News

File photo Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Man arrested after suspected ‘serious’ face and head assault to known woman

Alcohol appeared to be a factor, according to police.

File photo Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
A Transportation Security Administration officer checks luggage at the Juneau International Airport in March. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Washington man arrested on drug charges at airport

Police seize narcotics with an estimated value of $110,000.

A Transportation Security Administration officer checks luggage at the Juneau International Airport in March. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Waahlaal Giidaak Barbara Blake (left) fans herself while sitting next to Carole Triem (right) during a warm Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday evening. The City and Borough of Juneau narrowly approved funding for a plan that could offer up to six weeks of paid-parental leave to city employees. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City funds parental leave incentive for employees

A current proposal suggests six weeks of leaves for municipal parents.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Waahlaal Giidaak Barbara Blake (left) fans herself while sitting next to Carole Triem (right) during a warm Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday evening. The City and Borough of Juneau narrowly approved funding for a plan that could offer up to six weeks of paid-parental leave to city employees. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Firefighters respond Monday evening to the site of a structure fire on Meander Way. Three people and a dog made it out of the residence without suffering injuries, according to Capital City Fire/Rescue Fire Marshal Dan Jager, but a cat was determined to be deceased as a result of the blaze. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Investigation continues into structure fire

3 people and a dog escaped the blaze, but a cat did not.

Firefighters respond Monday evening to the site of a structure fire on Meander Way. Three people and a dog made it out of the residence without suffering injuries, according to Capital City Fire/Rescue Fire Marshal Dan Jager, but a cat was determined to be deceased as a result of the blaze. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This combination photo shows University of Alaska Southeast senior Stephanie Harasim and UAS freshman A.J. Schultz tied for first place in the spring history writing contest sponsored by the Gastineau Channel Historical Society. (Courtesy Photos)

UAS students tie for first place in history writing contest

Each took a moment in local history and developed a fictional character who experienced that event.

This combination photo shows University of Alaska Southeast senior Stephanie Harasim and UAS freshman A.J. Schultz tied for first place in the spring history writing contest sponsored by the Gastineau Channel Historical Society. (Courtesy Photos)
Snow covers the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria as it sits scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area in February. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. will invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Gondola project to get $10M boost by July

Assembly OKs revised revenue agreement with Goldbelt, construction expected next summer

Snow covers the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria as it sits scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area in February. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. will invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Fallen trees line the beginning of the West Douglas Pioneer Road in late April. On Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal for the second time from a local company that sought to gain access to provide electric-assisted bicycle tours on the city-owned gravel road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Assembly votes down proposed Pioneer Road e-bike tours — again

The proposal was orginally rejected in late April.

Fallen trees line the beginning of the West Douglas Pioneer Road in late April. On Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal for the second time from a local company that sought to gain access to provide electric-assisted bicycle tours on the city-owned gravel road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Firefighters were called Monday evening to the site of a structure fire on Meander Way. Three human occupants and a dog made it out of the residence without suffering injuries, according to Capital Citer Fire/Rescue Fire Marshal Dan Jager, but a cate that was inside the home at the time of the fire was unaccounted for immediately after firefighters extinguished the blaze. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Fire causes extensive damage to Mendenhall Valley area residence

Intentional cause not ruled out, according to fire marshal.

Firefighters were called Monday evening to the site of a structure fire on Meander Way. Three human occupants and a dog made it out of the residence without suffering injuries, according to Capital Citer Fire/Rescue Fire Marshal Dan Jager, but a cate that was inside the home at the time of the fire was unaccounted for immediately after firefighters extinguished the blaze. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway in early May. On Friday the Juneau District Board of Education voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau Education Association, which OK’d the contract earlier in the week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

School board accepts teachers union contract

Friday marked the end of over a year of drawn-out negotiations

A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway in early May. On Friday the Juneau District Board of Education voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau Education Association, which OK’d the contract earlier in the week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
TEMSCO crews work to extinguish a grass fire south of Wren Drive on Saturday after it was determined that the location was inaccessible to CCFR vehicles. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR Facebook)

TEMSCO assists with weekend grass fire

Cause of fire is still under investigation.

TEMSCO crews work to extinguish a grass fire south of Wren Drive on Saturday after it was determined that the location was inaccessible to CCFR vehicles. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR Facebook)
Jacob Katasse, 16, gets ready to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the Gastineau Channel Little League baseball season to his Parker Katasse, 9. The two are the great grandsons of Officer Richard Adair, one of two police officers killed in the line of duty for whom the park is named. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

A pitch-perfect opening day for Gastineau Channel Little League

A big day for Little League touches on local program’s history.

