The jury section stands empty between rounds of the jury selection process in the trial for a man charged in a stabbing in downtown Juneau in 2019 on May 16, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Jury selection begins for 2019 stabbing trial

The process, which can take several days, precedes the opening statements by the defense and prosecution.

The jury section stands empty between rounds of the jury selection process in the trial for a man charged in a stabbing in downtown Juneau in 2019 on May 16, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Law enforcement personnel salute as officer lay a ceremonial wreath on the grave of a dead officer at Evergreen Cemetery for Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 13, 2022.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Law enforcement personnel salute as officer lay a ceremonial wreath on the grave of a dead officer at Evergreen Cemetery for Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 13, 2022.
Of the more than 460 stoOf the more than 460 stocks managed by NOAA, 322 have a known overfishing status (296 not subject to overfishing and 26 subject to overfishing) and 252 have a known overfished status (201 not overfished and 51 overfished). (Courtesy Image / NOAA)

Southeast fisheries hoping for less turbulent waters

Regions and species see wildly variably conditions due to climate and COVID-19, according to two new NOAA reports.

Of the more than 460 stoOf the more than 460 stocks managed by NOAA, 322 have a known overfishing status (296 not subject to overfishing and 26 subject to overfishing) and 252 have a known overfished status (201 not overfished and 51 overfished). (Courtesy Image / NOAA)
Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss, right, and other district leaders present a request for extra funding for middle school wrestling mats to the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday. The request was first requested Monday by a wrestling coach who stating student safety is endangered by the aging and damaged mats currently in use, but the committee rejected the request due to concerns about a deficit in next year’s budget and worries about motivating others to make similar last-minute requests. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

City confronts spending today, paying tomorrow

Assembly considers items on its “decision list” as budget process moves along.

Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss, right, and other district leaders present a request for extra funding for middle school wrestling mats to the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday. The request was first requested Monday by a wrestling coach who stating student safety is endangered by the aging and damaged mats currently in use, but the committee rejected the request due to concerns about a deficit in next year’s budget and worries about motivating others to make similar last-minute requests. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau City Finance Director Jeff Rogers, left, explains how $5,500 payments to residents approved by the Alaska Senate may endanger a $16 million school bond reimbursement payment to the city during a meeting of the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

$5,500 checks to residents may come at city’s expense

Record payments to residents OK’d by state Senate could cost city school bond debt reimbursement.

Juneau City Finance Director Jeff Rogers, left, explains how $5,500 payments to residents approved by the Alaska Senate may endanger a $16 million school bond reimbursement payment to the city during a meeting of the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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A number of sentencings by a U.S. District Court judge were announced on Thursday for several unrelated arrests that had occurred over the last several years. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Department of Justice announces multiple criminal sentencings

The three suspects, arrested across the Southeast over the last four years, were not related to each other.

A number of sentencings by a U.S. District Court judge were announced on Thursday for several unrelated arrests that had occurred over the last several years. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities map shows the study area for a proposed second crossing between Juneau and Douglas Island. (Courtesy Image / DOT&PF)

City, state join to consider second Juneau-Douglas crossing

Juneau officials are attempting to make progress on a possible second crossing to Douglas Island, which has been studied since the early 1980s without much… Continue reading

This Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities map shows the study area for a proposed second crossing between Juneau and Douglas Island. (Courtesy Image / DOT&PF)
Jordyn Ortega walks the runway during an Alaska Fashion Week event on May 7, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Sydney Akagi Photography)

Alaska’s (fashion) capital brings fashion week back

Designers, models and attendees from across the continent came to Juneau for the show.

Jordyn Ortega walks the runway during an Alaska Fashion Week event on May 7, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Sydney Akagi Photography)
This March 2020 photo shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall. Voters will be asked again this fall if they want to extend a 1% temporary sales tax for another five years and city leaders are in the process of making a priority list of how the money would be spent if approved. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Listening and listing: City seeks input on 1% sales tax projects

If you had $60 million to improve Juneau how would you spend it?

This March 2020 photo shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall. Voters will be asked again this fall if they want to extend a 1% temporary sales tax for another five years and city leaders are in the process of making a priority list of how the money would be spent if approved. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Blake Plummer, left, and Sophia Pugh, both JDHS girls soccer players, sign their letters of intent to play for Peninsula College and the Pratt Institute respectively on May 9, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

JDHS soccer players sign for college teams on opposite coasts

The two have played together for years, playing key roles for JDHS.

