News

Ty Alexander Grussendorf, 22 at the time, follows his parents out of Juneau Superior Court after a trial date-setting hearing on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Grussendorf sex abuse trial set for next month

A highly publicized case is scheduled for trial in October.

Ty Alexander Grussendorf, 22 at the time, follows his parents out of Juneau Superior Court after a trial date-setting hearing on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Sitka Police Chief Jeff Ankerfelt gives a tour of the police station on May 17, 2018. (Courtesy Photo | James Poulson, Sitka Sentinel)

Sitka police deny allegations of retaliation against employee

The Sitka Police Department is denying allegations that it retaliated against one of its employees for whistleblowing.

Sitka Police Chief Jeff Ankerfelt gives a tour of the police station on May 17, 2018. (Courtesy Photo | James Poulson, Sitka Sentinel)
Eating Wild: Spicy Baked Beans with Highbush Cranberry

Eating Wild: Spicy Baked Beans with Highbush Cranberry

It’s a commonly held belief that taste and smell are the senses most closely tied to memory. The smell of highbush cranberries is unmistakable —… Continue reading

Eating Wild: Spicy Baked Beans with Highbush Cranberry
Panel addresses role of social media in marketing

Panel addresses role of social media in marketing

A panel of experts is hoping to help business owners become more familiar with various social media platforms.

Panel addresses role of social media in marketing
Juneau mayoral candidates Beth Weldon, left, Norton Gregory, center, and Saralyn Tabachnick introduce themselves to the Rotary Club of Juneau during their luncheon at the Baranof Hotel on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mayoral candidates debate city’s role in arts, child care

The three active mayoral candidates offered different perspectives on a few topics Tuesday.

Juneau mayoral candidates Beth Weldon, left, Norton Gregory, center, and Saralyn Tabachnick introduce themselves to the Rotary Club of Juneau during their luncheon at the Baranof Hotel on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Work on the new Pederson Hill Subdivision continues on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

New subdivision construction falls behind schedule, upping cost

Lots in the subdivision likely won’t go up for sale until next spring.

Work on the new Pederson Hill Subdivision continues on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau School Board candidate Elizabeth Siddon reacts to the timer’s bell as she answers questions with Kevin Allen, left, Paul Kelly, center, during a candidate forum by the League of Women Voters at KTOO on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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School Board candidates talk priorities during forums

The candidates have a great deal of common ground but all bring different perspectives to the board.

Juneau School Board candidate Elizabeth Siddon reacts to the timer’s bell as she answers questions with Kevin Allen, left, Paul Kelly, center, during a candidate forum by the League of Women Voters at KTOO on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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James Barrett speaks to a reporter after his court hearing at the Dimond Courthouse on Monday, Sept. 24, 2018. Barrett is fighting being evicted from his house at Harris and Fourth Street he co-owns with his mother, Kathleen. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Problem’ downtown house to be vacated by next week, judge orders

The occupants of 401 Harris Street, including co-owner James Barrett, must be out of the house by next week.

James Barrett speaks to a reporter after his court hearing at the Dimond Courthouse on Monday, Sept. 24, 2018. Barrett is fighting being evicted from his house at Harris and Fourth Street he co-owns with his mother, Kathleen. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A drug user kits with clean syringes at the Four A’s office on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. Juneau’s Four A’s office in Juneau is in danger of closing because of a lack of funding, and are employing a crowdfunding approach to try and gain $15,000 by Oct. 15. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Syringe exchange in danger of going under

More than 100 people regularly use the syringe exchange, but the program could fold at the end of the year.

A drug user kits with clean syringes at the Four A’s office on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. Juneau’s Four A’s office in Juneau is in danger of closing because of a lack of funding, and are employing a crowdfunding approach to try and gain $15,000 by Oct. 15. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Firefighters host cadet open house

Firefighters host cadet open house

Capital City Fire/Rescue will hold an open house from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday for high school students interested in participating in CCFR’s cadet program. Cadets meet… Continue reading

Firefighters host cadet open house
Feds sentence Southeast drug conspirators

Feds sentence Southeast drug conspirators

Co-conspirators in multiple drug cases were sentenced in federal court this week.

