City and Borough of Juneau

Aires Kelley, 1, holds a Pride flag Saturday during Drag Storytime at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library, one of many LGBTQ+ friendly events held in Alaska’s capital city. For the second year in a row, the City and Borough of Juneau received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2022 Municipality Equality Index scorecard. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau receives perfect score for LGBTQ+ inclusivity

Meanwhile, state and federal protections are lacking, advocates say.

Aires Kelley, 1, holds a Pride flag Saturday during Drag Storytime at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library, one of many LGBTQ+ friendly events held in Alaska’s capital city. For the second year in a row, the City and Borough of Juneau received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2022 Municipality Equality Index scorecard. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore berths at in the Juneau Harbor in late October. Findings from this year’s Juneau Tourism Survey showed nearly 75% supported limiting the number of large cruise ships per day in Juneau’s harbor to five.

Survey shows preference for daily limit on ships visiting Juneau

Respondents generally report positive impact, but shine light on some challenges.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore berths at in the Juneau Harbor in late October. Findings from this year’s Juneau Tourism Survey showed nearly 75% supported limiting the number of large cruise ships per day in Juneau’s harbor to five.
This photo shows boats moored at the Don. D Statter Harbor on a summer day. Multiple ordinances proposed by the City and Borough of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors Board were authorized at Monday night’s Assembly meeting including the OK for a daily fee for vessels at Statter Harbor that do not move every 10 days during the summer. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

‘Moor’ changes on deck for CBJ Docks Harbors

Changes include daily fee for vessels at Statter Harbor that do not move every 10 days amid summer

This photo shows boats moored at the Don. D Statter Harbor on a summer day. Multiple ordinances proposed by the City and Borough of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors Board were authorized at Monday night’s Assembly meeting including the OK for a daily fee for vessels at Statter Harbor that do not move every 10 days during the summer. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This composite image shows mopheads recently flushed down toilets in Juneau that are creating problems at the Auke Bay wastewater treatment facility. (Courtesy Photos / City and Borough of Juneau)

Mop up duty: Massive flushing of mopheads down toilets causing sewage system clogs

City officials to ask for the culprits to clean up their act.

This composite image shows mopheads recently flushed down toilets in Juneau that are creating problems at the Auke Bay wastewater treatment facility. (Courtesy Photos / City and Borough of Juneau)
Courtesy / Huna Totem Corp. This rendering depicts a proposed community park that is included in Huna Totem Corp.’s plans to develop a new pier and cruise terminal for the downtown waterfront.

Big change could be on deck for Juneau’s waterfront

Huna Totems plan for developing the land is still on track

Courtesy / Huna Totem Corp. This rendering depicts a proposed community park that is included in Huna Totem Corp.’s plans to develop a new pier and cruise terminal for the downtown waterfront.
This photo shows downtown Juneau in late October. A recent study looked at the causes of worsening affordability and availability of housing in Juneau and found that demographic change in Juneau’s population is among the largest factors. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Study suggests demographic change as largest factor in Juneau’s housing shortage

Short-term rentals contribute to shortage, but are not the root cause

This photo shows downtown Juneau in late October. A recent study looked at the causes of worsening affordability and availability of housing in Juneau and found that demographic change in Juneau’s population is among the largest factors. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Luke, Wesley and Elsie Stevens smile alongside other trick-or-treaters as they walk down Franklin Street Monday afternoon during the downtown trick-or-treat event. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Halloween is back in business: Downtown trick-or-treating returns

Thrills and chills

Luke, Wesley and Elsie Stevens smile alongside other trick-or-treaters as they walk down Franklin Street Monday afternoon during the downtown trick-or-treat event. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A jack-o'-lantern carved to depict an alien from "Toy Story" rests outside a Mendenhall Valley residence. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Drop off your pumpkins at Juneau RecycleWorks

Drop off begins Saturday, Nov. 5

A jack-o'-lantern carved to depict an alien from "Toy Story" rests outside a Mendenhall Valley residence. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire A Capital Transit bus drives near the site of the new Mendenhall Valley transit center on Mall Road. The center is set to open Nov. 7.

Transit center set to open, bus routes to change

Bus’ a move.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire A Capital Transit bus drives near the site of the new Mendenhall Valley transit center on Mall Road. The center is set to open Nov. 7.
The former Glory Hall homeless shelter downtown, founded in 1982, is slated to be converted into seven low-income apartments after the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the project Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Glory Hall’s apartment project finally prevails

Planning Commission OKs turning former homeless shelter into low-income housing after one-year fight

The former Glory Hall homeless shelter downtown, founded in 1982, is slated to be converted into seven low-income apartments after the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the project Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Officials at Catholic Community Service in Juneau, which operated a hospice and home care program for 20 years before discharging all patients as of Oct. 19, are now working with Bartlett Regional Hospital administrators and attorneys on a transition plan. Hospital leaders said it may take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years before a full hospice and home care program is implemented there. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Transition underway for hospice, elderly care

BRH hopes to provide hospice and home care within months; new grant boosts other elderly services

