News

This Aug. 2 photo shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

Get to know a candidate: Amber Frommherz

She’s running for school board.

This Aug. 2 photo shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Ibn Bailey

He’s seeking a school board seat .

This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo / Elizabeth Siddon)

Get to know a candidate: Elizabeth Siddon

Incumbent defends seat on the school board.

Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo / Elizabeth Siddon)
Sens. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, center, and Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, right, put questions to Office of Management and Budget Director Neil Steininger during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. The Legislature's third special session of the year is dealing mostly with budget issues despite having been called to bring resolution to the state's fiscal deficit. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Governor adds amendments to budget bill

Maybe another session.

Sens. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, center, and Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, right, put questions to Office of Management and Budget Director Neil Steininger during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. The Legislature's third special session of the year is dealing mostly with budget issues despite having been called to bring resolution to the state's fiscal deficit. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A plane lands at Juneau International Airport on May 25, 2021, as the number of travelers in the state started to rise after the lockdowns of 2020. Travel numbers are not back up to their pre-pandemic levels, but they are increasing according to local travel authorities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

After steep decline, transportation numbers are slowly taking off again

Passengers are coming back by boat, plane and bus, but not yet at pre-pandemic numbers.

A plane lands at Juneau International Airport on May 25, 2021, as the number of travelers in the state started to rise after the lockdowns of 2020. Travel numbers are not back up to their pre-pandemic levels, but they are increasing according to local travel authorities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo/Elizabeth Siddon)

Siddon sets sights on a second term

Three open seats attract six candidates

Elizabeth Siddon, current president of Juneau’s Board of Education, is running for a second term on the board. She is the only incumbent on the ballot, which has attracted six candidates for three positions. (Courtesy photo/Elizabeth Siddon)
This photo shows Salmon Creek Dam in August 2013. AEL&P will conduct a test of the dam’s emergency action plan on Thursday, Sept. 2. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

AEL&P to test Salmon Creek Dam emergency plan

“This is a test.”

This photo shows Salmon Creek Dam in August 2013. AEL&P will conduct a test of the dam’s emergency action plan on Thursday, Sept. 2. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Personnel from Juneau Mountain Rescue and Capital City Fire/Rescue recovered an injured hiker on the Eagle Glacier Trail on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. (Courtesy photo / JMR)

Fire department and volunteers help injured hiker

The hiker had injured an ankle and required assistance.

Personnel from Juneau Mountain Rescue and Capital City Fire/Rescue recovered an injured hiker on the Eagle Glacier Trail on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021. (Courtesy photo / JMR)
Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire A garbage can sits next to a bin from Juneau Compost on Douglas on August 31. According to company officials, each day Juneau adds about 100 tons of garbage to the Capitol Disposal Landfill near Lemon Creek. At that rate, officials expect the landfill to be full in about 20 years. The city is exploring new ways to deal with Juneau’s waste stream, including composting options.

Juneau’s landfill likely to last 20 more years

City committee talks trash with owners

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire A garbage can sits next to a bin from Juneau Compost on Douglas on August 31. According to company officials, each day Juneau adds about 100 tons of garbage to the Capitol Disposal Landfill near Lemon Creek. At that rate, officials expect the landfill to be full in about 20 years. The city is exploring new ways to deal with Juneau’s waste stream, including composting options.
A voter fills out their ballot in person at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Oct. 6, 2020. The library was the site of one of the voting centers during the City and Borough of Juneau's by-mail municipal election. Soon, city officials will mail ballots for local elections to all registered voters in the City and Borough of Juneau. Residents must act by Sept. 5 to register to vote or update personal information. Residents who prefer to vote in person can do so early or on election day at designated voting centers. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Local election deadlines loom

