Dana Zigmund

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On Inauguration Day, President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing the review of the Trump administration's decision to lift the Roadless Rule in the Tongass National Forest. The news has lead to optimism among local conservation groups. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Conservationists welcome Biden’s Roadless Rule review order

Local conservation group reacts to news, looks to the future.

 

Courtesy Photo / Erin Cutts, Inspiring Girls Expeditions The 2019 Girls on Ice Alaska team travels down Gulkana Glacier at the end of their expedition. The group is currently accepting applications for three expeditions planned for this summer.

Inspiring Girls Expeditions to resume this summer

Three Alaska-based trips are planned for 2021

 

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire A flamboyance of flamingos greets Juneau residents on Calhoun Avenue near the State Office Building last week. The local International Order of the Rainbow Girls service sorority is deploying the birds in a new location each week to bring joy to Juneau during a difficult time.

You’ve been flocked: Flamingos brightens Juneau’s winter

A flock of 12 pink, plastic birds has been migrating around town.

 

Sarah Palmer talks to a driver before administering a COVID-19 test in December 2020. On Tuesday, the City and Borough of Juneau reported an uptick in cases identified over the weekend that included Martin Luther King Jr. Day. However, the community's COVID risk level remains at the moderate level, which was set last week after months with the community risk level set at high. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

COVID-19 cases tick up over holiday weekend

Two CBJ employees among those testing positive

Sarah Palmer talks to a driver before administering a COVID-19 test in December 2020. On Tuesday, the City and Borough of Juneau reported an uptick in cases identified over the weekend that included Martin Luther King Jr. Day. However, the community's COVID risk level remains at the moderate level, which was set last week after months with the community risk level set at high. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This Marbled Murrelet seabird was found in the waters of Auke Bay Friday looking "stunned." Volunteers took the bird to the Juneau Raptor Center where it was treated for likely head trauma and released back into the wild. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Raptor Center)

Juneau Raptor Center rescues first bird of 2021

A marbled murrelet was treated for head trauma and released

This Marbled Murrelet seabird was found in the waters of Auke Bay Friday looking "stunned." Volunteers took the bird to the Juneau Raptor Center where it was treated for likely head trauma and released back into the wild. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Raptor Center)

Federal CARES Act money helped Southeast weather COVID

But most of the money has been spent, and local governments are still hurting.

The City and Borough of Juneau will consider whether to offer a property tax reduction to encourage housing development downtown. (File Photo)

Assembly to consider tax break to boost housing development

The proposal is a 12-year tax break on new construction with four or more units in a downtown area of Juneau.

The City and Borough of Juneau will consider whether to offer a property tax reduction to encourage housing development downtown. (File Photo)
Expected heavy snow and high winds Thursday evening prompted Alaska’s Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to issue a warning of increased avalanche hazard along Thane Road. (File photo)

Avalanche risk increasing along Thane Road

Be careful and plan for the possibility of an extended road closure.

Expected heavy snow and high winds Thursday evening prompted Alaska’s Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to issue a warning of increased avalanche hazard along Thane Road. (File photo)
A child plays at Capital School Park. The park is in line for a remodel that will fix the crumbling retaining wall, visible in the background. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

A new life is in store for Capital School Park

Public input is helping craft a vision for the park’s voter-approved facelift.

A child plays at Capital School Park. The park is in line for a remodel that will fix the crumbling retaining wall, visible in the background. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Meta Mesdag, one of the owners of the Salty Lady Seafood Company located at Bridget Point, empties oysters into a sorting machine in this 2019. (Courtesy Photo / Meta Mesdag)

Aw, shucks: A love for oysters is growing in Juneau

Local mariculture operation introduces new flavors to the capital city

Meta Mesdag, one of the owners of the Salty Lady Seafood Company located at Bridget Point, empties oysters into a sorting machine in this 2019. (Courtesy Photo / Meta Mesdag)
Emergency worker Tyler Morgan prepares to administer a COVID-19 test at Juneau International Airport. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Low positivity rate ‘incredible’; next challenge is vaccines

The big decrease in infections means more city services are now available.

Emergency worker Tyler Morgan prepares to administer a COVID-19 test at Juneau International Airport. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
City leaders are waiting to learn more about the City and Borough of Juneau’s protocols that allow cruise ships to resume sailing. The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Amid COVID, cruise season planning is off to a slow start

The Assembly faces obstacles in setting local health protocols for visitors.

