Site Logo
Liam, Lawrence and Logan David are identical triplets born on April 23, 2017, to parents John David and Lory Rowe. They were photographed at their Mendenhall Valley home on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

Who’s who? Identical triplets prove difficult to tell apart

Their right toenail. That’s how you tell them apart. Lawrence’s is painted blue. Liam’s is painted green. Logan’s…

Craig Campbell, President and CEO of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, presents “Alaska &

News

Small rockets, big profits: Alaska Aerospace looks to commercial market for future

Craig Campbell remembers the night when they tested the missiles. Campbell, the president and CEO of the Alaska…

An electric motor coach provided by BYD Auto Co., Ltd., a Chinese automobile manufacturer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, and Alaska Coach Tours stops at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center to showcase the potential for electric vehicle bus transportation as part of the tourism industry in Alaska on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. The city is working to get a permanent electric bus, but even with a grant it might take more than a year for it to get to town. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

Even with grant, electric bus far off for Juneau

A federal grant for bringing an electric bus to Juneau has city officials excited, but it will be…

Transportation Security Officer Renier Cava gives instructions to Father Roger Schwietz on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the Juneau International Airport. A new policy from the Transportation Security Administration requires passengers to remove all electronic items larger than their cell phones and put them through the scanner. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

News

New TSA policy takes closer look at electronics

Transportation Safety Officer Renier Cava is likely used to repeating instructions over and over as passengers pass through…

News

Pretrial finds offices in Juneau, opens in January

Juneau’s pretrial office now has a spot. After months of searching for a suitable spot in Juneau to…

In this May 2009 photo, the Mendenhall River flows out of the Mendenhall Valley past the northwestern tip of the Juneau International Airport and through the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

News

River erosion leads to ‘unique’ pipe break

Last month, erosion on the Mendenhall River led to a situation that has never happened in Juneau. On…

Bishop Andrew E. Bellisario, right, is greeted by Bishop Edward J. Burns during his ordination as the Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Juneau at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. Burns was the Diocese’s Fifth Bishop and is now the Bishop of Dallas. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

Andrew Bellisario ordained, installed as Juneau’s bishop

As Father Andrew Bellisario sat down, nearly everyone else in the room stood. Bellisario, wearing a tall cap…

This map, compiled by the City and Borough of Juneau, illustrates the maximum water depth that would be caused by an inshore, landslide-caused tsunami. (Courtesy of City and Borough of Juneau)

News

Study reveals worst-case scenarios for tsunamis in Juneau

Generally, there’s a low risk of a large tsunami hitting Juneau. There aren’t tsunami sirens in town, as…

Don Morgan, owner of Haa Shagoon Gallery, said Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, he is closing his downtown business next week because homeless people outside of the Marine View Building are keeping customers away. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

One business owner cites homelessness, economic downturn for store closure

Those walking down Ferry Way downtown might notice something missing. For the past two years, the stretch of…

Natalie Soto, 2, helps sing with the All Nations Children Dancers as Juneau residents celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

First official Indigenous Peoples Day proves satisfying, hopeful

Richard Peterson walked to the microphone at Monday night’s Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall, clearly…

Members of the Absentee Questioned Ballot Review Board open ballots before counting at the City Hall on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

Absentee, early ballots boost turnout, but still short of 2016 numbers

Though the results are still unofficial until they’re certified this Tuesday, voter turnout climbed by nearly 7 percent…

News

University of Alaska system wants help from businesses to see future employment needs

The University of Alaska is looking to almost double the amount of Alaskans who attend college in the…

V’s Cellar Door owner Venietia Santana sits near her newest menu item, the Shiz Boom Pop! Corn, at her restaurant on Oct. 5, 2017. V’s Cellar Door is one of 15 restaurants involved with Downtown Restaurant Week. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

News

Downtown Restaurant Week looks to bring more locals downtown

Venietia Santana, the owner of V’s Cellar Door downtown, laughs when people say they don’t come out to…

Juneau residents Hilary Rehfield-Green and her husband, Ryan Green, talk Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, about surviving the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas last weekend. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau couple survives Las Vegas shooting, recounts harrowing experience

Hiding in an abandoned area in the MGM Grand Las Vegas late Sunday night, Hilary Rehfield-Green and her…

Rob Edwardson, left, greets Debbie White after election results showed him winning by a wide margin at the Assembly chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

Newcomer Rob Edwardson ousts incumbent Debbie White for Assembly seat

When Rob Edwardson walked into a workshop in June about how to run for public office, he wasn’t…

Mike Jones exits a voting booth in full rain gear after walking to the Mendenhall Valley Public Library to vote in the Municipal election on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

Voter turnout drops after strong showing in 2016

After seeing a spike in voter turnout a year ago, every voting precinct experienced a downturn in ballots…

News

How prepared is Juneau for an active shooter?

For staff at the Juneau School District, thoughts of life-threatening disasters are a daily consideration. In the wake…

News

Early voting numbers high after big 2016 turnout

Hali Denton has been regularly volunteering in Juneau elections for 10 years, and she’s seen slow election cycles.…

REACH client Niall Johnson, right, shares a laugh with Laurel Stafford, a employment specialist at REACH, on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. Johnson currently works at Office Max in the Nugget Mall. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

News

REACH community employment program benefits employees, employers

Loud laughter sounded from aisle C22 at JO-ANN Fabrics and Craft Store on Friday afternoon as Chevelle Hogan…

News

One Assembly candidate far outpaces others in fundraising effort

With just a few days left before Juneau’s Oct. 3 municipal election, candidates and political action committees are…