News

(Juneau Empire File)

Aurora forecast for the week of Nov. 20

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute and available online, along with more data, at www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast. The listings below will… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File)

Aurora forecast for the week of Nov. 13

The forecasts for the week of Nov. 13 are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute and available online, along with more data,… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
Lamia Monroe of Anchorage (center) is crowned the first First Miss Gay Alaska America by pageant sponsor Gigi Monroe (left) and reigning Miss Gay America Tatiyanna Voche during the finale of the two-night event Saturday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

First-ever Miss Gay Alaska America is crowned in Juneau

Lamia Monroe wins two-day female impersonator pageant, will go to national event with runner-up.

Lamia Monroe of Anchorage (center) is crowned the first First Miss Gay Alaska America by pageant sponsor Gigi Monroe (left) and reigning Miss Gay America Tatiyanna Voche during the finale of the two-night event Saturday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The historic Assembly Building, built in 1932 and located across the street from the Alaska State Capitol, will serve as legislative housing during the coming session after the building was gifted to the Alaska Legislature for that purpose. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)

Committee adopts policy for new apartments for Alaska lawmakers and staff

Apartments will be available starting next year for Alaska lawmakers and staff in a building that the Legislature was gifted, with a committee that oversees… Continue reading

The historic Assembly Building, built in 1932 and located across the street from the Alaska State Capitol, will serve as legislative housing during the coming session after the building was gifted to the Alaska Legislature for that purpose. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)
A 30-foot-tall totem pole, seen in the photo at left, was removed from Michael J. Burns Building on Friday, as seen in the photo at right taken Sunday. The totem pole, plus two others already removed from the interior of the building that houses the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., are scheduled to be placed at Goldbelt Inc.’s headquarters for its 50th anniversary celebration. (Left photo courtesy of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.; right photo by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Totem poles removed from Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. headquarters building

Goldbelt Inc. plans to place the three totems at its headquarters for 50th-anniversary celebration.

A 30-foot-tall totem pole, seen in the photo at left, was removed from Michael J. Burns Building on Friday, as seen in the photo at right taken Sunday. The totem pole, plus two others already removed from the interior of the building that houses the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., are scheduled to be placed at Goldbelt Inc.’s headquarters for its 50th anniversary celebration. (Left photo courtesy of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.; right photo by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A blizzard warning for the Juneau area starting at 6 a.m. Monday is published on a National Weather Service Juneau social media page Sunday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Major storm expected to bring up to 14 inches of snow, 60 mph winds to Juneau on Monday

Preliminary forecast expects storm to arrive about 6 a.m., heaviest snow to occur during day.

A blizzard warning for the Juneau area starting at 6 a.m. Monday is published on a National Weather Service Juneau social media page Sunday. (National Weather Service Juneau)
Joe Pagenkopf counts bags of food in a shopping cart at the St. Vincent de Paul Juneau complex on Saturday morning before heading out to deliver Thanksgiving food baskets to local residents. He said it is his first time making such deliveries, which he was motivated to get after getting help when his home was nearly destroyed by the record flooding of Suicide Basin earlier this year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Community Thanksgiving celebrations get a ‘plus-one’ invite this year

Friendsgiving in Douglas joins meal at Salvation Army, food distributions by SVDP and food bank.

Joe Pagenkopf counts bags of food in a shopping cart at the St. Vincent de Paul Juneau complex on Saturday morning before heading out to deliver Thanksgiving food baskets to local residents. He said it is his first time making such deliveries, which he was motivated to get after getting help when his home was nearly destroyed by the record flooding of Suicide Basin earlier this year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Leaders at Bartlett Regional Hospital discuss staffing matters during a board of directors meeting Oct. 30 in the hospital’s administration building. The board is among several city governing bodies seeking new members. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Lots of local seats of power are open, for those who can stand up to the pressure

Planning commission, board of equalization, hospital board, JDEC among current CBJ openings.

Leaders at Bartlett Regional Hospital discuss staffing matters during a board of directors meeting Oct. 30 in the hospital’s administration building. The board is among several city governing bodies seeking new members. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
Sonya Taton, center, listens to the verdict as she is found guilty on all five counts, including second-degree murder, during her trial in Superior Court in Juneau on Friday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Jury finds Sonya Taton guilty on all counts, including murder

Verdict comes nearly 4.5 years after Bowen was stabbed

Sonya Taton, center, listens to the verdict as she is found guilty on all five counts, including second-degree murder, during her trial in Superior Court in Juneau on Friday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
A petition calling for non-renewal of assessor Michael Dahle’s contract at a Haines store. The petition gathered nearly 500 signatures in about a week. (Lex Treinen / Chilkat Valley News)

Haines Assembly ends assessor’s contract after 600 residents petition for removal

Michael Dahle formerly worked as a deputy assessor in Juneau.

