossroads, N.M. Labor shortages, supply problems and volatile prices have made oil companies cautious about new drilling even as U.S. politicians push for increased production.
Anthony Mallott, president and CEO of Sealaska Corp. reflected on the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act during the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly lunch on Thursday.

Mallott looks back — and forward — 50 years after ANCSA

Native corporates are big business in Alaska

Anthony Mallott, president and CEO of Sealaska Corp. reflected on the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act during the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly lunch on Thursday.
Ketchikan resident Jack Finnegan, left, owner of Fishability, and Bonnie, center, and Stormy Hamar, who own Kasaan Arts, Museum, and Canoes stand outside the Sealaska Heritage Building on Feb. 8. Earlier Tuesday, each business owner was named a winner of the Path to Prosperity contest, put on by nonprofit Spruce Root. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Entrepreneurs get a boost on the Path to Prosperity

Spruce Root awards $50,000 in prizes

Ketchikan resident Jack Finnegan, left, owner of Fishability, and Bonnie, center, and Stormy Hamar, who own Kasaan Arts, Museum, and Canoes stand outside the Sealaska Heritage Building on Feb. 8. Earlier Tuesday, each business owner was named a winner of the Path to Prosperity contest, put on by nonprofit Spruce Root. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A graphic shows employment by Alaska region and features the percent change in jobs from December 2020 to December 2021. (Graphic via February 2022 Alaska Economic Trends reports from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)

Report: Alaska economy rebounding; inflation up

Prices in Alaska increased by 4.9% in 2021

A graphic shows employment by Alaska region and features the percent change in jobs from December 2020 to December 2021. (Graphic via February 2022 Alaska Economic Trends reports from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
Holly Johnson, left, and Laura Martinson were named Juneau’s Citizens of the year on Thursday night. Martinson, who owns Caribou Crossings, and Johnson, president of Wings Airways, received the award in recognition of their leadership of the Protect Juneau’s Future committee. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Chamber names Citizens of the Year

Martinson, Johnson share honor

Holly Johnson, left, and Laura Martinson were named Juneau’s Citizens of the year on Thursday night. Martinson, who owns Caribou Crossings, and Johnson, president of Wings Airways, received the award in recognition of their leadership of the Protect Juneau’s Future committee. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Alex Vrabec recently began as the new director of Juneau’s Downtown Business Association. (Courtesy photo / Alex Vrabec)

Downtown Business Association gets new director in time for busy season

She’s arrived just in time to help organize the newly resuscitated Gallery Walk.

Alex Vrabec recently began as the new director of Juneau’s Downtown Business Association. (Courtesy photo / Alex Vrabec)
Collen Goodrich, owner of Annie Kaill's, holds up a print from the artist John Fehringer, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. Goodrich said she's not having any sales for Black Friday, a major shopping day, but she's taking advantage of shoppers being out. Some had sales, others didn't, but businesses in downtown Juneau were open and ready for customers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Back in Business

Back in Black Friday.

Collen Goodrich, owner of Annie Kaill's, holds up a print from the artist John Fehringer, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. Goodrich said she's not having any sales for Black Friday, a major shopping day, but she's taking advantage of shoppers being out. Some had sales, others didn't, but businesses in downtown Juneau were open and ready for customers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Luke Metcalfe sets up his record shop at Juneau Public Market on Friday, Nov. 26. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Thanksgiving weekend tradition returns

Public Market is open at Centennial Hall

Luke Metcalfe sets up his record shop at Juneau Public Market on Friday, Nov. 26. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Sandra Mulkey and her son Caleb, 3, set up a Christmas tree at the Mendenhall Mall on Nov. 24. Mulkey is kicking off a toy drive for foster children. She said that she has not collected toys at the Mendenhall Mall for the last few years because of low traffic. However, she said the increased traffic at the now mostly-full mall prompted her to set up there. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Mall together now

Community focus revitalizes mall

Sandra Mulkey and her son Caleb, 3, set up a Christmas tree at the Mendenhall Mall on Nov. 24. Mulkey is kicking off a toy drive for foster children. She said that she has not collected toys at the Mendenhall Mall for the last few years because of low traffic. However, she said the increased traffic at the now mostly-full mall prompted her to set up there. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
FedEx trucks sit outside the Juneau Fed Ex office on Nov. 25. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Shopping online? CBJ taxes still apply

Remote sellers tax generated $2M last year

FedEx trucks sit outside the Juneau Fed Ex office on Nov. 25. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A Carnival cruise ship arrives in Juneau early in the morning on Aug. 14. Local business owners say that the short and significantly scaled back 2021 cruise season was welcome after the cancelation of the 2020 season. However, they say it was not enough and they are struggling to survive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Small businesses still struggling due to pandemic’s effect on travel

“We are in survival mode”

A Carnival cruise ship arrives in Juneau early in the morning on Aug. 14. Local business owners say that the short and significantly scaled back 2021 cruise season was welcome after the cancelation of the 2020 season. However, they say it was not enough and they are struggling to survive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
The entrance to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in the Tongass National Forest was covered in snow on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, a day after federal authorities announced the next step in restoring the 2001 Roadless Rule on the forest. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Feds put freeze on Roadless Rule rollback

On the Roadless Rule again.

The entrance to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in the Tongass National Forest was covered in snow on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, a day after federal authorities announced the next step in restoring the 2001 Roadless Rule on the forest. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The last cruise ship of the year, the Norwegian Encore, sails out of Juneau on Wednesday, Oct., 20, 2021, ending a cruise ship season that almost didn't happen. According to the Juneau's Docks and Harbor's department, the Encore brought more than 2,000 passengers Wednesday, far below an average year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Final cruise ship of 2021 leaves Juneau

A limited season winds down.

The last cruise ship of the year, the Norwegian Encore, sails out of Juneau on Wednesday, Oct., 20, 2021, ending a cruise ship season that almost didn't happen. According to the Juneau's Docks and Harbor's department, the Encore brought more than 2,000 passengers Wednesday, far below an average year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Workers make progress on the Sealaska Heritage Institute's Northwest Coast arts campus on Sept. 24. Supply chain issues and material shortages have been a factor for local construction projects this year. (Michael S. Lockett/Juneau Empire)

Shortages and shipping snarls complicate local projects

Substitutions and patience prevail

Workers make progress on the Sealaska Heritage Institute's Northwest Coast arts campus on Sept. 24. Supply chain issues and material shortages have been a factor for local construction projects this year. (Michael S. Lockett/Juneau Empire)