Wire Service

Native Youth Olympics athlete Nathan Blake performs an Alaskan High kick at the Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 70 Summer Solstice Music Festival on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

Music festival celebrates summer solstice

Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 70 hosts 10-hour fundraising event at Áakw Landing

Native Youth Olympics athlete Nathan Blake performs an Alaskan High kick at the Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 70 Summer Solstice Music Festival on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Life is harder when you outlive your support group

Mom was ready to die, knowing the world would be OK. Or so she thought.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Participants in “No Kings” protest walk down Egan Drive waving an American flag on Saturday, June 14, 2025 (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Why we protest

Along with more than a thousand other Juneauites, I attended the “No Kings” protest last Saturday. I didn’t agree with everything I heard from those… Continue reading

Participants in “No Kings” protest walk down Egan Drive waving an American flag on Saturday, June 14, 2025 (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
Erin Thompson (courtesy)

Erin Thompson to serve as regional editor for Alaska community publications

Erin Thompson is expanding her leadership as she takes on editorial oversight of the Juneau Empire in addition to her existing role guiding coverage at… Continue reading

Erin Thompson (courtesy)
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ships in port for the week of June 22

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule. Capacity figures in parenthesis were pulled from cruise lines’ websites. Sunday, June 22… Continue reading

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
calendar

Community calendar of upcoming events

This is a calendar updated daily of upcoming local events during the coming days provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, and other contributors.… Continue reading

calendar
Autumn leaves lie on a trail in the Campbell Tract on Oct. 8, 2020. The tract appears to be the largest piece of salable land in urban Anchorage under a U.S. Senate Republican proposal. Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s office said the tract is a recreational gem for Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon)

Federal land sales, more logging and more oil revenue: What’s in the big federal bill for Alaska?

A look at the lands and energy pieces of the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ and where they stand right now in the U.S. Senate

Autumn leaves lie on a trail in the Campbell Tract on Oct. 8, 2020. The tract appears to be the largest piece of salable land in urban Anchorage under a U.S. Senate Republican proposal. Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s office said the tract is a recreational gem for Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen / Alaska Beacon)
WASP pilot Ellen Wimberly Campbell, 44-W-7, at the controls of a Beech AT-10 Wichita trainer, 1944. Location uncertain but likely Columbus Army Air Field, Columbus, Mississippi, United States. (Photo courtesy of Campbell family)

Living and Growing: Saints among us

Lately, I have been thinking about an amazing woman who lived in Juneau many years ago. Her name was Ellen Campbell. In reflecting on her… Continue reading

WASP pilot Ellen Wimberly Campbell, 44-W-7, at the controls of a Beech AT-10 Wichita trainer, 1944. Location uncertain but likely Columbus Army Air Field, Columbus, Mississippi, United States. (Photo courtesy of Campbell family)
Sunlight gleams through the Tongass National Forest in Juneau on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Trump land sale plan draws protest in Sitka

Sitka residents are mounting a strong response to a draft provision of the U.S. Senate Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill that would mandate the sale of… Continue reading

Sunlight gleams through the Tongass National Forest in Juneau on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
The author with a king salmon caught on a fly rod. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: No time like the present

The end of my line thrashed back and forth at the surface, throwing water in every direction. But the fish didn’t turn and run, so… Continue reading

The author with a king salmon caught on a fly rod. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Lund)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner / The New York Times)

My Turn: But wait a minute, if…

I thought it might be worthwhile to add some historical perspective to Rich Moniak’s My Turn of June 14, “The King of Hubris.” I should… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner / The New York Times)
Members of the Yées Ḵu.oo Dance Group perform at the Cancer Survivors Day walk on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Overstreet Park. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Thank you

Each June, people around the world commemorate National Cancer Survivors Day. Cancer Connection hosted a walk and celebration in Juneau on June 8th. We appreciate… Continue reading

Members of the Yées Ḵu.oo Dance Group perform at the Cancer Survivors Day walk on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Overstreet Park. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Public broadcasting is part of the fabric of Alaska’s rural communities

Public broadcasting forms an essential part of the fabric of Alaska’s rural communities. From emergency broadcasting to cultural programming to educational services, Alaska’s 27 public… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
In this still image from a video provided to the Alaska Beacon, the cruise ship Celebrity Edge (at right) is seen drifting toward the Carnival Luminosa (at left). Three other cruise ships are seen moored to the Juneau docks. (Video screenshot)

Coast Guard investigates storm-caused near-collision between two cruise ships in Juneau

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a near-collision between two cruise ships in the Port of Juneau that occurred Monday, when one of the two… Continue reading

In this still image from a video provided to the Alaska Beacon, the cruise ship Celebrity Edge (at right) is seen drifting toward the Carnival Luminosa (at left). Three other cruise ships are seen moored to the Juneau docks. (Video screenshot)
Chris Storey shows where he found an incapacitated man in an embankment along Glacier Highway in Lemon Creek during the early morning hours of Monday, June 16, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Man who collapses near roadside rescued in early morning hours by passerby

Chris Storey, a former adult care worker who was homeless until April, assists man in distress.

Chris Storey shows where he found an incapacitated man in an embankment along Glacier Highway in Lemon Creek during the early morning hours of Monday, June 16, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A ferry worker ties up the Hubbard on Sunday, April 21, 2024, as it docks in Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney / Chilkat Valley News)

Weekend ferry cancellation complicates travel for bike relay, solstice

A ferry cancellation will affect travel plans for some participants of the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay. The annual bike relay sees hundreds of people… Continue reading

A ferry worker ties up the Hubbard on Sunday, April 21, 2024, as it docks in Haines, Alaska. (Rashah McChesney / Chilkat Valley News)
Noa Shkuri reacts after an Iranian missile struck her home in Rehovot, Israel, on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Israel and Iran exchanged more missile attacks on population centers on Sunday, brushing aside international calls to halt what has quickly become the fiercest clash in decades between the two sworn enemies. (Avishag Shaar-Yashuv/The New York Times)

My Turn: The moral issue of our time

I’m an Alaskan citizen who’s resided in Juneau most of the last 50 years and through the course of a normal day, I find myself… Continue reading

Noa Shkuri reacts after an Iranian missile struck her home in Rehovot, Israel, on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Israel and Iran exchanged more missile attacks on population centers on Sunday, brushing aside international calls to halt what has quickly become the fiercest clash in decades between the two sworn enemies. (Avishag Shaar-Yashuv/The New York Times)
A Palestinian flag at a rally in Chicago, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Voices at the demonstrations are often a mix that includes calls for more explicit support for racial justice, Palestinian freedom and socialist politics. (Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times)

My Turn: Today’s pro-Palestinian rhetoric masks deep-rooted antisemitism

People can peacefully protest to express dissatisfaction with policies or actions, to raise awareness about a cause, to connect with like-minded individuals, and to push… Continue reading

A Palestinian flag at a rally in Chicago, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Voices at the demonstrations are often a mix that includes calls for more explicit support for racial justice, Palestinian freedom and socialist politics. (Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times)
A Pelagic cormorant in flight. (Michael L. Baird / CC BY 2.0 photo)
A Pelagic cormorant in flight. (Michael L. Baird / CC BY 2.0 photo)
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ships in port for the week of June 15

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule. Capacity figures in parenthesis were pulled from cruise lines’ websites. Sunday, June 15… Continue reading

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)