An Alaska Airlines flight lands at the Juneau International Airport on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, amid a day of rain and snow. According to an airlines spokesperson, air travel this holiday season has rebounded to about 85% of what it was before the pandemic. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
An Alaska Airlines flight lands at the Juneau International Airport on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, amid a day of rain and snow. According to an airlines spokesperson, air travel this holiday season has rebounded to about 85% of what it was before the pandemic. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
A number of complaints filed against Lemon Creek Correctional Center were investigated by the state ombudsman’s office, resulting in a number of changes in the facility’s operations during the fall and winter of 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Prison head addresses issues raised by report

There were four complaints filed, some of which were found reasonable by the state ombudsman.

A number of complaints filed against Lemon Creek Correctional Center were investigated by the state ombudsman’s office, resulting in a number of changes in the facility’s operations during the fall and winter of 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A Juneau man was arrested Tuesday for a sexual abuse of a minor charge for an incident that allegedly occurred several years ago. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Man arrested on sexual abuse of a minor charge

He was wanted on a $15,000 Alaska State Trooper warrant.

A Juneau man was arrested Tuesday for a sexual abuse of a minor charge for an incident that allegedly occurred several years ago. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Clearing skies appeared over the Gastineau Channel late in the afternoon on Tuesday, Dec. 21, after a quick-moving snowstorm dumped up to 11 inches of snow across the City and Borough of Juneau. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Clearing skies appeared over the Gastineau Channel late in the afternoon on Tuesday, Dec. 21, after a quick-moving snowstorm dumped up to 11 inches of snow across the City and Borough of Juneau. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File 
A number of complaints about issues at Lemon Creek Correctional Center as it dealt with COVID issues in 2020 were addressed in a recent news release from the state ombudsman’s office.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File 
A number of complaints about issues at Lemon Creek Correctional Center as it dealt with COVID issues in 2020 were addressed in a recent news release from the state ombudsman’s office.
”I’m full vaxxed from COVID,” read buttons at the Juneau Public Health Center in late November. Juneau’s relatively high vaccination rate plays a role in the local response to the ongoing pandemic. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City Assembly members agreed to move a step closer to “modest relaxations” to the city’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies and heard from state experts who praised Juneau’s performance in keeping the worst at bay so far. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
”I’m full vaxxed from COVID,” read buttons at the Juneau Public Health Center in late November. Juneau’s relatively high vaccination rate plays a role in the local response to the ongoing pandemic. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City Assembly members agreed to move a step closer to “modest relaxations” to the city’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies and heard from state experts who praised Juneau’s performance in keeping the worst at bay so far. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This map, provided by Alaska Natives Without Land, shows possible federal land grants for the landless community of Tenakee Springs, one of five communities in Alaska not granted land by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. (Screenshot)

50 years after ANCSA, some still fighting for land

The five landless communities and Vietnam veterans were left landless by the act.

This map, provided by Alaska Natives Without Land, shows possible federal land grants for the landless community of Tenakee Springs, one of five communities in Alaska not granted land by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. (Screenshot)
City crews remove snow near 4th and E Streets in Douglas on Monday, Dec. 20. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Snow many issues

Public works officials talk snow removal

City crews remove snow near 4th and E Streets in Douglas on Monday, Dec. 20. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This picture shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall on Dec. 20, 2021. City officials are eyeing options for a new or renovated city facility. On Monday, the Public Works and Facilities Committee narrowed the scope of possibilities to four potential options. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This picture shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall on Dec. 20, 2021. City officials are eyeing options for a new or renovated city facility. On Monday, the Public Works and Facilities Committee narrowed the scope of possibilities to four potential options. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
The sun rises over Juneau on Dec. 16, 2021. The solstice on Dec. 21 will mark the shortest day of the year as the northern hemisphere is at its furthest away from the sun. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The sun rises over Juneau on Dec. 16, 2021. The solstice on Dec. 21 will mark the shortest day of the year as the northern hemisphere is at its furthest away from the sun. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Alaska State Trooper Chris Umbs and Victoria Larson talk to Ethan and Wilbur during the annual Shop with a Cop Event at Fred Meyer on Dec. 18, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Shopping aisle be home for Christmas

Shop with a Cop returns as in-person event.

