News

Lightering boats return to their ships in Eastern Channel in Sitka on June 7, 2022. (James Poulson/Sitka Sentinel)

Sitka OKs another cruise ship petition for signature drive

Group seeks 300K annual and 4,500 daily visitor limits, and one or more days with no large ships.

Lightering boats return to their ships in Eastern Channel in Sitka on June 7, 2022. (James Poulson/Sitka Sentinel)
The Wrangell shoreline with about two dozen buildings visible, including a Russian Orthodox church, before the U.S. Army bombardment in 1869. (Alaska State Library, U.S. Army Infantry Brigade photo collection)

Army will issue January apology for 1869 bombardment of Wrangell

Ceremony will be the third by military to Southeast Alaska communities in recent months.

The Wrangell shoreline with about two dozen buildings visible, including a Russian Orthodox church, before the U.S. Army bombardment in 1869. (Alaska State Library, U.S. Army Infantry Brigade photo collection)
Juneau Board of Education members vote during an online meeting Tuesday to extend a free student breakfast program during the second half of the school year. (Screenshot from Juneau Board of Education meeting on Zoom)

Extending free student breakfast program until end of school year OK’d by school board

Officials express concern about continuing program in future years without community funding.

Juneau Board of Education members vote during an online meeting Tuesday to extend a free student breakfast program during the second half of the school year. (Screenshot from Juneau Board of Education meeting on Zoom)
A map shows properties within a proposed Local Improvement District whose owners could be charged nearly $8,000 each for the installation of a semi-permanent levee to protect the area from floods. (City and Borough of Juneau map)

Assembly holding public hearing on $8K per-property flood district as other agreements, arguments persist

City, Forest Service, tribal council sign $1M study pact; citizens’ group video promotes lake levee.

A map shows properties within a proposed Local Improvement District whose owners could be charged nearly $8,000 each for the installation of a semi-permanent levee to protect the area from floods. (City and Borough of Juneau map)
Dozens of residents pack into a Juneau Assembly meeting at City Hall on Monday night, where a proposal that would require property owners in flood-vulnerable areas to pay thousands of dollars apiece for the installation of protective flood barriers was discussed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly OKs lowering flood barrier payment for property owners to about $6,300 rather than $8,000

Amended ordinance makes city pay higher end of 60/40 split, rather than even share.

Dozens of residents pack into a Juneau Assembly meeting at City Hall on Monday night, where a proposal that would require property owners in flood-vulnerable areas to pay thousands of dollars apiece for the installation of protective flood barriers was discussed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau City Manager Katie Koester (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (right) meet with residents affected by glacial outburst flooding during a break in a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s mayor gets an award, city manager gets a raise

Beth Weldon gets lifetime Alaska Municipal League honor; Katie Koester gets bonus, retroactive pay hike.

Juneau City Manager Katie Koester (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (right) meet with residents affected by glacial outburst flooding during a break in a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A family ice skates and perfects their hockey prowess on Mendenhall Lake, below Mendenhall Glacier, outside of Juneau, Alaska, Nov. 24, 2024. The state’s capital, a popular cruise port in summer, becomes a bargain-seeker’s base for skiing, skating, hiking and glacier-gazing in the winter off-season. (Christopher S. Miller/The New York Times)

NY Times: Juneau becomes a deal-seeker’s base for skiing, skating, hiking and glacier-gazing in winter

Newspaper’s “Frugal Traveler” columnist writes about winter side of summer cruise destination.

  • Dec 16, 2024
  • By Elaine Glusac ©2024 The New York Times Company
  • tourismtravel
A family ice skates and perfects their hockey prowess on Mendenhall Lake, below Mendenhall Glacier, outside of Juneau, Alaska, Nov. 24, 2024. The state’s capital, a popular cruise port in summer, becomes a bargain-seeker’s base for skiing, skating, hiking and glacier-gazing in the winter off-season. (Christopher S. Miller/The New York Times)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Travelers using the all-gender restroom at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport on Dec. 3. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

New this holiday season for travelers in transit at Sea- Tac: All-gender restroom and autonomous wheelchairs

Facilities installed earlier this year in Alaska Airlines concourse; single-sex bathrooms still available.

