City and Borough of Juneau

City Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester smiles for a photo downtown Wednesday evening. Koester was selected by the Assembly to serve as the next city manager following the retirement of Rorie Watt in September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City selects familiar face to serve as next manager

Public Works and Engineering’s Katie Koester will take over the role from outgoing Rorie Watt.

City Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester smiles for a photo downtown Wednesday evening. Koester was selected by the Assembly to serve as the next city manager following the retirement of Rorie Watt in September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO David Keith listens during a city Assembly meeting in February. On Tuesday hospital officials announced his resignation after less than a year in the position. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO, CFO resign after less than a year in positions

The departure of David Keith and Sam Muse comes in wake of alleged behavioral health care crisis.

Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO David Keith listens during a city Assembly meeting in February. On Tuesday hospital officials announced his resignation after less than a year in the position. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Longtime Juneau Board of Education member Brian Holst listens during a board meeting in May. Holst rescinded his run for candidacy for a fourth term on the board late last week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Longtime school board member rescinds candidacy

Brian Holst pulls from race days after submitting, set to step away after nine years.

Longtime Juneau Board of Education member Brian Holst listens during a board meeting in May. Holst rescinded his run for candidacy for a fourth term on the board late last week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Retiring Juneau Chief of Police Ed Mercer (left) and City Manager Rorie Watt (right) smile for a photo during Mercer’s retirement ceremony Friday afternoon at the Juneau Police Department station. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘He is the rock that this department rests on:’ Ceremony honors police chief’s retirement

Ed Mercer, JPD chief for six years, starting new job as head of anti-drug trafficking program.

Retiring Juneau Chief of Police Ed Mercer (left) and City Manager Rorie Watt (right) smile for a photo during Mercer’s retirement ceremony Friday afternoon at the Juneau Police Department station. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau School District is responding to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

State broadens challenge of ‘outside the cap’ funding to all school districts in Alaska

The years-long practice of extra funding may be halted across the state; Juneau board defends stance

The Juneau School District is responding to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Roald Simonson, a longtime resident of Juneau’s Telephone Hill, walks down Dixon Street in the Telephone Hill area on Wednesday evening. He said he plans to attend the upcoming city hosted meeting to discuss possible redevelopment plans for the area. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City to hold open house to discuss future fate of Telephone Hill

The meeting next Wednesday invites residents to share their ideas for the downtown land.

Roald Simonson, a longtime resident of Juneau’s Telephone Hill, walks down Dixon Street in the Telephone Hill area on Wednesday evening. He said he plans to attend the upcoming city hosted meeting to discuss possible redevelopment plans for the area. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A cycle rickshaw and cars park outside the front of the Glory Hall’s former downtown homeless shelter Tuesday evening. The building is slated to begin its transformation into seven affordable housing units and additional commercial use space in mid-October. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown Glory Hall apartment project to begin construction this fall

The former homeless shelter will be converted into seven affordable housing units

A cycle rickshaw and cars park outside the front of the Glory Hall’s former downtown homeless shelter Tuesday evening. The building is slated to begin its transformation into seven affordable housing units and additional commercial use space in mid-October. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File City and Borough of Juneau Clerk Beth McEwen certifies areawide candidate Paul Kelly’s paperwork Friday morning within minutes of the local election filing period opening. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide Assembly positions open.

Candidates roll in as the filing period continues for local election

Two incumbents and three new faces file for Assembly, no candidates for school board.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File City and Borough of Juneau Clerk Beth McEwen certifies areawide candidate Paul Kelly’s paperwork Friday morning within minutes of the local election filing period opening. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide Assembly positions open.
City and Borough of Juneau resident Paul Kelly hands his candidacy forms to City Clerk Beth McEwen within minutes of the local election filing period opening on Friday. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide seats open on the Assembly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Candidates file for this fall’s local election

Four seats for the taking on the Assembly, two open on the school board.

City and Borough of Juneau resident Paul Kelly hands his candidacy forms to City Clerk Beth McEwen within minutes of the local election filing period opening on Friday. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide seats open on the Assembly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau city, school district to remain neutral on proposed statewide transgender sports ban

Local leaders share personal stances ahead of decision slated for late July.

Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A bird flies along the waterfront downtown as cruise ship passengers enjoy the sun Thursday evening. Mid-season data on this year’s cruise ship tourism season in Juneau shows a steady number of calls and complaints to the city’s tourism hotline compared to the previous season despite the record breaking number of passengers visiting the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tourism complaints in Juneau remain steady compared to previous season

Top complaints about vehicles, whale-watching vessels and aircrafts.

A bird flies along the waterfront downtown as cruise ship passengers enjoy the sun Thursday evening. Mid-season data on this year’s cruise ship tourism season in Juneau shows a steady number of calls and complaints to the city’s tourism hotline compared to the previous season despite the record breaking number of passengers visiting the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau School District is determining how to respond to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

State challenges Juneau’s ‘outside the cap’ funding to district

Years-long practice of extra funding may be halted across the state; millions on the line in Juneau.

The Juneau School District is determining how to respond to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority truck sits parked in the Mendenhall Valley. On Monday night the Juneau Assembly OK’d an ordinance to transfer about 11.5 acres of city-owned land on Pederson Hill to the authority for less than fair market value. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tlingit and Haida to purchase discounted Pederson Hill property from city

Land for affordable housing appraised by the city at $700K in value, authority to only pay $100K.

A Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority truck sits parked in the Mendenhall Valley. On Monday night the Juneau Assembly OK’d an ordinance to transfer about 11.5 acres of city-owned land on Pederson Hill to the authority for less than fair market value. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
On Monday night during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting, members OK’d appropriating $8.1 million in hospital funds to Bartlett Regional Hospital for the purchase of Juneau Bone and Joint Center’s buildings and property. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City OKs $8.1M for hospital purchase of Juneau Bone and Joint property

The finalized purchase to be negotiated in the coming months, hospital officials say.

On Monday night during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting, members OK’d appropriating $8.1 million in hospital funds to Bartlett Regional Hospital for the purchase of Juneau Bone and Joint Center’s buildings and property. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Carole Triem (center) smiles as Mayor Beth Weldon reads a poem about her during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night. The meeting was Triem’s last time serving as a member as she departs from her role for family medical issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City in Pink: Assembly and administrators bid farewell to Carole Triem in style

The Assembly member announced her departure from her role in late June.

Carole Triem (center) smiles as Mayor Beth Weldon reads a poem about her during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night. The meeting was Triem’s last time serving as a member as she departs from her role for family medical issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A bus passes by City Hall downtown in late June. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly passed an ordinance Monday night to put a $27 million bond proposition for a new City Hall on the fall municipal election ballot. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Proposal to fund a new City Hall to hit the ballot — again

Assembly OKs $27 million bond question for voters this fall.

A bus passes by City Hall downtown in late June. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly passed an ordinance Monday night to put a $27 million bond proposition for a new City Hall on the fall municipal election ballot. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Rows of houses line the Douglas Highway in late May. On Monday night the City and Borough of Juneau passed an ordinance that requires all short-term rentals to be registered with the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau Assembly passes controversial short-term rental registration requirement

Operators will now be required to register with the city by October.

Rows of houses line the Douglas Highway in late May. On Monday night the City and Borough of Juneau passed an ordinance that requires all short-term rentals to be registered with the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This is a photo of Wildflower Court on Monday. The independent nursing facility is now officially a part of Bartlett Regional Hospital after it was announced Monday the two entities finalized the acquisition. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett Regional Hospital officially absorbs Wildflower Court

Officials say it will help narrow the gap in local hospice and home care

This is a photo of Wildflower Court on Monday. The independent nursing facility is now officially a part of Bartlett Regional Hospital after it was announced Monday the two entities finalized the acquisition. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival in early May. City data revealed a total of 627,220 passengers have visited Juneau so far this cruise ship season and large ships in the last three months came in at 99% of their official capacity. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Mid-season passenger numbers show large cruise ships at — or above — 100% capacity

A total of 627,220 passengers have visited Juneau so far this season.

Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival in early May. City data revealed a total of 627,220 passengers have visited Juneau so far this cruise ship season and large ships in the last three months came in at 99% of their official capacity. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A temporary pedestrian bridge over Montana Creek, seen here Thursday, is now open as a replacement for the bridge that suffered substructure damage from weather events last September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Temporary bridge installed over Montana Creek, no funding yet for permanent one

The opening follows 10 months of closure due to substructure damage of previous bridge.

A temporary pedestrian bridge over Montana Creek, seen here Thursday, is now open as a replacement for the bridge that suffered substructure damage from weather events last September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)