News

Maralee Guiher drops off her ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. By 8:30 a.m., 28 voters had dropped off ballots, election officials said. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Voter turnout for by-mail election highest since 2000

Preliminary results Friday.

Maralee Guiher drops off her ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. By 8:30 a.m., 28 voters had dropped off ballots, election officials said. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department arrested a Juneau man suspected of killing a woman in a domestic incident in 2019 on Oct. 2. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police arrest suspect, release details of alleged 2019 murder

A trial is scheduled for January.

The Juneau Police Department arrested a Juneau man suspected of killing a woman in a domestic incident in 2019 on Oct. 2. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Election officials Kim Peterson and Jack Chenoweth look up voter information for Mary Ellen Yadao on Oct. 6, 2020.

Candidates, residents await results from by-mail election

With voting closed, the waiting begins.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Election officials Kim Peterson and Jack Chenoweth look up voter information for Mary Ellen Yadao on Oct. 6, 2020.
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. (NIAID-RML via AP)

State announces 143 new COVID-19 cases

Two new, local cases, too.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. (NIAID-RML via AP)
Jensen-Olson Arboretum’s long term manager, Merrill Jensen, is retiring after 13 years guiding and shaping the space. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Growing from the ground up: Longtime arboretum manager retiring

He’s going to miss the view.

Jensen-Olson Arboretum’s long term manager, Merrill Jensen, is retiring after 13 years guiding and shaping the space. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department is conducting an investigation into a death near the intersection of Shell Simmons Drive and Glacier Highway, Oct. 6, 2020. (Mike Keck / For the Juneau Empire)

Juneau man struck, killed in road near airport

Police identify the deceased.

The Juneau Police Department is conducting an investigation into a death near the intersection of Shell Simmons Drive and Glacier Highway, Oct. 6, 2020. (Mike Keck / For the Juneau Empire)
This image provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. (NIAID-RML via AP)

Statewide COVID-19 cases hit new single-day high

City announces 5.

This image provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. (NIAID-RML via AP)
Chief died of a .22 calibur gunshot wound on Sept. 28 near Lupine Lane in the Mendenhall Valley. Chief's owner, Tamara Roberts, is offering a reward for anyone who can provide information about the perpetrator. (Courtesy photo / Tamara Roberts)

Owner offers reward for info about shot cat

Animal cruelty became a felony in 2019.

Chief died of a .22 calibur gunshot wound on Sept. 28 near Lupine Lane in the Mendenhall Valley. Chief's owner, Tamara Roberts, is offering a reward for anyone who can provide information about the perpetrator. (Courtesy photo / Tamara Roberts)
The site of the future Glory Hall at the corner of Teal Street and Alpine Avenue in the Mendenhall Valley. Glory Hall staff want construction to begin as soon as possible as the weather gets colder. Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Funding in hand, new Glory Hall gets to work

Juneau’s social service campus?

The site of the future Glory Hall at the corner of Teal Street and Alpine Avenue in the Mendenhall Valley. Glory Hall staff want construction to begin as soon as possible as the weather gets colder. Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, released by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020. (Associated Press)

City reports 2nd resident coronavirus death

Announcement came Friday.

Electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, released by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020. (Associated Press)
Juneau City Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly added an additional $2 million in CARES Act money to the city’s small business grant program, allowing the next phase of the program to begin sooner. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Next phase of business grants gets boost

More flexibility in next phases.

Juneau City Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly added an additional $2 million in CARES Act money to the city’s small business grant program, allowing the next phase of the program to begin sooner. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A Juneau voter casts their ballot in the city’s by-mail municipal election on Saturday, Sept.19, 2020. So far, about 23% of registered Juneau voters have cast ballots, the city announced on Friday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

23 percent of voters have cast ballots, city says

Municipal election day is Tuesday.

A Juneau voter casts their ballot in the city’s by-mail municipal election on Saturday, Sept.19, 2020. So far, about 23% of registered Juneau voters have cast ballots, the city announced on Friday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases shows a Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 particle isolated from a patient, in a laboratory in Fort Detrick, Md. Coronaviruses, including the newest one, are named for the spikes that cover their outer surface like a crown, or corona in Latin. Using those club-shaped spikes, the virus latches on to the outer wall of a human cell, invades it and replicates, creating viruses to hijack more cells. (NIAID/NIH via AP)

State reports 136 new cases, city reports 4

City and Borough of Juneau’s cumulative COVID-19 case count pushed past 300 resident cases. The city’s emergency operations center reported Thursday four new people —three… Continue reading

This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases shows a Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 particle isolated from a patient, in a laboratory in Fort Detrick, Md. Coronaviruses, including the newest one, are named for the spikes that cover their outer surface like a crown, or corona in Latin. Using those club-shaped spikes, the virus latches on to the outer wall of a human cell, invades it and replicates, creating viruses to hijack more cells. (NIAID/NIH via AP)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire This Sept. 17 photo shows work underway on the Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus. Contaminated soil has added extra expenses to the project, which will bring a dedicated space for Northwest Coast Art to downtown Juneau. Sealaska Heritage Institute is asking the city to provide a $1.5 million grant to the project sooner rather than later.

Sealaska Heritage asks for city support for project

Soiled soil is the problem.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire This Sept. 17 photo shows work underway on the Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus. Contaminated soil has added extra expenses to the project, which will bring a dedicated space for Northwest Coast Art to downtown Juneau. Sealaska Heritage Institute is asking the city to provide a $1.5 million grant to the project sooner rather than later.
Incumbent has deep pockets in Juneau House race

Incumbent has deep pockets in Juneau House race

Not quite a King’s ransom.

Incumbent has deep pockets in Juneau House race
City relaxes bar, restaurant restrictions but encourages caution

City relaxes bar, restaurant restrictions but encourages caution

The announcement was made Tuesday.

City relaxes bar, restaurant restrictions but encourages caution
This November 2019 photo shows a line of shopper standing outside Centennial Hall while waiting to peruse the wares of Public Market vendors. Last year’s event featured more than 200 vendors. This year’s in-person event is canceled, but virtual shopping is expected to launch in mid-October, organizer Peter Metcalfe said in a news release. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Annual Public Market is canceled due to pandemic

It was held annually for 37 years.

This November 2019 photo shows a line of shopper standing outside Centennial Hall while waiting to peruse the wares of Public Market vendors. Last year’s event featured more than 200 vendors. This year’s in-person event is canceled, but virtual shopping is expected to launch in mid-October, organizer Peter Metcalfe said in a news release. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
City subsidy rallies child care enrollment

City subsidy rallies child care enrollment

Increasing in-person programs.

City subsidy rallies child care enrollment
Deputy City Clerk Di Cathcart collects ballots from the ballot drop box at Don D. Statter Harbor the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 19. Drop boxes located in Auke Bay and at the Douglas Public Library and Fire Hall are one of a few ways to vote in this year’s by-mail municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
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Juneau voter turnout so far is at 11%, here’s how that compares to past years

Over 3,000 ballots were recieved by Thursday.

Deputy City Clerk Di Cathcart collects ballots from the ballot drop box at Don D. Statter Harbor the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 19. Drop boxes located in Auke Bay and at the Douglas Public Library and Fire Hall are one of a few ways to vote in this year’s by-mail municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
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Alaska readies for flu season as COVID pandemic continues

Alaska readies for flu season as COVID pandemic continues

Get your flu vaccines and save lives, Alaska’s chief medical officer says.

Alaska readies for flu season as COVID pandemic continues