Alex McCarthy

Alaska Electric Light & Power President and General Manager Connie Hulbert speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Finance Committee on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. Hulbert sought to help the committee members further understand the process that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska goes through to set electric rates. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

AEL&P president expresses faith that rates will not rise under new ownership

Getting people to understand electric rates and the way they’re regulated is a tough task. Connie Hulbert, the president and general manager of Alaska Electric… Continue reading

Alaska Electric Light & Power President and General Manager Connie Hulbert speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Finance Committee on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. Hulbert sought to help the committee members further understand the process that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska goes through to set electric rates. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Employees of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development watch mining students in the Entry Level Underground Mining Training program learn how to hand drill in the AJ Mine in June 2010. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mining Committee examines applications, possible roles of public members

Applications are coming in from members of the public looking to be on the Assembly Mining Committee, and the current members of the committee met… Continue reading

Employees of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development watch mining students in the Entry Level Underground Mining Training program learn how to hand drill in the AJ Mine in June 2010. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau police guard a body found along the waterfront south of the Juneau Public Library on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Body discovered near downtown library

Construction workers near the Marine Parking Garage downtown reported the discovery of a body to the Juneau Police Department on Thursday morning, and responders found… Continue reading

Juneau police guard a body found along the waterfront south of the Juneau Public Library on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Indian Cove boat now in Hoonah, cause of sinking still unknown

The boat that nearly sank in Indian Cove was towed to Hoonah earlier this week, Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer 1st Class Bill Colclough said… Continue reading

Cassidy Coulter waits outside the Mendenhall Tower Apartments during a fire alarm on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. Work on the building’s boilers set off the alarm. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

False alarm at Mendenhall Towers

For a brief moment Wednesday, it appeared there was a fire at Mendenhall Towers Apartments. At about 11:50 a.m., as Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief… Continue reading

Cassidy Coulter waits outside the Mendenhall Tower Apartments during a fire alarm on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017. Work on the building’s boilers set off the alarm. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau deputy mayor announces campaign for House seat

Juneau’s deputy mayor has his sights on state office. On Tuesday, Deputy Mayor Jerry Nankervis filed a letter of intent with the Alaska Public Offices… Continue reading

Alaska Writer Laureate Ernestine Hayes delivers her keynote speech at the Power & Privilege Symposium at the University of Alaska Southeast on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Social justice warriors’: UAS event takes deeper look at roles of power and privilege in education, society

When she heard about the first Power &Privilege Symposium at the University of Alaska Southeast in 2016, Dr. Barb Amarok was elated. The University of… Continue reading

Alaska Writer Laureate Ernestine Hayes delivers her keynote speech at the Power & Privilege Symposium at the University of Alaska Southeast on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Municipal Attorney Amy Mead, left, swears-in new member Rob Edwardson and returning members Maria Gladziszewski and Jess Kiehl, right, at the Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday, Oct. 16, 2017. At the Monday, Nov. 6 Assembly meeting, Edwardson asked the Assembly to direct Mead to write up an ordinance that would restore the full senior sales tax exemption. The motion failed, but Assembly members said they would talk about the issue later on. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Assembly to talk about senior sales tax exemption, but not now

The end of Monday’s City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting took a bit of an unexpected turn, courtesy of the newest Assembly member. Robert… Continue reading

Municipal Attorney Amy Mead, left, swears-in new member Rob Edwardson and returning members Maria Gladziszewski and Jess Kiehl, right, at the Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday, Oct. 16, 2017. At the Monday, Nov. 6 Assembly meeting, Edwardson asked the Assembly to direct Mead to write up an ordinance that would restore the full senior sales tax exemption. The motion failed, but Assembly members said they would talk about the issue later on. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The former Public Safety Building on Whittier Street is the top choice for a warming center which could open Nov. 15 from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every night. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Assembly approves funding for warming center

On Monday night, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly unanimously voted to fund a winter warming center, which aims to be a warm place… Continue reading

The former Public Safety Building on Whittier Street is the top choice for a warming center which could open Nov. 15 from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every night. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Cassandra Strahin, left, and Nicole Huntsman, of Allen Marine, deliver 30 frozen turkeys to the Glory Hole on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Turkey donation kick-starts annual Thanksgiving food drive

