Gregory Philson

A pleasure boat sits on the rocks on the north side of Coghlan Island on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. The boat grounded on Monday evening. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Boat wrecks near Coghlan Island Monday night

A boat hit a rock about 50 yards from Coghlan Island Monday night and began taking on water, prompting a search and rescue by the… Continue reading

A pleasure boat sits on the rocks on the north side of Coghlan Island on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. The boat grounded on Monday evening. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School sixth-grade receives help getting out of a wet survival suit by teacher Cheyenne Cuellar during a class from the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association at the U.S. Coast Guard’s Station Juneau dock on Monday, April 30, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Sixth grade survival lessons

Lillie Fredrick, a sixth-grader at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School, is no stranger to the water in Juneau. She goes fishing and pulls crab pots with… Continue reading

Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School sixth-grade receives help getting out of a wet survival suit by teacher Cheyenne Cuellar during a class from the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association at the U.S. Coast Guard’s Station Juneau dock on Monday, April 30, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Alaskans’ preparing for the future

Sea cucumbers and kelp may not be the usual topics brought up at a college commence ceremony, but when graduation is in Alaska, that all… Continue reading

Scott Nelson

Riverbend Elementary names new principal

A new face will be taking over as principal at Riverbend Elementary School for the 2018-19 school year. According to a release from the Juneau… Continue reading

Scott Nelson
Blake Fletcher and Erin Ohlson

Meet the two students speaking at Sunday’s UAS graduation

It’s time to graduate. The University of Alaska Southeast’s 2018 Juneau graduating class will be hearing cheers from excited family members, peers and the public… Continue reading

Blake Fletcher and Erin Ohlson
Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighter/EMTs Conner Hoyt, left, and Mattheus Tempel transport victim Keren Goldbergbell during a mass casualty drill at Bartlett Regional Hospital on Thursday, May 3, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Preparing for a real-life disaster

Bartlett Regional Hospital staff were hustling Thursday morning. In less than two hours, a bus crash with 25 casualties needed immediate attention, an emergency room… Continue reading

Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighter/EMTs Conner Hoyt, left, and Mattheus Tempel transport victim Keren Goldbergbell during a mass casualty drill at Bartlett Regional Hospital on Thursday, May 3, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Joy Lyon, Executive Director of Association for the Education of Young Children of Southeast Alaska speaks to the City Finance Committee about Best Starts for Juneau’s Kids during the meeting at Assembly Chambers Thursday. (Greg Philson | Juneau Empire)

Best Starts Juneau asks city for pre-K pilot program funding

Hoping to address early education issues, Best Starts for Juneau’s Kids, is requesting $2.18 million from the city for a pre-kindergarten program. Best Starts for… Continue reading

Joy Lyon, Executive Director of Association for the Education of Young Children of Southeast Alaska speaks to the City Finance Committee about Best Starts for Juneau’s Kids during the meeting at Assembly Chambers Thursday. (Greg Philson | Juneau Empire)
Joe Torrillo, retired from the New York City Fire Department, speaks during the Pillars of America speaker series at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Torrillo tells his story of being buried twice during the collapse of the Twin Tower buildings in the Sept. 11, 2001. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Former New York City firefighter tries to ‘Re-Unite’ the US

Joe Torrillo never had aspirations to be a firefighter. He went to school for engineering and wanted to be an architect. After being convinced to… Continue reading

Joe Torrillo, retired from the New York City Fire Department, speaks during the Pillars of America speaker series at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Torrillo tells his story of being buried twice during the collapse of the Twin Tower buildings in the Sept. 11, 2001. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau homelessness continues to rise

Juneau is seeing an increase in homelessness. That was part of the a report giving by CBJ Chief Housing Officer Scott Ciambor during the COW… Continue reading

Four humpback whales dive in front of a Allen Marine whale watching boat in August 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Fundraising season: Whale watch for a good cause, fill an empty bowl, or support Polaris House’s inaugural fundraiser

It may be construction and it may be tourist season, but it’s also fundraising season. Lots of events are popping up around town in support… Continue reading

Four humpback whales dive in front of a Allen Marine whale watching boat in August 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The first cruise ship of the season, the Ruby Princess, arrives in Juneau on Monday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gearing up for the season: Coast Guard runs security as first cruise ship arrives Monday

The Coast Guard 17th District stationed in Juneau wants a boring day. Luckily for them, tourists aboard the first cruise ship of the season and… Continue reading

The first cruise ship of the season, the Ruby Princess, arrives in Juneau on Monday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Wastewater rates on the rise

A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that there is also a price increase in the flat rate water. It should have said an… Continue reading

City Hall in downtown Juneau. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire File)

Wastewater rates on the rise

A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that there is also a price increase in the flat rate water. It should have said an… Continue reading

City Hall in downtown Juneau. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire File)
Volunteer Sudie Hargis gives a tour of the supply room during an open house at the new Southeast office of the American Red Cross of Southeast Alaska on Thursday, April 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Out of the floodplain, into a new home

When an emergency response organization is itself located in an area prone to a severe weather condition, something is not quite right. That was the… Continue reading

Volunteer Sudie Hargis gives a tour of the supply room during an open house at the new Southeast office of the American Red Cross of Southeast Alaska on Thursday, April 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Richard Steele and his wife, Luann McVey, share a light moment while attending his workout at the Rock Steady Boxing Class at Pavitt Health & Fitness on Thursday, April 12, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Not backing down to Parkinson’s

Editor’s Note: This is the last of four profiles highlighting stories of local people with Parkinson’s disease, as part of Parkinson’s Awareness Month in April.… Continue reading

Richard Steele and his wife, Luann McVey, share a light moment while attending his workout at the Rock Steady Boxing Class at Pavitt Health & Fitness on Thursday, April 12, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City to hear report on cold weather shelter

Operating for 70 nights this past winter, the City and Borough of Juneau-funded cold weather shelter saved lives. That result is part of the presentation… Continue reading

Aaron Surma, a consultant for Juneau Alliance for Mental Health, Inc. (JAMHI), speaks during a meeting of the Juneau Coalition on Housing and Homelessness at Gruening Park on Thursday, April 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Local group asks governor to consider Juneau a ‘medically underserved population’

The Juneau Coalition on Housing and Homelessness wants to broaden the range of organizations that can apply for certain federal funding. The coalition took a… Continue reading

Aaron Surma, a consultant for Juneau Alliance for Mental Health, Inc. (JAMHI), speaks during a meeting of the Juneau Coalition on Housing and Homelessness at Gruening Park on Thursday, April 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Derek Clark speaks to a full house during the Glacier Valley Rotary Club’s Pillars of Amercia speaker series at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Joe Torrillo speaks next Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Rapping Dad’ shares story about overcoming hardships

Describing his life story, Derek Clark sounds like a man who had every reason to give up. But, even when he still was unsure where… Continue reading

Derek Clark speaks to a full house during the Glacier Valley Rotary Club’s Pillars of Amercia speaker series at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. Joe Torrillo speaks next Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this May 2009 photo, Josh Smith, left, and Carson Paul, both seniors at Juneau-Douglas High School, work on a car in the school’s auto shop as they practice for a state-wide contest in Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Public asks city to help save Juneau School District’s automotive program

Josh Smith is a diesel mechanic at Alaska Waste in Juneau. Without the Juneau School District’s automotive program, he is not sure what he would… Continue reading

In this May 2009 photo, Josh Smith, left, and Carson Paul, both seniors at Juneau-Douglas High School, work on a car in the school’s auto shop as they practice for a state-wide contest in Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

New Director of Administrative Services named at Juneau School District

Sarah Jahn, who has worked within the Juneau School District for a decade, will be taking over as the next Director of Administrative Services, according… Continue reading