Wire Service

Juneau’s Zack Bursell, 30, wins the Run The Rock 50-mile ultra race at Smith Rock State Park, Saturday, in Terrebonne, Oregon. (Photo courtesy Jamie/John Bursell)

Bursell wins Oregon 50 miler

New ultra runner hits new personal best.

Juneau’s Zack Bursell, 30, wins the Run The Rock 50-mile ultra race at Smith Rock State Park, Saturday, in Terrebonne, Oregon. (Photo courtesy Jamie/John Bursell)
Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board members, staff and advisors meet Oct. 30 at the corporation’s headquarters in Juneau to discuss a proposal to raise the fund’s rate of return by making riskier investments. The idea stalled when advisors suggested the strategy and timing are ill-advised. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File).

My Turn: Need for accounting and legislative oversight of the Permanent Fund

The governor or Legislature or both need to conduct an audit format available to the public or engage in serious oversight of the Alaska Permanent… Continue reading

Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board members, staff and advisors meet Oct. 30 at the corporation’s headquarters in Juneau to discuss a proposal to raise the fund’s rate of return by making riskier investments. The idea stalled when advisors suggested the strategy and timing are ill-advised. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File).
A springtail perches on a wood railing, perhaps to eat microalgae. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Early November sightings

An early November stroll on the dike trail was uneventful until I met some Real Birders, who were there in search of some unusual sightings.… Continue reading

A springtail perches on a wood railing, perhaps to eat microalgae. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
George Houston, head coach of what at the time was Juneau-Douglas High School, watches his team play Colony High School in February of 2002 at JDHS. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

George Houston: A remembrance

Lifelong Juneau coach, mentor, educator and friend passes.

George Houston, head coach of what at the time was Juneau-Douglas High School, watches his team play Colony High School in February of 2002 at JDHS. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Late evening on the Kuskokwim River in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Tribes, State Troopers increase access to justice for Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence

Alaska State Troopers received new training in October aimed at keeping Tribal citizens safer

Late evening on the Kuskokwim River in Nunapitchuk on Oct. 12. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Friday, Nov. 10, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Jennifer Kirk, left, and Susanna “Sue Sue” Norton both died, two years apart, in homes owned by a former mayor and often occupied by his adult sons. Credit:Left photo: Facebook; right photo: courtesy of Lesley Sundberg

One woman died on an Alaska mayor’s property. Then another. No one has ever been charged.

Ex-mayor’s sons faced few consequences despite history of similar allegations.

Jennifer Kirk, left, and Susanna “Sue Sue” Norton both died, two years apart, in homes owned by a former mayor and often occupied by his adult sons. Credit:Left photo: Facebook; right photo: courtesy of Lesley Sundberg
Author standing at the Sitka terminal ramp May 22 waiting to board the Columbia to Haines. (Photo courtesy of Regina Discenza)

Letter: Governor, remember the ferry system’s woes when crafting your budget

This is an open letter to Gov. Dunleavy and his staff. A new budget year is coming soon. I hope that you remember me and… Continue reading

Author standing at the Sitka terminal ramp May 22 waiting to board the Columbia to Haines. (Photo courtesy of Regina Discenza)
Bering Sea snow crab, with two specimens seen in this undated photo, support an iconic Alaska seafood harvest, but a crash in population since 2018 triggered the first ever closure of the fishery in 2022. That closure was extended for the 2023-24 season. A newly published study shows that snow crab have some resilience to ocean acidification, with eggs and embryos that fare better in acidified conditions than do those of other Alaska crab species. (Photo provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Alaska’s snow crab show resilience to ocean acidification, which is underway in the Bering Sea

Study a possible bright spot for species hammered by a warmth-triggered crash.

