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Fungus-resistant tree goes up for Arbor Day

Most years, the Juneau Urban Forestry Partnership and the Juneau Garden Club carry out their own events for…

The CBJ Assembly is considering an application to rezone Honsinger Pond and the Field of Fireweed. (Courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)

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Assembly considering application to rezone Honsinger Pond, Field of Fireweed

The owner of one of Juneau’s trademark natural attractions is looking to make a change — again. Spike…

Juneau residents watch as a raven totem pole is lifted into place by Trucano Constructuion at Gastineau Elementary School on Saturday, May 13, 2017. The 26-foot pole, paid for by the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, honors the Gaanaxteid&

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Raven totem pole serves as memorial of past, hope for future

In one way, Saturday’s totem pole raising ceremony at Gastineau Elementary School felt like the culmination of a…

Salud Elizarde, the recipient of the 2017 Excellence in Nursing Award from Bartlett Regional Hospital, laughs as she concludes her acceptance speech Friday. Elizarde has spent 15 years at the hospital and has been instrumental in the Medical-Surgical Unit. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

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Bartlett honors nurse for going beyond call of duty

What started as a dream in the Philippines for Salud Elizarde has taken her all over the world,…

Miss Alaska USA Alyssa London, the first Miss Alaska of Native descent, will compete in the national competition this Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Alyssa London)

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‘My tribe is a beautiful community from Southeast Alaska’: 5 questions with Miss Alaska USA

In early February, Anchorage’s Alyssa London became the first Tlingit to win the Miss Alaska USA competition. She…

Fireweed Factory Store Manager Emma Harper awaits customers at its shop on Front Street. The marijuana retailer quietly opened Tuesday and business has already been good. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

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Juneau’s second pot shop quietly opens its doors

Juneau’s second pot shop, Fireweed Factory LLC, opened Tuesday, and did so quietly. Tucked in a tiny space…

A sign sits at the end of the Juneau road in June 2014. (Marlena Sloss | Juneau Empire File)

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Looking into ‘The Road’ out of Juneau

In the process of approving its budget for the 2018 Fiscal Year, the City and Borough of Juneau…

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Board of Education pledges support for early education

For years, early childhood education advocates have wanted to be heard in Juneau, especially as the city lags…

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Catholic Community Service earns accreditation, hospice award

Catholic Community Service (CCS) didn’t need to reapply for accreditation this year, but did it anyway. It took…

The healing totem pole will be raised Saturday at Gastineau School. (Photo courtesy of Goldbelt Heritage)

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Mending wounds through culture

John Morris still remembers the rabbits that used to hop in between grave markers in the Douglas Island…

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Polaris House offers ‘a place to belong’

Bruce Van Dusen gets frustrated sometimes. Van Dusen is the Executive Director of Juneau’s Polaris House, an organization…

Reggie Peterson has carved two totem poles, this one is the raven pole, that will be presented at the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

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DIPAC raising two totem poles

It took a quarter-century for it to happen, but Ladd Macaulay’s vision has come to fruition, and it’s…

JoMarie Alba will be the student speaker at University of Alaska Southeast’s graduation ceremony this Sunday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

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Meet JoMarie Alba, UAS student graduation speaker

University of Alaska Southeast doesn’t name a valedictorian, but students and faculty nominate students to speak at commencement.…

Ross Mahon and Ben Ellison touchdown in Juneau downtown harbor in a plane they’re calling a Gweduck (misspelled on purpose) on Thursday, May 4, 2017. A “new twist on an old design,” the plane looks like an vintage aircraft but is made with modern materials. It began as a side project for the two aeronautical engineers from Seattle and is now a reality. It made the stop in Juneau on Thursday on its way to Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

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Innovative, nostalgic plane makes stop in Juneau

A twin-engine piece of nostalgia touched down in Juneau on Thursday. Two decades ago, Seattle aeronautical engineers Ben…

Irat De La Mora acknowledges the crowd after showing his talent for slicing up coho salmon at the Juneau Maritime Festival at Marine Park in Juneau on Saturday, May 7, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

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Maritime Festival taking place at new cruise dock Saturday

Saturday’s Maritime Festival won’t only mark the beginning of the summer in Juneau, but it will also mark…

Amy Skilbred, Executive Director of the Juneau Community Foundation, and Mayor Ken Koelsch speak about fundraising for the rebuilding of Project Playground at Twin Lakes during a meeting at Centennial Hall on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

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Community rallies to rebuild Twin Lakes playground

Tuesday night’s meeting about the Twin Lakes Playground rebuild started off with good news. The playground will be…

Passengers walk off Holland Amerca Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam on Monday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

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First cruise ships arrive, pouring visitors into Juneau

Despite rain and construction, South Franklin Street in downtown Juneau was more alive than it’s been for months.…

The AJ Mine and sawmill are seen in downtown Juneau in 1958. (Caroline Jensen | Alaska State Library Historical Collections; ASL-P417-043)

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A miner matter: Proposal would make reopening Alaska-Juneau Mine easier

The Alaska-Juneau Mine has been closed for decades, but some would like to see that changed. A group…

Assembly member Maria Gladziszewski refers to issues of the Empire from 1989, illustrating the long process of amending the city’s mining ordinance. The mining ordinance is back under discussion after a proposal written by five businessmen. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

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Assembly wants time to consider changing mining ordinance

Making changes to the City and Borough of Juneau’s mining ordinance would take a long time and a…

Geoff Kirsch performs at the 2016 Comedy for a Cause fundraiser. The annual show raises money for NAMI Juneau to put together classes and programs supporting those in Juneau struggling with mental illness. (Photo courtesy of NAMI Juneau)

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Comedy show raises money for mental health organization

In the eyes of Crystal Bourland, a comedy show is a perfect fundraiser for a mental health organization.…