Nearly 1,600 dancers from 36 Indigenous groups wait to dance for the Grand Entrance of Celebration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Celebration 2024 opens ‘stronger than ever’

Nearly 1,600 dancers take part in Grand Entrance ceremony as four-day Indigenous gathering begins.

Nearly 1,600 dancers from 36 Indigenous groups wait to dance for the Grand Entrance of Celebration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Peele, 3, a Saxton resident, is accompanied by her father Charles during the toddler regalia review as part of Celebration on Thursday at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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Small on stage, giants in legacy for participants in Celebration’s toddler regalia review

Kids ages 1-5 showcase family-made clothing, accessories with links to widespread tribal ancestries.

Elizabeth Peele, 3, a Saxton resident, is accompanied by her father Charles during the toddler regalia review as part of Celebration on Thursday at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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(Getty Images)

Alaska’s Medicaid backlog triggers lawsuit

On a life-flight from Fairbanks to Anchorage, Sierra Ott’s newborn son Liam would not stop bleeding from a routine needle prick. Doctors in the Anchorage… Continue reading

(Getty Images)
Canoes from communities south of Juneau led by the One People Canoe Society land downtown on Tuesday to cheers and songs from people on shore. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Paddling to Celebration in traditional canoes a journey of healing, remembrance and kinship

New and longtime participants arriving in downtown Juneau say trip reconnects them to ancestors.

Canoes from communities south of Juneau led by the One People Canoe Society land downtown on Tuesday to cheers and songs from people on shore. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A pile of salmon awaits filleting on May 7, 2022, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

EPA threatens to step in if Alaska does not update its water pollution limit

Does average Alaskan eat more than a cracker’s worth of fish a day? Answer may have big implications.

A pile of salmon awaits filleting on May 7, 2022, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 2, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 2, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Wednesday, June 5, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau author W.R. Kozey holds his book “Tall Tales of Alaska, The Red Dog Saloon: Stories from the Gold Rush & More” in front of the Red Dog Saloon on Sunday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau author W.R. Kozey holds his book “Tall Tales of Alaska, The Red Dog Saloon: Stories from the Gold Rush & More” in front of the Red Dog Saloon on Sunday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Tuesday, June 4, 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 Monday, June 3, 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 Sunday, June 2, 2024

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Quigley Peterson, a longtime doctor at Bartlett Regional Hospital, speaks in favor of its hospice and home health programs during a public forum at the hospital Tuesday to get feedback on proposed cuts to certain programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

As residents worry about program cuts at Bartlett, hospital leaders worry about competition from SEARHC

Risk of a “monopoly” by Native nonprofit expressed at meeting discussing hospital’s “non-core” services.

Quigley Peterson, a longtime doctor at Bartlett Regional Hospital, speaks in favor of its hospice and home health programs during a public forum at the hospital Tuesday to get feedback on proposed cuts to certain programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Dave Hoffman sells materials for Brigham Young University, a private religious college, at the IDEA Homeschool Curriculum Fair in Anchorage on April 18. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

New correspondence school regulations will not come until July — if at all, Alaska officials say

Regulations intended to stabilize Alaska’s correspondence school program are not coming soon, state officials said at a Board of Education and Early Development meeting on… Continue reading

Dave Hoffman sells materials for Brigham Young University, a private religious college, at the IDEA Homeschool Curriculum Fair in Anchorage on April 18. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
The Juneau Animal Rescue facility, which took custody of 30 cats and kittens from a Juneau residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Dozens of cats, many in poor health, taken from Juneau home by animal control officials

Incident still under investigation, officials ask residents not to bring other cats to JAR shelter.

The Juneau Animal Rescue facility, which took custody of 30 cats and kittens from a Juneau residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Paddlers in traditional Tlingit canoes, plus a smaller Bering Sea kayak guided by Lou Logan, arrive at the Auke Village Recreation Area at midday Tuesday following their journey down the northern part of the Inside Passage. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Traditional canoes making voyage from Haines to Celebration get warm welcome from Lingít Aaní

Group joins others from Southeast making long paddle to Juneau for biennial Indigenous event.

Paddlers in traditional Tlingit canoes, plus a smaller Bering Sea kayak guided by Lou Logan, arrive at the Auke Village Recreation Area at midday Tuesday following their journey down the northern part of the Inside Passage. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
A 2018 view of Suicide Basin and the Mendenhall Glacier. (Photo from National Weather Service Juneau)

‘Building a weather-ready nation’: What’s new for Suicide Basin’s outburst flooding

New monitoring equipment improves forecasts after last year’s record flood, experts say at town hall.

A 2018 view of Suicide Basin and the Mendenhall Glacier. (Photo from National Weather Service Juneau)
State Rep. Andi Story (left), D-Juneau, will face former Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, for the Alaska Legislature’s District 3 House seat in this year’s election. (Official photos from Rep. Andi Story and the Alaska State Legislature)

Rep. Andi Story and former Rep. Bill Thomas will face off in only locally contested legislative race

Juneau’s Rep. Sara Hannan and Sen. Jesse Kiehl among eight unopposed candidates in 50 races.

State Rep. Andi Story (left), D-Juneau, will face former Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, for the Alaska Legislature’s District 3 House seat in this year’s election. (Official photos from Rep. Andi Story and the Alaska State Legislature)
Cruise ships and passengers in downtown Juneau on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Limit of 16,000 cruise passengers daily, 12,000 on Saturdays, agreed to by CBJ and industry

Pact taking effect in 2026 allows some exemptions, criticized by backers of Saturday ban on ships.

Cruise ships and passengers in downtown Juneau on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Melina Meyer and Laine Rinehart laugh while weaving the bottom fringe of the Chilkat Pride robe on Saturday. The robe will be exhibited and danced in for the first time during this year’s Celebration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Celebration 2024 mixes decades of tradition with new events

Thousands gather in Juneau for four-day Indigenous dance-and-culture festival starting Wednesday.

Melina Meyer and Laine Rinehart laugh while weaving the bottom fringe of the Chilkat Pride robe on Saturday. The robe will be exhibited and danced in for the first time during this year’s Celebration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
This Woodworm Grease Bowl by artist Patrizia (Patty) Fiorella is among the works accepted into Sealaska Heritage Institute’s 2024 Juried Art Show and Competition as part of First Friday and Celebration. (Brian Wallace / Courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute)

Here’s what happening for First Friday in June

Art events affiliated with Celebration, skateboarding and pro-choice activism among activities.

This Woodworm Grease Bowl by artist Patrizia (Patty) Fiorella is among the works accepted into Sealaska Heritage Institute’s 2024 Juried Art Show and Competition as part of First Friday and Celebration. (Brian Wallace / Courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute)