Site Logo
Joe Wanner is scheduled to become the new chief financial officer of Bartlett Regional Hospital on Nov. 15, the hospital announced Thursday. He has previously served in that role at the hospital as well as its controller. (Photo courtesy of Bartlett Regional Hospital)

News

Former Bartlett Regional Hospital CFO returning to job

Joe Wanner scheduled to start Nov. 15, following resignation of Sam Muse amidst leadership turmoil.

Juneau City Clerk Beth McEwen explains the ballot certification process to election workers Monday at the City and Borough of Juneau’s Ballot Processing Center. The results of the Oct. 3 municipal election were certified Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Candidates keep their leads, City Hall bond defeated in final municipal election results

Winter warming shelter among issues for new Assembly, transgender sports ban for new school board.

Half of the students in a clown class perform a hastily constructed song-and-dance routine for the other half of the students acting as the audience at Perseverance Theatre on Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Class clowns: Getting a lesson in constructive comedy from actor in Oscar-winning best picture

Locals learn to “to climb around in your own self” as Ketchikan native Tallie Medel comes to Juneau.

Albert Dick packs belongings into a dry bag at Mill Campground shortly before its official closing for the season at noon Monday. Many people experiencing homelessness who were staying the campsite this summer left before the final day due to problems such as bears ransacking tents. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Homeless out in the wind and rain as Mill Campground closes, but warming shelter to open Friday

Due to cold forecast, city plans to open converted warehouse before Assembly gives official OK.

Rhoda Walker, right, Sharon Early, and Audrey Kohler work on their improvisation as Mike Christenson, left, and Seth Caron prepare to enter during a rehearsal at Christenson’s house on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Kohler, now a Seattle resident, is returning as part of a nine-person group to perform an improv comedy show at Crystal Saloon on Friday. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

News

Improv poet and performer returns home for a laugh

Former Juneau comic Audrey Kohler bringing members of Seattle troupe for show at Crystal Saloon.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Kara Strong (16) knocks the ball past Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Evelyn Richards (12) and Remi Starks (2) during the two local teams’ play-in game to reach the championship of the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza at JDHS on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

TMHS finishes second, JDHS third as Chugiak repeats as champs at JIVE tournament

Crimson Bears overcome season-long struggles to make semifinal against high-flying Falcons.

A city election work handles envelopes from the Oct. 3 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center leading up the scheduled Oct 17 certification of results. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

No changes in election results after relative handful of ballots added Friday

Assembly and school board winners, defeat of City Hall bond seem set ahead of final results Tuesday.

Tallie Medel, who will be teaching a series of clowning classes in Juneau next week, arrives for the world premiere of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” at the Paramount Theatre on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)

News

No joke: Clowning classes coming by actor from this year’s Oscar-winning best picture

Ketchikan-born Tallie Medel teaching three days of classes at Perseverance Theatre starting Monday.

Mill Campground, seen here Aug. 15, is scheduled to close on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Mill Campground set to close Monday, without winter warming shelter agreement in place

Temperatures expected to stay above freezing, but with frequent rain, during coming week.

An acid spill and a diesel spill of significant size were detected Wednesday at the Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to officials. A spill of a still-unknown toxic substance was also detected the same day at the Auke Bay treatment plant. (Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Three incidents of toxic substances detected in city’s wastewater system in one day raises concerns

Significant amounts of acid, diesel and a still-unknown substance detected at treatment plants.

Jerry Millsaps, who is visually impaired, and Autumn Booths, who teaches local students who are visually impaired, discuss a proposed new roundabout on Mendenhall Loop Road near Millsaps’ house during at open house about the project Wednesday evening at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. Millsaps said he is concerned because he cannot safely cross the street where two other roundabouts already exist, and the new one will create the same problem unless a pedestrian signal with audio and visual cues is installed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Sounding concerns about proposed new roundabout on Mendenhall Loop Road

Difficulties for visually impaired pedestrians, side street traffic raised at open house meeting.

A sign opposing the participation of transgender girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Sports

Ban on transgender girls from girls’ sports teams approved 5-3 by state school sports association

Juneau officials say enforcement specifics — and if they affect any local athletes — to be determined.

Pianist Phoebe Wu is scheduled to play a contemporary classical concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center, plus three other concerts in Southeast Alaska between Oct. 14-21. (Photo courtesy of Phoebe Wu)

News

Concert offers modern music from a different point of Wu

Chicago pianist featuring a world of contemporary classical composers during Southeast Alaska tour.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Jenna Dobson (4) knocks the ball past a Mt. Edgecumbe High School player on Saturday night at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Four-four time: TMHS volleyball defeats Mt. Edgecumbe by 3-1 set scores on consecutive nights

Falcons remain among state’s best teams with pair of physical back-and-forth victories.

Workers install drywall and other material in a house needing repair in Haines following a landslide in 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

News

State job satisfaction study shows homes are fun to design, not build

Drywall workers in Alaska among unhappiest workers in 79 professions, architects the happiest.

A former surplus warehouse at 1325 Eastaugh Way, seen here in 2021 and now used as a city election ballot processing center, is the current preferred location of a winter warming shelter, officials said Monday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

News

Winter warming shelter now likely to be at CBJ Ballot Processing Center, officials say

Use of former warehouse south of downtown criticized by pastor of church hosting shelter last year.

Colony High School’s Morgan Ainsworth sprints for the finish line against Chugiak High School’s Aaliyah Fields at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Cross Country State Running Championships in Palmer on Saturday. (Peter Pounds / Alaska Sports Report)

Sports

Juneau girls finish second at state D1 cross-country championships

Local boys team finishes fifth; three Juneau girls and one boy finish in top 10 individually.

Resurrection Lutheran Church, which has hosted a winter warming shelter in recent years, voted 25-24 during a congregation meeting on Sunday to enter into negotiations with the city to again host the shelter for the coming, following two previous votes where the question failed to pass. An intention by church leaders to ask the city for more money to host the shelter and the presence of new congregation members since the most recent vote last month were key differences at Sunday’s meeting. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Church votes 25-24 on third try to host winter warming shelter — but Mount Jumbo Gym may be used instead

St. Vincent de Paul in talks with city about Douglas gym as Resurrection Lutheran remains divided.

Nikki King (16), a senior, attempts to block a shot for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during the team’s game against Mt. Edgecumbe High School on Thursday night at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS volleyball, missing two key players to illness, loses to Mt. Edgecumbe

“We have to start focusing on the small wins,” coach Jody Levernier says.

Heidi Drygas, executive director of the 8,000-member Alaska State Employees Association, addresses a rally outside the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 10. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

News

Union for state employees files class action grievance over payroll delays

State has fewer than half the payroll employees needed “to run smoothly,” complaint alleges.