News

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and President-elect Donald Trump (left) will be working as chief executives at opposite ends of the U.S. next year, a face constructed of rocks on Sandy Beach is seen among snow in November (center), and KINY’s prize patrol van (right) flashes its colors outside the station this summer. (Photos, from left to right, from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office, Elliot Welch via Juneau Parks and Recreation, and Mark Sabbatini via the Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s 10 strangest news stories of 2024

Governor’s captivating journey to nowhere, woman who won’t leave the beach among those making waves.

 

Aurelie Alexander photographs a helicopter hoisting cellular equipment onto the roof of the Marine View building at midday Wednesday. As a resident of the apartment/office building, she and others were notified to leave the building during the helicopter operation. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Hovering around downtown for better phone service

New AT&T equipment installed atop Marine View Building joins other telecom upgrades downtown.

 

John Blasco, shown coaching the Thunder Mountain High School basketball team during the state tournament in March of this year, was honored as the Juneau Greater Chamber of Commerce’s citizen of the year at the organization’s annual awards gala at Centennial Hall last Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Double take: John Blasco wins local Citizen of the Year award months after state coach of the year honor

Chamber of Commerce also honors Bullwinkle’s, Juneau Bach Society’s Bruce Simonson at annual gala

 

Sigrid Bogert and Fathom Mitchell, both 11, toss straw used during a children’s game into a wheelbarrow to place on a garden plot during the 30th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Community Garden celebrates bountiful 30th annual Harvest Festival

Founders had to make own soil to start garden; now a chef makes festival food from what’s grown.

Sigrid Bogert and Fathom Mitchell, both 11, toss straw used during a children’s game into a wheelbarrow to place on a garden plot during the 30th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Participants in a junior naturalist program hosted by Jensen-Olson Arboretum walk along a beach. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Neighbors briefs

Registration for arboretum junior naturalist program opens July 8 Friends of the Jensen-Olson Arboretum is hosting a free junior naturalist program Saturday, July 20, from… Continue reading

Participants in a junior naturalist program hosted by Jensen-Olson Arboretum walk along a beach. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
“Curiosities of Alaska” by Junnie Chup, which won first place in Kindred Post’s 2024 statewide postcard art contest. (Photo courtesy of Kindred Post)

Neighbors briefs

Kindred Post announces 2024 statewide postcard art contest winners Kindred Post on Wednesday announced the 10 winners of their statewide postcard art contest. Each of… Continue reading

“Curiosities of Alaska” by Junnie Chup, which won first place in Kindred Post’s 2024 statewide postcard art contest. (Photo courtesy of Kindred Post)
Nils Andreassen and his sons Amos, 7, and Axel, 11, pick up trash in the Lemon Creek area during the annual Litter Free community cleanup on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Annual community cleanup is its own reward — and then some

Nearly 800 people pick up tons of trash, recyclables and perhaps treasures

Nils Andreassen and his sons Amos, 7, and Axel, 11, pick up trash in the Lemon Creek area during the annual Litter Free community cleanup on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Multiple vehicles line up at the entrance of Waste Management’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in Lemon Creek on Jan. 30, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Landfill fees rising 9% for residential trash, nearly tripling for metal, starting March 1

Increase follows near-tripling of rates last year that’s blamed for widespread illegal dumping.

Multiple vehicles line up at the entrance of Waste Management’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in Lemon Creek on Jan. 30, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 6, 2004. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Jan. 7

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 6, 2004. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mary Snook, a Ketchikan resident of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian ancestry, takes a photo of her fellow Alaska Natives passing by during the Celebration parade in downtown Juneau on Saturday, June 11, 2022. In the background is one of the large cruise ships docked in town for the day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Here are the headlines likely to loom large in 2024

Fiscal and social education matters, tourism impacts, Suicide Basin and elections among top issues.

Mary Snook, a Ketchikan resident of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian ancestry, takes a photo of her fellow Alaska Natives passing by during the Celebration parade in downtown Juneau on Saturday, June 11, 2022. In the background is one of the large cruise ships docked in town for the day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A cruise ship visitor prepares to depart Juneau, a view of Telephone Hill from above and a home falls into the flooded Mendenhall River. (Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire, City and Borough of Juneau, and a screenshot from a video by Sam Nolan)

Juneau’s top 10 news stories for 2023

Mendenhall Glacier issues, hillside areas, unhappiness with local leaders head the headlines.