Alaska State Trooper Chris Umbs and Victoria Larson talk to Ethan and Wilbur during the annual Shop with a Cop Event at Fred Meyer on Dec. 18, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau's Imagination Station owner Alicia Smith highlights one of their best-selling items at the store this holiday, a robotic hedgehog. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau's Imagination Station owner Alicia Smith highlights one of their best-selling items at the store this holiday, a robotic hedgehog. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire 
Buses leave Auke Bay Elementary School at the end of the school day on Dec. 16. Auke Bay is one of the school buildings that was renovated using the state’s school bond debt reimbursement program that allows municipalities to renovate eligible schools by reimbursing about 70% of the cost of the project if it is approved by a referendum. This type of debt funding was also used to renovate Sayéik: Gastineau Community School and Harborview elementary schools. In recent years, the state had not provided the full reimbursement amount. However, Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed full funding for the program in the budget he unveiled Wednesday.

Local officials react to governor’s budget proposal

There’s support for school measure, concern about lack of long-term revenue.

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire 
Buses leave Auke Bay Elementary School at the end of the school day on Dec. 16. Auke Bay is one of the school buildings that was renovated using the state’s school bond debt reimbursement program that allows municipalities to renovate eligible schools by reimbursing about 70% of the cost of the project if it is approved by a referendum. This type of debt funding was also used to renovate Sayéik: Gastineau Community School and Harborview elementary schools. In recent years, the state had not provided the full reimbursement amount. However, Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed full funding for the program in the budget he unveiled Wednesday.
The Juneau School District headquarters on March 17, 2021. On Thursday, school officials sent an email to parents warning of a TikTok-based nationwide threat against schools for Dec. 17. Local officials said parents may notice an increased police presence but said they did not believe the threat was credible. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Local school officials respond to TikTok threat

Schools across country cite same post

The Juneau School District headquarters on March 17, 2021. On Thursday, school officials sent an email to parents warning of a TikTok-based nationwide threat against schools for Dec. 17. Local officials said parents may notice an increased police presence but said they did not believe the threat was credible. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé varsity boys basketball players Orion Dybdahl, left and Jake Sleppy, right contest a jump ball from Coach Robert Caspersons during a practice on Dec. 14, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys basketball gets ready to hit the road

Their first games this year will be away —way, way away.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé varsity boys basketball players Orion Dybdahl, left and Jake Sleppy, right contest a jump ball from Coach Robert Caspersons during a practice on Dec. 14, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer received the President’s Award for Public Service at the 2021 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, recognizing his contributions to the community. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Juneau police chief recognized at Alaska Federation of Natives convention

The award was for an Alaska Native person who made outstanding contributions to their community.

Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer received the President’s Award for Public Service at the 2021 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, recognizing his contributions to the community. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Santa Claus waves to Juneau residents who gathered—at a distance—to watch a holiday parade on Dec. 18, 2020. This year’s parades are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. ((Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Santa parades set for Friday and Saturday

Event scheduled for Lemon Creek, too.

Santa Claus waves to Juneau residents who gathered—at a distance—to watch a holiday parade on Dec. 18, 2020. This year’s parades are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. ((Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Technicians at the Alaska State Crime Lab recently identified the human remains found in a shoe that washed up near the Seawalk in 2020. (Courtesy photo / Department of Public Safety)
Technicians at the Alaska State Crime Lab recently identified the human remains found in a shoe that washed up near the Seawalk in 2020. (Courtesy photo / Department of Public Safety)
Ice on Mendenhall Lake is never completely safe to walk on, said a Capital City Fire/Rescue officer. That’s because of widely varying and hard-to-discern conditions under the surface., but common sense can mitigate some risk. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Easy on the ice: CCFR recommends caution around icy lakes

The safest way to not fall through thin ice is to not go out onto it in the first place.

Ice on Mendenhall Lake is never completely safe to walk on, said a Capital City Fire/Rescue officer. That’s because of widely varying and hard-to-discern conditions under the surface., but common sense can mitigate some risk. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The city eased requirements for masks for vaccinated individuals indoors on Dec. 13, 2021. Masks will still be requireed in all City and Borough of Juneau facilities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

City lowers community risk level

Very little will change, save that the vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks indoors.

The city eased requirements for masks for vaccinated individuals indoors on Dec. 13, 2021. Masks will still be requireed in all City and Borough of Juneau facilities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)