News

Dane Hubert, Fredrik Hale Thorsteinson IV, Casey Knapp, Alexis Juergens and Finley Hightower, the Fedora Squad, pose for a photo during the Region V Drama, Debate and Forensics Tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Tournament brims with oratorical talent

On a busy Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School, there was room for debate.

Dane Hubert, Fredrik Hale Thorsteinson IV, Casey Knapp, Alexis Juergens and Finley Hightower, the Fedora Squad, pose for a photo during the Region V Drama, Debate and Forensics Tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police: Man arrested after gun fired in residence

No injuries were reported.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
David Holmes digs through a pile of boardgames during Platypus Gaming’s two-day mini-con over the weekend at Douglas Public Library and Sunday at Mendenhall Public Library. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Good times keep rolling with Platypus Gaming

Two-day mini-con held at Juneau Public Library.

David Holmes digs through a pile of boardgames during Platypus Gaming’s two-day mini-con over the weekend at Douglas Public Library and Sunday at Mendenhall Public Library. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Captain Anne Wilcock recieves the Emery Valentine Leadership Award at the 2022 CCFR awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 14. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR)

CCFR honors responders during annual banquet

Capital City Fire/Rescue hosted its 2022 awards banquet earlier this month as a way of recognizing responders for their outstanding work within the Juneau community.… Continue reading

Captain Anne Wilcock recieves the Emery Valentine Leadership Award at the 2022 CCFR awards banquet on Saturday, Jan. 14. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR)
City and Borough of Juneau This is a photo of the current site plan of the proposed Capital Civic Center. Thursday evening the city was given an update on the project’s concept design which is expected to cost up to $75 million and would include amenities like a theater, community hall, gallery, ballroom and business center.

City OKs steps toward proposed Capital Civic Center

Advocacy group to seek state and federal funds for the project.

City and Borough of Juneau This is a photo of the current site plan of the proposed Capital Civic Center. Thursday evening the city was given an update on the project’s concept design which is expected to cost up to $75 million and would include amenities like a theater, community hall, gallery, ballroom and business center.
A resident and his dog walk past the taped off portion of the Basin Road Trestle after it suffered damaged from a rockslide earlier this week. The trestle is open to pedestrians, but will remain closed to vehicular traffic until structural repairs are made, according to city officials. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Rocky road: Basin Road Trestle open to pedestrians, remains closed to vehicles

City officials say repairs are currently being assessed after damaging rockfall

A resident and his dog walk past the taped off portion of the Basin Road Trestle after it suffered damaged from a rockslide earlier this week. The trestle is open to pedestrians, but will remain closed to vehicular traffic until structural repairs are made, according to city officials. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau man indicted on child pornography charges

A Juneau man was indicted Thursday on charges of possessing or accessing child pornography, according to court documents. A Juneau grand jury indicted 27-year-old Joshua… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau’s municipal and state legislative members, their staff, and city lobbyists gather in the Assembly chambers Thursday meeting for an overview of how the Alaska State Legislature and politicians in Washington, D.C., are affecting local issues.

Local leaders, lawmakers and lobbyists discuss political plans for coming year

Morning meeting looks at local impact of state, national political climates.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau’s municipal and state legislative members, their staff, and city lobbyists gather in the Assembly chambers Thursday meeting for an overview of how the Alaska State Legislature and politicians in Washington, D.C., are affecting local issues.
This photo shows pills police say were seized after a suspicious package was searched. (Juneau Police Department)

Police: 1,000 fentanyl pills, 86 grams of meth seized

Juneau man arrested on felony charges.

This photo shows pills police say were seized after a suspicious package was searched. (Juneau Police Department)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy talks about his second-term agenda with members of the Alaska Chamber of Commerce, which is doing a two-day legislative fly-in this week, before his speech during the Juneau Chamber’s weekly luncheon Thursday. The speech and subsequent question period was at the Baranof Hotel to accommodate the extra out-of-town guests spending much of their time at the Alaska State Capitol, rather than the usual location at the Juneau Moose Lodge Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Big carbon and ‘small nukes’ are state’s future, governor says

Dunleavy sells business leaders on greenhouse gas cash, greenhouses with mini nuclear power plants

Gov. Mike Dunleavy talks about his second-term agenda with members of the Alaska Chamber of Commerce, which is doing a two-day legislative fly-in this week, before his speech during the Juneau Chamber’s weekly luncheon Thursday. The speech and subsequent question period was at the Baranof Hotel to accommodate the extra out-of-town guests spending much of their time at the Alaska State Capitol, rather than the usual location at the Juneau Moose Lodge Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Anna Dale, a senior and the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears Varsity hockey team’s assistant captain, goes above and beyond on and off the ice. Dale talked with the Empire about her love for the game and how hockey will continue to play a role in her future after high school. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire) Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Transcending Treadwell: Anna Dale hopes to play hockey at the next level and inspire others to get on the ice

“She’s somebody who takes some risks, keeps people together and goes to bat for the team.”

