News

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members unanimously agreed on a city ordinance which appropriates $700,000 — pulled from the Affordable Housing Fund — to fund a predevelopment loan for the proposed Gastineau Lodges project which, if developed, would create a 72-unit apartment building in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown housing project takes step forward

Assembly agrees to predevelopment loan for 72-unit Gastineau Lodges project.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members unanimously agreed on a city ordinance which appropriates $700,000 — pulled from the Affordable Housing Fund — to fund a predevelopment loan for the proposed Gastineau Lodges project which, if developed, would create a 72-unit apartment building in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
People walk past City Hall in downtown Juneau on a sunny evening in early September. On Monday, CBJ Assembly members OK’d an ordinance to offer a property tax break to new eligible housing developments of four or more units on one lot that will be in effect boroughwide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City OKs tax break for housing development

Boroughwide abatement ordinance gets the OK after whirlwind debate

People walk past City Hall in downtown Juneau on a sunny evening in early September. On Monday, CBJ Assembly members OK’d an ordinance to offer a property tax break to new eligible housing developments of four or more units on one lot that will be in effect boroughwide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School wrestler Brandon Day pins down his competition Saturday afternoon during the Brandon Pilot Invitational Wrestling Tournament at THMS. The Falcons had seven of its wrestlers make it into the finals and five took first in their weight divisions. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Falcons hit the mats

Juneau high school wrestlers take top spots at weekend tournaments

Thunder Mountain High School wrestler Brandon Day pins down his competition Saturday afternoon during the Brandon Pilot Invitational Wrestling Tournament at THMS. The Falcons had seven of its wrestlers make it into the finals and five took first in their weight divisions. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Residents made their way through the more than 30 local vendor booths included at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center for the first-ever Pumpkin Spice Market, a fall-themed festival hosted by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council which celebrated local artists, businesses and organizations here in the capital city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘Pumpkin Spice’ and everything nice: Vendors and residents join up at the JACC for a fall festival

Art and apple cider

Residents made their way through the more than 30 local vendor booths included at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center for the first-ever Pumpkin Spice Market, a fall-themed festival hosted by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council which celebrated local artists, businesses and organizations here in the capital city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Andrii Pomynalnyi, left, his wife Olena, son Yehor and daughter Irynka visit Nugget Falls on Sept. 28, the same day the Ukrainian family arrived in Juneau after a journey that began Feb. 24 with Russian attacks near their home in Kyiv. The father said he is hoping the family can remain in Juneau for at least two years and possible beyond due to the destruction and future uncertainty in his homeland. (Courtesy of Kate Troll)

Ukrainian family sees strong prospects in Juneau

Kyiv family sees past life disappear at start of Russian invasion, reaches Alaska seven months later

Andrii Pomynalnyi, left, his wife Olena, son Yehor and daughter Irynka visit Nugget Falls on Sept. 28, the same day the Ukrainian family arrived in Juneau after a journey that began Feb. 24 with Russian attacks near their home in Kyiv. The father said he is hoping the family can remain in Juneau for at least two years and possible beyond due to the destruction and future uncertainty in his homeland. (Courtesy of Kate Troll)
The Juneau Huskies offense prepares to kneel to end the half against the Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School Thunderbirds. Winning that game sent the unite Juneau high school football team to the

Live coverage from Division I title game: Huskies vs Knights

ASAA Division I First National Bowl championship

The Juneau Huskies offense prepares to kneel to end the half against the Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School Thunderbirds. Winning that game sent the unite Juneau high school football team to the
Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire Harmony Wentz, Faith Rogers’ daughter, holds a framed picture showing a young Faith and her two sisters. According to Juneau Police Department spokesperson Lt. Krag Campbell, authorities are working to identify a suspect in Rogers’ death.

Homicide investigation continues a month after suspicious death

Police say autopsy results could take six to eight months to receive

Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire Harmony Wentz, Faith Rogers’ daughter, holds a framed picture showing a young Faith and her two sisters. According to Juneau Police Department spokesperson Lt. Krag Campbell, authorities are working to identify a suspect in Rogers’ death.
A group of Juneau residents tour the Riverview Senior Living facility which is currently under construction and slated to open in early to mid-2023, according to the company. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

An early view of Riverview

Older adult living facility opens its doors amid construction for a sneak peek

A group of Juneau residents tour the Riverview Senior Living facility which is currently under construction and slated to open in early to mid-2023, according to the company. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Flowers sit Friday morning at Auke Lake at the site of a deadly crash. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Investigation ongoing in deadly crash

Truck’s third occupant uninjured, according to police.