City leaders are waiting to learn more about the City and Borough of Juneau’s protocols that allow cruise ships to resume sailing. The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau School District Superintendent Dr. Bridget Weiss, center-right, talks to students as they re-enter school Monday morning with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place at Floyd Dryden Middle School. Below, students reentered school Monday morning with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols, including this sign in Tlingit reminding students to wear masks.

Juneau students begin to return to classrooms

In-person learning resumed for some elementary and middle school students on Monday.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau School District Superintendent Dr. Bridget Weiss, center-right, talks to students as they re-enter school Monday morning with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place at Floyd Dryden Middle School. Below, students reentered school Monday morning with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols, including this sign in Tlingit reminding students to wear masks.
Juneau’s students can choose to return to a limited schedule of in-person learning next week. Schedules and start dates vary by grade and building. Students will begin returning to Juneau Douglas Hight School: Yadaa.at Kale, pictured here in November 2020 on Tuesday. Mondays are designated distance learning days. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Schools to reopen to students on Monday

Voluntary in-person schedules add new options for families, students

Juneau’s students can choose to return to a limited schedule of in-person learning next week. Schedules and start dates vary by grade and building. Students will begin returning to Juneau Douglas Hight School: Yadaa.at Kale, pictured here in November 2020 on Tuesday. Mondays are designated distance learning days. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows the Juneau Arts & Culture Center. City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee agreed to move forward with a pair of proposals to study potential future options for the JACC and Centennial Hall. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)

Assembly could seek new plan for New JACC

A new study could offer new options

This photo shows the Juneau Arts & Culture Center. City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee agreed to move forward with a pair of proposals to study potential future options for the JACC and Centennial Hall. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)
The property at 9290 Hurlock Avenue near the intersection of Egan Drive and Mendenhall Loop Road was vacant Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, but a group of nonprofit organizations are partnering to turn the site into a youth homeless center. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee voted unanimously Wednesday evening to draft an ordinance allocating funding to the project. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Plans for youth shelter moving forward

A proposed youth homeless program takes another step closer to reality

The property at 9290 Hurlock Avenue near the intersection of Egan Drive and Mendenhall Loop Road was vacant Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, but a group of nonprofit organizations are partnering to turn the site into a youth homeless center. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Finance Committee voted unanimously Wednesday evening to draft an ordinance allocating funding to the project. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Niko Sanguinetti, the curator of collections and exhibits at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, arranges artifacts that are being collected to document life in Juneau during the COVID-19 pandemic in the basement of the museum on Jan. 6, 2021. Beth Weigel, director of the museum watches in the background. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

City museum documents history in the making

The Juneau-Douglas City Museum is considering how the future may view the past.

Niko Sanguinetti, the curator of collections and exhibits at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, arranges artifacts that are being collected to document life in Juneau during the COVID-19 pandemic in the basement of the museum on Jan. 6, 2021. Beth Weigel, director of the museum watches in the background. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Deputy City Clerk Di Cathcart collects ballots from the ballot drop box at Don D. Statter Harbor the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 19. Ballot drop boxes could factor into future municipal elections, too, depending on direction from the assembly. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Assembly to consider voting processes for future elections

Hybrid vehicles are popular in the capital city, but hybrid elections?

Deputy City Clerk Di Cathcart collects ballots from the ballot drop box at Don D. Statter Harbor the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 19. Ballot drop boxes could factor into future municipal elections, too, depending on direction from the assembly. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Archie, a 4-year-old Parson Russell terrier mix, is a dog lawfully registered with Juneau Animal Rescue for 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Stay out of the dog house: Annual pet registration deadline looms

CBJ requires annual registration for all dogs by Jan. 1

Archie, a 4-year-old Parson Russell terrier mix, is a dog lawfully registered with Juneau Animal Rescue for 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A sign along Montana Creek Road encourages Juneau residents to wear face masks in public settings on Dec. 29. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Local COVID risk level could move from high to moderate as soon as next week

Several key indicators are trending in the right direction

A sign along Montana Creek Road encourages Juneau residents to wear face masks in public settings on Dec. 29. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)