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U.S. Coast Guard photo Rear Adm. Nathan A. Moore, commander, Coast Guard 17th District, shakes hands with a member at Air Station Sitka after presenting the crew with Air Medals on Friday. The aircrew received medals in recognition of the heroic actions and extraordinary measures taken to save the life of a lone fisherman adrift at sea Nov. 1, 2020.

News

New D17 commander awards aircrew for November rescue

Between near-zero visibility and a 70 mph headwind, conditions were far from ideal.

Caleb Peimann, surrounded by family and coaches, signs his letter of intent to swim for Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Courtesy photo / Scott Griffith)

Sports

Sprung for the Springs: JDHS senior signs with Colorado College

He’ll compete on the liberal arts college’s swim team.

This float marked Taku, which washed up in Olympia, Washington, at first was thought to belong to the Alaska Marine Highway System’s ferry MV Taku. But its source is still unknown. (Courtesy photo / Karla Patten)

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Unidentified floating object: Float’s origin sails into mystery

Despite supposition, float not from famed AHMS ferry.

A man charged with assault at Fred Meyer on Jun. 1, 2020 was acquitted after a trial last week at the Dimond Courthouse, shown here on Oct. 20, 2019. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Man charged with assault for Fred Meyer altercation acquitted

The defendant claimed it was self-defense.

Sandi Eldridge, pharmacist for the Department of Veterans Affairs, draws a dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine on March 13, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

News

Vax to the future: City, state look at next steps for vaccines

The state is ready if boosters for the vaccine are necessary.

Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick, a 154-foot Sentinel–class vessel, towed the derelict tugboat Lumberman, to a position 54 miles west of Cross Sound, Alaska, on May 2, 2021. The decision to dispose of the Lumberman at sea, which had been abandoned in the Gastineau channel in 2016, was made after it was determined to be derelict and posed a significant public safety risk. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

News

Lumberman finally towed out and scuttled

We won’t be seeing it again.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé and Thunder Mountain High School track teams held a meet at TMHS on April 30, 2021 as the track season gets going. (Courtesy photo / Dwayne Duskin)

Sports

Track teams up and running for spring season

Athletes are excited to get competing, coaches say.

Fr. Gordon Blue takes part in the 31st annual Blessing of the Fleet and Reading of Names at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial in Juneau on May 1, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau holds annual ceremony blessing and recognizing fishermen

It was the 31st iteration of the ceremony.

Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images Talisa Rhea, shown here on October 6, 2020 after the Seattle Storm won the WNBA championships, has been promoted to general manager of the team.

Sports

From rainy Juneau to the Seattle Storm: JDHS grad promoted to GM of WNBA team

One of Juneau’s brightest stars keeps climbing,

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake, indicated by the large red dot on the Alaska Earthquake Center’s quake map, occurred near the surface, about 60 miles east of Elfin Cove, early in the morning of May 1, 2021. (Screenshot / AEC)

News

Magnitude 4.7 earthquake reported west of Elfin Cove

Rumbles felt in Juneau.

The Lumberman, shown here moored alongside the City and Borough of Juneau’s pier downtown, will be scuttled in the open sea when clear weather allows. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

News

Lumberman scuttling on weather hold for now

Sometimes, it’s like you can look out and still see her moored there.

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News

Damage to undersea cable leads to widespread communication outages

Services have been restored via other cables, and a repair ship is deployed to fix the breakage.

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News

Communications outage downs phones and internet service

The cause is currently unknown.

An Alaska Department of Corrections news release announced that all DOC facilities, including Lemon Creek Correctional Center, shown above, will reopen for public visitation on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

News

Prisons to reopen public visitation statewide

All visits will be subject to health and safety guidelines.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Karl Lewkowski’s book “Cool Man Lewk: My Journey from Orphan to Crimefighter” talks about Lewkowski’s seven years as an officer in the Juneau Police Department, among other aspects of his life.

News

Former JPD officer, PI reflects on time in Juneau in new book

Lewkowski was a man of many hats.

Bowls like those seen here will be available for sale or auction during the Glory Hall’s Empty Bowls fundraiser beginning Friday, April 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Mariya Lovishchuk)

News

Empty Bowls goes on amid reduced fanfare

The Glory Hall also recieved a major donation of cleaning supplies.

An Arizona man was arrested for his role bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to Fairbanks between 2019 and 2020 according to a Department of Justice news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

News

Arizona man arrested for trafficking 60 pounds of meth to Fairbanks

The scale indicates it could be part of a larger operation.

Thunder Mountain High School junior Kiah Dihle kicks the ball during a game against Ketchikan High School. (Courtesy Photo / Zach Hanna)

Sports

Girls soccer seasons off to energetic start

Both teams had solid wins over Ketchikan before facing off at home.

The Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro is moored at the cutter’s homeport of Kodiak, Alaska, April 24, 2021. The Douglas Munro was decommissioned during a ceremony following 49-years of service. (Chief Petty Officer Matt Masaschi / U.S. Coast Guard)

News

Coast Guard decommissions cutter Douglas Munro

The vessel has been in service since 1971 and undertaken many high-profile rescues and operations.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Rear Adm. Matthew Bell is retiring from command of Coast Guard District 17 after 36 years of service in the Coast Guard.

News

Coast Guard District 17 CO looks back on decades of service

Big things are coming for Alaska, the admiral says.