Flowers sit Friday morning at Auke Lake at the site of a deadly crash. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The Hospice and Home Care of Juneau office at the Catholic Community Service complex on Glacier Highway has discharged its patients as of Wednesday, due to the inability to retain and afford sufficient staffing. CCS is continuing to offer limited help with its volunteers and is in discussions with Bartlett Regional Hospital about taking over such care. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Future of local hospice care remains uncertain

Bartlett’s board of directors expected to discuss taking over services on Tuesday

The Hospice and Home Care of Juneau office at the Catholic Community Service complex on Glacier Highway has discharged its patients as of Wednesday, due to the inability to retain and afford sufficient staffing. CCS is continuing to offer limited help with its volunteers and is in discussions with Bartlett Regional Hospital about taking over such care. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A dump truck lays mangled down an embankment below Glacier Highway near the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal Friday morning after crashing through the guardrail Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Man goes to hospital after dump truck crashes down embankment

The vehicle crash through the guardrail along Glacier Highway near the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal

A dump truck lays mangled down an embankment below Glacier Highway near the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal Friday morning after crashing through the guardrail Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the current lift in place at Eaglecrest Ski Area during the middle of September. The ski area is in the early stages of installing a new gondola which has a tentative timeline for completion set for the summer of 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Eaglecrest GM offers update on gondola

Tentatively set for summer of 2024

This photo shows the current lift in place at Eaglecrest Ski Area during the middle of September. The ski area is in the early stages of installing a new gondola which has a tentative timeline for completion set for the summer of 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau where currently 20% of the prison’s population has been transferred to South Central Alaska amid repairs. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

About half of inmates transferred from Juneau are sentenced felons, according to DOC

Lemon Creek Correctional Center’s remaining population largely male, according to department.

This photo shows Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau where currently 20% of the prison’s population has been transferred to South Central Alaska amid repairs. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
A voter sits behind a privacy screen while filling out a ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal. The City and Borough of Juneau announced the final results of its 2022 local election showing a voter turnout just under 33% of all registered voters who participated in this year’s election.(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

The results are in: CBJ finalizes 2022 local election

New City Hall fails, mandatory disclosure repeal OK’d

A voter sits behind a privacy screen while filling out a ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal. The City and Borough of Juneau announced the final results of its 2022 local election showing a voter turnout just under 33% of all registered voters who participated in this year’s election.(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A map shows the former downtown shelter operated by The Glory Hall is in a high-risk landslide/avalanche zone, according to an analysis updated this year. The building on South Franklin Street is located almost directly below homes on Gastineau Street that were damaged or destroyed by a landslide during a heavy rainstorm at the end of September. (Juneau Community Development Department)

Downtown Glory Hall housing proposal gets new rejection

Landslide that destroyed homes above former homeless shelter adds to questions about project’s safety

A map shows the former downtown shelter operated by The Glory Hall is in a high-risk landslide/avalanche zone, according to an analysis updated this year. The building on South Franklin Street is located almost directly below homes on Gastineau Street that were damaged or destroyed by a landslide during a heavy rainstorm at the end of September. (Juneau Community Development Department)
Bartlett Regional Hospital will no longer require masking in its facilities along with a change in its pre-procedure testing policies, the hospital announced in a recent news release. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett Regional Hospital drops mandatory masking policy

Patients, visitors and staff will be required to screen for symptoms at hospital’s main entrance.

Bartlett Regional Hospital will no longer require masking in its facilities along with a change in its pre-procedure testing policies, the hospital announced in a recent news release. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Taylor Vidic, Kelsey Riker and other performers stand in a line as they sing at a previous Nude & Rude event. Vidic said the upcoming Halloween weekend show will be the crew’s first performance since 2019. (Courtesy Photo/ Sydney Akagi)

Upon further Revue: Burlesque troupe is back for Halloween fun

Burlesque, booze and boos.

Taylor Vidic, Kelsey Riker and other performers stand in a line as they sing at a previous Nude & Rude event. Vidic said the upcoming Halloween weekend show will be the crew’s first performance since 2019. (Courtesy Photo/ Sydney Akagi)
Juneau Police Department and assistance from Capital City Fire/Rescue on the scene Tuesday morning, Oct. 18 at Auke Bay Lake off of Glacier Highway after it was reported that a white Chevrolet pickup truck occupied by three males lost control and rolled several times before landing into the lake. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Police investigate deadly wreck near Auke Lake

At 12:51 a.m. Tuesday, police received a report of a crash on Glacier Highway.

Juneau Police Department and assistance from Capital City Fire/Rescue on the scene Tuesday morning, Oct. 18 at Auke Bay Lake off of Glacier Highway after it was reported that a white Chevrolet pickup truck occupied by three males lost control and rolled several times before landing into the lake. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
An Alaska Coach Tours bus sits parked beside the cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau. Alexandra Pierce, the CBJ tourism manager, said this year’s season went “relatively smoothly” and said the revival of tourism was overall well received by the residents and downtown businesses. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Final cruise ship of 2022 leaves Juneau

Capital city says farewell to its last ship of the season

An Alaska Coach Tours bus sits parked beside the cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau. Alexandra Pierce, the CBJ tourism manager, said this year’s season went “relatively smoothly” and said the revival of tourism was overall well received by the residents and downtown businesses. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Brenda Weaver and Olga Lijó Seráns stand in Hearthside Books in downtown Juneau on Monday, Oct. 16, one day after Seráns took over as the official owner. Weaver, who had been the bookstore’s owner since 2014, said she looks forward to retirement and spending more time with friends and family. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Hearthside Books enters into new chapter with new owner

“I’m going to miss a whole lot about it, this has been a labor of love.”

Brenda Weaver and Olga Lijó Seráns stand in Hearthside Books in downtown Juneau on Monday, Oct. 16, one day after Seráns took over as the official owner. Weaver, who had been the bookstore’s owner since 2014, said she looks forward to retirement and spending more time with friends and family. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)