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Alaska Stranding Network members examined a young male humpback whale on July 8, 2024 near Elfin Cove. Members included a veterinarian with Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services and a biologist with Glacier Bay National Park. (Photo courtesy Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services)

Ship strikes suspected of causing two whale deaths in Icy Strait

One whale was pregnant at the time of death, according to NOAA.

Alaska Stranding Network members examined a young male humpback whale on July 8, 2024 near Elfin Cove. Members included a veterinarian with Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services and a biologist with Glacier Bay National Park. (Photo courtesy Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services)
A crew member aboard a Prince William Sound works with the operator vessel’s skiff, which is used to maneuver the net into position. (Photo courtesy of Megan Corazza)

‘Huge disaster’: Historically weak pink salmon runs strain Alaska’s seine fishermen

Skippers in Prince William Sound and Kodiak say this year’s harvest is one of the worst they’ve seen.

A crew member aboard a Prince William Sound works with the operator vessel’s skiff, which is used to maneuver the net into position. (Photo courtesy of Megan Corazza)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 9, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Aug. 10

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 9, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alysha Reeves, a nine-year Golden North Salmon Derby official, validates a fisherman’s ticket at the Auke Nu weigh station on Friday morning, the first day of the three-day derby. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

78th annual Golden North Salmon Derby offers a nibble of normalcy in wake of record flood

Occasional rain, a few stray trees in the waters near Juneau expected as three-day event begins.

Alysha Reeves, a nine-year Golden North Salmon Derby official, validates a fisherman’s ticket at the Auke Nu weigh station on Friday morning, the first day of the three-day derby. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Flowers, notes, cash donations and other items are placed Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at a memorial for Steven Kissack, a longtime Juneau resident experiencing homelessness, at the spot he was fatally shot by police the previous day. The stuffed malamute is in recognition of his dog Juno, who was present when the shooting occurred. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Capital City Weekly

Memorial benefit show for Steven Kissack seeks to help others facing his struggles

Ten music acts scheduled to perform Saturday at Crystal Saloon in memory of well-known homeless resident.

Flowers, notes, cash donations and other items are placed Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at a memorial for Steven Kissack, a longtime Juneau resident experiencing homelessness, at the spot he was fatally shot by police the previous day. The stuffed malamute is in recognition of his dog Juno, who was present when the shooting occurred. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A view of the Treasury Department building in Washington, D.C., on March 25, 2022. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)

$83 million loan program for Alaska tribal and small businesses approved by U.S. Dept. of Treasury

Program aims to help businesses that may not receive loans otherwise.

A view of the Treasury Department building in Washington, D.C., on March 25, 2022. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)
A worker examines a flooded yard where fuel and other hazardous material may have spilled. (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation photo)

Resources for flood cleanup and recovery offered by city, other entities

Waste collection and disposal options expanded, volunteer coordination and other efforts underway

A worker examines a flooded yard where fuel and other hazardous material may have spilled. (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation photo)
Homes, streets and vehicles are swamped by record flooding from the Mendenhall River on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Rich Ross)

Sullivan: Short-term focus after flood on FEMA aid, long-term focus on ‘engineering solution’

“We can’t have it that Juneau has this problem every summer,” senator says during visit Thursday.

Homes, streets and vehicles are swamped by record flooding from the Mendenhall River on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Rich Ross)
Alaska National Guard members help clear debris Thursday from a neighborhood hit by record flooding of the Mendenhall River earlier this week. (Alaska National Guard photo)

Alaska National Guard deployed to assist with flood recovery efforts

40 members from Juneau and elsewhere will help with debris cleanup, distribution of supplies.

Alaska National Guard members help clear debris Thursday from a neighborhood hit by record flooding of the Mendenhall River earlier this week. (Alaska National Guard photo)
The aftermath of the flood is seen in Maggie Nolen’s basement apartment on Tuesday afternoon. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau residents impacted by the Mendenhall River flood begin recovery step by step

Volunteers help salvage homes and belongings after record flood causes widespread damage.

The aftermath of the flood is seen in Maggie Nolen’s basement apartment on Tuesday afternoon. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Isabella Lang gets an enthusiastic greeting as she finishes first overall in the Olympic distance in Aukeman Triathlon on Sunday. (Photo by Bob Eastaugh)

Record number of racers feel heat of new challenges, including first-ever long course, at Aukeman Triathlon

Isabella Lang, in a “for-fun” effort, gets dominant overall win in Olympic-length course.

