The Juneau Police Department stood up a new missing persons database to help the community in the search for the lost. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Police launch local missing people database

It’s meant to help the police and community work together to find missing persons more quickly.

The Juneau Police Department stood up a new missing persons database to help the community in the search for the lost. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Jake Blount, an award winning banjo player, is the featured artist for the Alaska Folk Festival’s 2022 show. (Courtesy photo / Michael Last)

Q&A: Renowned East Coast banjo performer to headline Folk Fest

Drawing his inspiration from Black and Indigenous communties back east, Blount is the featured artist for 2022.

Jake Blount, an award winning banjo player, is the featured artist for the Alaska Folk Festival’s 2022 show. (Courtesy photo / Michael Last)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
Riverbend Elementary School principal Elizabeth Pisel-Davis gestures at drawings of things schoolchildren were thankful for that currently decorate the walls of the school after massive flooding from a burst pipe in January meant much the school’s interior had to be gutted.

New walls, news roof, new name: Riverbend undergoing major changes

The school board will vote on the name change in April.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
Riverbend Elementary School principal Elizabeth Pisel-Davis gestures at drawings of things schoolchildren were thankful for that currently decorate the walls of the school after massive flooding from a burst pipe in January meant much the school’s interior had to be gutted.
JDHS’ Jake Sleppy, right, vies for the ball in a tipoff against TMHS during the regular basketball season. JDHS just ended their season with an unsuccessful championship attempt. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

JDHS boys end season at state tournament

The long season gave players lots of time to refine their game.

JDHS’ Jake Sleppy, right, vies for the ball in a tipoff against TMHS during the regular basketball season. JDHS just ended their season with an unsuccessful championship attempt. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
A map from the Alaska Redistricting Board shows proposed House Districts in Anchorage, two of which were the subject of a lawsuit against the board for their being paired together in a single senate seat.The Alaska Supreme Court Ruled Friday the board acted unconstitutionally in one of its Senate district pairings. (Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board)
A map from the Alaska Redistricting Board shows proposed House Districts in Anchorage, two of which were the subject of a lawsuit against the board for their being paired together in a single senate seat.The Alaska Supreme Court Ruled Friday the board acted unconstitutionally in one of its Senate district pairings. (Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board)
Pharmacist Sandra Baker with the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium shows the safe where opioid medications are kept for Front Street Clinic's newly opened medically-assisted treatment program on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Pharmacist Sandra Baker with the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium shows the safe where opioid medications are kept for Front Street Clinic's newly opened medically-assisted treatment program on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This pre-COVID-19 photo shows Amy Rautiainen the 2022 Alaska Arts Education Consortium’s 2022 Arts Leader Champion of Arts in Education. (Courtesy Photo)

Artful Teaching coordinator earns award for championing arts in education

Amy Rautiainen is the 2022 Alaska Arts Education Consortium’s 2022 Arts Leader Champion of Arts in Education, the AAEC recently announced. Rautiainen coordinates the Artful… Continue reading

This pre-COVID-19 photo shows Amy Rautiainen the 2022 Alaska Arts Education Consortium’s 2022 Arts Leader Champion of Arts in Education. (Courtesy Photo)
JDHS’ Mila Hargrave (24) sinks a shot during a game against TMHS on March 5, 2022. JDHS would go on to win the match. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
JDHS’ Mila Hargrave (24) sinks a shot during a game against TMHS on March 5, 2022. JDHS would go on to win the match. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Lance Fenumiai, Juneau local and rugby player for St. Vincent College and recently named All-American by National Collegiate Rugby, pauses during a game against Wheeling University. (Terry Hancock / Wheeling University)

Juneau man named All-American college rugby player

He was also the first player from his school invited to a national college rugby event.

Lance Fenumiai, Juneau local and rugby player for St. Vincent College and recently named All-American by National Collegiate Rugby, pauses during a game against Wheeling University. (Terry Hancock / Wheeling University)
Dozens of Ukranian dumplings, called varenyky, sit after being prepared for a benefit dinner and silent auction to benefit children in war-torn Ukraine on Friday, March 25, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Olena Zubya)
Dozens of Ukranian dumplings, called varenyky, sit after being prepared for a benefit dinner and silent auction to benefit children in war-torn Ukraine on Friday, March 25, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Olena Zubya)
Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Daniel, an aviation maintenance technician at Air Station Sitka, observes an oil sheen surrounding the Western Mariner, an 83-foot inspected tug, in Neva Strait March, 21, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Wereda)