A cruise ship visitor prepares to depart Juneau, a view of Telephone Hill from above and a home falls into the flooded Mendenhall River. (Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire, City and Borough of Juneau, and a screenshot from a video by Sam Nolan)
Jennifer Medley (left) practices literacy skills with students at Fireweed Academy on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

From Hope to Homer, how one school district is adjusting to Alaska Reads Act

Implementing the standards outlined by the legislation is not a one-size-fits-all approach

Jennifer Medley (left) practices literacy skills with students at Fireweed Academy on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Chris Anderson mounts a Marine View and Heritage Way sign together in preparation for the South Seward Street name change Nov. 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Time of the signs: New Heritage Way signs ready to go ahead of November name swap

CBJ Streets employees make the custom signs Thursday morning.

Chris Anderson mounts a Marine View and Heritage Way sign together in preparation for the South Seward Street name change Nov. 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Telephone Hill resident Callie Conerton expresses concerns about the new design concepts for the Telephone Hill redevelopment project that were presented Wednesday evening at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. She said she is concerned about the affordability of the proposed units. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tension on Telephone Hill: Residents displeased with city’s proposed redevelopment ideas for downtown hillside

Many who attended the city’s Wednesday open house say they don’t want to see development at all

Telephone Hill resident Callie Conerton expresses concerns about the new design concepts for the Telephone Hill redevelopment project that were presented Wednesday evening at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. She said she is concerned about the affordability of the proposed units. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A man heads to the City Hall Assembly Chambers to cast his ballot on Election Day on Oct. 3. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Updated election count: Voter turnout soars, preliminary results see small shifts

Leading candidates continue in their positions, rejection of City Hall bond continues to grow.

A man heads to the City Hall Assembly Chambers to cast his ballot on Election Day on Oct. 3. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Houses line the streets of South Douglas in late May. The deadline has passed for short-term rental operators to register their units with the City and Borough of Juneau before they face a $25 daily fine. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Non-registered short-term rental operators in Juneau now face daily fine

About 230 units registered before the deadline out of the nearly 600 estimated in the capital city.

Houses line the streets of South Douglas in late May. The deadline has passed for short-term rental operators to register their units with the City and Borough of Juneau before they face a $25 daily fine. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This is a photo of the fluke of “Tango,” a humpback whale calf that was found dead on an island near Juneau in late August. (Courtesy / Bri Pettie)

Vessel strike cause of death of humpback whale calf in late August

“Deep and large” lacerations found on body, officials say.

This is a photo of the fluke of “Tango,” a humpback whale calf that was found dead on an island near Juneau in late August. (Courtesy / Bri Pettie)
Boats berth at Don D. Statter Harbor in February. On Wednesday evening the City and Borough of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors Board OK’d a 9% increase to all docks and harbors fees with one exception. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Docks and Harbors board OKs 9% increase for nearly all fees

Increase will go into effect in January if passed by the Assembly.

Boats berth at Don D. Statter Harbor in February. On Wednesday evening the City and Borough of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors Board OK’d a 9% increase to all docks and harbors fees with one exception. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Campaign signs for Areawide Assembly candidates Paul Kelly and Ella Adkison sit side-by-side in a yard on Douglas. Kelly and Adkison are the candidates currently leading in the 10-person field for two open Assembly Areawide seats, according to preliminary results released Wednesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Candidates react to unofficial local election results

City Hall bond faces narrow rejection, Assembly races with razor-thin margins.

Campaign signs for Areawide Assembly candidates Paul Kelly and Ella Adkison sit side-by-side in a yard on Douglas. Kelly and Adkison are the candidates currently leading in the 10-person field for two open Assembly Areawide seats, according to preliminary results released Wednesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Michael Beasley drops a ballot into a drop box at the City Hall Assembly Chambers on Election Day Tuesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Preliminary election results: Tight Assembly races, narrow City Hall rejection

Results released early Wednesday, more votes to be counted in next two weeks.

Michael Beasley drops a ballot into a drop box at the City Hall Assembly Chambers on Election Day Tuesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)