News

A Compton tortoiseshell butterfly pauses between flights in Two Rivers resident Rod Boyce’s garage in January 2023. Photo by Rod Boyce.

Alaska Science Forum: Butterflies in the middle of winter

Waiting in the wings for spring.

A Compton tortoiseshell butterfly pauses between flights in Two Rivers resident Rod Boyce’s garage in January 2023. Photo by Rod Boyce.
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Friday, Feb. 3, 2023

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

  • Feb 3, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Bartlett Regional Hospital Board President Kenny Solomon-Gross sit next to each other during a joint meeting between the Assembly and hospital’s senior leadership team and board to discuss the hospital’s current multi-million dollar deficit and financial state.

Joint meeting addresses hospital’s growing deficit

Bartlett Regional Hospital officials outline measures to fix projected shortfall.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Bartlett Regional Hospital Board President Kenny Solomon-Gross sit next to each other during a joint meeting between the Assembly and hospital’s senior leadership team and board to discuss the hospital’s current multi-million dollar deficit and financial state.
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Public defender agency to refuse some cases, citing staffing

ANCHORAGE — A state agency that represents Alaskans who cannot afford their own attorneys intends this month to stop taking clients facing serious felony charges… Continue reading

  • Feb 2, 2023
  • Associated Press
Gavel (Courtesy photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police: Gift card scam connected to hoax Fred Meyer threats

This article has been moved in front of the Empire’s paywall. A gift card scam has an apparent connection to hoax threats made to a… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This is a concept design drawing that was included in the request for proposal sent out by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities seeking outside engineering and design services to determine whether it’s feasible to build a new ferry terminal facility in Juneau at Cascade Point. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

DOT takes steps toward potential Cascade Point ferry terminal facility

It would accommodate the Tazlina and or Hubbard, shorten trips to Haines and Skagway

This is a concept design drawing that was included in the request for proposal sent out by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities seeking outside engineering and design services to determine whether it’s feasible to build a new ferry terminal facility in Juneau at Cascade Point. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, stands in the well of the House Chambers with other Democrats, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to hear Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., deliver remarks shortly after becoming the new minority leader on Jan. 6. The speech came after a nearly weeklong stalemate by Republicans in electing a speaker after they won a narrow majority in November’s election. (Screenshot from C-SPAN video feed)

Peltola learning the House party is over

Distractions and inaction replace honeymoon headlines as Alaska’s new rep joins minority.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, stands in the well of the House Chambers with other Democrats, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to hear Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., deliver remarks shortly after becoming the new minority leader on Jan. 6. The speech came after a nearly weeklong stalemate by Republicans in electing a speaker after they won a narrow majority in November’s election. (Screenshot from C-SPAN video feed)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023

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

  • Feb 2, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Young students from the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program at Harborview Elementary School dance on stage Wednesday afternoon during a dancing-of-the-robes ceremony for over a dozen Chilkat robes that were weaved by student weavers who participated in a more than two-year-long apprenticeship to learn the craft.
Video

Chilkat robes come to life in ceremony

The pieces were created by dozens of student weavers over the past two year

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Young students from the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program at Harborview Elementary School dance on stage Wednesday afternoon during a dancing-of-the-robes ceremony for over a dozen Chilkat robes that were weaved by student weavers who participated in a more than two-year-long apprenticeship to learn the craft.
Video
Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel Winfree gets a standing ovation from the Alaska State Legislature as he enters the House chamber Wednesday to deliver his final State of the Judiciary speech. Winfree is stepping down next Monday when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Chief justice bids lawmakers a fervent farewell

Daniel Winfree, in State of Judiciary days before retirement, warns about mixing politics and courts

Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel Winfree gets a standing ovation from the Alaska State Legislature as he enters the House chamber Wednesday to deliver his final State of the Judiciary speech. Winfree is stepping down next Monday when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A vehicle exits the Juneau Fred Meyer parking lot on Wednesday. Juneau Police Department is investigating a report of a threat made against the store. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Police investigating threat of violence at Fred Meyer

No injuries or use of weapons reported.

A vehicle exits the Juneau Fred Meyer parking lot on Wednesday. Juneau Police Department is investigating a report of a threat made against the store. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Alpine meals are great, but it's tough to beat the satisfaction of a hot meal on the shore after fishing through a run for steelhead. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Either or, probably not both

It’s really difficult to double-major both in college and in life.

