News

This is a photo of the Juneau International Airport in April 2023. A Montana man pleaded guilty last Wednesday to assaulting a flight crew member while aboard a flight from Sitka to Juneau in early April. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Man pleads guilty to assault of crew member while on flight to Juneau

The assault occurred on April 1, according to court documents.

This is a photo of the Juneau International Airport in April 2023. A Montana man pleaded guilty last Wednesday to assaulting a flight crew member while aboard a flight from Sitka to Juneau in early April. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Athlete Tammy Birch carries the torch with help from Branden Horst during the Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run at Twin Lakes Park Saturday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Annual fundraiser run torches last year’s total

Around $15,000 was raised to go toward athletes on the Special Olympics Alaska Juneau team.

Athlete Tammy Birch carries the torch with help from Branden Horst during the Alaska Law Enforcement Torch Run at Twin Lakes Park Saturday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of the only crossing between the Juneau mainland and Douglas Island. On Thursday the City and Borough of Juneau Public Works and Facilities Committee hosted an open forum about a potential second crossing. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Salmon Creek site emerges as preference during second crossing meeting

“I feel like salmon creek has the least financial impacts, the least wetland impact.”

This is a photo of the only crossing between the Juneau mainland and Douglas Island. On Thursday the City and Borough of Juneau Public Works and Facilities Committee hosted an open forum about a potential second crossing. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Volunteer Educator Rosemary Walling shows a group of Montessori Borealis first through third graders images of the Earth on Friday at the Marie Drake Planetarium as part of a special presentation of the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

A journey to the stars was the final field trip of the year

Kids treated to the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight.

Volunteer Educator Rosemary Walling shows a group of Montessori Borealis first through third graders images of the Earth on Friday at the Marie Drake Planetarium as part of a special presentation of the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
This is a picture of houses on Douglas along the Gastineau Channel in May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

City receives nearly 400 residential property assessment appeals

The Board of Equalization began hearing cases Thursday.

This is a picture of houses on Douglas along the Gastineau Channel in May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Photos by Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Sayéik: Gastineau Community School students enjoy hands-on learning with mining for minerals with Hecla and Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine employees. The mining company was just one of many volunteer organizations that participated in a STEAM event held at the school. The event was held during school hours to maximize student involvement.

STEAM comes to Sayeik: Gastineau Community School

District’s first time hosting during school hours for more student involvement.

Photos by Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Sayéik: Gastineau Community School students enjoy hands-on learning with mining for minerals with Hecla and Coeur Alaska Kensington Mine employees. The mining company was just one of many volunteer organizations that participated in a STEAM event held at the school. The event was held during school hours to maximize student involvement.
A ballot is placed in a drop box during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Vote-by-mail elections now permanent in Juneau

Assembly voted for the change despite some public pushback.

A ballot is placed in a drop box during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Greg Smith and Christine Woll discuss the mill rate during Wednesday night’s Finance Committee meeting. Member voted to decrease the mill rate to 10.16. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly votes to lower property tax rate

The approved 10.16 mill rate means that for every $1,000 in property value there is a tax of $10.16.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Greg Smith and Christine Woll discuss the mill rate during Wednesday night’s Finance Committee meeting. Member voted to decrease the mill rate to 10.16. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A wire cable stretches high above the forest ground and connects two platforms for zip lining at Eaglecrest Ski Area. Zip line tours are set to be offered again this summer at the ski area starting in late June after three years of halted operations due to COVID-19 and staffing issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Zip line tours to restart at Eaglecrest in late June

It remained out of commission for the past three years.

A wire cable stretches high above the forest ground and connects two platforms for zip lining at Eaglecrest Ski Area. Zip line tours are set to be offered again this summer at the ski area starting in late June after three years of halted operations due to COVID-19 and staffing issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
People walk along the Basin Road Trestle Tuesday evening as concrete barricades block off its entrance. The trestle is set to close to pedestrian traffic spanning from May 26 to June 11 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. while a contracted construction company repairs damages the trestle suffered in January from a rockslide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Basin Road Trestle to close to pedestrian traffic in the daytime for repairs

The closure will last from May 26 to June 11.

People walk along the Basin Road Trestle Tuesday evening as concrete barricades block off its entrance. The trestle is set to close to pedestrian traffic spanning from May 26 to June 11 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. while a contracted construction company repairs damages the trestle suffered in January from a rockslide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
An array of vapes line the shelf of a display case at Alaska Pipeline vape store downtown. The Alaska Senate passed a bill that would impose a 25% statewide tax on retail e-cigarette products in Alaska Tuesday morning. It now heads to the House. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

​​Senate passes bill to impose statewide tax on e-cigarettes

A similar bill was vetoed by Gov. Dun Mike Dunleavy last fall.

