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This photo shows Resurrection Lutheran Church which provides a warming shelter to Juneau patrons during the winter months. The shelter is set to close for the season following Sunday night, and on Monday, the City and Borough of Juneau’s seasonal campground, the Mill Campground will open. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Warming shelter set for season closure, Mill Campground to open the following day

Shelter to close after Sunday night, campground to open Monday.

Mitchell Thomas Watley, 47, appears at the Juneau Courthouse late Tuesday afternoon. Watley is being charged with one count of felony terroristic threatening and faces up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine for reportedly posting transphobic notes that referenced shooting children at three public locations in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Man arrested for threatening notes appears in Juneau Courthouse

Mitchell Thomas Watley is being charged with one count of felony terroristic threatening.

A snowboarder stays afloat on the skim pond at Eaglecrest Ski Area as they partake in the return of the Slush Cup Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Slush Cup returns to Eaglecrest

The ski area waves goodbye to the 2022-2023 winter season.

JDHS sophomore midfielder/forward Milina Mazon sprints past two Ketchikan players during a Saturday afternoon game against the team at Thunder Mountain High School. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS girls secure back-to-back shutout wins against Ketchikan

The team won 7-0 in both.

Former professional BMX race and Olympic coach Tony Hoffman speaks to a crowed in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall Thursday afternoon about his story of overcoming addiction. His speech marked the “Final Chapter” of the Pillars of America speakers series that has been put on by the Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club for more than three decades. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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From prison to Pillar: Tony Hoffman shares his journey from addiction to the Olympics in final Pillars of America speech.

The speaker series is now ended.

Assembly members listen to a discussion about the near and long-term future of Juneau’s solid waste management during “Talkin’ Trash” work session held by members of the Assembly Public Works and Facilities Committee Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau’s dumping dilemma: City and waste officials discuss short and long-term goals for Juneau’s dying landfill

“There is no one thing that can fix this.”

This March 10 photo shows fentanyl pills seized by police. A Juneau woman was arrested Saturday on a felony drug charge and police seized over 6,000 pills suspected to contain fentanyl. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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Police: Over 6,000 fentanyl pills seized after traffic stop

A Juneau woman was arrested on a drug-related charge, after police found more than 6,000 pills, believed to…

City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Assembly Member Michelle Bonnet Hale talk with City Manager Rorie Watt Wednesday night after the the 2024-2025 municipal budget was introduced at the city finance committee meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

City considers lowering property tax rate as budget process begins

High revenues mean bold investments, city officials say

Brian Erickson, vice president and general manager of Hecla Greens Creek Mine, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Mine VP gives update, addresses report on elevated lead levels in Hawk Inlet

“They made numerous unsupported comparisons and conclusions to support their allegation.”

The series “Credible, Idiot Strings” features cotton fabric, nylon thread and steel wire to draw attention to the high rates of suicide in Alaska Native and Indigenous communities. The series is a part of the new exhibition “Visceral: Verity” on display at the Alaska State Museum and featured during the April First Friday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

New exhibitions, live music and more

Glacier Swim Club’s Joshua Edwards come up for air during a competition race in the Savannah Cayce Southeast Championship at Juneau’s Dimond Aquatic Center this weekend. Edwards placed third as an individual scorer in the 13/14-year-old boys age group. (Courtesy / Phil Loseby)

Sports

Glacier Swim Club dominates during weekend home meet, eyes state title

The team has had a record-breaking season

Signs encouraging voters to support Proposition 2, which OK’d $6.6 million in bond debt for recreation improvements, sit in a chair on the track at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park ahead of a football game last fall. Monday evening, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly approved issuing the bond debt, but concern was expressed about whether field work would involve artificial turf. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

News

City directs $6.6M toward recreation projects approved by voters

Assembly member expressed concerns about one of the project’s link to PFAS

This is a photo of the current site plan of the proposed Capital Civic Center. On Monday night the Assembly authorized $5 million to go toward the project that is expected to cost $75 million. (City and Borough of Juneau)

News

City OKs $5M toward proposed Capital Civic Center

The money is intended to show the city’s commitment to the project as it seeks federal funding

A police officer stands on duty in early March. The City and Borough of Juneau announced Monday incoming Juneau Police Department officers will now be offered a hiring bonus of up to $30,000 in exchange for a four-year commitment to the department. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

City offers up to $30K hiring bonus for new police officers

Police union representative says it’s not enough to fix the department’s recruitment challenges

Yakutat’s Trinity Jackson goes up for a shot Monday afternoon in a game against Kake during the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé gymnasium. Yakutat prevailed against Kake 69-33. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Yakutat finishes with 36-point lead over Kake in W bracket

Kake women bested on second day of the tournament.

Juneau’s Chase Saviers goes in for a layup Monday afternoon in a B Bracket game against Metlakatla during the Juneau Lions Club 74th Annual Gold Medal Basketball Tournament at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé gymnasium. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Juneau lands 111 points in win over Metlakatla

The team won by exactly 40-points.

Juneau’s Gold Medal Tournament Masters Bracket basketball team’s Will Whitehead secures a two-point shot early on in the first quarter of a game against Angoon Sunday afternoon a part 74th Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Juneau stays in control against Angoon for M Bracket win

Juneau kept a respectable-yet-close lead through the entire time.

Spit flies as players from Metlakatla and Hoonah battle for the ball Sunday afternoon in the second B Bracket game of the 74th Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Metlakatla ekes out a win against Hoonah

The game ended with a close 75-70 score.

The City and Borough of Juneau cash office and sales tax office returns to regular service hours starting Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

CBJ cash office and sales tax office returns to regular service hours

This comes after months of reduced operating hours due to a staffing shortage

Guy Archibald collects clam shell specimens on Admiralty Island. Archibald was the lead author of a recently released study that linked a dramatic increase of lead levels in Hawk Inlet’s marine ecosystem and land surrounding it on Admiralty Island to tailings released from the nearby Hecla Greens Creek Mine. (Courtesy Photo / John Neary)

News

New study links mine to elevated lead levels in Hawk Inlet

Hecla Greens Creek Mine official ardently refutes the report’s findings.