Alex McCarthy

Assembly set to vote on cruise lawsuit money, Lemon Creek plan

As the City and Borough of Juneau prepares to spend more money on its lawsuit with the cruise line industry, members of the public can… Continue reading

Juneau Youth Services has moved its emergency shelter and transitional living services from the Cornerstone campus to the Black Bear facility on our Montana Creek campus on Back Loop Road. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Youth shelter, long-term housing move to new location

A decades-old service is moving locations, seeking to save costs and become more efficient. Juneau Youth Services has operated services in Juneau for more than… Continue reading

Juneau Youth Services has moved its emergency shelter and transitional living services from the Cornerstone campus to the Black Bear facility on our Montana Creek campus on Back Loop Road. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Garrett Schoenberger and Paul Simpson, of Alaska Legacy Partners, bought the previous University of Alaska Southeast book store and administration building in Auke Bay and are offering it as The Jetty for retail options in the Auke Bay area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Former UAS bookstore to be repurposed into ‘hub’ for local businesses

The University of Alaska Southeast closed its bookstore at Auke Bay in late 2014. The next time that building opens, it could contain a combination… Continue reading

Garrett Schoenberger and Paul Simpson, of Alaska Legacy Partners, bought the previous University of Alaska Southeast book store and administration building in Auke Bay and are offering it as The Jetty for retail options in the Auke Bay area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Mark Anthony De Simone, 53, arrives in Juneau District Court for his arraignment is this May 2016 file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

More concrete trial date set in De Simone murder trial

The trial of a man accused of a 2016 murder has been pushed back repeatedly over the past year, and court officials hope they have… Continue reading

Mark Anthony De Simone, 53, arrives in Juneau District Court for his arraignment is this May 2016 file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

City officials identify four areas where borough boundaries can expand

For years, the City and Borough of Juneau has looked at expanding its borders. At a Committee of the Whole meeting Wednesday, city officials took… Continue reading

In this file photo, marine biologist Michelle Ridgway, left, and NOAA veterinarian and biologist Kate Savage examine a adult female Dall’s Porpoise at the Douglas Harbor on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. The porpoise was reported washed up on the beach near Lucky Me on South Douglas Island. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Marine researcher who died in crash leaves legacy of passion for conservation, education

It seems that everyone has their own moniker for marine researcher Michelle Ridgway. In the days since the 54-year-old Ridgway sustained fatal injuries in a… Continue reading

In this file photo, marine biologist Michelle Ridgway, left, and NOAA veterinarian and biologist Kate Savage examine a adult female Dall’s Porpoise at the Douglas Harbor on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. The porpoise was reported washed up on the beach near Lucky Me on South Douglas Island. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mining Committee to meet in full for first time

City officials will start off 2018 by diving into one of the most talked-about topics of 2017: the city’s mining ordinance. For the first time,… Continue reading

Mark Anthony De Simone, 53 at the time, arrives in Juneau District Court for his arraignment on Tuesday. De Simone was charged Monday with first- and second-degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales, a 34-year-old Juneau resident originally from Nicaragua. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Homicide trials scheduled to start in coming month

A murder trial originally scheduled to take place this week has been moved to the end of the month, according to electronic records. Mark Anthony… Continue reading

Mark Anthony De Simone, 53 at the time, arrives in Juneau District Court for his arraignment on Tuesday. De Simone was charged Monday with first- and second-degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales, a 34-year-old Juneau resident originally from Nicaragua. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Cold weather causes water outages in mobile home park

Cold weather resulted in about 100 residences being without water this weekend, and the management company is still working to get service restored for everyone.… Continue reading

Christine and Dominique Johnson with their new daughter, Adelaide Olivia, at their Mendenhall Valley home on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. Adelaide was born Monday at 12:27 a.m. at the Juneau Birth Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)  Christine and Dominique Johnson with their new daughter, Adelaide Olivia, at their Mendenhall Valley home on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. Adelaide was born Monday at 12:27 a.m. at the Juneau Birth Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s first baby of 2018 wastes no time in arriving