Anna Dale, a senior and the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears Varsity hockey team’s assistant captain, goes above and beyond on and off the ice. Dale talked with the Empire about her love for the game and how hockey will continue to play a role in her future after high school. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire) Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Carrie Connaker with Solstice Alaska Consulting meets with Juneau residents during an open house at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Tuesday to help explain alternatives currently being proposed for the recreation area.

Juneau residents get better acquainted with Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area proposals

Open house held at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, web event set for Thursday.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Carrie Connaker with Solstice Alaska Consulting meets with Juneau residents during an open house at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Tuesday to help explain alternatives currently being proposed for the recreation area.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Residents wear matching T-shirts advocating for the proposed off-road vehicle riding park at 35 Mile which was up for permit consideration and later approved at the Tuesday evening planning commission meeting.

City OK’s permit for new off-road vehicle riding park

The planning commission approved a conditional use permit for the project at 35 Mile

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Residents wear matching T-shirts advocating for the proposed off-road vehicle riding park at 35 Mile which was up for permit consideration and later approved at the Tuesday evening planning commission meeting.
The Juneau School District’s recently announced the new principals for Juneau Community Charter School and Mendenhall River Community School who are set to start in their positions this fall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

District selects new principals for Juneau Community Charter and Mendenhall River Community School

The new school heads will join the district in the coming academic year in the fall

The Juneau School District’s recently announced the new principals for Juneau Community Charter School and Mendenhall River Community School who are set to start in their positions this fall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Shannen Greene holds a sign at the Alaska State Capitol during Monday’s anti-abortion rally held by Alaskans for Life Inc.

Abortion protesters gather at state Capitol

Rally comes after anniversary of now-overturned Roe v. Wade.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Shannen Greene holds a sign at the Alaska State Capitol during Monday’s anti-abortion rally held by Alaskans for Life Inc.
JPD offers Internet Safety class on Feb. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as a way of helping parents and caring adults stay informed on how to best keep kids safe online. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JPD to host internet safety class for parents

Feb. 7 is Safer Internet Day.

JPD offers Internet Safety class on Feb. 7 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. as a way of helping parents and caring adults stay informed on how to best keep kids safe online. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy poses for a photo with Gladys Castaños during an inaugural celebration for the governor and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom on Friday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

All’s a ball for reelected governor

Dunleavy celebrates “peaceful transfer of power…to myself” at inaugural party Friday

Gov. Mike Dunleavy poses for a photo with Gladys Castaños during an inaugural celebration for the governor and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom on Friday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Little chairs sit in stacks after the temporary closure of downtown Gold Creek Child Development Center in mid-January, and another closure shortly followed, leaving dozens of families scrambling to find child care. Now, providers are speaking out about the dire situation the industry finds itself in and what needs to be done to fix it.

A child care conundrum: Closures make local shortage worse, and providers say solutions may take a while.

“The crisis that we are having and experiencing right now, we are not alone in it.”

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Little chairs sit in stacks after the temporary closure of downtown Gold Creek Child Development Center in mid-January, and another closure shortly followed, leaving dozens of families scrambling to find child care. Now, providers are speaking out about the dire situation the industry finds itself in and what needs to be done to fix it.
This image is a screen grab of an interactive online map that outlines the different pieces of vacant and underdeveloped property in Juneau. According to the map website, privately owned vacant parcels are highlighted yellow, CBJ Lands and Resources owned vacant parcels are highlighted pink and private developed properties below maximum allowable housing density are highlighted green. (Courtesy / City and Borough of Juneau)

City hopes new interactive map of vacant properties will expand housing opportunities

“It’s one more tool in the toolbox.”

This image is a screen grab of an interactive online map that outlines the different pieces of vacant and underdeveloped property in Juneau. According to the map website, privately owned vacant parcels are highlighted yellow, CBJ Lands and Resources owned vacant parcels are highlighted pink and private developed properties below maximum allowable housing density are highlighted green. (Courtesy / City and Borough of Juneau)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire The National Labor Relations Board meets with representatives of Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and its employees on Friday via Zoom to further discuss the matter of whether employees are in a position to unionize.

Hearing held in SEACC union dispute

No decision made on Friday.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire The National Labor Relations Board meets with representatives of Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and its employees on Friday via Zoom to further discuss the matter of whether employees are in a position to unionize.