Michael S. Lockett

Courtesy photo / Travis Mead 
A Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighter moves to extinguish and early morning vehicle fire on April 19, 2022. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

CCFR investigating early-morning vehicle fire

The vehicle, which had been parked for several months, was totally gutted.

Courtesy photo / Travis Mead 
A Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighter moves to extinguish and early morning vehicle fire on April 19, 2022. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The City and Borough of Juneau announced on April 19 that masks were no longer required on public transit, including Juneau International Airport, Capital Transit and CAPITAL AKcess. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau airport and public transit drop mask requirement

Nationwide, many locations have made masks optional.

The City and Borough of Juneau announced on April 19 that masks were no longer required on public transit, including Juneau International Airport, Capital Transit and CAPITAL AKcess. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A Forest Service fire crew gets brief during an operation. Fire crews from Alaska are frequently deployed to the Lower 48 to help combat wildfires that are growing larger and closer to urban areas in many cases. (Courtesy photo / Parker Anders)

Into the fire: Alaska’s wildlands firefighters eye coming dry season

Alaska’s wildlands firefighters lend a hand where needed nationwide.

A Forest Service fire crew gets brief during an operation. Fire crews from Alaska are frequently deployed to the Lower 48 to help combat wildfires that are growing larger and closer to urban areas in many cases. (Courtesy photo / Parker Anders)
Michael Patz, raised in Juneau, stands on the ice in front of the S.A. Agulhas II next to a sign showing the location of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s vessel, the Endurance, rediscovered by searchers aboard the icebreaker. (Courtesy photo / Michael Patz)
Michael Patz, raised in Juneau, stands on the ice in front of the S.A. Agulhas II next to a sign showing the location of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s vessel, the Endurance, rediscovered by searchers aboard the icebreaker. (Courtesy photo / Michael Patz)
JDHS athlete Robbie Gabel throws the shot put during a practice at TMHS on April 14, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
JDHS athlete Robbie Gabel throws the shot put during a practice at TMHS on April 14, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Soon-to-be instructors from the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Xheighaa Warrior Veteran Canoe Journey, Coast Guard Sector Juneau, and the 17th Coast Guard District took part in a Kids Don’t Float training session being held at Dimond Park Aquatic Center in Juneau, Alaska, April 13, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)

Training the trainers: Coast Guard holds boating safety instructor class

Every kid with safe boating habits might be a life saved in the future.

Soon-to-be instructors from the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Xheighaa Warrior Veteran Canoe Journey, Coast Guard Sector Juneau, and the 17th Coast Guard District took part in a Kids Don’t Float training session being held at Dimond Park Aquatic Center in Juneau, Alaska, April 13, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)
JDHS forward Kyla Bentz, top center, celebrates with her team after scoring on TMHS during a game at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on April 12, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
JDHS forward Kyla Bentz, top center, celebrates with her team after scoring on TMHS during a game at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on April 12, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A child playing with lighter fluid started a fire in a backyard shed on Tuesday that completely consumed the structure. (Courtesy photo / Capital City Fire/Rescue)

Investigation concludes child accidentally burned down shed

The fire comes as a dry week witnesses multiple grass fires.

A child playing with lighter fluid started a fire in a backyard shed on Tuesday that completely consumed the structure. (Courtesy photo / Capital City Fire/Rescue)
Courtesy photo / ASC
Elin Antaya, a Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior, was awarded the Hoffman-Greene Ocean Youth Award by the Alaska SeaLife Center for work supporting and stewarding the ocean.

Making waves: Juneau teen wins statewide award for ocean stewardship

Her involvement with the ocean ranges across all aspects of her life.

Courtesy photo / ASC
Elin Antaya, a Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior, was awarded the Hoffman-Greene Ocean Youth Award by the Alaska SeaLife Center for work supporting and stewarding the ocean.
A pair of rockslide on Douglas Highway cut traffic while Department of Transportation and Public Facilities personnel cleared debris. DOT&PF geologists are still monitoring the site. (Courtesy photo / DOT&PF)

Road remains closed as DOT monitors rockslide site

It’s been reopened for local or emergency traffic, but geologists are monitoring the slide site for further activity.

