News

Douglas Island Pink and Chum had a better year than 2020, and things appear to be improving for next year, said hatchery employees. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

DIPAC clocks good 2021 season

Returns aren’t as good as several years ago but they’re an improvement over 2020’s dismal numbers.

Douglas Island Pink and Chum had a better year than 2020, and things appear to be improving for next year, said hatchery employees. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The season’s first snow greeted people downtown Wednesday, Nov. 10. Later that morning, forecasters at the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory, predicting that two to four inches of snow could fall on the capital city starting late Thursday night and into Friday morning. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

Low-pressure system likely to bring snow to Juneau

That escalated quickly.

The season’s first snow greeted people downtown Wednesday, Nov. 10. Later that morning, forecasters at the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory, predicting that two to four inches of snow could fall on the capital city starting late Thursday night and into Friday morning. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Flowers lay at the plaque of Juneau’s 9/11 memorial on Sept. 11, 2006. The memorial, located in Riverside Rotary Park in the Mendenhall Valley was the first in the nation. Twenty years ago, Juneau resident Debbie Penrose-Fischer and her husband Brent Fischer harnessed their grief in the face of the national tragedy to become the driving force behind the creation of the memorial, which serves as a gathering point each Sept. 11 and provides a place for community members to reflect on Veterans Day. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

Pausing to remember

Pausing to remember: The story behind a local memorial

Flowers lay at the plaque of Juneau’s 9/11 memorial on Sept. 11, 2006. The memorial, located in Riverside Rotary Park in the Mendenhall Valley was the first in the nation. Twenty years ago, Juneau resident Debbie Penrose-Fischer and her husband Brent Fischer harnessed their grief in the face of the national tragedy to become the driving force behind the creation of the memorial, which serves as a gathering point each Sept. 11 and provides a place for community members to reflect on Veterans Day. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Ivan Nance, a Coast Guard veteran, is one of the people enrolled in Southeast Alaska Independent Living’s Veterans’ Options for Independence, Choice and Empowerment, a program designed to give more control to veterans over how their caregiving is delivered. (Courtesy photo / Ivan Nance)

SAIL seeking to expand high-level veteran care program

The program gives veterans with a high need of care more control over their own affairs.

Ivan Nance, a Coast Guard veteran, is one of the people enrolled in Southeast Alaska Independent Living’s Veterans’ Options for Independence, Choice and Empowerment, a program designed to give more control to veterans over how their caregiving is delivered. (Courtesy photo / Ivan Nance)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The last cruise ship of the year, the Norwegian Encore, sails out of Juneau on Wednesday, Oct., 20, 2021, ending a cruise ship season that almost didn’t happen. Despite a smaller season this year, local officials expect a robust season in 2022.

An abbreviated cruise season by the numbers

Fewer ships than 2019, but more than 2020

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The last cruise ship of the year, the Norwegian Encore, sails out of Juneau on Wednesday, Oct., 20, 2021, ending a cruise ship season that almost didn’t happen. Despite a smaller season this year, local officials expect a robust season in 2022.
The final proposed map for legislative districts in the Alaska House of Representatives from the Alaska Redistricting Board and set to be finalized Nov. 10, but the once-a-decade process has always faced litigation. (Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board)

Redistricting board draws fire for senate pairings

Lawsuits are expected.

The final proposed map for legislative districts in the Alaska House of Representatives from the Alaska Redistricting Board and set to be finalized Nov. 10, but the once-a-decade process has always faced litigation. (Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board)
Lt. Scott Erickson teaches a class on use of force policy to a group of Juneau residents during the Juneau Police Department’s Citizen’s Academy on Nov. 4, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau residents get look at policing with Citizen’s Academy

A handful of Juneau residents are getting up close and learning some of the fine details of the job.

Lt. Scott Erickson teaches a class on use of force policy to a group of Juneau residents during the Juneau Police Department’s Citizen’s Academy on Nov. 4, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Rona

State reports 53 COVID-19 deaths

Fifty among residents, three among nonresidents.

Rona
Fritz Moser, 63, waits while registered nurse Lori Higgins test his blood sample for glucose and cholesterol levels at a free screening clinic on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The hospital used to hold regular health clinics to stress the importance of preventive health care but those had to close with the COVID-19 pandemic. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

As pandemic recedes, preventive care returns

Health plans.

