Investigator Markus Bressler, defendant John Stapleton, and public defender Eric Hedland sit in court on Jan. 13, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Man says 2018 stabbing death was accidental

With both prosecution and defense done bringing witnesses, the trial is entering its final stages.

Investigator Markus Bressler, defendant John Stapleton, and public defender Eric Hedland sit in court on Jan. 13, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau’s first electric bus, parked in the Capital Transit garage on April 8, 2021. The bus has experienced some mechanical and battery problems since entering service last spring. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau’s first electric bus, parked in the Capital Transit garage on April 8, 2021. The bus has experienced some mechanical and battery problems since entering service last spring. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
Screenshot / City and Borough of Juneau 
Concept drawings of a potential new City Hall building for the City and Borough of Juneau show what a new building atop the downtown transit center parking garage might look like. The city is considering several options for a new City Hall, and on Wednesday will take public testimony on proposals.
Screenshot / City and Borough of Juneau 
Concept drawings of a potential new City Hall building for the City and Borough of Juneau show what a new building atop the downtown transit center parking garage might look like. The city is considering several options for a new City Hall, and on Wednesday will take public testimony on proposals.
Police arrested a 20-year-old for a variety of charges stemming from a string of incidents where he shot passersby and other vehicles from a car with a BB gun. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Man arrested following BB gun attacks

He allegedly shot both passersby and other vehicles on the road.

Police arrested a 20-year-old for a variety of charges stemming from a string of incidents where he shot passersby and other vehicles from a car with a BB gun. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Public defender Eric Hedland, left, and District Attorney Angie Kemp consult with Superior Court Judge Amy Mead on Jan. 24, 2022 during a trial of a man accused of killing another man in Yakutat in 2018. (Screenshot)
Public defender Eric Hedland, left, and District Attorney Angie Kemp consult with Superior Court Judge Amy Mead on Jan. 24, 2022 during a trial of a man accused of killing another man in Yakutat in 2018. (Screenshot)
An avalanche above Basin Road covered the Gold Creek Flume Trail on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, but didn’t affect any structures. Heavy rains over the weekend set records in Juneau and caused several small avalanches in the region. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
An avalanche above Basin Road covered the Gold Creek Flume Trail on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, but didn’t affect any structures. Heavy rains over the weekend set records in Juneau and caused several small avalanches in the region. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Students from Riverbend Elementary School arrive for their first day of classes at Chapel By the Lake on Jan. 24. The church offered its education wing to the Juneau School District after a burst pipe shuttered the Riverbend school building. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Amen! School is back in session for Riverbend students

Riverbend students start school at Chapel by the Lake

Students from Riverbend Elementary School arrive for their first day of classes at Chapel By the Lake on Jan. 24. The church offered its education wing to the Juneau School District after a burst pipe shuttered the Riverbend school building. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This National Weather Service map shows hazards around Southeast Alaska. An atmospheric river in the area has produced record-setting rain and flood watches throughout the region. (Screenshot)
This National Weather Service map shows hazards around Southeast Alaska. An atmospheric river in the area has produced record-setting rain and flood watches throughout the region. (Screenshot)
Peter Segall/Juneau Empire
One of the last cruise ships of the 2021 season docks in Juneau on Oct. 20, 2021. Local operators say it’s too early to know how the upcoming cruise season will unfold, but they’re cautiously optimistic.

Smooth sailing for the 2022 season?

Cautious optimism reigns, but operators say it’s too early to tell.

Peter Segall/Juneau Empire
One of the last cruise ships of the 2021 season docks in Juneau on Oct. 20, 2021. Local operators say it’s too early to know how the upcoming cruise season will unfold, but they’re cautiously optimistic.
Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce is photographed at the Kenai Peninsula Clarion office in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 25, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor joins race for governor

The borough mayor notified local officials in an email Thursday

Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce is photographed at the Kenai Peninsula Clarion office in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 25, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Ted Nordgaarden of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation imitates the gesture made by the defendant during the trial of a man charged with killing another man in Yakutat in 2018. (Screenshot)

Investigator testifies as trial concludes second week

The jury watched video of the defendant’s initial interview in custody.

