News

Trevor Kellar, a community navigator for St. Vincent de Paul, offers Sheila Robinson a cup of coffee on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘A picture of hope’: Social service program offers helping hand to homeless

Michael Good has spent most of his adult life homeless. Just one week ago that all changed and he said he has his faith in… Continue reading

Trevor Kellar, a community navigator for St. Vincent de Paul, offers Sheila Robinson a cup of coffee on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Cultural specialist John Smith tells stories about salmon while processing fish during a salmon preservation workshop on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Preserving salmon, culture: Goldbelt workshop look to sustain ancient tradition

Tommy Jimmi Jr. remembers dip-netting for hooligan as a child, his elders behind him on the beach, snow soaking through his clothes. It wasn’t a… Continue reading

Cultural specialist John Smith tells stories about salmon while processing fish during a salmon preservation workshop on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly and Finance Committee will meet this week. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire File)

City will receive CCFR staff update

Juneau’s city fire department could be receiving a boost in staffing. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly will hear an update on how many… Continue reading

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly and Finance Committee will meet this week. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire File)
Capital City Fire/Rescue cleans up after fighting a fire at 526 Seward Street, next to the Terry Miller Legislative Building, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

City taking time to examine CCFR staffing changes

In examining how to give money to Capital City Fire/Rescue, members of the Assembly are looking to gather more feedback and further examine their options.

Capital City Fire/Rescue cleans up after fighting a fire at 526 Seward Street, next to the Terry Miller Legislative Building, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Nic Sevic, left, and Elliot Sofhauser, of Above and Beyond Alaska gather canoes and kayaks from storage at Mendenhall Lake on Thursday, July 19, 2018, after a release of water from Suicide Basin on Wednesday caused the lake to rise. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Authorities, residents brace for annual flooding

Weather authorities and residents are getting used to responding to glacial floods in the Mendenhall Valley.

Nic Sevic, left, and Elliot Sofhauser, of Above and Beyond Alaska gather canoes and kayaks from storage at Mendenhall Lake on Thursday, July 19, 2018, after a release of water from Suicide Basin on Wednesday caused the lake to rise. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Paula Haug, of Folsom, California, and her daughter, Carlie, visit the grave of Haug’s great-grandmother Soyla Valentina Cardwell Lockhart on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Cardwell died in Juneau in 1918. With the help of the folks at Evergreen Cemetery, she was able to track down where Lockhart was buried and place a stone on her previously unmarked grave. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

A century later, woman who died in Juneau gets grave marker

Efforts of great-granddaughter lead to discovery of woman’s location, family history.

Paula Haug, of Folsom, California, and her daughter, Carlie, visit the grave of Haug’s great-grandmother Soyla Valentina Cardwell Lockhart on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Cardwell died in Juneau in 1918. With the help of the folks at Evergreen Cemetery, she was able to track down where Lockhart was buried and place a stone on her previously unmarked grave. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Connie Hulbert, President and General Manager of AEL&P, helps prepare food as the company celebrate its 125th year in business with a public picnic at Cope Park on Friday, July 20, 2018. The public was also invited to tour the Gold Creek Power Plant. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska Electric Light and Power reveals its historic roots

With sunny picnic and open house, company celebrates 125th anniversary.

Connie Hulbert, President and General Manager of AEL&P, helps prepare food as the company celebrate its 125th year in business with a public picnic at Cope Park on Friday, July 20, 2018. The public was also invited to tour the Gold Creek Power Plant. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A mountain goat in a still from “Alaskan Summer,” a newly-released nature documentary from Smithsonian Earth. (Courtesy Photo | Smithsonian Earth)

Southeast featured in Smithsonian documentary

Alaska summer gets Planet Earth-style treatment in hour-long film.

A mountain goat in a still from “Alaskan Summer,” a newly-released nature documentary from Smithsonian Earth. (Courtesy Photo | Smithsonian Earth)
(Courtesy Photo | National Park Service)

Pilot rescued after Glacier Bay emergency landing

The National Park Service rescued a German pilot from a Glacier Bay sand flat Friday after an engine malfunction forced the plane’s emergency landing. Pilot… Continue reading

(Courtesy Photo | National Park Service)
With an iceberg grounded in front of them, Kelly Mercer and her father, Fred Gerle, relax on a bench at the Mendenhall Campground on Friday, July 20, 2018, after Thursday’s flood of Mendenhall Lake. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Response to flooding goes smoothly

The waters quickly abated after the peak and almost everything was back to normal Friday morning.