Fritz Moser, 63, waits while registered nurse Lori Higgins test his blood sample for glucose and cholesterol levels at a free screening clinic on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The hospital used to hold regular health clinics to stress the importance of preventive health care but those had to close with the COVID-19 pandemic. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The remains of a 32-year-old Juneau resident missing since late September were discovered near the Flume Trail on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)

Remains of missing man located off Flume Trail

The police are continuing to investigate as the body is flown to Anchorage for autopsy.

The remains of a 32-year-old Juneau resident missing since late September were discovered near the Flume Trail on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer said that crime numbers were looking good as Juneau steers its way out of the pandemic.

Police: Crime numbers trend down as Juneau navigates out of pandemic

Property crimes were Juneau’s biggest category for the last several years.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer said that crime numbers were looking good as Juneau steers its way out of the pandemic.
Artists of the inaugural Rock Aak’w Indigenous Music Festival gather beneath the mural of Elizabeth Peratrovich on the Juneau waterfront on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. This year the ceremony was all virtual, but organizers wanted to open the festival in person. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Rock Aak’w festival opens with songs, dancing and drumming

Rock Aak’w by seawalk.

Artists of the inaugural Rock Aak’w Indigenous Music Festival gather beneath the mural of Elizabeth Peratrovich on the Juneau waterfront on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. This year the ceremony was all virtual, but organizers wanted to open the festival in person. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Loren Jones addresses the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in this January 2019 photo. In October, he completed his third, three-year term on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. Term limits prevented him from running again, and he recently attended his last official meeting. But, he has no plans to slow down. Earlier this week, he answered nine questions for the Empire — one question for each year of service on the assembly. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Q&A: Jones steps back, but not away

Long-serving CBJ Assembly member plans to stay busy

Loren Jones addresses the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in this January 2019 photo. In October, he completed his third, three-year term on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. Term limits prevented him from running again, and he recently attended his last official meeting. But, he has no plans to slow down. Earlier this week, he answered nine questions for the Empire — one question for each year of service on the assembly. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Healing Hand Foundation is holding a black tie dinner honoring Ethel Lund, a pioneer in tribal healthcare, on her 90th birthday as it fundraises for a new scholarship. (Courtesy photo / HHF)

Nonprofit holding 90th birthday gala for tribal health care trailblazer

The gala is funraising for a scholarship for other prospective Alaska Native healthcare workers.

The Healing Hand Foundation is holding a black tie dinner honoring Ethel Lund, a pioneer in tribal healthcare, on her 90th birthday as it fundraises for a new scholarship. (Courtesy photo / HHF)
The Celebrity Millennium sails into the Port of Juneau early on the morning of July 26, 2021. During this voyage, onboard purchases were exempt from the City and Borough of Juneau’s sales tax. However, a new ordinance winding through the City Assembly could change that for next year. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

City seeks to tax onboard purchases

“An issue of tax fairness”

The Celebrity Millennium sails into the Port of Juneau early on the morning of July 26, 2021. During this voyage, onboard purchases were exempt from the City and Borough of Juneau’s sales tax. However, a new ordinance winding through the City Assembly could change that for next year. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File) This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

City considers whether to weigh in on state revenue options

City leaders generally oppose a statewide sales tax

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File) This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Police are seeking information about a 29-year-old man after his family reported him missing on Saturday. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)

Police seeking information on missing man

The 29-year-old hasn’t been seen for several weeks.

Police are seeking information about a 29-year-old man after his family reported him missing on Saturday. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)
Icy conditions caused a wreck on Egan Drive near the hospital on Nov. 4, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Two taken to hospital following crash

Two were injured, but no one was killed.

Icy conditions caused a wreck on Egan Drive near the hospital on Nov. 4, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A voter fills out their ballot in the Thunder Mountain High School gymnasium during the 2020 general election. With more than a year to go before the 2022 election, spending is ramping up. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Statewide campaign coffers are filling up

Lots more to come.

A voter fills out their ballot in the Thunder Mountain High School gymnasium during the 2020 general election. With more than a year to go before the 2022 election, spending is ramping up. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City and Borough of Juneau assembly members agreed to provide $2.88 from the General Fund to Docks and Harbors to purchase a parcel of land located between Harris and Aurora Harbors downtown. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire File)

Docks and Harbors to buy land

It’s cheaper to buy than rent

This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City and Borough of Juneau assembly members agreed to provide $2.88 from the General Fund to Docks and Harbors to purchase a parcel of land located between Harris and Aurora Harbors downtown. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire File)