When the white van pulled up in front of the Glory Hole soup kitcken and homeless shelter on Monday afternoon, a handful of people inside… Continue reading

Cassandra Strahin, left, and Nicole Huntsman, of Allen Marine, deliver 30 frozen turkeys to the Glory Hole on Monday, Nov. 6, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Assembly to vote on warming center funds, examine affordable downtown housing

City officials hope to have a warming center set up in just nine days, and the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly will vote on… Continue reading

Meet the new interim director of the Glory Hole homeless shelter

In his search for a more relaxing job, Kyle Hargrave instead found himself “putting out small fires” on a daily basis. Hargrave, who was formerly… Continue reading

Lisa Ryals, owner of Lisa Davidson’s Boutique, talks about the closing of her business after 22 years on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Downtown boutique closes doors after 22 years as owner looks to move on

It was 22 years ago, but Lisa Ryals still remembers her first sale. She was just 21 years old at the time and had just… Continue reading

Lisa Ryals, owner of Lisa Davidson’s Boutique, talks about the closing of her business after 22 years on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Man smashes OfficeMax glass door, steals office supplies

A Juneau resident broke into OfficeMax in the Nugget Mall two times Friday morning to steal office supplies; the Juneau Police Department later tracked him down… Continue reading

Alexander Dolitsky, Director of the Alaska-Siberia Research Center, speaks about his book “Old Russia in Modern America: Living Traditions of the Russian Old Believers” at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska-Siberia researcher looks to cultural group for larger societal answers

Alexander Dolitsky, author and Alaska-Siberia Research Center Director, started his talk to the Chamber of Commerce luncheon by making what he feels is an important… Continue reading

Alexander Dolitsky, Director of the Alaska-Siberia Research Center, speaks about his book “Old Russia in Modern America: Living Traditions of the Russian Old Believers” at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Longtime Juneau fisherman drowns in Hoonah harbor

Lifelong fisherman and longtime Juneau resident George Robert Lunda died Sunday night in Hoonah, drowning after an apparent accidental fall into the harbor. Lunda, 65,… Continue reading

A fellow boater comes to the aid of a boat in the process of sinking in Indian Cove in Juneau on Oct. 30, 2017. The boat has about 150 gallons of diesel fuel on it, according to the Coast Guard. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Owner, Coast Guard working to limit environmental effect of sinking boat

On Monday morning, a boat began sinking in Indian Cove. By Tuesday afternoon, it was still barely afloat and the owner was hopeful that he’d… Continue reading

A fellow boater comes to the aid of a boat in the process of sinking in Indian Cove in Juneau on Oct. 30, 2017. The boat has about 150 gallons of diesel fuel on it, according to the Coast Guard. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer, right, congratulates Deputy Chief David Campbell, second from right, Lt. Krag Campbell, and Sgt. Ben Beck, left, during a promotions ceremony at the police station on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Trio of officers earn promotions

A full room of spectators at the Juneau Police Department headquarters on Monday leaned forward all at once and raised their phones, trying to capture… Continue reading

Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer, right, congratulates Deputy Chief David Campbell, second from right, Lt. Krag Campbell, and Sgt. Ben Beck, left, during a promotions ceremony at the police station on Monday, Oct. 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Employees of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development watch mining students in the Entry Level Underground Mining Training program learn how to hand drill in the AJ Mine in June 2010. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Report: Juneau’s mining ordinance fairly typical

Earlier this month, an Anchorage consultant filed his report on Juneau’s mining ordinance, and the Assembly Mining Subcommittee will examine it publicly Nov. 9. Bob… Continue reading

Employees of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development watch mining students in the Entry Level Underground Mining Training program learn how to hand drill in the AJ Mine in June 2010. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Investigators examine the wreckage of a Cessna 182 airplane that went missing just south of Juneau in 2008. The plane remained missing until this past Wednesday, when a hunter found it. (Photo courtesy of Alaska State Troopers)

Investigators confirm wreckage found on Admiralty Island belonged to missing 2008 flight

When a Cessna 182 airplane disappeared near Juneau in 2008, a 10-day search over an area of 1,000 square miles yielded no results. Nine years… Continue reading

Investigators examine the wreckage of a Cessna 182 airplane that went missing just south of Juneau in 2008. The plane remained missing until this past Wednesday, when a hunter found it. (Photo courtesy of Alaska State Troopers)