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The sun rises over Juneau on Dec. 16, 2021. The solstice on Dec. 21 will mark the shortest day of the year as the northern hemisphere is at its furthest away from the sun. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Dark night of the sol: Solstice means we’ll soon be gaining daylight

Solstice means we’ll soon be gaining daylight

Erlyn Penalosa of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls varsity basketball team advances downcourt during practice on Dec. 14, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS girls basketball team starting season swinging

A junior- and senior-heavy roster make for a formidable team.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveils the People First Initiative, a sweeping effort to target domestic violence and sexual assault, missing and murdered Indigenous people, human sex trafficking, foster care and homelessness, in a Tuesday news conference in Anchorage. The plan is a part of Dunleavy’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)

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Governor unveils budget

Priorities include public safety, infrastructure and substantial PFDs.

Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer received the President’s Award for Public Service at the 2021 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, recognizing his contributions to the community. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

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Juneau police chief recognized at Alaska Federation of Natives convention

The award was for an Alaska Native person who made outstanding contributions to their community.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé varsity boys basketball players Orion Dybdahl, left and Jake Sleppy, right contest a jump ball from Coach Robert Caspersons during a practice on Dec. 14, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS boys basketball gets ready to hit the road

Their first games this year will be away —way, way away.

Police responded to a comment made by a student about shooting up the school at a local school on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. No charges were filed and the issue was sorted in-house after a brief investigation. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Police called after student made shooting comment

No charges were filed.

Technicians at the Alaska State Crime Lab recently identified the human remains found in a shoe that washed up near the Seawalk in 2020. (Courtesy photo / Department of Public Safety)

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How it works: crime lab specialist talks ID’ing human remains

Deep muscle tissue is best for identifying workable DNA.

Ice on Mendenhall Lake is never completely safe to walk on, said a Capital City Fire/Rescue officer. That’s because of widely varying and hard-to-discern conditions under the surface., but common sense can mitigate some risk. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

Easy on the ice: CCFR recommends caution around icy lakes

The safest way to not fall through thin ice is to not go out onto it in the…

The city eased requirements for masks for vaccinated individuals indoors on Dec. 13, 2021. Masks will still be requireed in all City and Borough of Juneau facilities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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City lowers community risk level

Very little will change, save that the vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks indoors.

This January 2020 photo shows the Seawalk in front of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Labor on Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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Authorities ID remains found near Seawalk

Police say foot belonged to man who went missing in 2017.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire This photo shows vehicles at the city impound lot in Lemon Creek on Dec. 9, 2021. Space is perpetually at a premium in the impound lot, which holds vehicles for all sorts of reasons.

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Junk car disposals are on the rise, city seeks to do more

Clearing abandoned vehicles from city property can be admistratively tricky.

Performers in the Gold Town Theater’s virtual 2020 Christmas Extravaganza stand ready. This year’s event will involve performers traveling from location to location performing smaller sets. (Courtesy photo / Collette Costa)

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Gold Town Theater prepares for drive-by Christmas Show

Performers will be bringing the show to ticket buyers, traveling all over Juneau this year.

A Juneau resident was arrested last week for more than a dozen counts of felony child pornography charges. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

News

Juneau man arrested on child pornography charges

The man arrested is alleged to have downloaded hundreds of illegal photos and videos to his phone.

Astronaut Candidate Deniz Burnham, of ASCAN Class of 2021, poses for an official photo on Dec. 3, 2021. (Robert Markowitz / NASA)

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‘Find a passion and stay the course’: Burnham joins newest group of astronauts

From the Last Frontier to the Final Frontier.

A joint investigation between the FBI and Canadian law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of a Canadian man for cybercrimes on Nov. 30, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

News

Canadian man indicted in international cybercrime case

His attacks targeted State of Alaska computers as well as Canadian ones.

An Alaska Seaplanes Pilatus PC-12 sits on the tarmac at Yakutat Airport on Dec. 5, 2021, a charter flight to help stranded travelers leave after an airport instrument failure prevented any commercial flights from reaching the small city. The National Weather Service is currently working on fixing the problem. (Courtesy photo / Norton Gregory)

News

Yakutat airport weather instrument malfunction strands travelers

Without the dead sensor, commercial flights can’t land there, severely limiting travel options.

Jury trials at Dimond Courthouse and elsewhere are expected to occur more often and consistently in the next several months as judges seek to get trials moving once again. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

News

Jury trials set to ramp up with new year

The Sixth Amendment gives all Americans the right to a speedy and public trial by jury.

A number of people in Juneau have gone missing in 2021, including Clifford White, bottom left, who hasn’t been located. (Composite photo / Juneau Empire)

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Rescues and recoveries: Police, searchers talk recent missing persons cases

2021 has had a number of high-profile missing persons cases.

This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)

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State begins process of replacing ferry Tustumena

The state also has other plans for updating the marine highway.

Juneau residents enjoy Gallery Walk at Devil’s Club Brewing Company, which hosted artist Jacqui Tingey. (Courtesy photo / Mircea Brown)

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Juneau shows up big for Gallery Walk

Hundreds turned out despite heavy snow that morning.