Alex McCarthy

Gastineau Elementary teacher Ben Kriegmont speaks to a crowd at Tuesday’s Slam Dunk event that invited community members to discuss ways to improve Juneau’s early education programs. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Town hall meeting involves community in early childcare initiative

When Gastineau Elementary kindergarten teacher Ben Kriegmont sees students on the first day of school, he can usually divide them into two groups. “One group… Continue reading

Gastineau Elementary teacher Ben Kriegmont speaks to a crowd at Tuesday’s Slam Dunk event that invited community members to discuss ways to improve Juneau’s early education programs. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Commission sets ambitious goal for future of renewable energy in Juneau

After two years of discussion and analysis, the Juneau Commission on Sustainability released an ambitious recommendation and challenge to the City and Borough of Juneau… Continue reading

Cards displayed at McGivney’s Sports Bar & Grill in the Mendenhall Valley on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, show money given to a fundraising drive to sent the bodies of two brothers killed in a downtown fire last week back to their family in Mexico. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Former workplace of fire victim works to raise money for family

There was nothing out of the ordinary about Adrian de Jesus Olivarria Mora’s last night of work at McGivney’s Sports Bar and Grill in the… Continue reading

Cards displayed at McGivney’s Sports Bar & Grill in the Mendenhall Valley on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, show money given to a fundraising drive to sent the bodies of two brothers killed in a downtown fire last week back to their family in Mexico. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Odette Edgar talks about the handmade quilts she helped make and organize for the Housing First residents at her house on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Locals produce personalized quilts for Housing First residents

On a frigid March night soon after the closure of the Bergmann Hotel displaced people onto the streets of Juneau, Odette Edgar saw something that… Continue reading

Odette Edgar talks about the handmade quilts she helped make and organize for the Housing First residents at her house on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau man convicted of child pornography

This past Friday, a federal jury convicted a Juneau man of receipt of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of no less than 15… Continue reading

Juneau School Board candidates Jeff Short, right, Brian Holst, center, and Kevin Allen answer questions during the Juneau Votes! Candidate Forum sponsored by the Juneau Empire and KTOO at KTOO on Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

School Board candidates differ on whether high schools need to merge

For the most part, the three candidates for the Oct. 3 Board of Education election agreed on topics at the Juneau Votes! Candidate Forum on… Continue reading

Juneau School Board candidates Jeff Short, right, Brian Holst, center, and Kevin Allen answer questions during the Juneau Votes! Candidate Forum sponsored by the Juneau Empire and KTOO at KTOO on Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Group of teachers promotes voter engagement, turnout for fall election

During Thursday’s Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, the three candidates for the Board of Education spoke of the importance of teachers. On Friday afternoon, one… Continue reading

Full field of candidates prep for tonight’s forum

The fall municipal election is just eight days away, and Juneau voters will get one of their last chances to hear from the candidates tonight.… Continue reading

Natalee Rothaus and Mike Stanley take in the view of Auke Bay during a hike on the Indian Point Trail on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City officials to consider giving Indian Point land to Native nonprofit

Last year, Juneau’s Indian Point was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This year, a movement has begun to get a portion of… Continue reading

Natalee Rothaus and Mike Stanley take in the view of Auke Bay during a hike on the Indian Point Trail on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Board of Education candidates emphasize economic effects of schools

Prior to Thursday’s Chamber of Commerce Board of Education candidate forum, moderator Mike Satre had a question for those in attendance. Satre asked people in… Continue reading

Despite laws, signs springing up along state-maintained roads

Up until last week, Emily Haynes hadn’t gotten a single complaint from a member of the Juneau community about campaign signs. As the Oct. 3… Continue reading

School Board candidate Jeff Short works with seniors Derick Nebert, left, Dakota Biddinger, center, and Hayden Bryson in Mara Sheakley-Early’s first-period government class at Thunder Mountain High School on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

High school students meet candidates, share ideas

Thunder Mountain High School senior Joshua Dore wanted to share his experience with an Assembly candidate, and got his opportunity Wednesday morning. Dore was one… Continue reading

School Board candidate Jeff Short works with seniors Derick Nebert, left, Dakota Biddinger, center, and Hayden Bryson in Mara Sheakley-Early’s first-period government class at Thunder Mountain High School on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The finished Housing First Project on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. The first eight of 32 residents will move in during the next week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Housing First facility to welcome first tenants within a week

Some of Juneau’s most vulnerable residents will have a warm, safe place to live within the week. The first eight residents of the Housing First… Continue reading

The finished Housing First Project on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. The first eight of 32 residents will move in during the next week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this March 25 photo, Cindy Dau, left, checks on homeless people sleeping in the downtown Transit Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

City seeks funds, location for warming center for homeless during winter

With days getting shorter and temperatures starting to fall, it’s about to get even harder for people to sleep outside in Juneau. The capital city… Continue reading

In this March 25 photo, Cindy Dau, left, checks on homeless people sleeping in the downtown Transit Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Meander Way resident Joyce Goehring overlooks the Mendenhall River from her backyard. Goehring feels that the current proposal from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to slow the erosion is too aggressive and invasive for homes that aren’t experiencing major erosion. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Homeowners propose different approach to stopping erosion

The group of neighbors living along the eroding banks of the Mendenhall River and City and Borough of Juneau staff have been going back and… Continue reading

Meander Way resident Joyce Goehring overlooks the Mendenhall River from her backyard. Goehring feels that the current proposal from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to slow the erosion is too aggressive and invasive for homes that aren’t experiencing major erosion. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Capital City Fire/Rescue cleans up after fighting a fire at 526 Seward Street, next to the Terry Miller Legislative Building, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017.

JPD identifies fatal fire victims, investigation into cause continues

The Juneau Police Department says two Mexican brothers, 34-year-old “Wilfrido” Luis Román Olivarría Mora and 21-year-old Adrian de Jesus Olivarria Mora were the two men… Continue reading

Capital City Fire/Rescue cleans up after fighting a fire at 526 Seward Street, next to the Terry Miller Legislative Building, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017.
Capital City Fire/Rescue cleans up after fighting a fire at 526 Seward Street, next to the Terry Miller Legislative Building, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017.

Two men pronounced dead after downtown fire

Two men died when a historic building in downtown Juneau caught fire early Sunday morning, according to a release from the Juneau Police Department. A… Continue reading

Capital City Fire/Rescue cleans up after fighting a fire at 526 Seward Street, next to the Terry Miller Legislative Building, on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017.
Principal Michelle Byer expresses her frustration with roof leaks at Riverbend Elementary School that drain into the school’s computer lab on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Proposition 1 would send sales tax revenue to maintenance projects

As Riverbend Elementary teacher Katie Koski read aloud to her kindergarten class, a sight that’s become commonplace at Riverbend hung above them. Directly above a… Continue reading

Principal Michelle Byer expresses her frustration with roof leaks at Riverbend Elementary School that drain into the school’s computer lab on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Proposal 2 gives city flexibility in awarding bids

Voting yes on Proposal 2 wouldn’t result in an immediate change, City and Borough of Juneau Engineering Director Roger Healy said. It would simply allow… Continue reading

Loretto Jones is running for the Assembly District 1 seat.

Judge finds Assembly candidate violated Landlord Tenant Act

A Juneau District Court judge ruled against District 1 Assembly candidate Loretto Jones in small claims court this week after a resident who rented from… Continue reading

Loretto Jones is running for the Assembly District 1 seat.