Recovery efforts for grounded tug near Sitka continue

Nearly a thousand gallons of diesel have been recovered from the ruptured tank.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Daniel, an aviation maintenance technician at Air Station Sitka, observes an oil sheen surrounding the Western Mariner, an 83-foot inspected tug, in Neva Strait March, 21, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Wereda)
National Guardsmen Sgt. Andrew Hunt and Sgt. Jason Williams, survey team members for the 103rd Civil Support Team, suit up as they prepare to investigate a simulated hazardous material situation in an exercise with Juneau’s emergency organizations on march 22, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
National Guardsmen Sgt. Andrew Hunt and Sgt. Jason Williams, survey team members for the 103rd Civil Support Team, suit up as they prepare to investigate a simulated hazardous material situation in an exercise with Juneau’s emergency organizations on march 22, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Alwen Carrillo calls out to his teammates during a game earlier this season. The Crimson Bears on Wednesday will take on top-seeded Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School to open the state tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Alwen Carrillo calls out to his teammates during a game earlier this season. The Crimson Bears on Wednesday will take on top-seeded Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School to open the state tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

JDHS boys ready for state tournament

They’re shipping off to Anchorage.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Alwen Carrillo calls out to his teammates during a game earlier this season. The Crimson Bears on Wednesday will take on top-seeded Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School to open the state tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Alwen Carrillo calls out to his teammates during a game earlier this season. The Crimson Bears on Wednesday will take on top-seeded Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School to open the state tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
An arch at the State Library, Archives and Museum was vandalized late last week, leaving it lopsided. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

State museum art installation vandalized

The state will repair the arch, but it will take some time.

An arch at the State Library, Archives and Museum was vandalized late last week, leaving it lopsided. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel participate in the rescue of a capsized kayaker near Don D. Statter Harbor on March 21, 2022. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)

CCFR rescues kayaker near Auke Bay

The kayaker was in the water for more than 20 minutes, firefighters said.

Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel participate in the rescue of a capsized kayaker near Don D. Statter Harbor on March 21, 2022. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)
This Friday, March 18 photo shows an Air Force C-17 at Juneau International Airport as it ferried gear to Juneau for a hazardous materials exercise with the city and other organizations. (David Rigas / Juneau Empire)

City and military hold hazardous material exercise

The exercise will test the city’s response to a hazmat emergency.

This Friday, March 18 photo shows an Air Force C-17 at Juneau International Airport as it ferried gear to Juneau for a hazardous materials exercise with the city and other organizations. (David Rigas / Juneau Empire)
An improvised heating device sparked a February fire in a vehicle near Donna’s, totally destroying the vehicle. (Courtesy photo / Capital City Fire/Rescue)

Fire marshal: Homemade heating device sparked February car fire

No one was injured, but the vehicle was immolated.

An improvised heating device sparked a February fire in a vehicle near Donna’s, totally destroying the vehicle. (Courtesy photo / Capital City Fire/Rescue)
The winners of the Juneau Economic Development Corporation’s Innovation Summit pitch contest Jay Byam, left, and Jack Finnegan, were announced Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Centennial Hall. Byam’s Anchorage company Kartorium makes 3D models for industrial products and Finnegan’s Ketchikan-based Fishability Alaska has designs for a charter fishing boat that’s universally accessable for people with disabilities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The winners of the Juneau Economic Development Corporation’s Innovation Summit pitch contest Jay Byam, left, and Jack Finnegan, were announced Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Centennial Hall. Byam’s Anchorage company Kartorium makes 3D models for industrial products and Finnegan’s Ketchikan-based Fishability Alaska has designs for a charter fishing boat that’s universally accessable for people with disabilities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Anthony Mallott, president and CEO of Sealaska Corp. reflected on the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act during the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly lunch on Thursday.

Mallott looks back — and forward — 50 years after ANCSA

Native corporates are big business in Alaska

Anthony Mallott, president and CEO of Sealaska Corp. reflected on the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act during the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly lunch on Thursday.
Ketchikan resident Jack Finnegan, left, owner of Fishability, and Bonnie, center, and Stormy Hamar, who own Kasaan Arts, Museum, and Canoes stand outside the Sealaska Heritage Building on Feb. 8. Earlier Tuesday, each business owner was named a winner of the Path to Prosperity contest, put on by nonprofit Spruce Root. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Entrepreneurs get a boost on the Path to Prosperity

Spruce Root awards $50,000 in prizes

Ketchikan resident Jack Finnegan, left, owner of Fishability, and Bonnie, center, and Stormy Hamar, who own Kasaan Arts, Museum, and Canoes stand outside the Sealaska Heritage Building on Feb. 8. Earlier Tuesday, each business owner was named a winner of the Path to Prosperity contest, put on by nonprofit Spruce Root. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)