Capital City Weekly

This photo taken in Juneau on Monday is of the Ghaanka Yéil S’áaxhw (Raven of the Roof, Hat) from the L’uknaxh.ádi clan in Sitka. The item from repatriated from the University of Pennsylvania. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tlingit and Haida to receive $143K in grants toward repatriation projects

The funding was awarded under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

This photo taken in Juneau on Monday is of the Ghaanka Yéil S’áaxhw (Raven of the Roof, Hat) from the L’uknaxh.ádi clan in Sitka. The item from repatriated from the University of Pennsylvania. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives Senate Counsel Sam Dash speaks during a special session as Gov. Bill Sheffield sits in the background.

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Aug. 5

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives Senate Counsel Sam Dash speaks during a special session as Gov. Bill Sheffield sits in the background.
Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives Marie Darlin unpacks her record collection as she moves into her fifth-floor apartment in Fireweed Place.

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of July 29

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives Marie Darlin unpacks her record collection as she moves into her fifth-floor apartment in Fireweed Place.
Copies of Nick Jans new book, “Romeo the Friendly Wolf,” arrived at Hearthside Books about two weeks ago. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Nick Jans goes back to ‘Romeo’

Author returns with follow-up to best-selling book about Juneau’s most famous wolf

Copies of Nick Jans new book, “Romeo the Friendly Wolf,” arrived at Hearthside Books about two weeks ago. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Davina Cole Drones participates in an Alaska Native dance during the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council’s 50th anniversary celebration Thursday at Sealaska Heritage Plaza.

JAHC’s golden anniversary highlights present talent and big plans

Arts and culture organization celebrates 50th birthday with party and awards

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Davina Cole Drones participates in an Alaska Native dance during the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council’s 50th anniversary celebration Thursday at Sealaska Heritage Plaza.
This a photo of the Juneau Empire newspaper for Monday, July 22, 1985. (Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives)

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of July 22

Three decades of capital city coverage.

This a photo of the Juneau Empire newspaper for Monday, July 22, 1985. (Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives)
The Tongass National Forest includes 16.7 million acres and was established in 1907. The islands, forests, salmon streams, mountains and coastlines of Southeast Alaska are the ancestral lands of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people who continue to depend on and care for their traditional territories. The Tongass was not created with the consent of Alaska Native people and today, the U.S. Forest Service is working to improve government-to-government relations with the federally recognized tribal governments of Southeast Alaska. (Bethany Goodrich / Sustainable Southeast Partnership)

Resilient Peoples & Place: ‘Caring for the Land and Serving People’

A conversation with U.S. Forest Service Tribal Relations Specialist Jennifer Hanlon.

The Tongass National Forest includes 16.7 million acres and was established in 1907. The islands, forests, salmon streams, mountains and coastlines of Southeast Alaska are the ancestral lands of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people who continue to depend on and care for their traditional territories. The Tongass was not created with the consent of Alaska Native people and today, the U.S. Forest Service is working to improve government-to-government relations with the federally recognized tribal governments of Southeast Alaska. (Bethany Goodrich / Sustainable Southeast Partnership)
Jonah Hurst harvests goose tongue on Shoemaker Beach in Wrangell as a gift to local Elders. (Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott)

Planet Alaska: Lessons from the goose tongue

Today we’re harvesting goose tongue to dry for distribution to local Elders. I’m also going to experiment with pickling it. Goose tongue is a beach… Continue reading

Jonah Hurst harvests goose tongue on Shoemaker Beach in Wrangell as a gift to local Elders. (Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott)
Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives Members of Juneau’s Hawaiian and Native communities help pull the Hawai’iloa closer to shore at Sandy Beach on July 14, 1995.

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of July 15

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives Members of Juneau’s Hawaiian and Native communities help pull the Hawai’iloa closer to shore at Sandy Beach on July 14, 1995.
Scientists Jake Shaffer and Jared Clance collect samples on the Juneau Icefield earlier this month as part of a collaborative project between NASA and the Juneau Icefield Research Program. Participants hope the data and techniques will aid an upcoming mission to study the Jupiter ice moon Europa. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Holmes)

Juneau Icefield may be key to unlocking secrets of Jupiter ice moon

Researchers probe far beneath ice for clues to aid their search for extraterrestrial life

Scientists Jake Shaffer and Jared Clance collect samples on the Juneau Icefield earlier this month as part of a collaborative project between NASA and the Juneau Icefield Research Program. Participants hope the data and techniques will aid an upcoming mission to study the Jupiter ice moon Europa. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Holmes)
Alaska State Library Historical Collection P418-3 President Warren G. Harding (with walking stick) stands beside his wife (in cape) before Mendenhall Glacier on July 10, 1923. To Mrs. Harding’s side is Alaska Territorial Gov. Scott Bone (with mustache) and his niece Marguerite Bone.