Officials at Catholic Community Service in Juneau, which operated a hospice and home care program for 20 years before discharging all patients as of Oct. 19, are now working with Bartlett Regional Hospital administrators and attorneys on a transition plan. Hospital leaders said it may take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years before a full hospice and home care program is implemented there. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members unanimously agreed on a city ordinance which appropriates $700,000 — pulled from the Affordable Housing Fund — to fund a predevelopment loan for the proposed Gastineau Lodges project which, if developed, would create a 72-unit apartment building in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown housing project takes step forward

Assembly agrees to predevelopment loan for 72-unit Gastineau Lodges project.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members unanimously agreed on a city ordinance which appropriates $700,000 — pulled from the Affordable Housing Fund — to fund a predevelopment loan for the proposed Gastineau Lodges project which, if developed, would create a 72-unit apartment building in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
People walk past City Hall in downtown Juneau on a sunny evening in early September. On Monday, CBJ Assembly members OK’d an ordinance to offer a property tax break to new eligible housing developments of four or more units on one lot that will be in effect boroughwide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City OKs tax break for housing development

Boroughwide abatement ordinance gets the OK after whirlwind debate

People walk past City Hall in downtown Juneau on a sunny evening in early September. On Monday, CBJ Assembly members OK’d an ordinance to offer a property tax break to new eligible housing developments of four or more units on one lot that will be in effect boroughwide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the current lift in place at Eaglecrest Ski Area during the middle of September. The ski area is in the early stages of installing a new gondola which has a tentative timeline for completion set for the summer of 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Eaglecrest GM offers update on gondola

Tentatively set for summer of 2024

This photo shows the current lift in place at Eaglecrest Ski Area during the middle of September. The ski area is in the early stages of installing a new gondola which has a tentative timeline for completion set for the summer of 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A voter sits behind a privacy screen while filling out a ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal. The City and Borough of Juneau announced the final results of its 2022 local election showing a voter turnout just under 33% of all registered voters who participated in this year’s election.(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

The results are in: CBJ finalizes 2022 local election

New City Hall fails, mandatory disclosure repeal OK’d

A voter sits behind a privacy screen while filling out a ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal. The City and Borough of Juneau announced the final results of its 2022 local election showing a voter turnout just under 33% of all registered voters who participated in this year’s election.(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A map shows the former downtown shelter operated by The Glory Hall is in a high-risk landslide/avalanche zone, according to an analysis updated this year. The building on South Franklin Street is located almost directly below homes on Gastineau Street that were damaged or destroyed by a landslide during a heavy rainstorm at the end of September. (Juneau Community Development Department)

Downtown Glory Hall housing proposal gets new rejection

Landslide that destroyed homes above former homeless shelter adds to questions about project’s safety

A map shows the former downtown shelter operated by The Glory Hall is in a high-risk landslide/avalanche zone, according to an analysis updated this year. The building on South Franklin Street is located almost directly below homes on Gastineau Street that were damaged or destroyed by a landslide during a heavy rainstorm at the end of September. (Juneau Community Development Department)
Juneau Police Department and assistance from Capital City Fire/Rescue on the scene Tuesday morning, Oct. 18 at Auke Bay Lake off of Glacier Highway after it was reported that a white Chevrolet pickup truck occupied by three males lost control and rolled several times before landing into the lake. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Police investigate deadly wreck near Auke Lake

At 12:51 a.m. Tuesday, police received a report of a crash on Glacier Highway.

Juneau Police Department and assistance from Capital City Fire/Rescue on the scene Tuesday morning, Oct. 18 at Auke Bay Lake off of Glacier Highway after it was reported that a white Chevrolet pickup truck occupied by three males lost control and rolled several times before landing into the lake. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Canvass Review Board stand and sit as a group inside the CBJ Ballot Processing Center Monday morning. The board members and other city officials began the election certification process Monday morning and are expected to announce the final results on Wednesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Proponents, opponents weigh in on expected election results

The results are set to certified on Wednesday

Members of the Canvass Review Board stand and sit as a group inside the CBJ Ballot Processing Center Monday morning. The board members and other city officials began the election certification process Monday morning and are expected to announce the final results on Wednesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A ballot is placed in a drop box on Tuesday, Oct. 4, during the City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. Voters could cast ballots by mail. at voting centers located at City Hall and the Mendenhall Valley Public Library or at secure drop boxes at Don D. Statter Harbor and at the Douglas Public Library/ Fire Station. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Local election results: A few hundred votes the difference for two props

Friday figures have City Hall debt voted down, real estate ordinance repeal OK’d .

A ballot is placed in a drop box on Tuesday, Oct. 4, during the City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. Voters could cast ballots by mail. at voting centers located at City Hall and the Mendenhall Valley Public Library or at secure drop boxes at Don D. Statter Harbor and at the Douglas Public Library/ Fire Station. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
A sign stands at the site of a proposed 444-unit subdivision along the 7400 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire) Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire A sign stands at the site of a proposed 444-unit subdivision along the 7400 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau.

444-unit housing project raises hopes, concerns

Backers of proposed subdivision say it addresses shortage, neighbors worry about impacts.

A sign stands at the site of a proposed 444-unit subdivision along the 7400 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire) Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire A sign stands at the site of a proposed 444-unit subdivision along the 7400 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau.