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This photo of the bar on the Columbia ferry was taken in July. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

News

Columbia bar soon to be back online after minor fire

11 people, two of them crew, were treated in Wrangell and returned to the ship

A photo of the Palmer Project north of Haines provided to the Empire in 2019 by Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. (Courtesy photo)

News

State decision on Palmer mine project a win and a loss, environmentalists say

DEC issues waste management permit for exploratory drilling; plaintiffs weigh further challenge.

Rosemarie Becker looks toward the parking lot during Floyd Dryden Middle School’s 50th anniversary celebration Wednesday. Her father, Ed Becker, looks on as they wait in the hot dog line. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Floyd Dryden celebrates 50th birthday with flair

Hundreds show up at middle school for party with bouncy house, hot dogs and instrument petting zoo.

Karen Wood (foreground) animal control director for Juneau Animal Control & Protection, and deputy director Andy Nelson examine cats being kept at the facility on Monday. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

News

Official: A ‘terrifically crazy year’ for stray cats in Juneau

41% increase in impounded cats for year ending June 30; 65% jump in dogs surrendered also reported.

Tattoo artists make their marks on attendees at a Ink Masters Tattoo Show in Colorado. (Courtesy of Ink Masters)

News

Considering some permanent body art? Book early

Founders of Ink Masters bringing national expo to Juneau for the first time

A bin of bull kelp sits beside the conveyer belt at Barnacle Foods. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Four Juneau companies get grants for bull kelp and oysters

Nearly $500,000 in funding via Southeast Conference and Build Back Better

A trio of state ferries are docked as the Columbia arrives at the Alaska Marine Highway System headquarters in Ketchikan on July 16. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire File)

News

Winter ferry schedule is out and it’s better than before

13-day gap in mainline service in December, but more consistent service to smaller Southeast towns

Youth plaintiffs in the climate change lawsuit, Held vs. Montana, arrive at the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse, on June 20, 2023, in Helena, Mont., for the final day of the trial. A Montana judge on Monday sided with young environmental activists who said state agencies were violating their constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment by permitting fossil fuel development without considering its effect on the climate. (Thom Bridge/Independent Record via AP, File)

News

Victors in landmark climate change lawsuit reset sights on Alaska

Montana ruling establishes youths’ rights to clean environment, after similar case failed in Alaska.

Steve Sanders and Estrella Acosta examine their catch aboard the Marilyn at the Auke Nu Cove station as Alysha Reeves, the events dock chair, awaits. Acosta, 11, turned in 11 scholarship fish and entered a 10.1-pound salmon on Friday evening, the first day of the 77th Annual Golden North Salmon Derby. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Salmon Derby feels the weather, but keeps on fishing

77th annual charitable competition nets more fish than last year

Workers load cars aboard the Columbia ferry during a stop in mid-July. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Fixing the ferry’s future: The cost of maintaining an aging fleet

Master plan seeks to replace existing ships that are inefficient and expensive to operate

Alaska Marine Highway System vessels in dock at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Alaska Marine Highway System)

News

Fixing the ferry’s future: Meet the nine ships in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet

Three are currently out of service due to repairs and crew shortages

Three Alaska Marine Highway System ferries are docked at its headquarters in Ketchikan as the Columbia arrives on July 16. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Fixing the ferry’s future: Alaska Marine Highway steers fleet toward three replacements

Part two of a two-part series about the tricky navigation facing the Alaska Marine Highway System.

Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire Members of the deck department of the Columbia state ferry get ready to dock the vessel in Petersburg on July 17. A change in the accounting department is expected to lessen the number of payroll complaints among Alaska Marine Highway System employees.

News

A fix is in for ferry payroll issues

The change addresses longstanding issues with AMHS employees getting paid late or the wrong amounts.

The Golden North Salmon Derby returns this weekend for the 77th edition as the same charitable event, with bigger prizes. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Salmon Derby expects to bring on the coho and some king

Popular charitable competition swims off starting Friday

Marian Call and Conor Lendrum perform a song during the annual Climate Fair for a Cooler Planet on Saturday afternoon at Overstreet Park. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Seriousness about climate change amid a festive backdrop

Canadian wildfires, proposed North Slope projects draw heat at Climate Fair for a Cooler Planet

Capt. Dave Turner, who has been with the Alaska Marine Highway System for 14 years, scans some of the equipment on the Columbia. He makes a point of being approachable by crew, but said in the end, “it’s my license.” (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Fixing the ferry’s future: Meet some of the crew on the Columbia

Five people who do everything from cleaning to commanding the nearly 50-year-old state vessel

Capt. Dave Turner and Chief Mate Lucas Bevegni on the bridge of Columbia state ferry as Bevegni takes note of a whale spout more than a mile in the distance. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Fixing the ferry’s future: Help wanted on the Alaska Marine Highway

Part one of a two-part series about the tricky navigation facing the Alaska Marine Highway System.

Copies of Nick Jans new book, “Romeo the Friendly Wolf,” arrived at Hearthside Books about two weeks ago. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Nick Jans goes back to ‘Romeo’

Author returns with follow-up to best-selling book about Juneau’s most famous wolf

Juneau’s Parks and Recreation Department hosts a National Night Out event at Cope Park on Tuesday, one of three local public events connected to the national campaign that seeks to strengthen ties between police and communities. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

First responders show up with flashing lights for neighborhood non-emergencies

Local police, firefighters, Coast Guard and other agencies participate in National Night Out events.

Chad Goeden, seen here on board the Columbia in mid-July, is one of two retired Alaska State Troopers participating in a new program that serves as deterrent while also strengthening security on the Alaska Marine Highway System. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Fixing the ferry’s future: New program puts retired, certified troopers on some ferries

DPS and DOT team up on proactive effort to add security to AMHS.