Jacob Katasse, 16, gets ready to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the Gastineau Channel Little League baseball season to his Parker Katasse, 9. The two are the great grandsons of Officer Richard Adair, one of two police officers killed in the line of duty for whom the park is named. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Graduates Emily Hatley, Lara Millette, Autumn Levy, Rosaline Westfall, Rylee Johnson and Jarvis Evans throw their caps in the air after the commencement ceremony held Sunday afternoon at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

UAS celebrates annual graduation ceremony

Indigenous students were honored in annual Native Graduation Celebration.

Graduates Emily Hatley, Lara Millette, Autumn Levy, Rosaline Westfall, Rylee Johnson and Jarvis Evans throw their caps in the air after the commencement ceremony held Sunday afternoon at the University of Alaska Southeast. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza Saturday afternoon during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

13th annual Maritime Festival welcomes record-breaking number of vendors

Hundreds flocked to Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza on the Saturday afternoon.

Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza Saturday afternoon during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Owners Patsy Anderson-Dunn and Kim Anderson in front of Mendenhall Mall today. (Courtesy Photo / Patsy Anderson-Dunn)

Skateland to Glam: A history of the Mendenhall Mall

If you think the Mendenhall Mall is dead, you haven’t been there lately. Three years ago, Mendenhall Mall — the 200,000-square-foot shopping center in the… Continue reading

Owners Patsy Anderson-Dunn and Kim Anderson in front of Mendenhall Mall today. (Courtesy Photo / Patsy Anderson-Dunn)
Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker) Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker)

Henry, Dorn, Taintor top Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet

Rerouted course included nearly 1-mile hill.

Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker) Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker)
Left to right, CCFR Captain John Adams and Engineer Sam Berni stand before family and friends during a badge pinning ceremony on Thursday at Station 1 in Juneau. Adams was promoted to captain and Berni to engineer. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

CCFR celebrates two promotions with badge pinning ceremony

Firefighters John Adams and Sam Berni move up the ladder.

Left to right, CCFR Captain John Adams and Engineer Sam Berni stand before family and friends during a badge pinning ceremony on Thursday at Station 1 in Juneau. Adams was promoted to captain and Berni to engineer. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Mia Wiedersphohn of Wrangell hosts her podcast on the local radio station teaching Tlingit words and phrases. Wiedersphohn was recognized by Alaska Communications Summer of Heroes program last year as a youth impacting her community in a positive way. Nominations are open for this year’s program until June 18. (Courtesy Photo / Alaska Communications)

Alaska Communications seeks nominations for local youth heroes

Summer of Heroes program in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club - Alaska.

Mia Wiedersphohn of Wrangell hosts her podcast on the local radio station teaching Tlingit words and phrases. Wiedersphohn was recognized by Alaska Communications Summer of Heroes program last year as a youth impacting her community in a positive way. Nominations are open for this year’s program until June 18. (Courtesy Photo / Alaska Communications)
Courtesy of the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band Julia Keefe, a Native American singer who has gained national acclaim performing with a wide range of musicians and settings during the past 15 years, is headlining this spring’s Juneau Jazz Classics festival with concerts by her Indigenous Big Band and a Native jazz quintet.

A huge Indigenous ‘family’ reunion at Jazz Classics

Musicians with tribal roots from Canada to South America converge for Indigenous Big Band concerts

Courtesy of the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band Julia Keefe, a Native American singer who has gained national acclaim performing with a wide range of musicians and settings during the past 15 years, is headlining this spring’s Juneau Jazz Classics festival with concerts by her Indigenous Big Band and a Native jazz quintet.
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Carole Triem and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr chat during a break at the Wednesday night Finance Committee meeting. Community groups were invited to give presentations that explained their community funding requests sent to the Assembly for the fiscal year 2024 budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City mulls community funding request amid budget-making process

The requests range from $2,000 up to $1.4 million.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Carole Triem and Deputy City Manager Robert Barr chat during a break at the Wednesday night Finance Committee meeting. Community groups were invited to give presentations that explained their community funding requests sent to the Assembly for the fiscal year 2024 budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway Thursday morning. On Tuesday members voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau School District. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Teachers union members narrowly OK school district contract

The school board will vote to ratify Friday afternoon.

A car drives past a Juneau Education Association sign posted next to the North Douglas Highway Thursday morning. On Tuesday members voted to accept a three-year contract agreement with Juneau School District. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)