Municipal Government

Rainforest Recovery Center at Bartlett Regional Hospital officially closed Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Closure of Rainforest Recovery Center gets another look as decision called ‘medically irresponsible’

City, hospital leaders to consider options Thursday; halt to other services also discussed by board.

Rainforest Recovery Center at Bartlett Regional Hospital officially closed Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Rush-hour traffic backs up at a traffic light on Mendenhall Loop Road at the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Mendenhall Boulevard on Oct. 11, 2023. The Juneau Planning Commission approved a roundabout for the intersection on Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Third roundabout on Mendenhall Loop Road gets planning commission OK despite mound of controversy

Supporters say it will improve safety; opponents say obstructed driver views will increase risk.

Rush-hour traffic backs up at a traffic light on Mendenhall Loop Road at the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Mendenhall Boulevard on Oct. 11, 2023. The Juneau Planning Commission approved a roundabout for the intersection on Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Rainforest Recovery Center is seen during its final week of operation Wednesday as Bartlett Regional Hospital officials have said the residential substance abuse treatment program will close next Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Rainforest Recovery Center is seen during its final week of operation Wednesday as Bartlett Regional Hospital officials have said the residential substance abuse treatment program will close next Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Margaret Katzeek (right) offers public testimony about Suicide Basin flooding concerns while Renee Culp, who testified immediately before Katzeek, offers support during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

City leaders tell worried residents short- and long-term plans for Suicide Basin flooding are in progress

Basin now about half full, but should fill more slowly than earlier this year, city manager says.

Margaret Katzeek (right) offers public testimony about Suicide Basin flooding concerns while Renee Culp, who testified immediately before Katzeek, offers support during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Workers pave the surface of 10th Street near the intersection of Egan Drive on Wednesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Paving the way: 10th Street reconstruction scheduled for completion by end of September

Work part of larger project that includes upgrades to water, sewer, sidewalks, other infrastructure.

Workers pave the surface of 10th Street near the intersection of Egan Drive on Wednesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Bartlett Regional Hospital leaders (foreground) present details of their request for financial support to keep hospice, home care and residential substance abuse recovery programs operating during a Juneau Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Funding for hospital’s hospice, home health and Rainforest Recovery programs get Assembly support

Plan includes Gastineau Human Services expanding to accommodate Rainforest’s substance abuse treatment.

Bartlett Regional Hospital leaders (foreground) present details of their request for financial support to keep hospice, home care and residential substance abuse recovery programs operating during a Juneau Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Residents talk to city leaders and other officials about the response to this year’s record flooding from Suicide Basin during a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Options for reducing major flooding from Suicide Basin come with lots of questions

Possibilities include drainage tunnels through a mountain and blasting to fill basin with rocks.

Residents talk to city leaders and other officials about the response to this year’s record flooding from Suicide Basin during a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Craig Cimmons, scheduled to become the new general manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area on Sept. 30, is interviewed by the Juneau Assembly on Aug 2. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

New Eaglecrest Ski Area general manager has lots of experience with bumpy terrain

Craig Cimmons, a manager at resort hit by massive owner fraud, says recovery made employees stronger

Craig Cimmons, scheduled to become the new general manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area on Sept. 30, is interviewed by the Juneau Assembly on Aug 2. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Emily Wright, an assistant attorney for the City and Borough of Juneau, is scheduled to become the new municipal attorney later this month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s new municipal attorney already has plenty of experience with the duties of the job

CBJ Assistant Attorney Emily Wright hired to replace departing Robert Palmer later this month.

Emily Wright, an assistant attorney for the City and Borough of Juneau, is scheduled to become the new municipal attorney later this month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
People fill the Assembly Chambers at City Hall during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday night. A majority of people who testified during the meeting expressed thoughts about the shooting death of Steven Kissack during a confrontation with police two weeks ago. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Shooting death of Steven Kissack results in pleas to Assembly for transparency, restoration of trust

Residents commenting at Monday meeting mixed about if police response during standoff was proper.

