Clarise Larson

Rows of houses line Douglas Highway in late May. Short-term rental operators in Juneau have until Oct. 8 to register their units with the City and Borough of Juneau before they face a $25 daily fine. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Registration deadline approaching for short-term rental operators in Juneau

As of Monday, 117 units have been registered out of the nearly 600 estimated in the capital city.

Rows of houses line Douglas Highway in late May. Short-term rental operators in Juneau have until Oct. 8 to register their units with the City and Borough of Juneau before they face a $25 daily fine. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A whale surfaces near an Alaska Tales Whale Watching boat in early September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Whale watching operators recommend solutions to industry impact ahead of 2024 season

Limiting number of boats, speeds and “whale sighting guaranteed” marketing among recommendations

A whale surfaces near an Alaska Tales Whale Watching boat in early September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Athletes compete in a swim event Saturday afternoon at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center.

Records broken at weekend high school swim meet in Juneau

JDHS and TMHS coaches share optimism as season progresses.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Athletes compete in a swim event Saturday afternoon at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center.
Cruise ship passengers walk around in downtown Juneau in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Saturday will mark first day without cruise ships since early May

Nearly 1.5 million cruise ship passengers have arrived in Juneau so far this season.

Cruise ship passengers walk around in downtown Juneau in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A sign paid for by Save Juneau sits in a yard on South Douglas. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Campaign group opposing new City Hall backs four candidates

Save Juneau supports Assembly candidates “who are most likely to give taxpayers relief,” chair says.

A sign paid for by Save Juneau sits in a yard on South Douglas. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Longtime Juneau drag pillar Gigi Monroe leads a dance alongside other performers during the eighth annual GLITZ drag show at the Centennial Hall ballroom Saturday night. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Photos: GLITZ returns

Hundreds turn out for the eighth annual drag show’s first fall debut.

Longtime Juneau drag pillar Gigi Monroe leads a dance alongside other performers during the eighth annual GLITZ drag show at the Centennial Hall ballroom Saturday night. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Nano Brooks, pictured, is running as an Assembly Areawide candidate in the 2023 City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Nano Brooks

Assembly Areawide candidate in the 2023 Juneau municipal election.

Nano Brooks, pictured, is running as an Assembly Areawide candidate in the 2023 City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A police officer stands on duty in early March. On Friday the City and Borough of Juneau announced three police chief finalists. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

City announces finalists for new police chief

Selection includes two out-of-state candidates, one from within the department.

A police officer stands on duty in early March. On Friday the City and Borough of Juneau announced three police chief finalists. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This is a preliminary design concept of the proposed new City Hall estimated to cost $43.3 million. (Courtesy / City and Borough of Juneau)

Ballot Proposition 1: $27 million in bond debt for a new City Hall

The question heads to voters this upcoming municipal election for the second time.

This is a preliminary design concept of the proposed new City Hall estimated to cost $43.3 million. (Courtesy / City and Borough of Juneau)
This is a photo collage of the candidates running for local office in the 2023 City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

2023 Juneau Election Guide

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Oct. 3 local election.

This is a photo collage of the candidates running for local office in the 2023 City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Chilkat weaver Anna Brown Ehlers smiles while on stage at the 2023 University of Alaska Southeast commencement ceremony in May. Ehler’s was bestowed a honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts during the event. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau master Chilkat weaver Anna Brown Ehlers named Rasmuson distinguished artist

Multiple Southeast Alaska artists recognized by the foundation earlier this week.

Chilkat weaver Anna Brown Ehlers smiles while on stage at the 2023 University of Alaska Southeast commencement ceremony in May. Ehler’s was bestowed a honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts during the event. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Rainwater surrounds a sewer maintenance hole in the Mendenhall Valley area Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Reported smell of diesel in downtown sewer system subsides, potential source identified

“There’s a high probability that the problem is solved.”

Rainwater surrounds a sewer maintenance hole in the Mendenhall Valley area Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Sandi Hughes, right, and Sam Messerschmidt watch the raging Mendenhall River from the Mendenhall River Bridge on their way to Mendenhall River Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 11, 1995. (Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives)
Sandi Hughes, right, and Sam Messerschmidt watch the raging Mendenhall River from the Mendenhall River Bridge on their way to Mendenhall River Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 11, 1995. (Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives)
This is a photo of a rockslide that occurred Thursday morning along Glacier Highway just beyond Tee Harbor. (Courtesy / Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Multiday heavy rainstorms forecast in Juneau, flood warning issued

A rockfall along Glacier Highway was reported Thursday morning.

This is a photo of a rockslide that occurred Thursday morning along Glacier Highway just beyond Tee Harbor. (Courtesy / Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
An inmate stands near a bunk at Lemon Creek Correctional Center on Monday. The prison is at about 45% capacity as it is currently undergoing structural repairs and renovations following “extreme wet weather” last fall that caused instability at certain locations and prompted emergency repairs. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau prison at 45% inmate capacity as structural repairs continue

Transferred inmates expected to return upon project completion slated November 2024, officials say.

An inmate stands near a bunk at Lemon Creek Correctional Center on Monday. The prison is at about 45% capacity as it is currently undergoing structural repairs and renovations following “extreme wet weather” last fall that caused instability at certain locations and prompted emergency repairs. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Areawide Assembly candidates Paul Kelly, Laura Martinson McDonnell and Ella Adkison are the top three candidates so far this municipal election to raise the most funds, according to their campaign finance records with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Areawide Assembly candidates Paul Kelly, Laura Martinson McDonnell and Ella Adkison are the top three candidates so far this municipal election to raise the most funds, according to their campaign finance records with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This is a photo of Austin Brady, 28, a village public safety officer in Kake. Brady was arrested on Aug. 29 by Alaska State Troopers after he reportedly assaulted a woman and possessed a weapon while intoxicated. (Courtesy / Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)

Kake public safety officer fired following off-duty assault arrest

Austin Brady, 28, was arrested in late August by Alaska State Troopers.

This is a photo of Austin Brady, 28, a village public safety officer in Kake. Brady was arrested on Aug. 29 by Alaska State Troopers after he reportedly assaulted a woman and possessed a weapon while intoxicated. (Courtesy / Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)
Retiring City and Borough of Juneau Manager Rorie Watt smiles as he is honored during an Assembly meeting Monday night. Watt will be officially departing at the end of September after announcing his plan to retire in April. Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester was selected to take over the role. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly bids farewell to retiring City Manager Rorie Watt

He was honored Monday during an Assembly meeting ahead of his departure at the end of September.

Retiring City and Borough of Juneau Manager Rorie Watt smiles as he is honored during an Assembly meeting Monday night. Watt will be officially departing at the end of September after announcing his plan to retire in April. Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester was selected to take over the role. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Alicia Hughes-Skandijs and Wade Bryson listen to public testimony Monday night about whether the city should adopt new maps that show updated landslide and avalanche risk downtown. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly sends hazard maps back to committee following public opposition

The move follows multiple rounds of public testimony advocating against the maps’ adoption.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members Alicia Hughes-Skandijs and Wade Bryson listen to public testimony Monday night about whether the city should adopt new maps that show updated landslide and avalanche risk downtown. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Deputy City Manager Robert Barr shares an update with the Assembly Monday evening following Resurrection Lutheran Church’s decision to not host the city’s cold weather emergency shelter this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City’s struggle to provide a winter homeless shelter continues

Combination of downtown transit center and bus considered as church again rejects hosting shelter.

Deputy City Manager Robert Barr shares an update with the Assembly Monday evening following Resurrection Lutheran Church’s decision to not host the city’s cold weather emergency shelter this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)