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Models pose on the cruise ship dock downtown during the 2022 Alaska Fashion Week. The three-day event returns to Juneau starting Thursday. (Courtesy photo / Sydney Akagi Photography)

News

A deluge of fashion in the forecast for Juneau this week

Third annual Alaska Fashion Week starts Thursday.

Katelyn Sulser, right, hits a game-defining bases-loaded triple for Juneau, giving her team the lead for good, in the second inning against Anchorage’s Abbot-O-Rabbit in the decisive game of the Majors Softball State Tournament on Saturday at Melvin Park. Juneau scored six runs in the inning to take a 7-2 lead before going on to win 15-5. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire).

Sports

Two-hit wonder: Juneau wins state softball tournament with pair of three-run shots

Majors team going to regions in California after 15-5 rout against Anchorage club to win series 3-0

The Hubbard ferry docks at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Juneau on June 26 for a christening ceremony. The 280-foot-long vessel, with room for 300 passengers and 53 standard-length vehicles, officially was put into service in Southeast Alaska in May. But officials said Friday it may be taken out of service next week due to an employee shortage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Hubbard may be taken out of service as AMHS employee, vessel woes continue

Newest ferry offering day service between Juneau, Skagway and Haines also suffering “growing pains.”

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on Wednesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Early release for elementary school students on Mondays approved by district

Ending school 30 minutes early intended to help teachers meet requirements of Alaska Reads Act.

Brian Holst (left) presents details about an upcoming meeting of statewide school board members who plan to discuss possible legal action against the state related to education funding during a Juneau Board of Education meeting Tuesday afternoon at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau school board makes cuts to cope with vetoed funds, eyes legal challenge to state

Statewide association of school boards discussing lawsuit, other options this week

A GCI Communications truck is parked at the company’s Juneau office on Wednesday. The company’s landline service suffered outages in recent days that the company said were fixed as of Tuesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Local landline, mobile phones suffer outages

GCI says landlines issues repaired as of Tuesday, city investigating mobile service disruptions

A now out-dated sign for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services remains at the entrance of a building in Juneau on June 22, nearly a year after the department was split into two. The building still houses many agencies providing services for the new Department of Health, while some have been relocated next door under the Department of Family and Community Services (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Signs remain uncertain a year after Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services splits in two

Agencies suffer hard year as food stamps, children’s services, other programs come under scrutiny.

Rae Mills, a mentor with the “Weaving Our Pride” project, hangs strands of wool yarn on a loom that will be used to create two Pride Robes at the Zach Gordon Youth Center on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Spinning the first threads of two Alaska Native Pride Robes

Mentors to spend year with students at Zach Gordon Youth Center creating the permanent wearable art

One of the two 60-passenger cars on the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway descends Mount Roberts in late May. The tram has been closed nearly every day since last Sunday due to mechanical issues, but a company official said the tram is expected to reopen Saturday. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire File)

News

Tram expected to reopen Saturday after closing for several days for repairs

Mechanical issues force halt of cable cars; Mount Roberts race on Saturday cancelled.

A complaint filed Wednesday with the Alaska Public Offices Commission alleges advocates of repealing the state’s open primary elections and ranked choice voting are violating numerous campaign disclosure laws. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Ranked choice repeal ‘church’ violating campaign laws, complaint alleges

Four organizations and two people leading repeal effort accused of “laundering donations”

Children pick up sand dollars on Sandy Beach on July 3. The end of this week is expected to be ideal beach weather with near-record temperatures forecast in Juneau and elsewhere in Southeast Alaska. (Therese Pokorney / Juneau Empire File)

News

Heat wave expected Friday

Temperatures not expected to break Juneau’s all-time high of 90F set on July 7, 1975.

Cash isn’t going as far as it used to, but it’s losing value much less quickly so far this year, with an inflation rate of 3.1% in April, compared to an 8.1% rate for all of 2022, according to a state report released Wednesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Statewide inflation down sharply so far this year, housing costs still rising

Alaska’s inflation at 3.1% in April after hitting 41-year high of 8.1% for 2022, state reports

The Ati-Atihan Juneau Group proceeds down Egan Drive during Juneau’s annual Fourth of July parade on Tuesday. The group won the top overall prize among parade participants. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

An Independence Day tribute to the seen and unseen

‘Voices of Alaska’ theme at this year’s Juneau parade an opportunity ‘for every voice to be heard’

Image from the exhibition “For Our Children: Chilkat Regalia Woven in the Lineage of Jennie Thulnaut and Clarissa Rizal,” on display at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum this month. (Photo courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

News

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

Plenty of colorful displays and activities will still be available to Juneau residents after the last of the…

Nicole Adair, a 2001 graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaat.at Kalé, pitches for the Antiques as teammate Tania Hansen, a 1998 graduate, plays first base and Angi Thibodeau, a 1999 graduate, awaits an opportunity to advance as a member of the Classics during the fourth annual JDHS Softball Alumni Game on Sunday at Melvin Park. (Photo courtesy of JDHS softball)

Sports

Annual JDHS alumni softball game results in classy matchup

Closest-ever finish goes down to the wire as participation opened to public for first time.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Bridget Weiss discusses her 39-year career in public education on Thursday, her second-to-last day as superintendent of the Juneau School District, in a break room at Thunder Mountain High School.

News

Wise last lessons from Weiss

Former superintendent looks back at 39-year K-12 career, ahead to new job inspiring future teachers.

T.J. Hovest conducts the Juneau Volunteer Marching Band during an Independence Day weekend concert on Sunday at Sealaska Heritage Plaza. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Marching back to Juneau’s traditions for Independence Day

Concert by Juneau Volunteer Marching Band a prelude to their participation in July 4 parade.

Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Salissa Thole sings a pop song while a couple dances in the background during a “Neighborhood Cabaret” show at the Glory Hall on Thursday evening. The shows being performed at various location in Juneau are the first of three productions during this year’s Alaska Theater Festival.

News

Sound shelter from the storm

Cabaret show at the Glory Hall an appreciative exchange between musicians, staff and audience.

Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer is retiring at the end of July after a career of more than 30 years in Southeast Alaska law enforcement. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

News

JPD Chief Ed Mercer retiring

Lifetime Southeast Alaska resident departing July 31 after career of more than 30 years.

Bamby Kinville-James (left center) and Jeni Brown (right center) lead a song during a rally held at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on May 5 to recognize Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Justice Department boosts resources for missing and murdered Indigenous cases in Alaska

Four specialists, one possibly in Juneau, will work with tribes and state to focus on rural areas.