People fill the Assembly Chambers at City Hall during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday night. A majority of people who testified during the meeting expressed thoughts about the shooting death of Steven Kissack during a confrontation with police two weeks ago. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new cruise ship dock downtown. (City and Borough of Juneau)

Proposed Huna Totem dock clears hurdle about legality, now Assembly will decide if it’s wanted

Karla Hart says she won’t further appeal dock’s use permit, will focus on debate of project’s merits.

This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new cruise ship dock downtown. (City and Borough of Juneau)
A skier stands atop a hill at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Two Eaglecrest Ski Area general manager finalists to be interviewed next week

One is a Vermont ski school manager, the other a former Eaglecrest official now in Washington

A skier stands atop a hill at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Juneau Municipal Attorney Robert Palmer reacts to praise for his service from Assembly members after his resignation was announced during a May 13 meeting. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Three city attorney finalists to be interviewed in public sessions this week by Juneau Assembly

Two Juneau residents with CBJ experience and D.C.-based Army attorney seek to replace Robert Palmer.

Juneau Municipal Attorney Robert Palmer reacts to praise for his service from Assembly members after his resignation was announced during a May 13 meeting. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Christopher Moore helps another Juneau homeless resident wheel her belongings from a makeshift campsite on private property near the airport on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

‘Displacing the displaced’ Juneau’s homeless population still seeks official place to camp

Juneau’s homeless continue moving camps, Juneau Assembly responds to Supreme Court decision

Christopher Moore helps another Juneau homeless resident wheel her belongings from a makeshift campsite on private property near the airport on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
An employee performs maintenance work on a chairlift at Eaglecrest Ski Area in late June. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)

Eaglecrest gondola can be done on time and on budget, if features are scaled back, city manager says

“Goldbelt is confident they can sell that destination with a windbreak and some porta-potties.”

An employee performs maintenance work on a chairlift at Eaglecrest Ski Area in late June. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Disney Williams (right) orders coffee from Lorelai Bingham from the Flying Squirrel coffee stand at Juneau International Airport on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

New coffee stand at airport stirs up heated dispute about having proper authorization to operate

Fans of Flying Squirrel Espresso praise location, hours; officials say FAA violations could be costly.

Disney Williams (right) orders coffee from Lorelai Bingham from the Flying Squirrel coffee stand at Juneau International Airport on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nano Brooks and Emily Mesch file for candidacy on Friday at the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Clerk’s office in City Hall. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

City and Borough of Juneau regular municipal election candidate filing period opens

So far, most vie for Assembly District 2 seat — mayor, Board of Education, and District 1 also open.

Nano Brooks and Emily Mesch file for candidacy on Friday at the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Clerk’s office in City Hall. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A pay to park sign is seen by the Downtown Transit Center on July 2, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Downtown parking changes aim to ensure rules are enforced

Transition to modern technology reduces the amount of time required to manage and enforce parking

A pay to park sign is seen by the Downtown Transit Center on July 2, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Assembly members interview Mike Satre (lower right), chair of Eaglecrest Ski Area’s Board of Directors, on Tuesday night. The Assembly reappointed Satre to a third three-year term, along with appointing two other members. (Screenshot from City and Borough of Juneau meeting on Zoom)

Two Eaglecrest board incumbents reappointed by Assembly, along with AEL&P’s CFO as new member

Stability during transition at ski resort following GM’s controversial resignation cited as key factor.

Juneau Assembly members interview Mike Satre (lower right), chair of Eaglecrest Ski Area’s Board of Directors, on Tuesday night. The Assembly reappointed Satre to a third three-year term, along with appointing two other members. (Screenshot from City and Borough of Juneau meeting on Zoom)
Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon listens to public testimony during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Assembly approves $22.75M in bonds to be considered on this fall’s municipal ballot

$12.75M would fund public safety communications upgrades; $10M wastewater utility improvements.

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon listens to public testimony during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)