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This is a photo taken Friday afternoon in the Mendenhall Valley area. Some of the smoke from wildfires burning in Canada is beginning to reach areas in Southeast Alaska and can be visibly seen in Juneau, according to air quality and weather officials. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

‘Thin haze’ of Canadian wildfire smoke reported in Juneau

The Alaska Division of Air Quality has issued an advisory in Southeast Alaska.

Nick Begich III, speaks to Juneau residents at a public gathering in September 2022. Begich on Thursday announced on social media that he will again be running for the Alaska U.S. House seat in the 2024 election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File).

News

Nick Begich announces bid for U.S. House, challenging Peltola again

He enters the race nearly 16 months ahead of the 2024 election.

A bird flies along the waterfront downtown as cruise ship passengers enjoy the sun Thursday evening. Mid-season data on this year’s cruise ship tourism season in Juneau shows a steady number of calls and complaints to the city’s tourism hotline compared to the previous season despite the record breaking number of passengers visiting the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Tourism complaints in Juneau remain steady compared to previous season

Top complaints about vehicles, whale-watching vessels and aircrafts.

A Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority truck sits parked in the Mendenhall Valley. On Monday night the Juneau Assembly OK’d an ordinance to transfer about 11.5 acres of city-owned land on Pederson Hill to the authority for less than fair market value. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Tlingit and Haida to purchase discounted Pederson Hill property from city

Land for affordable housing appraised by the city at $700K in value, authority to only pay $100K.

The Juneau School District is determining how to respond to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

State challenges Juneau’s ‘outside the cap’ funding to district

Years-long practice of extra funding may be halted across the state; millions on the line in Juneau.

A bus passes by City Hall downtown in late June. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly passed an ordinance Monday night to put a $27 million bond proposition for a new City Hall on the fall municipal election ballot. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Proposal to fund a new City Hall to hit the ballot — again

Assembly OKs $27 million bond question for voters this fall.

Carole Triem (center) smiles as Mayor Beth Weldon reads a poem about her during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night. The meeting was Triem’s last time serving as a member as she departs from her role for family medical issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

City in Pink: Assembly and administrators bid farewell to Carole Triem in style

The Assembly member announced her departure from her role in late June.

A police car parks near a residence on Riverwood Drive on Friday where Andre P. Lawrence was detained by police officers in connection with the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man on Cinema Drive on Thursday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Man shot in head after encounter in parking lot, suspect arrested Friday

Charging documents identify victim, circumstances leading to fatal shooting.

This is a photo of Wildflower Court on Monday. The independent nursing facility is now officially a part of Bartlett Regional Hospital after it was announced Monday the two entities finalized the acquisition. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Bartlett Regional Hospital officially absorbs Wildflower Court

Officials say it will help narrow the gap in local hospice and home care

Rows of houses line the Douglas Highway in late May. On Monday night the City and Borough of Juneau passed an ordinance that requires all short-term rentals to be registered with the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Juneau Assembly passes controversial short-term rental registration requirement

Operators will now be required to register with the city by October.

On Monday night during the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly meeting, members OK’d appropriating $8.1 million in hospital funds to Bartlett Regional Hospital for the purchase of Juneau Bone and Joint Center’s buildings and property. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

City OKs $8.1M for hospital purchase of Juneau Bone and Joint property

The finalized purchase to be negotiated in the coming months, hospital officials say.

Andre P. Lawrence is detained by police officers at a residence on Riverwood Drive on Friday morning. He was later arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man on Cinema Drive on Thursday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Suspect arrested following fatal shooting in Mendenhall Valley

Andre P. Lawrence was arrested on a first-degree murder charge Friday afternoon, police say.

A bus picks up visitors at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Friday morning. Local tourism companies are being forced to turn away tourists in Juneau seeking to visit the area this summer as commercial tourism limits are being reached rapidly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

‘Unprecedented’ visitors at Mendenhall Glacier rapidly outpacing allowed capacity

Availability of commercial services likely to be reduced, public transportation negatively impacted.

Local humpback whale Manunauna is seen this week with trailing yellow crab pot buoys and green satellite tag buoy. (NOAA Fisheries/Suzie Teerlink)

News

Two humpback whales reportedly entangled in fishing gear in Juneau area

Officials seek public assistance in reported sightings.

Hundreds walk the waterfront near Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza during the 2023 Juneau Maritime Festival in early May. City data revealed a total of 627,220 passengers have visited Juneau so far this cruise ship season and large ships in the last three months came in at 99% of their official capacity. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Mid-season passenger numbers show large cruise ships at — or above — 100% capacity

A total of 627,220 passengers have visited Juneau so far this season.

This is a photo of an phone dialing 9-1-1. The Juneau Police Department’s 9-1-1 system is having technical issues preventing dispatchers from responding to calls as they come in. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Juneau police 9-1-1 system experiencing technical issues

The issues were resolved later that evening, police say.

Juneau author and educator Aidan Key smiles for a photo in the Mendenhall Valley Wednesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau author’s debut book on supporting transgender students gains national recognition

Aidan Key’s “Trans Children In Today’s Schools” offers guidance in face of anti-LGBTQ+ policies.

Mary Bryant (left) hands off a bag of purchased goods on Monday during the grand opening of Pelican General, the town’s first general store to open in 15 years. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

New grocery store breathes new life into Pelican

The opening on Monday marked the first grocery store to service the town in 15 years.

Fireworks boom above “Tahku” the whale sculpture and downtown during the annual Fourth of July firework display over Gastineau Channel. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau celebrates the Fourth of July

Bright lights in the big city.

Leadonna Castillo crosses the finish line during the Final Soapbox Challenge Tuesday afternoon down St. Ann’s Avenue in Douglas. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Hot dogs, box cars and pie mark the Fourth of July in Douglas

Island fun.