Blake Plummer, left, and Sophia Pugh, both JDHS girls soccer players, sign their letters of intent to play for Peninsula College and the Pratt Institute respectively on May 9, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Homer Police said this area on East Pioneer Avenue in front of Homer’s Jeans and the Kachemak Bay Campus was where search dogs indicated a “car pick up,” or a scent that suggested a person had gotten in a vehicle, for Anesha “Duffy” Murnane. Murnane was last seen in Homer, Alaska, on Oct. 17, 2019. This photo was take on Nov. 10, 2019. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Police arrest man in murder, kidnapping of Homer woman

Man living in Utah knew victim when he lived in Homer in 2019.

Homer Police said this area on East Pioneer Avenue in front of Homer’s Jeans and the Kachemak Bay Campus was where search dogs indicated a “car pick up,” or a scent that suggested a person had gotten in a vehicle, for Anesha “Duffy” Murnane. Murnane was last seen in Homer, Alaska, on Oct. 17, 2019. This photo was take on Nov. 10, 2019. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
At-home test kits are available in Juneau at City Hall cash office, all Juneau public libraries, Juneau Public Health Center and the Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
At-home test kits are available in Juneau at City Hall cash office, all Juneau public libraries, Juneau Public Health Center and the Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a gondola in Austria recently purchased by the City and Borough of Juneau for the Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Courtesy Photo)

City stuck with extra expensive gondola shipping bill

Assembly agrees to pay more than twice the estimated cost for Eaglecrest lift purchased in Austria.

This photo shows a gondola in Austria recently purchased by the City and Borough of Juneau for the Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Courtesy Photo)
Photos by Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Members of the Yées Ku.oo multicultural dance group advance up the pier Saturday during the 12th Annual Maritime Festival. Below left, sailors strive against Juneau Docks and Harbors personnel in a tug-of-war. Below right, a swimmer drops out of a Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk during a rescue demonstration.

Visitors and sun greet 12th annual Juneau Maritime Festival

Hundreds came to the annual festival recognizing Juneau’s ties to the ocean.

Photos by Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Members of the Yées Ku.oo multicultural dance group advance up the pier Saturday during the 12th Annual Maritime Festival. Below left, sailors strive against Juneau Docks and Harbors personnel in a tug-of-war. Below right, a swimmer drops out of a Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk during a rescue demonstration.
Capt. Bonny Millard of the FV San Juan tosses the commemorative wreath during the annual Blessing of the Fleet at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial in Juneau on May 7, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau holds annual Blessing of the Fleet

Juneau turned out to bless and honor its fishermen, both working and lost at sea or ashore.

Capt. Bonny Millard of the FV San Juan tosses the commemorative wreath during the annual Blessing of the Fleet at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial in Juneau on May 7, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Anne Sears, the new lead investigator for the federally-funded Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Initiative, speaks during the annual rally at the Alaska State Capitol on May 5, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Hundreds gather for missing and murdered Indigenous people

More and more attention is being paid nationwide to the staggering violence rates.

Anne Sears, the new lead investigator for the federally-funded Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Initiative, speaks during the annual rally at the Alaska State Capitol on May 5, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Alaskan Brewing Co. recently won a platinum Crushie from the Craft Beer Marketing Association for the design of its Island Ale, the second year in a row the brewery has won an award. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Alaskan Brewing Co. recently won a platinum Crushie from the Craft Beer Marketing Association for the design of its Island Ale, the second year in a row the brewery has won an award. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A Carnival Cruise Lines vessel similar to one due in Juneau Saturday following a COVID-19 outbreak aboard steams past Douglas in 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

Formerly infected cruise ship to dock as usual

Most passengers were let off in Seattle, and the city is satisfied with measures in place.

A Carnival Cruise Lines vessel similar to one due in Juneau Saturday following a COVID-19 outbreak aboard steams past Douglas in 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
Dasha Pearson, second from right, with her sister Natalia Dontsova, center, and father Alexander Dontsov, second from right, in Seattle on March 8, 2022. Pearson's family fled Ukraine when the war started, and now they and other displaced Ukrainians are trying to find a home in Alaska. (Courtesy photo / Dasha Pearson)
Dasha Pearson, second from right, with her sister Natalia Dontsova, center, and father Alexander Dontsov, second from right, in Seattle on March 8, 2022. Pearson's family fled Ukraine when the war started, and now they and other displaced Ukrainians are trying to find a home in Alaska. (Courtesy photo / Dasha Pearson)