Travelers using the all-gender restroom at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport on Dec. 3. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Friday, Dec. 13, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Common murres are clustered together on a cliff ledge in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge on July 30, 2019. Annual monitoring of key nesting sites has found that the common murre population has yet to recover from the massive die-off caused by the marine heatwave known as the “Blob.” It was the biggest wildlife die-off in modern times, a new study says. (Photo by Brie Drummond/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Alaska birds suffered biggest die-off in recorded history in ‘Blob’ heat wave, new study says

4 million deaths of common murres during the intense North Pacific marine heatwave.

Common murres are clustered together on a cliff ledge in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge on July 30, 2019. Annual monitoring of key nesting sites has found that the common murre population has yet to recover from the massive die-off caused by the marine heatwave known as the “Blob.” It was the biggest wildlife die-off in modern times, a new study says. (Photo by Brie Drummond/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Law enforcement officers from several agencies accompanied by local youths purchase Christmas gifts at Fred Meyer on Saturday during the annual Shop With a Cop event. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

In the presents of peace officers: Record-high 61 kids pick out gifts in annual Shop With A Cop

Officers from multiple agencies help pick out and wrap gifts for 32 families Saturday.

Law enforcement officers from several agencies accompanied by local youths purchase Christmas gifts at Fred Meyer on Saturday during the annual Shop With a Cop event. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Students arrive at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé for the first day of the 2024-25 school year Aug. 15. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Allure of student-created viral videos is fueling vicious brawls at U.S. schools

JDHS assistant principal: Cellphones are top way of soliciting, advertising “and almost glorifying” fights.

  • Dec 15, 2024
  • By Natasha Singer ©2024 The New York Times Company
  • Schools
Students arrive at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé for the first day of the 2024-25 school year Aug. 15. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Juneau Symphony, Vox Borealis and Sitka Holiday Brass rehearse for an annual Holiday Cheer concert Friday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Making 30 sound as one — and 11 sound as 60 — at annual Holiday Cheer concert this weekend

Juneau Symphony, Vox Borealis and Sitka Holiday Brass performs Saturday and Sunday at TMMS.

Members of the Juneau Symphony, Vox Borealis and Sitka Holiday Brass rehearse for an annual Holiday Cheer concert Friday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Home Health and Hospice program at Bartlett Regional Hospital, and family members of people who’ve been in such programs, gather for “Light Up a Life” community celebration Friday evening at the hospital. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Stabilizing local hospice and home health services celebrated as a gift at holiday gathering

“Light Up a Life” at Bartlett Regional Hospital offers tributes to those receiving end-of-life care.

Members of the Home Health and Hospice program at Bartlett Regional Hospital, and family members of people who’ve been in such programs, gather for “Light Up a Life” community celebration Friday evening at the hospital. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Aurora forecast through the week of Dec. 15

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 photo)
At left, the U.S. Coast Guard’s light icebreaker Storis is seen patrolling in Womens Bay near Kodiak on an unspecified date. At right, the Aiviq icebreaker, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about two weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (Photo of Storis from the Library of Congress / Photo of Aiviq by USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs)
Video

Update: Coast Guard confirms Juneau icebreaker to be named after historic ‘Storis’ stationed here after WWII

Newly painted Aiviq bears name of ship in service for 64 years, including a lengthy local legacy.

At left, the U.S. Coast Guard’s light icebreaker Storis is seen patrolling in Womens Bay near Kodiak on an unspecified date. At right, the Aiviq icebreaker, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about two weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (Photo of Storis from the Library of Congress / Photo of Aiviq by USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs)
Video
The Planned Parenthood location in Juneau, seen here in June of 2023, is now closed permanently. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Planned Parenthood in Juneau closes, making Anchorage the nearest location for abortion access

Organization cites need to consolidate resources to ensure continuation of services in region.

The Planned Parenthood location in Juneau, seen here in June of 2023, is now closed permanently. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)