An array of vapes line the shelf of a display case at Alaska Pipeline vape store downtown. The Alaska Senate passed a bill that would impose a 25% statewide tax on retail e-cigarette products in Alaska Tuesday morning. It now heads to the House. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors Board Vice Chairman Jim Becker cuts a ribbon Monday afternoon stretched across the Seawalk downtown in celebration of the city’s completion of the Docks and Harbors Marine Deckover Project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Docks and Harbors celebrates completion of Marine Park deckover project

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday afternoon.

City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors Board Vice Chairman Jim Becker cuts a ribbon Monday afternoon stretched across the Seawalk downtown in celebration of the city’s completion of the Docks and Harbors Marine Deckover Project. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This Juneau Hydropower Inc. photo shows an overview of the Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Project site. (Courtesy Photo / Robert Johnson)

Sweetheart Lake project still in the works after partnership ends

Permit application withdrawn after Tokyo-based partners terminate agreement.

This Juneau Hydropower Inc. photo shows an overview of the Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Project site. (Courtesy Photo / Robert Johnson)
A sign hangs outside of outgoing City Manager Rorie Watt’s office located in the City Hall downtown. On Monday the Assembly City Manager Recruitment Committee met for the first time to discuss the recruitment process to hire Watt’s replacement by the end of September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City begins search for new manager

Outgoing Rorie Watt is expected to leave his post this fall.

A sign hangs outside of outgoing City Manager Rorie Watt’s office located in the City Hall downtown. On Monday the Assembly City Manager Recruitment Committee met for the first time to discuss the recruitment process to hire Watt’s replacement by the end of September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of a Capital City Fire/Rescue truck in the Mendenhall Valley in May. CCFR and the Juneau Police Department are investigating a recent blaze Sunday morning as possible arson. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Doorstep fire investigated as possible arson

The circumstances of the blaze make it unlikely to be an accident, fire marshal says

This is a photo of a Capital City Fire/Rescue truck in the Mendenhall Valley in May. CCFR and the Juneau Police Department are investigating a recent blaze Sunday morning as possible arson. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Ships in Port for the Week of May 14

Here’s what to expect this week.

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Hecla Green’s Creek environment/surface operations manager Martin Stearns (left) listens to Angoon resident Floyd Kim express his opposition to the four alternatives for the Hecla Greens Creek Mine North Extension Project, of which includes expanding its 8.5-million-cubic yard disposal facility to hold up to an additional five million cubic yards of tailings and waste rock storage. Kim was among the around 15 residents who joined the meeting held Friday afternoon in Angoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Angoon residents speak out against Greens Creek Mine expansion

“We have no real power to stop what’s going on — even if we fight it seems to happen anyways.”

Hecla Green’s Creek environment/surface operations manager Martin Stearns (left) listens to Angoon resident Floyd Kim express his opposition to the four alternatives for the Hecla Greens Creek Mine North Extension Project, of which includes expanding its 8.5-million-cubic yard disposal facility to hold up to an additional five million cubic yards of tailings and waste rock storage. Kim was among the around 15 residents who joined the meeting held Friday afternoon in Angoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Juneau Police Department stand at attention to honor fallen officers on Friday during the Alaska Peace Officers Association’s annual memorial service at Evergreen Cemetery. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

First responders gather to honor fallen officers

Alaska Peace Officers Association holds annual memorial service.

Members of the Juneau Police Department stand at attention to honor fallen officers on Friday during the Alaska Peace Officers Association’s annual memorial service at Evergreen Cemetery. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
The Mendenhall Glacier, Photo Point and Nugget Falls are seen under cloudy skies Friday morning. The trails and recreation area around these heavily visited destinations are poised to change following the release of a final environmental impact statement. The U.S. Forest Service’s preferred alternative would nearly double the recreation area’s capacity in anticipation of demand over the next 30 years. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Plan for Mendenhall Glacier area ditches motorboats

Forest Service’s preferred alternative outlined in new report.

The Mendenhall Glacier, Photo Point and Nugget Falls are seen under cloudy skies Friday morning. The trails and recreation area around these heavily visited destinations are poised to change following the release of a final environmental impact statement. The U.S. Forest Service’s preferred alternative would nearly double the recreation area’s capacity in anticipation of demand over the next 30 years. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Residents and community leaders fill the Assembly chambers during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. The Assembly made decisions on what community funding requests would receive funding and what would not. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Asked and answered: Assembly decides on community funding requests

Millions OK’d in the process.

Residents and community leaders fill the Assembly chambers during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. The Assembly made decisions on what community funding requests would receive funding and what would not. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)