100 years ago Juneau got its first visit from a U.S. president — less than three weeks before his death

Warren G. Harding got a “21 discharges of dynamite” salute and Mendenhall Glacier tour during visit

Alaska State Library Historical Collection P418-3 President Warren G. Harding (with walking stick) stands beside his wife (in cape) before Mendenhall Glacier on July 10, 1923. To Mrs. Harding’s side is Alaska Territorial Gov. Scott Bone (with mustache) and his niece Marguerite Bone.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File Locals gathered for a whale of a time near “Tahku,” the whale sculpture under shimmering lights and loud booms for the annual firework display over Gastineau Channel in 2022.

How to celebrate the many sights and sounds of July 4

“Voices of Alaska” theme for downtown parade reflects range of Juneau’s traditional holiday events

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File Locals gathered for a whale of a time near “Tahku,” the whale sculpture under shimmering lights and loud booms for the annual firework display over Gastineau Channel in 2022.
In this June 21 photo, meteorologist David Percy films the daily “Alaska Weather” program in a makeshift studio at the National Weather Service office in Anchorage. The “Alaska Weather” program she oversees, the only weather show produced by the National Weather Service, will have its last on-air broadcast Friday after Alaska Public Media dropped distribution, forcing it to YouTube. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

How’s the weather up there? It’ll be harder for Alaska to tell as a longtime program goes off air

ANCHORAGE — Before Morris Nashoanak heads out for days in search of bearded seals, beluga whales or salmon, he catches the weather on TV. But… Continue reading

In this June 21 photo, meteorologist David Percy films the daily “Alaska Weather” program in a makeshift studio at the National Weather Service office in Anchorage. The “Alaska Weather” program she oversees, the only weather show produced by the National Weather Service, will have its last on-air broadcast Friday after Alaska Public Media dropped distribution, forcing it to YouTube. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Longtime Juneau musician Rob Cohen performs at an outdoor cabaret show during the Alaska Theater Festival in 2022. This year’s festival will begin with a series of Neighborhood Cabaret shows at various locations throughout Juneau between June 28 and July 2. (Courtesy of Theater Alaska)

Neighborhood watch

Fourth annual Alaska Theater Festival to stage outdoor productions throughout Juneau this summer.

Longtime Juneau musician Rob Cohen performs at an outdoor cabaret show during the Alaska Theater Festival in 2022. This year’s festival will begin with a series of Neighborhood Cabaret shows at various locations throughout Juneau between June 28 and July 2. (Courtesy of Theater Alaska)
Volunteers reset a gravel pile during the men’s hand mucking event of Juneau Gold Rush Days in Savikko Park on June 18, 2022. This year’s events are scheduled Saturday and Sunday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

New look and sound for Juneau Gold Rush Days

Weekend of traditional mining and logging events will also feature new band, bouncy house

Volunteers reset a gravel pile during the men’s hand mucking event of Juneau Gold Rush Days in Savikko Park on June 18, 2022. This year’s events are scheduled Saturday and Sunday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Picking spruce tips in Wrangell. (Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott)

Planet Alaska: The best day ever

“This is the best day ever,” Grandson Timothy exclaimed to me once after swimming in the ocean on a kingfisher blue day, then eating potato… Continue reading

Picking spruce tips in Wrangell. (Photo by Vivian Faith Prescott)
Annie Bartholomew plays a song from her upcoming debut album “Sisters of White Chapel” on a clawhammer banjo on a bench at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Thursday. The longtime local folk musician said she learned the instrument specifically for the project, and both the character of the instrument and women who played it during the Klondike Gold Rush helped inspire the mostly original songs she performs on the album. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Musical revelations of the Klondike’s ‘White Chapel’

Annie Bartholomew’s new album shares surprising untold stories of sex workers during the gold rush

Annie Bartholomew plays a song from her upcoming debut album “Sisters of White Chapel” on a clawhammer banjo on a bench at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Thursday. The longtime local folk musician said she learned the instrument specifically for the project, and both the character of the instrument and women who played it during the Klondike Gold Rush helped inspire the mostly original songs she performs on the album. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pedestrians cross by the newly repainted rainbow sidewalk downtown on Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Clear June skies mean rainbow crosswalk repainting downtown

“The community support for this and the support for this from visitors continues to grow.”

Pedestrians cross by the newly repainted rainbow sidewalk downtown on Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This image shows the cover of Kate Troll’s new book “All In Due Time: A Memoir of Siblings, Genealogy, Secrets and Love.” Troll will be hosting a book signing at Hearthside Books on Friday evening. Her event is one of the many First Friday events scheduled for June. (Cirque Press)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

New artistic exhibitions, LGBTQ+ events and more.

This image shows the cover of Kate Troll’s new book “All In Due Time: A Memoir of Siblings, Genealogy, Secrets and Love.” Troll will be hosting a book signing at Hearthside Books on Friday evening. Her event is one of the many First Friday events scheduled for June. (Cirque Press)
Award-winning Juneau writer Vera Starbard stands on her balcony on Douglas Island that displays banners across Gastineau Channel in support of the Writer’s Guild of America union strike currently going on across Hollywood and the country. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Award-winning Juneau writer talks Hollywood writers’ strike

Vera Starbard is now living life off-script.

Award-winning Juneau writer Vera Starbard stands on her balcony on Douglas Island that displays banners across Gastineau Channel in support of the Writer’s Guild of America union strike currently going on across Hollywood and the country. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)