News

A health care worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. There's concern that COVID-19 vaccination could be made mandatory by businesses for activities such as travel-- or employment. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Without a vaccine mandate exemptions are untested

Legal gray area.

A health care worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. There's concern that COVID-19 vaccination could be made mandatory by businesses for activities such as travel-- or employment. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Doug Woodby, co-chair of environmental group 350Juneau, holds up a letter addressed to the CEO of Wells Fargo alongside Irene Alexakos and Dick Farnell, wearing the costume. The group delivered the letter urging divestment from the fossil fuel industry to the bank's branch in downtown Juneau on Friday, April 2, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Costume-clad conservationist calls on banks to divest from fossil fuels

Tyrannosaurus checks.

Doug Woodby, co-chair of environmental group 350Juneau, holds up a letter addressed to the CEO of Wells Fargo alongside Irene Alexakos and Dick Farnell, wearing the costume. The group delivered the letter urging divestment from the fossil fuel industry to the bank's branch in downtown Juneau on Friday, April 2, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department are seeking a man, seen here in security footage, involved in the robbery of the Safeway fueling station early Sunday morning.

Police investigating early-morning gas station burglary

About $500 in merchandise was taken.

The Juneau Police Department are seeking a man, seen here in security footage, involved in the robbery of the Safeway fueling station early Sunday morning.
Courtesy photo / Heather Holt An Air Force C-32A landed at Juneau International Airport on Friday as part of a training flight. The C-32A, one of four in the world operated by the 89th Airlift Wing, is often the transport for the vice president or other VIPs.

Vice presidential plane visits Juneau for training flight

No VIPs were aboard the aircraft, which stayed less than a day.

Courtesy photo / Heather Holt An Air Force C-32A landed at Juneau International Airport on Friday as part of a training flight. The C-32A, one of four in the world operated by the 89th Airlift Wing, is often the transport for the vice president or other VIPs.
Teachers greeted students as they reentered school on Jan. 11 with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place at Floyd Dryden Middle School. After several months of partial week attendance to accommodate student cohorts, the school district is expanding in-person learning opportunities. Next week, middle and high school students will return to in-person school four days each week. Many elementary school students returned to four days this week. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

School district announces expansion of in-person learning

Middle and high school students to attend four days a week

Teachers greeted students as they reentered school on Jan. 11 with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place at Floyd Dryden Middle School. After several months of partial week attendance to accommodate student cohorts, the school district is expanding in-person learning opportunities. Next week, middle and high school students will return to in-person school four days each week. Many elementary school students returned to four days this week. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

COVID at a glance for Tuesday, April 6

The most recent state and local numbers.

Rose Lawhorne, a longtime employee at Bartlett Regional Hospital, stands next to the new CEO nameplate outside her office on April 1. She takes over as CEO this week. Lawhorne first joined the hospital staff in 1993 and has worked her way up the ranks in a variety of roles. She expects to draw on her vast experience as she guides the hospital post-pandemic. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett Regional Hospital’s new CEO is focused on stability

Longtime employee Rose Lawhorne steps into the top job this week

Rose Lawhorne, a longtime employee at Bartlett Regional Hospital, stands next to the new CEO nameplate outside her office on April 1. She takes over as CEO this week. Lawhorne first joined the hospital staff in 1993 and has worked her way up the ranks in a variety of roles. She expects to draw on her vast experience as she guides the hospital post-pandemic. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
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.(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Update: Thane Road closure canceled.

Weather conditions cause cancellation.

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.(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Courtesy Photo/ Consortium for Ocean Leadership A group of students from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé won the Tsunami Bowl, a regional ocean science academic competition that is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The team, which uses the name New Squids on the Dock, will join winners from 20 other regional bowls for virtual finals in May.

JDHS students win regional ocean science competition

Next up: virtual finals

Courtesy Photo/ Consortium for Ocean Leadership A group of students from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé won the Tsunami Bowl, a regional ocean science academic competition that is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The team, which uses the name New Squids on the Dock, will join winners from 20 other regional bowls for virtual finals in May.
Lisa X’unyéil Worl was recently awarded the Carla Timpone Award for Activism from the Alaska Women’s Lobby for her work in the education system. (Courtesy photo / Konrad Frank)

Local education advocate wins award for activism

The award is the result of years of work on behalf of equity of education for Juneau’s children

Lisa X’unyéil Worl was recently awarded the Carla Timpone Award for Activism from the Alaska Women’s Lobby for her work in the education system. (Courtesy photo / Konrad Frank)
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

COVID at a glance for Friday, April 2

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)
City and Borough of Juneau Public Library Director Robert Barr was announced Friday, April 2, 2021, as Juneau’s next deputy city manager. Barr was also announced this week as the winner of the American Library Association’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession for his work as the city’s planning section chief through the pandemic. (Courtesy photo / CBJ)

Raising the Barr: Library chief picked for deputy city manager job

He also won a national award for his work through the pandemic.