Feds sentence Southeast drug conspirators
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew medevacs a patient from Wrangell to Sitka, Alaska, July 17, 2018. (Courtesy photo | Stephen Prysunka)

Coast Guard suspends search for missing Kake man

The U.S. Coast Guard announced that it has suspended search efforts for a 55-year-old Kake man who might have fallen off a pier.

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew medevacs a patient from Wrangell to Sitka, Alaska, July 17, 2018. (Courtesy photo | Stephen Prysunka)
Issues of affordability, public safety prominent in candidates’ minds
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Issues of affordability, public safety prominent in candidates’ minds

A busy week of candidate forums culminated in the annual League of Women Voters candidate forum on Thursday.

Issues of affordability, public safety prominent in candidates’ minds
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Juneau Assembly candidates for the Areawide and District 2 seats are asked to raise their hand if they support the Juneau Access Project during a forum at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce during its weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. District 2 candidate Emil Mackey did not attend the event because of work travel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Economic-minded candidates talk future of business in Juneau

At Thursday’s Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Assembly candidates were probed about an issue that many of them know quite a bit about: Juneau’s economy.… Continue reading

Juneau Assembly candidates for the Areawide and District 2 seats are asked to raise their hand if they support the Juneau Access Project during a forum at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce during its weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. District 2 candidate Emil Mackey did not attend the event because of work travel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Passengers board an Alaska Airlines jet at the Juneau International Airport in December 2014. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Passenger elbows window after plane lands in Juneau

A man elbowed and damaged a window on an Alaska Airlines flight that had just landed in Juneau on Thursday.

Passengers board an Alaska Airlines jet at the Juneau International Airport in December 2014. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Mariyan Aleksiev, of Earthmovers, cuts into the pavement at the intersection of Franklin and Front Streets on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. This is not the intersection that will be closed Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Downtown intersection scheduled to be partially closed Friday

As construction continues in downtown Juneau, the intersection of North Franklin and Second streets will be partially closed Friday. According to an email from City… Continue reading

Mariyan Aleksiev, of Earthmovers, cuts into the pavement at the intersection of Franklin and Front Streets on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. This is not the intersection that will be closed Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is looking at all options in the sale of the subport land along Juneau downtown waterfront on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mental Health Trust spending time, money on subport property

City officials are growing increasingly impatient with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is looking at all options in the sale of the subport land along Juneau downtown waterfront on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Assembly candidates answers questions during a Special Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. From left: Garrett Schoenberger, Carole Triem, Tom Williams, Don Habeger, Wade Bryson, Michelle Bonnet Hale and Loren Jones. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Education topics stand out at Assembly forum

Candidates circled back to educational topics during the first public forum of election season.

Assembly candidates answers questions during a Special Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. From left: Garrett Schoenberger, Carole Triem, Tom Williams, Don Habeger, Wade Bryson, Michelle Bonnet Hale and Loren Jones. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Assembly candidates answers questions during a Special Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. From left: Garrett Schoenberger, Carole Triem, Tom Williams, Don Habeger, Wade Bryson, Michelle Bonnet Hale and Loren Jones. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Education topics stand out at Assembly forum

During the first public forum of election season, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly candidates kept circling back to the topic of improving education.… Continue reading

Assembly candidates answers questions during a Special Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. From left: Garrett Schoenberger, Carole Triem, Tom Williams, Don Habeger, Wade Bryson, Michelle Bonnet Hale and Loren Jones. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Mayoral candidates Saralyn Tabachnick, left, Norton Gregory, center, and Beth Weldon answers questions during a Special Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Affordability, economic development stand out in mayoral forum

Candidates mostly agree on methods to boost Juneau economy.

Mayoral candidates Saralyn Tabachnick, left, Norton Gregory, center, and Beth Weldon answers questions during a Special Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)