Celebration food contest highlights traditional staples

Seal oil with cracklings — crunchy seal fat — reminds Joe Nelson of early fall mornings growing up in Yakutat. Nelson, Board Chair of Sealaska… Continue reading

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Troopers arrest co-conspirator in prison drug case

One of the two co-conspirators still at large for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into Lemon Creek Correctional Center was arrested Wednesday night, law enforcement… Continue reading

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Police, family members talk down armed man ‘in emotional crisis’

Police spent hours trying to talk with an armed man “in emotional crisis” who was refusing to come out of his car, Juneau Police Department… Continue reading

Kuteeyaa (Totem) of Seattle perform for Celebration 2018 at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, June 7, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Dance groups come from far and wide for Celebration

Tiny Barril waited seven years for the song to come to him. In 2010, Barril — a Tlingit dance leader who lives in the Seattle… Continue reading

Kuteeyaa (Totem) of Seattle perform for Celebration 2018 at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, June 7, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Marie Darlin was inducted into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame for her citizen advocacy for senior citizens and Alaska’s heritage in 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Advocate, historian and longtime Juneauite Marie Darlin dies at age 93

Juneau historian, community organizer and advocate Marie Darlin has died. She was 93 years old. Darlin, born in Juneau in 1925, was a third-generation Juneauite,… Continue reading

Marie Darlin was inducted into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame for her citizen advocacy for senior citizens and Alaska’s heritage in 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler to be arraigned June 21

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler to be arraigned June 21

An Alaska lawmaker who resigned after allegations of striking a Juneau woman is soon scheduled to appear in court. Online public courts records show the… Continue reading

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler to be arraigned June 21
Sisters Ursala Hudson (top) and Lily Hope watch part of a presentation they led entitled “Listening to our Teachers: Bringing History to the Present in Chilkat and Ravenstail Weaving” inside the Walter Soboleff Building’s clan house on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. Hope holds her 8-month-old daughter Anastasia. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Sisters continue weaving, teaching after mother’s death

Long before they started weaving, Lily Hope and Ursala Hudson were woven into an ancient artform without knowing it. Their mother, the late weaver Clarissa… Continue reading

Sisters Ursala Hudson (top) and Lily Hope watch part of a presentation they led entitled “Listening to our Teachers: Bringing History to the Present in Chilkat and Ravenstail Weaving” inside the Walter Soboleff Building’s clan house on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. Hope holds her 8-month-old daughter Anastasia. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
The Alaska Capitol in Juneau

First responders train for active shooter scenario at Capitol today

Emergency vehicles will surround the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday morning, but only for a training exercise, according to Capital City Fire/Rescue. As part of… Continue reading

The Alaska Capitol in Juneau
Ariane Xay Kuyaas Medley is presented her Best of Endangered Division award from Joe Nelson at Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Juried Art Competition award ceremony at the Walter Soboleff Center on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. Medley went on to win the Best of Show. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Spruce root basket wins Best of Show at Native art show

Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled Ursala Hudson’s first name. It’s Ursala, not Ursula. Her winning piece “Inside Out” was also incorrectly identified… Continue reading

Ariane Xay Kuyaas Medley is presented her Best of Endangered Division award from Joe Nelson at Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Juried Art Competition award ceremony at the Walter Soboleff Center on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. Medley went on to win the Best of Show. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Defense attorney Julie Willoughby is pictured in the photo from her application to the Alaska Judicial Council. (Alaska Judicial Council | Courtesy photo)

Walker takes judge selection process seriously, chief of staff says

Correction: This article previously stated incorrectly that Gov. Bill Walker has appointed 12 district court judges and nine superior court judges during his time as… Continue reading

Defense attorney Julie Willoughby is pictured in the photo from her application to the Alaska Judicial Council. (Alaska Judicial Council | Courtesy photo)
A cruise ship in Glacier Bay National Park. (Photo courtesy NPS)

Glacier Bay cruise ship permits get redo

Correction: This article initially attributed a policy to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) instead of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).… Continue reading

A cruise ship in Glacier Bay National Park. (Photo courtesy NPS)

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler charged with harassment

A former Alaska legislator has been formally charged with a crime for allegedly hitting a woman so hard it ruptured her eardrum earlier this year.… Continue reading

Contemporary Christian singer Michael W. Smith will play a show in Juneau in July. (Inspiration Cruises | Courtesy Photo)

Christian artist Michael W. Smith planning show in Juneau

Four years ago, one of the biggest names in contemporary Christian music came to Juneau. This summer, he’s coming back. Michael W. Smith, a Grammy-winning,… Continue reading

Contemporary Christian singer Michael W. Smith will play a show in Juneau in July. (Inspiration Cruises | Courtesy Photo)

Juneau meets season of ‘mega-ships’

Juneau residents will see a few thousand more cruise line passengers that normal as a new “mega-ship” arrives today. The Norwegian Bliss, a 1,082-foot, 4,004… Continue reading

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Man who threw punch stabbed downtown

Police say a man allegedly trying to start fights in the downtown area was stabbed by another man on Sunday afternoon. The 35-year-old man was… Continue reading

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Forest Service douses wildfire north of Juneau

The 56-acre fire at the Berners Bay area is no longer a threat, according to the U.S. Forest Service The fire, which started at Antler… Continue reading

Lyle James points out petroglyphs on a rock in Berners Bay. James and other Tlingit leaders were showing others the generations-old carvings as part of the new Tl&

Alaska’s petrogylphs & lessons that span an ocean: Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians learn from each other on environmental topics

Clarification: This article has been updated to mention that the University of Alaska Southeast coordinated and organized the Tléix’ Yaakw (One Canoe) conference. Just a… Continue reading

Lyle James points out petroglyphs on a rock in Berners Bay. James and other Tlingit leaders were showing others the generations-old carvings as part of the new Tl&
A nesting Arctic tern. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Bird colony attacked at glacier, possibly by dog

About 35 sleek, black-crowned Arctic terns nest at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in the spring and early summer, according to U.S. Forest Service biologist… Continue reading

A nesting Arctic tern. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
A fire burns on the grass at Antler Flats, in the northeast section of Berners Bay. (Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service)

Forest Service fighting 56-acres wildfire north of Juneau

Firefighters are working to contain a forest fire that has broken out north of Juneau in the Berners Bay area, according to the U.S. Forest… Continue reading

A fire burns on the grass at Antler Flats, in the northeast section of Berners Bay. (Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service)
Rick Smith talks about his time as Building Custodian at the Juneau Police Station on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Smith, who has worked there since the station opened in 2000, retired Thursday, May 31, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

JPD officer, custodian, evidence specialist retire after lengthy careers

Rick Smith hasn’t taken a vacation in at least four years. Since Juneau’s police station was built in Lemon Creek in 2000, Smith has cared… Continue reading

Rick Smith talks about his time as Building Custodian at the Juneau Police Station on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Smith, who has worked there since the station opened in 2000, retired Thursday, May 31, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)