Bering Sea snow crab, with two specimens seen in this undated photo, support an iconic Alaska seafood harvest, but a crash in population since 2018 triggered the first ever closure of the fishery in 2022. That closure was extended for the 2023-24 season. A newly published study shows that snow crab have some resilience to ocean acidification, with eggs and embryos that fare better in acidified conditions than do those of other Alaska crab species. (Photo provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
A pedestrian pushes a shopping cart on Cordova Street during a heavy snowfall on Thursday in Anchorage. Four homeless people have died in Anchorage in the last week, underscoring the city’s ongoing struggle to house a large houseless population at the same time winter weather has returned, with more than 2 feet (0.61 meters) of snow falling within 48 hours. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Anchorage adds to record homeless death total as major winter storm drops more than two feet of snow

Four homeless people have died in Anchorage in the last week, underscoring the city’s ongoing struggle to house a large homeless population at the same… Continue reading

A pedestrian pushes a shopping cart on Cordova Street during a heavy snowfall on Thursday in Anchorage. Four homeless people have died in Anchorage in the last week, underscoring the city’s ongoing struggle to house a large houseless population at the same time winter weather has returned, with more than 2 feet (0.61 meters) of snow falling within 48 hours. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Demonstrators protest against the Biden administration’s approval of the Willow oil-drilling project before a scheduled speech by Biden at the Department of the Interior in Washington, March 21, 2023. A federal judge on Thursday upheld the Biden administration’s approval of the Willow oil-drilling project on Alaska’s remote North Slope, a massive project that had drawn the ire of environmentalists who accused the president of backpedaling on his pledge to combat climate change. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Federal judge in Alaska upholds Biden administration’s approval of the massive oil-drilling project

A federal judge on Thursday upheld the Biden administration’s approval of the massive Willow oil-drilling project on Alaska’s remote North Slope, a decision that environmental… Continue reading

Demonstrators protest against the Biden administration’s approval of the Willow oil-drilling project before a scheduled speech by Biden at the Department of the Interior in Washington, March 21, 2023. A federal judge on Thursday upheld the Biden administration’s approval of the Willow oil-drilling project on Alaska’s remote North Slope, a massive project that had drawn the ire of environmentalists who accused the president of backpedaling on his pledge to combat climate change. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
A red fox carries a muskrat to a birthing den in Interior Alaska. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Secret lives playing out all around us

While we were sleeping, they were out there. Two red foxes, a male and female, pawing into spring snow on a hillside. The foxes had… Continue reading

A red fox carries a muskrat to a birthing den in Interior Alaska. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Devil’s Club Brewing Company brewer Trever Held accepts an award at the 2023 AK Beer Awards competition at Williwaw Social in Anchorage on Nov. 3. (Photo courtesy of Brewers Guild of Alaska)

Neighbors briefs

Juneau brewers win 10 medals at 2023 AK Beer Awards The Brewers Guild of Alaska (BGA) held the awards ceremony for the 2023 AK Beer… Continue reading

Devil’s Club Brewing Company brewer Trever Held accepts an award at the 2023 AK Beer Awards competition at Williwaw Social in Anchorage on Nov. 3. (Photo courtesy of Brewers Guild of Alaska)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Monday, Nov. 6, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Orion Nebula as seen from Auke Bay on Oct. 26. Taken with a DSLR camera and a 300mm telephoto lens on a tracking device for timed exposures. Multiple 25-second exposures were taken and then stacked to gain more detail. (Photo by Mark Schwan)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

The Orion Nebula as seen from Auke Bay on Oct. 26. Taken with a DSLR camera and a 300mm telephoto lens on a tracking device for timed exposures. Multiple 25-second exposures were taken and then stacked to gain more detail. (Photo by Mark Schwan)
High tides make getting the skiff loaded a little tricky. The author’s wife avoids low branches on her way to the skiff after a successful hunt. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Tasty memories

The buck raked a small cedar tree glazed in frost, swollen neck twisting the antlers around the brutalized trunk. I reached behind me to get… Continue reading

High tides make getting the skiff loaded a little tricky. The author’s wife avoids low branches on her way to the skiff after a successful hunt. (Photo by Jeff Lund)