Alpine meals are great, but it's tough to beat the satisfaction of a hot meal on the shore after fishing through a run for steelhead. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
State Senators Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, right, who chairs the Senate Education Committee and Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, discuss a bill proposing a nearly 17% increase in per-student education funding Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

17% boost in school funding sought by state Senate

Proposal would increase $5,960 per-student allocation by $1,000; first major change since 2017

State Senators Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, right, who chairs the Senate Education Committee and Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, discuss a bill proposing a nearly 17% increase in per-student education funding Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows frozen salmonberries for use all winter. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Faith Prescott)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: Salmonberries in winter

Sometimes in the winter, I dream of salmonberries…

This photo shows frozen salmonberries for use all winter. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Faith Prescott)
Alannah Johnson and Rebecca Kameika, winners of the 2022 Path to Prosperity Competition, pose for a photo at the formal winners’ announcement at the 2022 Mid-Session Summit at Southeast Conference Tuesday. In addition to each being awarded $25,000 to help expand their businesses, they each received a Tlingit wall carving, hand-crafted by Brian Chilton. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

After winning competition, Southeast businesses ready for next steps

$50,000 Path to Prosperity goes to entrepreneurs in Juneau and Haines.

Alannah Johnson and Rebecca Kameika, winners of the 2022 Path to Prosperity Competition, pose for a photo at the formal winners’ announcement at the 2022 Mid-Session Summit at Southeast Conference Tuesday. In addition to each being awarded $25,000 to help expand their businesses, they each received a Tlingit wall carving, hand-crafted by Brian Chilton. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
This Sunday, June 30, 2019, aerial photo released by Earthjustice shows the Alaska's North Slope in the Western Arctic on the edge of Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska. The Biden administration issued a long-awaited study on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, that recommends allowing a major oil development on Alaska's North Slope, and the move — while not final — drew immediate anger from environmentalists who saw it as a betrayal of the president's pledges to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean energy sources. (Kiliii Yuyan for Earthjustice via AP)

Biden administration takes step toward OK’ing Willow Project

Final decision expected no sooner than early March.

This Sunday, June 30, 2019, aerial photo released by Earthjustice shows the Alaska's North Slope in the Western Arctic on the edge of Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska. The Biden administration issued a long-awaited study on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, that recommends allowing a major oil development on Alaska's North Slope, and the move — while not final — drew immediate anger from environmentalists who saw it as a betrayal of the president's pledges to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean energy sources. (Kiliii Yuyan for Earthjustice via AP)
Dorolyn Alper collage art, seen here, is part of her newest series, “Juneau with a twist” and will be available for viewing on First Friday. Alper is Juneau Artists Gallery’s featured artist for the month of February. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Artists Gallery)
Capital City Weekly

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

Dorolyn Alper is Juneau Artists Gallery’s featured artist for February.

Dorolyn Alper collage art, seen here, is part of her newest series, “Juneau with a twist” and will be available for viewing on First Friday. Alper is Juneau Artists Gallery’s featured artist for the month of February. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Artists Gallery)
This photo shows Mary Lou King on the trail after being inducted into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018. (Courtesy Photo / King family)
Features

90 shorts talks: The work of ‘professional Volunteer’ Mary Lou King

The Southeast Alaska starter kit would look something like this: An Alaska Airlines credit card, a pair of Xtratufs, and a copy of “90 Plus… Continue reading

This photo shows Mary Lou King on the trail after being inducted into the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018. (Courtesy Photo / King family)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023

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

  • Feb 1, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Bus drivers picket outside the bus barn in Wasilla, Alaska on Jan. 26, 2023. Bus drivers in Alaska’s second-largest school district have gone on strike after delivering students to classes on Tuesday, Jan. 31, citing unfair labor practices. (Loren Holmes / Anchorage Daily News)

Mat-Su school bus drivers strike

ANCHORAGE — Bus drivers in Alaska’s second-largest school district went on strike after delivering students to classes on Tuesday, citing unfair labor practices. The near-unanimous… Continue reading

  • Feb 1, 2023
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
Bus drivers picket outside the bus barn in Wasilla, Alaska on Jan. 26, 2023. Bus drivers in Alaska’s second-largest school district have gone on strike after delivering students to classes on Tuesday, Jan. 31, citing unfair labor practices. (Loren Holmes / Anchorage Daily News)