News

This is a photo of humpback whales surfacing near a Juneau Tours and Whale Watch boat. (Courtesy / Juneau Tours and Whale Watch)

Unlimited numbers of whale watching boats causing wave of concern

Local operators and industry officials create committee to address impacts, potential limits.

This is a photo of humpback whales surfacing near a Juneau Tours and Whale Watch boat. (Courtesy / Juneau Tours and Whale Watch)
A cycle rickshaw and cars park outside the front of the Glory Hall’s former downtown homeless shelter Tuesday evening. The building is slated to begin its transformation into seven affordable housing units and additional commercial use space in mid-October. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown Glory Hall apartment project to begin construction this fall

The former homeless shelter will be converted into seven affordable housing units

A cycle rickshaw and cars park outside the front of the Glory Hall’s former downtown homeless shelter Tuesday evening. The building is slated to begin its transformation into seven affordable housing units and additional commercial use space in mid-October. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File City and Borough of Juneau Clerk Beth McEwen certifies areawide candidate Paul Kelly’s paperwork Friday morning within minutes of the local election filing period opening. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide Assembly positions open.

Candidates roll in as the filing period continues for local election

Two incumbents and three new faces file for Assembly, no candidates for school board.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File City and Borough of Juneau Clerk Beth McEwen certifies areawide candidate Paul Kelly’s paperwork Friday morning within minutes of the local election filing period opening. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide Assembly positions open.
This is a photo taken Friday afternoon in the Mendenhall Valley area. Some of the smoke from wildfires burning in Canada is beginning to reach areas in Southeast Alaska and can be visibly seen in Juneau, according to air quality and weather officials. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘Thin haze’ of Canadian wildfire smoke reported in Juneau

The Alaska Division of Air Quality has issued an advisory in Southeast Alaska.

This is a photo taken Friday afternoon in the Mendenhall Valley area. Some of the smoke from wildfires burning in Canada is beginning to reach areas in Southeast Alaska and can be visibly seen in Juneau, according to air quality and weather officials. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau resident Paul Kelly hands his candidacy forms to City Clerk Beth McEwen within minutes of the local election filing period opening on Friday. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide seats open on the Assembly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Candidates file for this fall’s local election

Four seats for the taking on the Assembly, two open on the school board.

City and Borough of Juneau resident Paul Kelly hands his candidacy forms to City Clerk Beth McEwen within minutes of the local election filing period opening on Friday. Kelly is running for one of the two areawide seats open on the Assembly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau city, school district to remain neutral on proposed statewide transgender sports ban

Local leaders share personal stances ahead of decision slated for late July.

Basketball players face off at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at for a basketball game in December 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The Juneau School District is determining how to respond to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

State challenges Juneau’s ‘outside the cap’ funding to district

Years-long practice of extra funding may be halted across the state; millions on the line in Juneau.

The Juneau School District is determining how to respond to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority truck sits parked in the Mendenhall Valley. On Monday night the Juneau Assembly OK’d an ordinance to transfer about 11.5 acres of city-owned land on Pederson Hill to the authority for less than fair market value. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tlingit and Haida to purchase discounted Pederson Hill property from city

Land for affordable housing appraised by the city at $700K in value, authority to only pay $100K.

A Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority truck sits parked in the Mendenhall Valley. On Monday night the Juneau Assembly OK’d an ordinance to transfer about 11.5 acres of city-owned land on Pederson Hill to the authority for less than fair market value. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
On Monday night during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting, members OK’d appropriating $8.1 million in hospital funds to Bartlett Regional Hospital for the purchase of Juneau Bone and Joint Center’s buildings and property. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City OKs $8.1M for hospital purchase of Juneau Bone and Joint property

The finalized purchase to be negotiated in the coming months, hospital officials say.

On Monday night during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting, members OK’d appropriating $8.1 million in hospital funds to Bartlett Regional Hospital for the purchase of Juneau Bone and Joint Center’s buildings and property. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Carole Triem (center) smiles as Mayor Beth Weldon reads a poem about her during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night. The meeting was Triem’s last time serving as a member as she departs from her role for family medical issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City in Pink: Assembly and administrators bid farewell to Carole Triem in style

The Assembly member announced her departure from her role in late June.