A pair of rockslide on Douglas Highway cut traffic while Department of Transportation and Public Facilities personnel cleared debris. DOT&PF geologists are still monitoring the site. (Courtesy photo / DOT&PF)
Thunder Mountain High School was briefly locked down on Tuesday afternoon as police dealt with a nearby situation. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

TMHS locked down briefly after report of nearby gunshots

A suspect was taken into custody, and no injuries have been reported.

Thunder Mountain High School was briefly locked down on Tuesday afternoon as police dealt with a nearby situation. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Adm. Linda L. Fagan has been nominated by the president to serve as the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. (Courtesy photo / USCG)

Fagan nominated as next Coast Guard Commandant

If confirmed, she’ll be the first woman to lead one of the armed services.

Adm. Linda L. Fagan has been nominated by the president to serve as the 27th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. (Courtesy photo / USCG)
A black bear looks around near the Shrine of St. Therese in 2021. Experts said bears will soon be returning the Juneau’s urban environs. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

Be bear-aware as furry neighbors return to Juneau

It’s almost opening day for the cubs.

A black bear looks around near the Shrine of St. Therese in 2021. Experts said bears will soon be returning the Juneau’s urban environs. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
Annie Bartholomew and Miguel Rohrbacher, Juneau artists, kick off the 2022 Alaska Folk Festival to a standing ovation at Centennial Hall on April 4, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Alaska Folk Festival begins with a roar

The nearly half-century old festival is back in person.

Annie Bartholomew and Miguel Rohrbacher, Juneau artists, kick off the 2022 Alaska Folk Festival to a standing ovation at Centennial Hall on April 4, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, walks to meet Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., on Capitol Hill, Monday, April 4, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Murkowski announces support for confirmation of Jackson to Supreme Court

She joins two other high-profile Republican senators who said they would support Jackson.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, walks to meet Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., on Capitol Hill, Monday, April 4, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Donovan Jackson, 12, of Juneau competes in the one-foot high kick during the 2022 Traditional Games on April 2, 2022. The games were held at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Juneau hosts record-setting Traditional Games competition

It was the largest iteration of the games held in Juneau yet.

Donovan Jackson, 12, of Juneau competes in the one-foot high kick during the 2022 Traditional Games on April 2, 2022. The games were held at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Courtesy photo / Pepperdine University 
Former JDHS player Kendyl Carson is now leading the Pepperdine women’s basketball team on the court and off as the captain.

Snow to sun: Former JDHS basketball standout is a rising star in college

A captain as a sophomore, she’s got three seasons left to play with this team.

Courtesy photo / Pepperdine University 
Former JDHS player Kendyl Carson is now leading the Pepperdine women’s basketball team on the court and off as the captain.
Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, center, speaks as state lawmakers and children’s welfare advocates attend a Blue Shirt Day event at the Alaska State Capitol, honoring the beginning of Child Abuse Prevention Month on April 1, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau recognizes beginning of child abuse prevention month

Blue Shirt Day is a national day for child welfare advocacy.

Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, center, speaks as state lawmakers and children’s welfare advocates attend a Blue Shirt Day event at the Alaska State Capitol, honoring the beginning of Child Abuse Prevention Month on April 1, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau) speaks during a Friday fundraising dinner and silent auction for the people of Ukraine at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall which raised more than $30,000. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Tens of thousands raised at fundraiser for Ukraine

The fundraiser for UNICEF’s Ukraine mission was a huge success, said organizers.

Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau) speaks during a Friday fundraising dinner and silent auction for the people of Ukraine at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall which raised more than $30,000. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Featured artist Jill Kaasteen Meserve designed the logo gracing the front of Tidal Echoes’ 2022 edition. (Courtesy photo / Tidal Echoes)

Loss and birds: UAS releases annual literary journal

Eased restrictions streamlined the production, but the release event will still be online.

Featured artist Jill Kaasteen Meserve designed the logo gracing the front of Tidal Echoes’ 2022 edition. (Courtesy photo / Tidal Echoes)