With an iceberg grounded in front of them, Kelly Mercer and her father, Fred Gerle, relax on a bench at the Mendenhall Campground on Friday, July 20, 2018, after Thursday’s flood of Mendenhall Lake. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A house at 8460 Kimberly Street burns as Capital City Fire/Rescue responses on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Anna Hay | Courtesy Photo)

Dog wakes residents, alerts them to house fire

In the case of a Friday afternoon house fire in the Mendenhall Valley, a small dog was the first responder.

A house at 8460 Kimberly Street burns as Capital City Fire/Rescue responses on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Anna Hay | Courtesy Photo)
Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel care for victims who overturned their canoe during a guided trip on Mendenhall Lake on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Five passengers safe after canoe flips at glacier

As part of their honeymoon, Adam and Gianna Kersch took a canoe tour to the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday afternoon. They were part of a… Continue reading

Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel care for victims who overturned their canoe during a guided trip on Mendenhall Lake on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Heidi Brocious speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce about the Housing First project during its weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, July 19, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Housing First facility may more than double in size

The Housing First facility may be more than doubling its residents. Bruce Denton, Vice Chair on the Housing First board, said Housing First — a… Continue reading

Heidi Brocious speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce about the Housing First project during its weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, July 19, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. (Courtesy Photo | Art of Living Foundation)

Spiritual guru to visit Juneau

A spiritual leader with an enormous international following is visiting Juneau this month — with 1,000 followers in tow. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s devotees will… Continue reading

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. (Courtesy Photo | Art of Living Foundation)
In this August 2010 photo, a male pink salmon fights its way upstream to spawn in a Southeast Alaska stream. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Goldbelt Heritage gives look into salmon harvesting, preservation

Salmon play an important role in everyday life in Juneau, and the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation is hosting events this weekend to give people a closer… Continue reading

In this August 2010 photo, a male pink salmon fights its way upstream to spawn in a Southeast Alaska stream. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

High fecal bacteria sample close Twin Lakes for swimming

High levels of unsafe bacteria in Twin Lakes is closing the recreational spot for swimming. According to a release from the City and Borough of… Continue reading

A brown bear on the trail at Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory on Aug. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Comment period on controversial hunting rule changes extended

The National Park Service has extended the public comment period for a proposed rule to amend its regulations for sport hunting and trapping in National… Continue reading

A brown bear on the trail at Anan Creek Wildlife Observatory on Aug. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly decided to open applications beyond City Hall for a new municipal attorney. Amy Mead, the current city attorney, was named the state’s newest Juneau Superior Court judge on July 2 and will be ending her term with the city in August. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

City opens municipal attorney search to outside candidates

The city’s new municipal attorney search is officially open. The City and Borough Assembly met Thursday afternoon and decided that the search for a new… Continue reading

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly decided to open applications beyond City Hall for a new municipal attorney. Amy Mead, the current city attorney, was named the state’s newest Juneau Superior Court judge on July 2 and will be ending her term with the city in August. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Police seek information in theft of guns, cash, jewelry

Two guns were among the items stolen from a Valley home sometime in late May or early June.

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircew locates a downed aircraft inverted in Crillon Lake, in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, July 18, 2018. The National Park Service requested Coast Guard assistance in locating the pilot of the aircraft, who was found and hoisted from a Crillon Lake shore with minor injuries. (U.S. Coast Guard | Courtesy Photo)

Man survives plane crash into lake

Thanks in part to prior preparation, a man is safe after his plane flipped and crash landed in a lake in Glacier Bay National Park… Continue reading

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircew locates a downed aircraft inverted in Crillon Lake, in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, July 18, 2018. The National Park Service requested Coast Guard assistance in locating the pilot of the aircraft, who was found and hoisted from a Crillon Lake shore with minor injuries. (U.S. Coast Guard | Courtesy Photo)