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Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
The Hubbard state ferry docks at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Auke Bay on Monday, June 26.

Break in Kake’s ferry dock mooring fouls Thanksgiving plans for dozens of people stranded in Juneau

Ship loaded with vehicles and food forced back to Juneau after wind damage to village’s dock Saturday.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
The Hubbard state ferry docks at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Auke Bay on Monday, June 26.
Ann Stepetin (left) and Marion Dau (center) talk to Pauline Duncan about her woven aprons and other items for sale at the Indigenous Artists and Vendors Holiday Market on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Public Market expected to be biggest since 2019 — and online shoppers can start browsing now

41st annual three-day event starts Friday, along with Indigenous Artists and Vendors Holiday Market.

Ann Stepetin (left) and Marion Dau (center) talk to Pauline Duncan about her woven aprons and other items for sale at the Indigenous Artists and Vendors Holiday Market on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023 at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ranked choice votes in Alaska’s U.S. House race are tallied Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the state Division of Election’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Recount of defeated ranked choice repeal ballot measure faces long odds — but has an ardent attorney

Lawyer for other “election integrity” efforts argued Supreme Court should overturn Trump’s 2020 defeat.

Ranked choice votes in Alaska’s U.S. House race are tallied Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the state Division of Election’s office. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Joshua Beedle pins Sitka High’s JD Keith in the 112-pound division Friday at the Sitka Invitational. (James Poulson / The Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Crimson Bears grapplers swarm The Rock

JDHS wrestlers second to Mt. Edgecumbe at Sitka Invitational.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Joshua Beedle pins Sitka High’s JD Keith in the 112-pound division Friday at the Sitka Invitational. (James Poulson / The Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Rep. Andi Story, a Juneau Democrat, listens to a presentation during a House Education Committee meeting May 3, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. Story has been named co-chair of the committee for the upcoming legislative session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

State Rep. Andi Story to co-chair House Education Committee under new Democrat-led majority

Sara Hannan remains on Finance Committee as Juneau representatives look to play bigger roles

Rep. Andi Story, a Juneau Democrat, listens to a presentation during a House Education Committee meeting May 3, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. Story has been named co-chair of the committee for the upcoming legislative session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Spawning sockeye salmon returning from Bristol Bay swim in 2013 in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve’s Tazimina Lake. Sockeye salmon, also known as red salmon, accounted for about two-thirds of the value to commercial fishers of this year’s total Alaska salmon catch. (D. Young/National Park Service)

Alaska’s total commercial salmon harvest this year was ultra-low in both quantity and value

State: Number of fish harvested third lowest since 1985, value to fishers third lowest since 1975.

Spawning sockeye salmon returning from Bristol Bay swim in 2013 in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve’s Tazimina Lake. Sockeye salmon, also known as red salmon, accounted for about two-thirds of the value to commercial fishers of this year’s total Alaska salmon catch. (D. Young/National Park Service)
Larry Gamez and Rachel Ceja collect items for a Thanksgiving food basket to deliver to a house in the Mendenhall Valley on Saturday morning as part of St. Vincent de Paul’s annual distribution program. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Matching those hungry to help with those hungry to feast carries on as pre-Thanksgiving ritual

Food baskets delivered to hundreds of homes, food bank hosts annual drive on Saturday before holiday.

Larry Gamez and Rachel Ceja collect items for a Thanksgiving food basket to deliver to a house in the Mendenhall Valley on Saturday morning as part of St. Vincent de Paul’s annual distribution program. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Police Department cars are parked outside the downtown branch station on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

JPD’s daily incident reports getting thinner and vaguer. Why and does it matter?

Average of 5.12 daily incidents in October down from 10.74 a decade ago; details also far fewer.

Juneau Police Department cars are parked outside the downtown branch station on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Nov. 19, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Nov. 19, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree reaches Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 20, to much celebration. (U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree photo)

Santa’s truck-driving helpers are east bound and down to Washington, DC

U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree completes multiweek cross-country journey from Wrangell.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree reaches Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 20, to much celebration. (U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree photo)
The Palmer project would sit in the watershed of the Chilkat River, pictured here. (Scott McMurren/Flickr under Creative Commons license 2.0)

Japanese smelting giant pulls out of major Southeast Alaska mining project

Palmer development, above the salmon-bearing Chilkat River, has for years fueled political divisions.

