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Under heavy rain and low clouds overhead, a few hundred people gathered in Riverside Rotary Park Saturday morning to honor the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. To honor the fall of the first tower at 9:59 a.m., officers quickly raised an American flag and then lowered it to half-mast while Alyssa Fischer sang the National Anthem. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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Gathering to remember: Residents, officials mark 20 years since 9/11 attacks

A rainy day didn’t keep them away.

Tucked along the side of the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, passers-by will find Juneau’s newest art gallery—the museum’s Free Little Art Gallery or FLAG for short. Anyone is free to add to the collection or take a pocket-sized treasure home. The gallery is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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Free Little Art Gallery opens downtown

Juneau joins growing list of cities hosting FLAGs

This photo shows cars parked at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Feb. 13, 2021. A local insurance agent says that a recent study claiming women in Alaska pay more for car insurance than men doesn’t reflect his experience. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Study: Women in Alaska pay more for car insurance

Local expert says no

Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale, pictured here in November 2020. The school board’s decision to prevent the basketball team from going to the Region V state tournament because of a district policy that precluded traveling to regions with high levels of coronavirus risk is one of the issues that prompted Kyle Scholl to run as a write-in candidate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Write-in candidate seeks school board seat

Board decision on basketball tourney sparks run

People grab drinks and sun at the Flight Deck, May 21, 2020. Restaurants are among the businesses subject to a 5% sales tax in the City and Borough of Juneau. In October, voters will be asked to reauthorize the 3% of the tax that is deemed “temporary” and used for street maintenance and general city and borough operations. Voters weigh in on the matter every five years. (Michael S. Lockett /Juneau Empire File)

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Temporary portion of sales tax is on the ballot

Voters to decide fate of 3%

People walk past commercial properties in downtown Juneau on June 3. Earlier this year, the city increased the base land value throughout the borough by 50% as part of the annual assessment process — a move that increased the tax bill for commercial property owners and generated more than 200 appeals. Wednesday night, Jeff Rogers, finance director for CBJ, said that despite complaints, the city’s process was sound and the adjustment was needed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Commercial tax assessments under review

City finance director updates committee

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire A garbage can sits next to a bin from Juneau Compost on Douglas on August 31. According to company officials, each day Juneau adds about 100 tons of garbage to the Capitol Disposal Landfill near Lemon Creek. At that rate, officials expect the landfill to be full in about 20 years. The city is exploring new ways to deal with Juneau’s waste stream, including composting options.

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Juneau’s landfill likely to last 20 more years

City committee talks trash with owners

A voter fills out their ballot in person at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Oct. 6, 2020. The library was the site of one of the voting centers during the City and Borough of Juneau's by-mail municipal election. Soon, city officials will mail ballots for local elections to all registered voters in the City and Borough of Juneau. Residents must act by Sept. 5 to register to vote or update personal information. Residents who prefer to vote in person can do so early or on election day at designated voting centers. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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Local election deadlines loom

Register, update information by Sept. 5

With the sun shining brightly on Monday, Aug. 30, Tlingit and Athabascan artist, designer, and activist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl and her team of apprentices started installing a new mural on the south wall of the Marine Parking garage, the structure on which the downtown branch of Juneau's public library sits. The mural depicts Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich, a Tlingit civil rights icon. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

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Sun (finally) shines on mural project

Juneau’s news public art piece takes shape

Dominique Smith, principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College, a charter school in San Diego, conducts a training session on building relationships, equity and school-based restorative practices for Juneau’s teachers, principals, and other certified staff members on Aug. 12. (Courtesy Photo/Kristin Bartlett, Juneau School District)

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Teachers take a turn as students

Training class focuses on equity, restorative practices

Kelly Fishler, a candidate for the District 2 Mendenhall Valley seat in the City and Borough of Juneau's City Assembly, sat down with the Empire for an interview on August 7. Fishler is challenging incumbent Michelle Bonnet Hale, who is running for a second term on the assembly. The election will take place on October 5 in a largely vote-by-mail affair.(Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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Fishler seeks seat on CBJ Assembly

She’s challenging the incumbent

This August 2 picture shows school board candidate Amber Frommherz. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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Frommherz seeks school board seat

Plans to focus on early childhood education

This Aug. 5 picture shows Thomas Buzard, who is a candidate for an open seat on the Juneau Board of Education. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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Candidate seeks open school board seat

Buzard calls for curriculum changes, end to masking

A surplus warehouse at 1325 Eastaugh Way, off Thane Road, is being considered by the City and Borough of Juneau as a possible location for a ballot-counting center should the city decide to increase its use of voting by mail in future municipal elections. On Monday, CBJ Assembly members heard public feedback on the proposal. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Public weighs in on local ballot counting center

City leaders consider options for future elections

The windows of the downtown branch of the Juneau Public Library tell passers-by that the city's overall COVID-19 alert level is high on August 20. City officials raised the alert level to curb the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19, which has been spreading rapidly throughout Alaska, including Juneau. All three Juneau Public Libraries will have reduced hours starting Monday, August 23, as staff are reassigned to help with the pandemic response, city officials said in a news release late Friday. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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City takes action to slow spread; calls for community support

Renew your commitment, hospital official urges

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire This Aug. 13 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Ibn Bailey.

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Bailey seeks school board seat

Local business owner says he brings unique perspective

The waiting room at Custom Cuts II in the Jordan Creek Mall sits empty on Aug. 19. Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, new citywide COVID-19 mitigation measures mean that all personal services businesses must operate by appointment only and close all waiting areas. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

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Local business owners prepare to pivot

City announces increasing risk level and mitigation measures.

Tlingit and Athabascan artist, designer, and activist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl places a portion of what will become the 60-by 20-foot public mural depicting Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich, a Tlingit civil rights icon, into place at Centennial Hall on Aug. 13. Once complete, the mural will appear on the currently blank south wall of the Marine Parking garage, the structure on which the downtown branch of Juneau’s public library sits. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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A mural comes to life

Team of artists assemble pieces

This July 30 photo shows Juneau school board candidate Aaron Spratt. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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First-time candidate seeks school board seat

Spratt criticizes current board’s COVID policy

Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s mask ahead of the first day of school. Kanani Dickinson is a student at Auke Bay Elementary School. Vanessa Dickinson said she’s excited the 7-year-old is back in school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Full-time, in-person learning returns for Juneau’s students

School is in session.