Jasz Garrett

Students play trumpets at the first annual Jazz Fest in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Fortier)

Join the second annual Juneau Jazz Fest to beat the winter blues

Four-day music festival brings education of students and Southeast community together.

 

Juneau Assembly Member Maureen Hall (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (center) talk to residents during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, about the establishment of a Local Improvement District that would require homeowners in the area to pay nearly $6,300 each for barriers to protect against glacial outburst floods. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Flood district plan charging property owners nearly $6,300 each gets unanimous OK from Assembly

117 objections filed for 466 properties in Mendenhall Valley deemed vulnerable to glacial floods.

 

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, gives an overview of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s omnibus education package on Jan. 31, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Education package with multitude of policy changes and no BSA increase unveiled by Gov. Dunleavy

Proposals include allowing students to enroll anywhere in the state, more charter and homeschool support.

 

Ephraim Froelich, a Juneau resident, testifies in support of House Bill 69 on Jan. 29, 2025. His son, who attends first grade in the Juneau School District, sits beside him. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Ephraim Froelich, a Juneau resident, testifies in support of House Bill 69 on Jan. 29, 2025. His son, who attends first grade in the Juneau School District, sits beside him. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Thom Young sits with Pepper and Rick Driscoll sits with Homer in a dog visiting room at Juneau Animal Rescue on Jan. 28, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

North to adoption: Three dogs from LA arrive at Juneau Animal Rescue

From the Antelope Valley to Mendenhall Valley, dogs close to euthanasia get a fresh start.

Thom Young sits with Pepper and Rick Driscoll sits with Homer in a dog visiting room at Juneau Animal Rescue on Jan. 28, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A sign at Thunder Mountain Middle School was changed in January 2025 from Thunder Mountain High School to reflect the Juneau School District consolidation that officially took effect July 1, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Alaska House bill raising education funding more than 40% over three years gets first hearing Monday

Juneau school leaders say they’ve done their part, Legislature now needs to uphold state constitution.

A sign at Thunder Mountain Middle School was changed in January 2025 from Thunder Mountain High School to reflect the Juneau School District consolidation that officially took effect July 1, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Symphony rehearses for its winter mainstage concert in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé auditorium on Jan. 23, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Symphony rehearses for its winter mainstage concert in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé auditorium on Jan. 23, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau residents fill out public comment cards at an open house in the Assembly Chambers on Jan. 22, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Public weighs in on draft tideland lease conditions for private Aak’w Landing cruise dock

Community asks how the waterfront development project will be managed with the growth of tourism.

Juneau residents fill out public comment cards at an open house in the Assembly Chambers on Jan. 22, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate majority caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Alaska senators outline key priorities in the opening day of the 34th Legislature

An increase to the Base Student Allocation and in resource development among coming proposals.

Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka) and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate majority caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it on stage during the inaugural parade inside Capitol One Arena following his inauguration as the 47th president in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

Donald Trump signs executive orders, lifting oil restrictions in the Arctic

His decision receives praise from Alaska congressional delegation, concern from environmental groups.

President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it on stage during the inaugural parade inside Capitol One Arena following his inauguration as the 47th president in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Haven House, Tlingit and Haida’s third shelter under their Reentry and Recovery Program, is seen with lights on in the dark. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Tlingit and Haida offers a safe haven for women in recovery

Reopened Haven House is the third shelter in Reentry and Recovery program.

Haven House, Tlingit and Haida’s third shelter under their Reentry and Recovery Program, is seen with lights on in the dark. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department and Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a car accident on Egan Drive Thursday morning. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Five car crashes on icy morning cause traffic delays

On Thursday morning within a three-hour time frame, five separate motor vehicle collisions occurred after a cold night that left roads in icy conditions. Erann… Continue reading

The Juneau Police Department and Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a car accident on Egan Drive Thursday morning. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Flags fly at half staff at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy orders flags at state facilities to fly at full height during Trump’s inauguration day

Governor joins other pols ordering interruption of 30-day half-staff period for former President Carter.

Flags fly at half staff at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Jenny Thomas, a parent of a student at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, testifies on school safety concerns at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

High school fights in Juneau beginning to decline, but parents want more action

Juneau Board of Education hears requests for their members to be leaders in school safety.

Jenny Thomas, a parent of a student at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, testifies on school safety concerns at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau School District administrative office inside Thunder Mountain Middle School on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau School District, after further review, says it was affected by PowerSchool data breach

Information at risk may include parents, student and staff contact information and addresses.

The Juneau School District administrative office inside Thunder Mountain Middle School on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau School District not impacted by nationwide PowerSchool data breach

The Juneau School District was notified on Friday by PowerSchool, the company that provides its student information system, that the company experienced a potential national… Continue reading

Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
An aerial view of downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Affordable Housing Fund approves two apartment projects

Guidelines have been refined since Ridgeview sold at market price.

An aerial view of downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a fatal fire on Aspen Avenue on Jan. 4. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Recent fires cast light upon CCFR’s staffing shortages

Juneau’s firefighters are the city’s problem-solvers, but union says they need support too.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a fatal fire on Aspen Avenue on Jan. 4. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A trailer in the Sprucewood Park mobile home neighborhood burns on Monday night. Fire officials said the trailer apparently has long been unoccupied. (Photo by Gerald Mayeda)

Fire engulfs unoccupied trailer in the Mendenhall Valley

Wind spreads flames quickly, but neighboring homes escape damage.

A trailer in the Sprucewood Park mobile home neighborhood burns on Monday night. Fire officials said the trailer apparently has long been unoccupied. (Photo by Gerald Mayeda)
Juneau residents line up in the Thunder Mountain Middle School auditorium on Friday to ask questions and protest the HESCO flood barriers that are potentially being installed this summer. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Frustrated residents say concerns about short-term flood barrier plan aren’t getting sufficient answers

Some homeowners say they’d rather buy insurance than pay $6,300 for barriers, then focus on long-term fix.

Juneau residents line up in the Thunder Mountain Middle School auditorium on Friday to ask questions and protest the HESCO flood barriers that are potentially being installed this summer. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)