Register, update information by Sept. 5

A voter fills out their ballot in person at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Oct. 6, 2020. The library was the site of one of the voting centers during the City and Borough of Juneau's by-mail municipal election. Soon, city officials will mail ballots for local elections to all registered voters in the City and Borough of Juneau. Residents must act by Sept. 5 to register to vote or update personal information. Residents who prefer to vote in person can do so early or on election day at designated voting centers. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
With the sun shining brightly on Monday, Aug. 30, Tlingit and Athabascan artist, designer, and activist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl and her team of apprentices started installing a new mural on the south wall of the Marine Parking garage, the structure on which the downtown branch of Juneau's public library sits. The mural depicts Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich, a Tlingit civil rights icon. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

Sun (finally) shines on mural project

Juneau’s news public art piece takes shape

With the sun shining brightly on Monday, Aug. 30, Tlingit and Athabascan artist, designer, and activist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl and her team of apprentices started installing a new mural on the south wall of the Marine Parking garage, the structure on which the downtown branch of Juneau's public library sits. The mural depicts Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich, a Tlingit civil rights icon. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)

Teachers take a turn as students

Training class focuses on equity, restorative practices

Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)
This August 2 picture shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Frommherz seeks school board seat

Plans to focus on early childhood education

This August 2 picture shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Kelly Fishler, a candidate for the District 2 Mendenhall Valley seat in the City and Borough of Juneau's City Assembly, sat down with the Empire for an interview on August 7. Fishler is challenging incumbent Michelle Bonnet Hale, who is running for a second term on the assembly. The election will take place on October 5 in a largely vote-by-mail affair.(Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Fishler seeks seat on CBJ Assembly

She’s challenging the incumbent

Kelly Fishler, a candidate for the District 2 Mendenhall Valley seat in the City and Borough of Juneau's City Assembly, sat down with the Empire for an interview on August 7. Fishler is challenging incumbent Michelle Bonnet Hale, who is running for a second term on the assembly. The election will take place on October 5 in a largely vote-by-mail affair.(Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Gauvain participates in the line toss, one of the inter-vessel competitions during this year’s Buoy Tender Roundup at Sector Juneau, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Small but mighty: Anthony Petit wins annual Buoy Tender Roundup competition

Yeah buoyyyyy

Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Gauvain participates in the line toss, one of the inter-vessel competitions during this year’s Buoy Tender Roundup at Sector Juneau, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire A vessel struck the Douglas Bridge, seen here from the Mayor Bill Overstreet Park, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

‘The bridge is safe’: Superficial damage reported following barge strike

It’s not the first time that vessel has struck the bridge in August.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire A vessel struck the Douglas Bridge, seen here from the Mayor Bill Overstreet Park, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.
Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to multiple fires Thursday morning, including this one on West 10th Street, reported at 3:16 a.m. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)

Fire crews respond to multiple early-morning fires

No injuries were reported but the damage is substantial at least one fire.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to multiple fires Thursday morning, including this one on West 10th Street, reported at 3:16 a.m. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)
Juneau residents and veterans gathered on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 for Together with Juneau Veterans’ first Walk with a Vet event across the Douglas Bridge. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Veteran suicide prevention group holds inaugural march

A walk across the bridge with good conversation is a little easier than 22km with a packed ruck.

Juneau residents and veterans gathered on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 for Together with Juneau Veterans’ first Walk with a Vet event across the Douglas Bridge. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Joseph Clayton, seen here, was last seen in Juneau of Friday, Aug. 20, and is currently missing. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)

Search continues for missing man after personal items found at campsite

A backpack and other items were found in an abandonded campsite.

Joseph Clayton, seen here, was last seen in Juneau of Friday, Aug. 20, and is currently missing. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)
Staff at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this July 28 photo, are feeling stressed after 18 months of a pandemic, according to hospital CEO Rose Lawhorne, who said that depsite the challenges the hospital is still ready to provide services.

Local officials say health infrastructure remains strong

National supplies strained.

Staff at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this July 28 photo, are feeling stressed after 18 months of a pandemic, according to hospital CEO Rose Lawhorne, who said that depsite the challenges the hospital is still ready to provide services.