News

Could migrating squid help Alaska predict climate change?

Attracted to warming ocean temperatures, small, iridescent squid have been moving into Southeast Alaska waters. They could be a cipher to understanding how sea life… Continue reading

Robert J. Shem, a retired firearms examiner for the state of Alaska crime lab, speaks from the witness chair during the Christopher Strawn’s trial in Juneau Superior Court on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. Strawn, 34, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the shooting death of Brandon Cook in October 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Firearms expert testifies as Strawn murder trial ends second week

Earlier this year, Yvette Soutiere was defending Christopher Strawn. On Friday morning, the assistant public defender held her head in her hands as Strawn, 34,… Continue reading

Robert J. Shem, a retired firearms examiner for the state of Alaska crime lab, speaks from the witness chair during the Christopher Strawn’s trial in Juneau Superior Court on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. Strawn, 34, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the shooting death of Brandon Cook in October 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sections of picket fence are loaded onto a flatbed trailer as work begins on the demolition of Project Playground at Twin Lakes on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Pickets for new playground available for purchase, personalization

When the new playground is built at Twin Lakes, it will bear not only the ideas and suggestions of the people of Juneau, but it… Continue reading

Sections of picket fence are loaded onto a flatbed trailer as work begins on the demolition of Project Playground at Twin Lakes on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Special Olympics athletes take their turns bowling at a practice at Taku Lanes on Sunday, Oct. 15. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

At bowling alley, Special Olympians and league players unite

Juneau’s newly-formed unified Special Olympics bowling team has laid a lot on the line. For teammates Niall Johnson, Charlie Lewis, AJ Botion and Leroy George,… Continue reading

Special Olympics athletes take their turns bowling at a practice at Taku Lanes on Sunday, Oct. 15. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Seasonal parking now available at Marine Park Plaza

From now until April, parking downtown is going to be a little easier for some. Anyone with a Marine Parking Garage parking permit will be… Continue reading

Learn boating safety with USCG

Learn boating safety with USCG

The U.S. Coast Guard will teach a boating safety course today at the Juneau Yacht Club from 1-5 p.m. Costs are $30 for an individual… Continue reading

Learn boating safety with USCG

Assembly meets for first time since election, talking sales tax, West Douglas road

Monday’s City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting will be the first one in a month, and will get right to business. The meeting will… Continue reading

Liam, Lawrence and Logan David are identical triplets born on April 23, 2017, to parents John David and Lory Rowe. They were photographed at their Mendenhall Valley home on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Who’s who? Identical triplets prove difficult to tell apart

Their right toenail. That’s how you tell them apart. Lawrence’s is painted blue. Liam’s is painted green. Logan’s isn’t painted. Other than that, telling the… Continue reading

Liam, Lawrence and Logan David are identical triplets born on April 23, 2017, to parents John David and Lory Rowe. They were photographed at their Mendenhall Valley home on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Employees from the Haunted Station pose during a previous year. The United States Coast Guard Station Juneau is hosting its annual Halloween event starting Thursday, Oct. 26 and continuing through Oct. 28. (Photo courtesy of United States Coast Guard Station Juneau)

From Coast Guard to Ghost Guard

Starting next week, the United States Coast Guard Station Juneau will make its annual transformation into a so-called “Haunted Station.” The Haunted Station will be… Continue reading

Employees from the Haunted Station pose during a previous year. The United States Coast Guard Station Juneau is hosting its annual Halloween event starting Thursday, Oct. 26 and continuing through Oct. 28. (Photo courtesy of United States Coast Guard Station Juneau)
Christopher Strawn, right, confers with criminal defense attorney Nicholas Polasky during his trial in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Strawn, 34, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the shooting death of Brandon Cook in October 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Missing weapon is hole in state’s murder case

As the state prepares to wrap up its case against Christopher Strawn, one big unanswered question lingers over the trial. If Strawn killed Brandon Cook… Continue reading