The Palmer project would sit in the watershed of the Chilkat River, pictured here. (Scott McMurren/Flickr under Creative Commons license 2.0)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Emma Fellman signs a national letter of intent on Thursday at Augustus Brown Pool to attend and swim for the University of Minnesota. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Emma Fellman signs to swim at University of Minnesota

JDHS senior holds 17 high school and club records.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Emma Fellman signs a national letter of intent on Thursday at Augustus Brown Pool to attend and swim for the University of Minnesota. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s PJ Foy, shown winning the 2023 100-yard butterfly in 48.27 for Thunder Mountain High School during the ASAA state championships at the Dimond Park Aquatics Center on Nov. 4, 2023. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaska Sports Hall of Fame selections end in November

Last chance to vote for your favorite Alaska athlete or moment

Juneau’s PJ Foy, shown winning the 2023 100-yard butterfly in 48.27 for Thunder Mountain High School during the ASAA state championships at the Dimond Park Aquatics Center on Nov. 4, 2023. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Douglas Island Breeze In on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

New owner seeks to transfer Douglas Island Breeze In’s retail alcohol license to Foodland IGA

Transfer would allow company to take over space next to supermarket occupied by Kenny’s Liquor Market.

The Douglas Island Breeze In on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A butter clam. Butter clams are found from the Aleutian Islands to the California coast. They are known to retain algal toxins longer than other species of shellfish. (Photo provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)

Among butter clams, which pose toxin dangers to Alaska harvesters, size matters, study indicates

Higher concentrations found in bigger specimens, UAS researchers find of clams on beaches near Juneau.

A butter clam. Butter clams are found from the Aleutian Islands to the California coast. They are known to retain algal toxins longer than other species of shellfish. (Photo provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Glacier Swim Club members, left-to-right, Cora Soboleff, Clara Van Kirk, Natalie MacKinnon, Ellie Higgins, Leon Ward, coach Lisa Jones, Zach Holden, Josh Ely and Henry Thatcher during the 2024 November Rain swim meet at Petersburg last weekend. (Photo courtesy Glacier Swim Club)

Glacier Swim Club competes at Petersburg’s November Rain

Juneau’s Glacier Swim Club participated in the November Rain Invitational swim meet last weekend at Petersburg’s Aquatic Center. Eight swimmers lowered at least one of… Continue reading

Glacier Swim Club members, left-to-right, Cora Soboleff, Clara Van Kirk, Natalie MacKinnon, Ellie Higgins, Leon Ward, coach Lisa Jones, Zach Holden, Josh Ely and Henry Thatcher during the 2024 November Rain swim meet at Petersburg last weekend. (Photo courtesy Glacier Swim Club)
Media members and other observers gather at the Alaska Division of Elections office on Wednesday evening as the results of all ballots, including ranked choice tabulations, were announced. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Ranked choice voting repeal fails by 0.2%, Begich defeats Peltola 51.3%-48.7% on final day of counting

Tally released Wednesday night remains unofficial until Nov. 30 certification.

Media members and other observers gather at the Alaska Division of Elections office on Wednesday evening as the results of all ballots, including ranked choice tabulations, were announced. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Current senior Kerra Baxter (22) shoots a free throw for now defunct Thunder Mountain High School in last season’s ASAA state championship 4th/6th place game against the Mountain City Christian Academy Lions. Baxter has signed to play Division II college basketball with the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Baxter will play for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé this season. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Kerra Baxter signs to play for UAA Seawolves

Twin tower elects to stay in state and close to home fan base

Current senior Kerra Baxter (22) shoots a free throw for now defunct Thunder Mountain High School in last season’s ASAA state championship 4th/6th place game against the Mountain City Christian Academy Lions. Baxter has signed to play Division II college basketball with the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Baxter will play for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé this season. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
An aerial view of people standing near destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on Oct. 8, 2024 in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Members of U.S. Senate back disaster aid request amid increasing storm severity

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s request for nearly $100 billion in natural disaster response and recovery funding is on track to sail through the U.S.… Continue reading

An aerial view of people standing near destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on Oct. 8, 2024 in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Looking through the dining room and reception area to the front door. The table will be covered with holiday treats during the afternoon open house. The Stickley slide table, when several extensions are added, provides comfortable seating for 22 dinner guests. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

The Governor’s House: Welcoming Alaskans for more than 100 years

Mansion has seen many updates to please occupants, but piano bought with first funds still playable.

Looking through the dining room and reception area to the front door. The table will be covered with holiday treats during the afternoon open house. The Stickley slide table, when several extensions are added, provides comfortable seating for 22 dinner guests. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)