Isabella Lang gets an enthusiastic greeting as she finishes first overall in the Olympic distance in Aukeman Triathlon on Sunday. (Photo by Bob Eastaugh)
The sticker-covered wall outside the Prudhoe Bay General Store, a landmark in the community of Deadhorse, is seen on Aug. 22, 2018. Behind it is an oil equipment and oil-related facilities sited at Deadhorse, just outside of the Prudhoe Bay field. On Tuesday, temperatures reached 89 degrees at the industrial camp community, the highest ever recorded there and likely the highest ever recorded at this latitude anywhere in North America. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Record-high temperatures bake Deadhorse and other sites on Alaska’s North Slope

A scorching hot day in Alaska’s Arctic set multiple records on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. At Deadhorse, the industrial camp community next… Continue reading

The sticker-covered wall outside the Prudhoe Bay General Store, a landmark in the community of Deadhorse, is seen on Aug. 22, 2018. Behind it is an oil equipment and oil-related facilities sited at Deadhorse, just outside of the Prudhoe Bay field. On Tuesday, temperatures reached 89 degrees at the industrial camp community, the highest ever recorded there and likely the highest ever recorded at this latitude anywhere in North America. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Mayor Beth Weldon chat with Janet Coffin outside her home on Killewich Drive on Wednesday afternoon. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Following state disaster declaration, Gov. Dunleavy and Sen. Murkowski survey Juneau’s flooded homes

“What do we do with the community a year from now?”

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Mayor Beth Weldon chat with Janet Coffin outside her home on Killewich Drive on Wednesday afternoon. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau, Alaska on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Mail delays postpone the start of pre-Election Day voting in parts of rural Alaska

Democrats express worries about the effect on Mary Peltola’s campaign for U.S. House.

An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau, Alaska on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Bright red fruit hang from a cherry tree in the Casey-Shattuck Addition in downtown Juneau. The compact neighborhood of small homes is roughly defined by 12th Street, Glacier Avenue, Eighth Street and Calhoun Avenue. It was platted in 1913. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

A bowl of cherries: Abundant red fruit brightens the neighborhood known as ‘The Flats’

Nobody seems quite sure about the origin of the fruit trees, but people have plenty of ideas.

Bright red fruit hang from a cherry tree in the Casey-Shattuck Addition in downtown Juneau. The compact neighborhood of small homes is roughly defined by 12th Street, Glacier Avenue, Eighth Street and Calhoun Avenue. It was platted in 1913. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley are swamped by record flooding from the Mendenhall River on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Rich Ross)

Record flooding exceeding ‘worst-case’ forecast swamps homes and streets near Mendenhall River

Water from glacial outburst flood crests at 15.99 feet, tops last year’s record by more than a foot.

Homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley are swamped by record flooding from the Mendenhall River on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Rich Ross)
Jill Lawhorne, community development director for the City and Borough of Juneau, and building inspector Jeff Hedges examine a section of armored riverbank that had minimal damage despite a fast-flowing drainage of water from the Meander Way neighborhood during record flooding Monday and Tuesday. A nearby homeowner reported the only damage to her home was a gash in the garage where a large spruce tree rammed into the exterior and poked a sizable hole that allowed water to get into the garage. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

City says more than 100 homes damaged by record flood; Gov. Dunleavy issues state disaster declaration

Congressional delegation, organizations and businesses also discussing assistance possibilities.

Jill Lawhorne, community development director for the City and Borough of Juneau, and building inspector Jeff Hedges examine a section of armored riverbank that had minimal damage despite a fast-flowing drainage of water from the Meander Way neighborhood during record flooding Monday and Tuesday. A nearby homeowner reported the only damage to her home was a gash in the garage where a large spruce tree rammed into the exterior and poked a sizable hole that allowed water to get into the garage. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Vehicles try to navigate through rapidly rising flood waters in a neighborhood along the Mendenhall River at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Suicide Basin flood tracker: Mendenhall River crests at 15.99 feet, expected to retreat rapidly

New record water level more than a foot higher than last year, causes unexpected damage to some homes.

Vehicles try to navigate through rapidly rising flood waters in a neighborhood along the Mendenhall River at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juno, a 7-year-old Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute mix, is officially up for adoption through Juneau Animal Rescue as of Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

‘Special street dog’ Juno searches for her forever home

“We just want to make sure she goes to a good, loving home.”

Juno, a 7-year-old Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute mix, is officially up for adoption through Juneau Animal Rescue as of Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The former Breakwater Inn on Egan Drive, near where a hit-and-run collision with a pedestrian occurred early Sunday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Pedestrian on Egan Drive critically injured in early morning hit-and-run collision with vehicle

Relative says victim, 38, has broken neck; man ‘involved’ in accident leads police to damaged vehicle.

The former Breakwater Inn on Egan Drive, near where a hit-and-run collision with a pedestrian occurred early Sunday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)