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Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Rep. Sara Hannan, a Juneau Democrat, speaks to the state House Health and Social Services Committee Thursday afternoon in support of a bill she sponsors that would ban licensed practitioners from providing conversion treatment to minors or vulnerable adults in the state of Alaska.

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Conversion therapy survivors advocate for banning practice in Alaska

Invited testimony given for Rep. Sara Hannan’s bill.

Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn during the summer months of 2022. Residents and youth in Juneau are invited to learn more about the species at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center this Saturday for the final installment of the Mendenhall Minis series of the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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Learn more about salmon at this winter’s final Mendenhall Minis event

The series returned in-person after two years of online only

Juneau School Board member Martin Stepetin listens during the discussion Tuesday night as the board finalizes the district’s budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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The school board passed a budget — it’s probably going to change

Spending plan uses an uncertain $430 increase in per-student funding from the state.

A dog poop bag dispenser sits filled with bags ready for use at the entrance of Kaxdigoowu Héen Dei, also known as Brotherhood Bridge Trail. The City and Borough of Juneau spends about $10,000 a year on dog poop bags, officials say, but the issue of owners not picking after their pets persists. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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City prepares for dog doo doom of the spring thaw

CBJ spends $10,000 on dog poop bags each year but the problem still persists, officials say

A car drives up a hill near Auke Bay in early March. Transportation was a popular topic in a recent draft report that found lower greenhouse gas emissions in Juneau when comparing 2010 to 2021. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Report: Juneau’s greenhouse gas emissions down from 2010 to 2021

While dubbed good news, it concludes a trend cannot be definitively established.

This snow pile outside Thunder Mountain High School is expected grow. The National Weather Service in Juneau issued a winter weather advisory starting Wednesday morning and running through Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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NWS: Snow followed by heavy rain on the way

Roughly 2-5 inches of snow predicted.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Cars fill the parking lot outside of Driftwood Lodge in downtown Juneau Monday morning. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently announced it’s purchase of the site.

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Tlingit and Haida purchases downtown Driftwood Lodge

The building is located near Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall and Foodland IGA.

Emotions were high as JDHS cheer took home the 4A division championship title for the third year in a row during the annual Region V 2A/4A dance adjudication competition hosted at Juneau-Douglas High School:Yadaa.at Kalé Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Southeast stuntin’: Region V dance and cheer teams gather for annual dance adjudication

JDHS cheer takes home first-ever three-peat competition win

The sun beams down on a clock and nearby melting snow. A bill that calls for Alaska to choose to remain in Daylight Saving Time for the entirety of the year and say farewell to the switch to Standard Time has been reintroduced to the Alaska Legislature this session. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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It’s about time: With the switch to Daylight Saving Time on the horizon, Alaska lawmakers push to make the change permanent

It’s a time sensitive issue…

University of Alaska Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer, shown in this photo, was recently selected to be new chancellor of the University of Alaska Southeast.

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Q&A: Get to know the next UAS chancellor

Incoming chancellor talks workforce development, fiscal sustainability and student access

This photo shows downtown Juneau in late October. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee OK’d the city to begin drafting an ordinance that would make it a requirement to register short-term rentals in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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City considers short-term rental registration requirement

New survey shows difficulty in assessing accurate data on short-term rental stock.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire The Tazlina docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal Thursday afternoon.

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DOT: Staffing shortages mean fewer ferries this summer

Service may improve if more crew becomes available, officials say

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs a memorandum of understanding Thursday afternoon between the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and Goldbelt Inc. to pursue engineering and design services to determine whether it’s feasible to build a new ferry terminal facility in Juneau at Cascade Point. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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State signs agreement with Goldbelt Inc. for Cascade Point ferry terminal feasibility study

A long-discussed project took a step forward…

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Dale Hudson holds his phone showing a photo of him and his late wife, Suzanne, dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Dale is in the process of liquidating his wife’s store, Nana’s Attic, after her recent death in late February.

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Unique downtown Juneau antique store to close following owner’s death

Family expressed gratitude for community support of Nana’s Attic

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File The sun partially shines on the University of Alaska sign in late February. University of Alaska President Pat Pitney announced Wednesday her selection of Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer as the new leader of the University of Alaska Southeast.

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UA announces selection of new UAS chancellor

Aparna Dileep-Nageswaran Palmer is expected to begin the role in July

Ride Alaska co-owners James King, left, and Reuben Willis, right, speak to the Assembly meeting as the Committee of the Whole Monday evening to discuss their proposed business venture to bring electric-assisted bicycle tours to West Douglas’ Pioneer Road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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City OKs another step toward proposed Pioneer Road e-bike tours

The company seeks to provide tours three times per day, six days a week during the summer months

Courtesy Photos / Ruth Johnson, Serge Leclerc This week marks five years since climber’s Ryan Johnson, left, and Marc-Andre Leclerc, right, were reported missing after summiting the north face of the Mendenhall Towers in Juneau.

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Families remember climbers five years after presumed deaths

Legacies of Ryan Johnson and Marc-Andre Leclerc continue.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File Snows is scattered on the ground between houses on Douglas. The city recently sent out property value notices to Juneau owners, informing them of the annual assessed values of their property.

News

Property assessment hike has some owners alarmed

City reports average increase to be around 16%, however some residents report an over 40% increase.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Buddy, Juneau Police Department’s narcotics dog, plays in a snow pile outside of the Juneau Police Station Tuesday afternoon.

News

K-9 keeps nose to grindstone as he nears retirement

Buddy continues to play a critical role in drug control in Juneau

Doug Sanvik rips down a hill on a luge at Eaglecrest Ski Area Saturday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Don’t snooze on the luge: Juneau resident hopes to share his love of luging with the community

It’s a luge deal.