A petition calling for non-renewal of assessor Michael Dahle’s contract at a Haines store. The petition gathered nearly 500 signatures in about a week. (Lex Treinen / Chilkat Valley News)
The 125-year-old building at the corner of Front and Seward as seen in summer of 2023. Juneau moved utilities underground and upgraded street lights in the mid-1980s and again recently. Each summer different sayings are displayed on colorful banners (“We are lucky to live here” on this banner) and flower baskets, bringing lively attention to downtown. (Photo by Laurie Craig)
Capital City Weekly

Rooted in Community: Lewis/First National Bank

From cash to coffee, one building’s long history.

The 125-year-old building at the corner of Front and Seward as seen in summer of 2023. Juneau moved utilities underground and upgraded street lights in the mid-1980s and again recently. Each summer different sayings are displayed on colorful banners (“We are lucky to live here” on this banner) and flower baskets, bringing lively attention to downtown. (Photo by Laurie Craig)
Brian Holst, executive director of the Juneau Economic Development Council, presents findings from JEDC’s annual economic indicators report during a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s aging population and low fertility rates raise concerns about declining future

Annual JEDC report also shows growing income gap, plus high housing and healthcare costs.

Brian Holst, executive director of the Juneau Economic Development Council, presents findings from JEDC’s annual economic indicators report during a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A board at the University of Alaska Anchorage Student Union, seen on Nov. 16, 2022, holds notices of employment opportunities. Alaska’s minimum wage is set to rise on Jan. 1 to keep up with inflation, and an initiative campaign is underway to bring about faster increases. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska minimum wage increases next year; additional hikes proposed in ballot initiative

Alaska’s minimum wage will increase on Jan. 1, 2024 from $10.85 to $11.73 an hour, in accordance with a law put in place by a… Continue reading

A board at the University of Alaska Anchorage Student Union, seen on Nov. 16, 2022, holds notices of employment opportunities. Alaska’s minimum wage is set to rise on Jan. 1 to keep up with inflation, and an initiative campaign is underway to bring about faster increases. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau man arrested at airport on suspicion of carrying $62,540 of fentanyl

66 grams of powdered fentanyl, 4,500 pills believed to contain drug found in luggage, police say.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Prosecutors Daniel K. Shorey and Kate Tallmadge (foreground) confer, as defense attorney Rex Butler and Sonya Taton await proceedings during Taton’s trial Thursday on murder and other charges at Superior Court in Juneau. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Jury begins deliberations in fillet knife murder case

Closing arguments conclude Thursday afternoon after two week-plus trial.

Prosecutors Daniel K. Shorey and Kate Tallmadge (foreground) confer, as defense attorney Rex Butler and Sonya Taton await proceedings during Taton’s trial Thursday on murder and other charges at Superior Court in Juneau. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
Ian Worden, interim CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, listens to a presentation during a board of directors meeting at the hospital on Oct. 30, his first day on the job. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett’s new interim CEO says he’s looking toward hospital’s future, not past problems

Ian Worden says operations are essentially sound, hopes to instill stability and sustainability.

Ian Worden, interim CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, listens to a presentation during a board of directors meeting at the hospital on Oct. 30, his first day on the job. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A cultural learning center operated by the Douglas Indian Association in South Douglas, seen here in an illustration, received a conditional use permit from the Juneau Planning Commission on Tuesday. (Illustration by NorthWind Architects)

Douglas Indian Association cultural center near Treadwell trail gets planning commission OK

Some neighbors, commissioners concerned about traffic, other impacts of 4,000-square-foot building.

A cultural learning center operated by the Douglas Indian Association in South Douglas, seen here in an illustration, received a conditional use permit from the Juneau Planning Commission on Tuesday. (Illustration by NorthWind Architects)
Stacked logs are seen in Yakutat on June 3. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Yakutat ousted its village corporations’ leaders. Here’s what’s next.

The saga in the Southeast Alaska village of Yakutat is over. Or, it’s just starting. After years of conflict, Anchorage Superior Court Judge Laura Hartz… Continue reading

Stacked logs are seen in Yakutat on June 3. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a garage fire on El Camino Street on the evening of Monday, Nov. 13. CCFR issued a reminder for people to be proactive in protecting their homes after four fires were reported over the course of five days. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Spate of fires prompts CCFR to issue reminder about fire safety

Fires have killed 19 people in Alaska so far this year, none in Juneau.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responds to a garage fire on El Camino Street on the evening of Monday, Nov. 13. CCFR issued a reminder for people to be proactive in protecting their homes after four fires were reported over the course of five days. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
An exploration site at ConocoPhillips’ Willow prospect is seen from the air in the 2019 winter season. Willow is located in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. (Photo by Judy Patrick/provided by ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.)

Environmental groups ask federal appeals court to halt Willow oil project

Two coalitions of environmental groups, having lost their case in an Alaska courthouse, are asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to issue an… Continue reading

An exploration site at ConocoPhillips’ Willow prospect is seen from the air in the 2019 winter season. Willow is located in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. (Photo by Judy Patrick/provided by ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.)