Ted Nordgaarden of the Alaska Bureau of Investigation imitates the gesture made by the defendant during the trial of a man charged with killing another man in Yakutat in 2018. (Screenshot)
Screenshot 
District Attorney Angie Kemp and public defender Eric Hedland consult with Superior Court Judge Amy Mead on Jan. 20, 2022 during a trial of a man accused of killing another man in Yakutat in 2018.

Experts weigh in on technical aspects of 2018 killing

Two expert witnesses and an investigator testified on a busy Thursday of the trial.

Screenshot 
District Attorney Angie Kemp and public defender Eric Hedland consult with Superior Court Judge Amy Mead on Jan. 20, 2022 during a trial of a man accused of killing another man in Yakutat in 2018.
Wayne Carnes prepares to begin his volunteer grooming run at Pioneer Road on Jan. 18. Carnes is a volunteer with the Juneau Nordic Ski Club. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Volunteers make winter cool for local skiers

Juneau Nordic Ski Club offers fun and learning

Wayne Carnes prepares to begin his volunteer grooming run at Pioneer Road on Jan. 18. Carnes is a volunteer with the Juneau Nordic Ski Club. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Screenshot 
Alaska State Trooper Andrew Adams holds up a knife identified as a possible weapon involved in the killing of a man in Yakutat several years ago as he testifies in court on Wednesday.
Screenshot 
Alaska State Trooper Andrew Adams holds up a knife identified as a possible weapon involved in the killing of a man in Yakutat several years ago as he testifies in court on Wednesday.
Officer John Waldron of the Yakutat Borough Police Department looks at a print of a photograph as he testifies about a stabbing he responded to in 2018. (Screenshot)

Police who responded to, investigated killing testify

A Yakutat police officer and Alaska State Trooper testified Tuesday.

Officer John Waldron of the Yakutat Borough Police Department looks at a print of a photograph as he testifies about a stabbing he responded to in 2018. (Screenshot)
Goldbelt Transportation and Allen Marine Tours will contract with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to provide ferry service through the Southeast for the remainder of the winter, according to a news release. (Courtesy photo / Goldbelt Transportation)

Goldbelt, Allen Marine pick up winter ferry contracts

Contracts were signed this January for several winter runs to Southeast communities.

Goldbelt Transportation and Allen Marine Tours will contract with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to provide ferry service through the Southeast for the remainder of the winter, according to a news release. (Courtesy photo / Goldbelt Transportation)
Donated blood is prepared for storage and eventual transport at the Blood Bank of Alaska's Juneau location. There is a statewide shortage of donated blood. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

‘National blood crisis’ presents challenges in Alaska

Donation centers contend with COVID, weather and other disruptions as they work to stock hospitals.

Donated blood is prepared for storage and eventual transport at the Blood Bank of Alaska's Juneau location. There is a statewide shortage of donated blood. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Mercedes Cordero, left, a junior at Thunder Mountain High School,and Gwen Lockwood, a senior at TMHS moved a chair at Chapel by the Lake on Jan. 17. The pair, along with about 20 other high school students, spent part of their Martin Luther King Jr. holiday chipping in with other volunteers readying the church to receive students from Riverbend School. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

When pipes burst, generosity flows

Church steps up to serve as school

Mercedes Cordero, left, a junior at Thunder Mountain High School,and Gwen Lockwood, a senior at TMHS moved a chair at Chapel by the Lake on Jan. 17. The pair, along with about 20 other high school students, spent part of their Martin Luther King Jr. holiday chipping in with other volunteers readying the church to receive students from Riverbend School. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Sherry Patterson, president of the Black Awareness Association of Juneau, stands amid a mountain of donated pillows on Jan. 17. Patterson was part of a drive to collect food and household goods in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Community service marks MLK Day

Volunteers collect goods, dispense legal advice

Sherry Patterson, president of the Black Awareness Association of Juneau, stands amid a mountain of donated pillows on Jan. 17. Patterson was part of a drive to collect food and household goods in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Courtesy photo / Juneau Raptor Center 
This golden eagle was rescued by the Juneau Raptor Center over the summer after being found weak and thin.
Courtesy photo / Juneau Raptor Center 
This golden eagle was rescued by the Juneau Raptor Center over the summer after being found weak and thin.