Carole Triem (center) smiles as Mayor Beth Weldon reads a poem about her during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night. The meeting was Triem’s last time serving as a member as she departs from her role for family medical issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A bus passes by City Hall downtown in late June. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly passed an ordinance Monday night to put a $27 million bond proposition for a new City Hall on the fall municipal election ballot. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Proposal to fund a new City Hall to hit the ballot — again

Assembly OKs $27 million bond question for voters this fall.

A bus passes by City Hall downtown in late June. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly passed an ordinance Monday night to put a $27 million bond proposition for a new City Hall on the fall municipal election ballot. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Rows of houses line the Douglas Highway in late May. On Monday night the City and Borough of Juneau passed an ordinance that requires all short-term rentals to be registered with the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau Assembly passes controversial short-term rental registration requirement

Operators will now be required to register with the city by October.

Rows of houses line the Douglas Highway in late May. On Monday night the City and Borough of Juneau passed an ordinance that requires all short-term rentals to be registered with the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This is a photo of Wildflower Court on Monday. The independent nursing facility is now officially a part of Bartlett Regional Hospital after it was announced Monday the two entities finalized the acquisition. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett Regional Hospital officially absorbs Wildflower Court

Officials say it will help narrow the gap in local hospice and home care

This is a photo of Wildflower Court on Monday. The independent nursing facility is now officially a part of Bartlett Regional Hospital after it was announced Monday the two entities finalized the acquisition. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of an phone dialing 9-1-1. The Juneau Police Department’s 9-1-1 system is having technical issues preventing dispatchers from responding to calls as they come in. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau police 9-1-1 system experiencing technical issues

The issues were resolved later that evening, police say.

This is a photo of an phone dialing 9-1-1. The Juneau Police Department’s 9-1-1 system is having technical issues preventing dispatchers from responding to calls as they come in. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival in early May. City data revealed a total of 627,220 passengers have visited Juneau so far this cruise ship season and large ships in the last three months came in at 99% of their official capacity. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Mid-season passenger numbers show large cruise ships at — or above — 100% capacity

A total of 627,220 passengers have visited Juneau so far this season.

Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival in early May. City data revealed a total of 627,220 passengers have visited Juneau so far this cruise ship season and large ships in the last three months came in at 99% of their official capacity. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Local humpback whale Manunauna is seen this week with trailing yellow crab pot buoys and green satellite tag buoy. (NOAA Fisheries/Suzie Teerlink)

Two humpback whales reportedly entangled in fishing gear in Juneau area

Officials seek public assistance in reported sightings.

Local humpback whale Manunauna is seen this week with trailing yellow crab pot buoys and green satellite tag buoy. (NOAA Fisheries/Suzie Teerlink)
Juneau author and educator Aidan Key smiles for a photo in the Mendenhall Valley Wednesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau author’s debut book on supporting transgender students gains national recognition

Aidan Key’s “Trans Children In Today’s Schools” offers guidance in face of anti-LGBTQ+ policies.

Juneau author and educator Aidan Key smiles for a photo in the Mendenhall Valley Wednesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Leadonna Castillo crosses the finish line during the Final Soapbox Challenge Tuesday afternoon down St. Ann’s Avenue in Douglas. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Hot dogs, box cars and pie mark the Fourth of July in Douglas

Island fun.

Leadonna Castillo crosses the finish line during the Final Soapbox Challenge Tuesday afternoon down St. Ann’s Avenue in Douglas. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A boat crosses under the bridge between the Juneau mainland and Douglas Island on Wednesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Feds award $16.5M toward design of second Juneau-Douglas crossing

City officials say funding will bring the project to full design.

A boat crosses under the bridge between the Juneau mainland and Douglas Island on Wednesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Assembly member Carole Triem chats with Deputy City Manager Robert Barr during a Finance Committee meeting in early May. Triem announced Wednesday she is departing from her role on the Assembly on July 10, citing family medical issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Assembly member Carole Triem to resign

She plans to depart in July, citing family medical issues.

Assembly member Carole Triem chats with Deputy City Manager Robert Barr during a Finance Committee meeting in early May. Triem announced Wednesday she is departing from her role on the Assembly on July 10, citing family medical issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)