Christopher Strawn, right, confers with criminal defense attorney Nicholas Polasky during his trial in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. Strawn, 34, faces charges of first-degree and second-degree murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, third-degree assault and weapons misconduct in the shooting death of Brandon Cook in October 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Maestro Troy Quinn. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Symphony)

Juneau Symphony season begins next weekend

Next weekend’s Juneau Symphony performances kick off its 2017-2018 season, which will include a wide range of musical styles and performances from now through next… Continue reading

Maestro Troy Quinn. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Symphony)
Craig Campbell, President and CEO of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, presents “Alaska &

Small rockets, big profits: Alaska Aerospace looks to commercial market for future

Craig Campbell remembers the night when they tested the missiles. Campbell, the president and CEO of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC), presented pictures of a… Continue reading

Craig Campbell, President and CEO of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, presents “Alaska &
Frost on a fern along the Gastineau Meadows Trail on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Don’t believe your iPhone: Snow unlikely here

Juneau residents awoke Thursday to a rime of frost glazing windshields and roads. On their iPhones, there was a forecast of something else to come:… Continue reading

Frost on a fern along the Gastineau Meadows Trail on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Chamber luncheon looks to outer space

Thursday’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon presentation will be out of this world. Craig Campbell, president CEO of Alaska Aerospace Corporation, is giving a presentation titled… Continue reading

An electric motor coach provided by BYD Auto Co., Ltd., a Chinese automobile manufacturer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, and Alaska Coach Tours stops at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center to showcase the potential for electric vehicle bus transportation as part of the tourism industry in Alaska on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. The city is working to get a permanent electric bus, but even with a grant it might take more than a year for it to get to town. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Even with grant, electric bus far off for Juneau

A federal grant for bringing an electric bus to Juneau has city officials excited, but it will be a while before the bus actually makes… Continue reading

An electric motor coach provided by BYD Auto Co., Ltd., a Chinese automobile manufacturer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, and Alaska Coach Tours stops at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center to showcase the potential for electric vehicle bus transportation as part of the tourism industry in Alaska on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. The city is working to get a permanent electric bus, but even with a grant it might take more than a year for it to get to town. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Transportation Security Officer Renier Cava gives instructions to Father Roger Schwietz on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the Juneau International Airport. A new policy from the Transportation Security Administration requires passengers to remove all electronic items larger than their cell phones and put them through the scanner. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

New TSA policy takes closer look at electronics

Transportation Safety Officer Renier Cava is likely used to repeating instructions over and over as passengers pass through security at the Juneau International Airport, and… Continue reading

Transportation Security Officer Renier Cava gives instructions to Father Roger Schwietz on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the Juneau International Airport. A new policy from the Transportation Security Administration requires passengers to remove all electronic items larger than their cell phones and put them through the scanner. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Pretrial finds offices in Juneau, opens in January

Juneau’s pretrial office now has a spot. After months of searching for a suitable spot in Juneau to station officers who assist in pretrial services,… Continue reading

A goat looks at a group of hikers on Blackerby Ridge in 2014. (Photo by Mary Catharine Martin)

Dehydrated goat hunters rescued from ridge

Two goat hunters, dehydrated after their water supply froze, were rescued from Blackerby Ridge by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter Tuesday evening. The men, ages… Continue reading

A goat looks at a group of hikers on Blackerby Ridge in 2014. (Photo by Mary Catharine Martin)

Opera and beer at Rockwell

Break out the lederhosen or dirndl, it’s Operatoberfest time. Beer and opera will meet at the Juneau Lyric Opera’s most bawdy and rambunctious event of… Continue reading

In this May 2009 photo, the Mendenhall River flows out of the Mendenhall Valley past the northwestern tip of the Juneau International Airport and through the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

River erosion leads to ‘unique’ pipe break

Last month, erosion on the Mendenhall River led to a situation that has never happened in Juneau. On Sept. 1, City and Borough of Juneau… Continue reading

In this May 2009 photo, the Mendenhall River flows out of the Mendenhall Valley past the northwestern tip of the Juneau International Airport and through the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)