On Sunday night, Dominique and Christine Johnson were attending the New Year’s Eve balloon drop at the JRC Alaska Club. Just a few hours later,… Continue reading

Christine and Dominique Johnson with their new daughter, Adelaide Olivia, at their Mendenhall Valley home on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. Adelaide was born Monday at 12:27 a.m. at the Juneau Birth Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)  Christine and Dominique Johnson with their new daughter, Adelaide Olivia, at their Mendenhall Valley home on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. Adelaide was born Monday at 12:27 a.m. at the Juneau Birth Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Devin Drones, Diane Bean, left, and Susan James huddle for warmth as they wait the countdown for the annual Polar Bear Dip at Auke Recreation beach on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Doing the dip: Polar Bear Dip gets 2018 off to chilling, thrilling start

The nerves really started when the ambulance drove by. I was sitting in my car near Auke Recreation Area, mentally preparing to jump into 37-degree… Continue reading

Devin Drones, Diane Bean, left, and Susan James huddle for warmth as they wait the countdown for the annual Polar Bear Dip at Auke Recreation beach on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A house at 9441 Carrol Place was destroyed by fire on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Valley house a total loss after New Year’s Eve fire

A Mendenhall Valley residence is a total loss after a New Year’s Eve fire, Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief Ed Quinto said Monday. The two… Continue reading

A house at 9441 Carrol Place was destroyed by fire on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Attorney Tom Wagner is retiring from his position as a contract public defender for City and Borough of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City’s public defender retiring after working more than 11,000 cases in 17 years

The numbers from the past 17 years of Tom Wagner’s life are staggering. Wagner, who is retiring from being a public defender for the city… Continue reading

Attorney Tom Wagner is retiring from his position as a contract public defender for City and Borough of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this March 25 photo, Chloe Abbott checks in with a homeless person camping in a business doorway on South Franklin Street. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Top 10 city stories for 2017

City takes action against downtown campers One of the most talked-about city actions of the year came early on. In a February Assembly meeting, Assembly… Continue reading

In this March 25 photo, Chloe Abbott checks in with a homeless person camping in a business doorway on South Franklin Street. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
A passenger jet lifts off from the Juneau International Airport. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Feds investigate laser pointing at plane approaching Juneau airport

Landing a plane in Juneau is a hard enough job, and the task got even more difficult for one plane Wednesday night. As an aircraft… Continue reading

A passenger jet lifts off from the Juneau International Airport. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Teresa Bleakley holds her 3-year-old cat Percy at her valley home on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Percy was found after being lost for nine months. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Cat returns home after being missing for 9 months

Percy Jackson Bleakley had never been away from home for more than three days until this March. It was then that Percy, a 2-year-old tabby… Continue reading

Teresa Bleakley holds her 3-year-old cat Percy at her valley home on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. Percy was found after being lost for nine months. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Two Juneau men indicted for 1995 murder

An unsolved homicide went cold for years until recently, as two Juneau men were arrested and indicted Wednesday for a 1995 murder, according to a… Continue reading

Russell Peterson, left, meets and thanks Guy Holt on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, for returning a carved plaque Holt found 11 years ago at Sandy Beach. Peterson carved the plaque and left it at the gravesite of his dog, Taka. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lost grave marker for man’s dog makes it back to owner after more than a decade

Depending how you look at it, Russell Peterson’s Christmas gift was either 16 or 11 years in the works. In 2001, Peterson created it. Soon… Continue reading

Russell Peterson, left, meets and thanks Guy Holt on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, for returning a carved plaque Holt found 11 years ago at Sandy Beach. Peterson carved the plaque and left it at the gravesite of his dog, Taka. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City set to begin negotiations for land sale to Alaskan Brewing

The City and Borough of Juneau and one of Juneau’s most recognizable businesses are about to enter negotiations on the purchase of land. On Monday,… Continue reading

The Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City looking to sell or lease Valley property to community-minded organization

A city-owned property is up for sale or lease next month, and city officials are hoping it can go to a good cause. At the… Continue reading