City and Borough of Juneau Public Library Director Robert Barr was announced Friday, April 2, 2021, as Juneau’s next deputy city manager. Barr was also announced this week as the winner of the American Library Association’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession for his work as the city’s planning section chief through the pandemic. (Courtesy photo / CBJ)
George J. Bennett Sr., left, and Arsenio “Pastor” Credo, right, were among the hundreds of Alaskans who deployed to Vietnam during the war and were collectively welcomed home during an event held by the Southeast Intertribal Collective for National Vietnam War Veterans Day over Facebook Live on March 29, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska Native group honors, welcomes Vietnam veterans home

The event was held to give veterans a welcoming they may not have received 50 years ago.

George J. Bennett Sr., left, and Arsenio “Pastor” Credo, right, were among the hundreds of Alaskans who deployed to Vietnam during the war and were collectively welcomed home during an event held by the Southeast Intertribal Collective for National Vietnam War Veterans Day over Facebook Live on March 29, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Second grade teacher Katie Koski reacts to the news that a student lost a tooth and was visited by the Tooth Fairy, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. Juneau’s students started this school year with distance learning. In January, some students started attending partial, in-person learning. Late Thursday, district officials announced a broader return to in-person learning for elementary school students. Starting next week, students will attend four full days each week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

District expands schedule for in-person learning for elementary schools

School is in session.

Second grade teacher Katie Koski reacts to the news that a student lost a tooth and was visited by the Tooth Fairy, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. Juneau’s students started this school year with distance learning. In January, some students started attending partial, in-person learning. Late Thursday, district officials announced a broader return to in-person learning for elementary school students. Starting next week, students will attend four full days each week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

COVID at a glance for Thursday, April 1

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File Hundreds gathered at Marine Park in downtown Juneau on June 7, 2020, for a rally and march calling for an end to police violence and systemic racism in America. On Thursday, Juneau’s newly formed Systemic Racism Review Committee held its first meeting.

Systemic Racism Review Committee holds organizing meeting

Municipal attorney will guide the group

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File Hundreds gathered at Marine Park in downtown Juneau on June 7, 2020, for a rally and march calling for an end to police violence and systemic racism in America. On Thursday, Juneau’s newly formed Systemic Racism Review Committee held its first meeting.
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

COVID at a glance for Wednesday, March 31

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)
Juneau’s breweries, with a funds-matching donation from the Rasmuson Foundation, donated $36,000 to the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation to assist with relief from last year’s fatal landslides as part of the “Pour the Love” fundraiser on March 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Meghan Chambers)

Pilgrimage of pints raises thousands of dollars for Haines

The Pour the Love event was a big success

Juneau’s breweries, with a funds-matching donation from the Rasmuson Foundation, donated $36,000 to the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation to assist with relief from last year’s fatal landslides as part of the “Pour the Love” fundraiser on March 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Meghan Chambers)
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

COVID at a glance for Tuesday, March 30

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)
Roman Motyka, Juneau Nordic Ski Club board member, grooms the trail along Montana Creek Road on Dec. 29. A new trail could be in the works for the popular recreation area. The Juneau Off-Road Association submitted a request to build a hardened trail in the Montana Creek area, making it easier for people to operate all-terrain vehicles there. The proposed trail is approximately 6,800 feet long and 25 feet wide, containing about 3.90 acres and an additional quarter acre for a campsite. Other organizations who make use of the area have expressed reservations about the plan. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

A new road ahead? There’s a proposal for an access road at Montana Creek

State opens comment period for possible work.

Roman Motyka, Juneau Nordic Ski Club board member, grooms the trail along Montana Creek Road on Dec. 29. A new trail could be in the works for the popular recreation area. The Juneau Off-Road Association submitted a request to build a hardened trail in the Montana Creek area, making it easier for people to operate all-terrain vehicles there. The proposed trail is approximately 6,800 feet long and 25 feet wide, containing about 3.90 acres and an additional quarter acre for a campsite. Other organizations who make use of the area have expressed reservations about the plan. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)