News

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, contracting with Coastal Helicopters, works to reduce avalanche risk on Thane Road by setting off avalanches in a controlled fashion on Feb. 5, 2021. City officials are currently considering adopting new maps that designate additional avalanche and landslide areas downtown. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

City mulls new landslide and avalanche maps

More public process on horizon

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, contracting with Coastal Helicopters, works to reduce avalanche risk on Thane Road by setting off avalanches in a controlled fashion on Feb. 5, 2021. City officials are currently considering adopting new maps that designate additional avalanche and landslide areas downtown. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows Juneau School District Board of Education candidates listed on a City and Borough of Juneau municipal election ballot. A review of court records by the Juneau Empire found candidates Ibn Bailey and Thomas Buzard have had protective orders sought against them. The order against Buzard was not granted. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Record review shows legal woes for school board hopefuls

Candidates respond to the record.

This photo shows Juneau School District Board of Education candidates listed on a City and Borough of Juneau municipal election ballot. A review of court records by the Juneau Empire found candidates Ibn Bailey and Thomas Buzard have had protective orders sought against them. The order against Buzard was not granted. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Bartlett Regional Hospital announced a pair of resignations and the appointment of an interim CEO. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Hospital CEO resigns after 6 months on the job

Kathy Callahan to serve as interim CEO

Bartlett Regional Hospital announced a pair of resignations and the appointment of an interim CEO. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Police Department responded on Sunday afternoon to reports of gun shots on Point Lena Loop Road. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Police searching for suspect following gunshots on Point Lena Loop Road

A man was injured in his home by an unknown assailant.

Juneau Police Department responded on Sunday afternoon to reports of gun shots on Point Lena Loop Road. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau is the site of an outbreak of the coronavirus with at least 23 active case as of Sept. 16, said a Department of Corrections official. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

COVID outbreak present in Lemon Creek inmates

Nearly two dozen have been infected.

Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau is the site of an outbreak of the coronavirus with at least 23 active case as of Sept. 16, said a Department of Corrections official. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Molly Pressler Collection Japanese-Americans interned in Alaska in World War II are shown in this photo at a camp in New Mexico where they endured the majority of the war.

Research into interned Japanese-Americans in Alaska receives grant support

104 Japanese-Americans were interned from Alaska at the outset of WWII.

Courtesy Photo / Molly Pressler Collection Japanese-Americans interned in Alaska in World War II are shown in this photo at a camp in New Mexico where they endured the majority of the war.
A moose was spotted swimming off Lena Point Friday morning. A rare sighting in Juneau, residents quickly posted pictures of the animal to social media. (Courtesy photo / Jo Ann Forst)

Moose spotted off Lena Point, delighting residents

Wild moose chase.

A moose was spotted swimming off Lena Point Friday morning. A rare sighting in Juneau, residents quickly posted pictures of the animal to social media. (Courtesy photo / Jo Ann Forst)
This photo shows Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021, during the window that school officials were administering PEAKS tests to students on campus. This week, the Department of Education and Early Development said only about 64% of Alaska’s eligible students took the tests in 2021. Locally, test participation was even lower. As a result of the low participation, DEED cautions against comparing 2021 PEAKS data to previous years at the statewide level. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

State officials release PEAKS test data

A peek at PEAKS.

This photo shows Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021, during the window that school officials were administering PEAKS tests to students on campus. This week, the Department of Education and Early Development said only about 64% of Alaska’s eligible students took the tests in 2021. Locally, test participation was even lower. As a result of the low participation, DEED cautions against comparing 2021 PEAKS data to previous years at the statewide level. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Bartlett Regional Hospital

Hospital announces vaccine policy, resumes inpatient elective surgeries

The inpatient elective surgeries may be suspended if case counts continue to rise.

Bartlett Regional Hospital
From left to right: Miakah Nix, Daniel Ashenfelter, Shawn Merry and Conrad Revey, members of the Keex’ Kwaan Community Forest Partnership, one of the many existing programs set to benefit from the trust. The Keex’Kwaan Community Forest Partnership is a one of Sustainable Southeast Partnership’s collaborative land management programs. Programs work with private, state, and federal land managers. (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)

New fund established for Indigenous-led development

Funding into the future.

From left to right: Miakah Nix, Daniel Ashenfelter, Shawn Merry and Conrad Revey, members of the Keex’ Kwaan Community Forest Partnership, one of the many existing programs set to benefit from the trust. The Keex’Kwaan Community Forest Partnership is a one of Sustainable Southeast Partnership’s collaborative land management programs. Programs work with private, state, and federal land managers. (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)
Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. The Juneau School District Board of Education voted on Tuesday unanimously adopted additional COVID-19 mitigation measures. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau schools add COVID-19 mitigation layers

School board candidates react.

Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. The Juneau School District Board of Education voted on Tuesday unanimously adopted additional COVID-19 mitigation measures. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This March 2020 phgoto shows Juneau's City Hall. On Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly OK'd extending local mitigation measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)
Video

Assembly candidates square off in annual forum

Read candidate answers to the questions.

This March 2020 phgoto shows Juneau's City Hall. On Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly OK'd extending local mitigation measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)
Video
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File A voter leaves the assembly chambers in City Hall after voting in the Oct. 6, 2020, municipal election, which was primarily conducted via mail. Next month’s election will also be conducted mostly by mail with ballots counted in Anchorage. On Monday night, assembly members approved $700,000 to renovate a local warehouse and purchase equipment to count ballots locally.

City approves new ballot-counting center

City ok’s $700,000 to renovate warehouse

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File A voter leaves the assembly chambers in City Hall after voting in the Oct. 6, 2020, municipal election, which was primarily conducted via mail. Next month’s election will also be conducted mostly by mail with ballots counted in Anchorage. On Monday night, assembly members approved $700,000 to renovate a local warehouse and purchase equipment to count ballots locally.
Under heavy rain and low clouds overhead, a few hundred people gathered in Riverside Rotary Park Saturday morning to honor the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. To honor the fall of the first tower at 9:59 a.m., officers quickly raised an American flag and then lowered it to half-mast while Alyssa Fischer sang the National Anthem. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Gathering to remember: Residents, officials mark 20 years since 9/11 attacks

A rainy day didn’t keep them away.

Under heavy rain and low clouds overhead, a few hundred people gathered in Riverside Rotary Park Saturday morning to honor the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. To honor the fall of the first tower at 9:59 a.m., officers quickly raised an American flag and then lowered it to half-mast while Alyssa Fischer sang the National Anthem. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Graham, entomologist for the U.S. Forest Service, talks about the black-headed budworm outbreak in front of a spot on Mount McGinnis that shows the effects of defoliation. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Find out more about the very hungry caterpillars munching on Southeast Alaska’s hemlock trees

No need to bug out. They’re a natural part of the forest.

Elizabeth Graham, entomologist for the U.S. Forest Service, talks about the black-headed budworm outbreak in front of a spot on Mount McGinnis that shows the effects of defoliation. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire AmeriCorps members pack emergency preparedness kits for Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Tribal Emergency Operations Center as part of a day of service on Sept. 10, 2021.

AmeriCorps members help Tlingit and Haida on day of service

Members were making emergency preparedness kits for Tribal children.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire AmeriCorps members pack emergency preparedness kits for Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Tribal Emergency Operations Center as part of a day of service on Sept. 10, 2021.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club’s 9/11 memorial, shown undergoing beautification and final preparations before the ceremony, will be the site of the organization’s ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the attacks on Saturday.

Reflection and remembrance: Ceremony planned for 9/11 20th anniversary

The memorial will honor the 20th anniversary of the attack with some new improvements.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club’s 9/11 memorial, shown undergoing beautification and final preparations before the ceremony, will be the site of the organization’s ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the attacks on Saturday.
Photos by Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire City officials and commercial entities broke ceremonial ground Wednesday for the Riverview Senior Living community near Vintage Boulevard.

Company breaks ground on elder living facility

The facility, near Safeway, will provide more housing so elder citizens can stay in Juneau.

Photos by Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire City officials and commercial entities broke ceremonial ground Wednesday for the Riverview Senior Living community near Vintage Boulevard.
Juneau Docks and Harbors has issued a warning to boat owners to make sure their vessels are made fast and pumps functional as a large weather system is due to hit Juneau on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Autumn storm expected to bring heavy rain and wind

Docks and Harbors says to rig for a rough one.

Juneau Docks and Harbors has issued a warning to boat owners to make sure their vessels are made fast and pumps functional as a large weather system is due to hit Juneau on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday he was filing suit against the Biden administration for an Environmental Protection Agency decision to potentially protect Bristol Bay waters under the Clean Water Act. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Gov criticizes Biden admin over Bristol Bay review

Ready for litigation.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday he was filing suit against the Biden administration for an Environmental Protection Agency decision to potentially protect Bristol Bay waters under the Clean Water Act. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)