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Seadrone photo showing stone fish trap found in Shakan Bay on the west side of Prince of Wales could potentially be oldest ever found in the world. The structure was first discovered in 2010 and officially confirmed as a stone weir earlier this year. (Courtesy Photo / Sealaska Heritage)

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Ancient weir sheds new light on Alaska Native history

Stone fish trap dates to at least 11,100 years ago, according to scientists.

Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, is followed by her staff and members of the media at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Monday, a day before she was sworn in after winning Alaska’s special election in August. As as result of her win she has since far outraised the two Republican challengers she will again face in the November general election. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)

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Peltola nets huge financial catch

Filings show $1.5M raised for most recent period , Palin $250K, Begich $118K

A home that was knocked off its foundation and floated down Snake River during a severe storm in Nome, Alaska, is caught under a bridge Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Much of Alaska’s western coast was battered by the storm, which was the remnant of Typhoon Merbok, causing the most damage of any storm in the last half century. (AP Photo/Peggy Fagerstrom)

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Update: Damage assessments begin in flooded villages

The storm is the remnants of what was Typhoon Merbok.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka answers a question during a town hall Friday evening at Juneau Christian Center. About 40 people showed up for the event, following a luncheon and door-to-door knocking in the Mendenhall Valley by Tshibaka during the afternoon. She said she plans to continue her local door-to-door campaign Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Tshibaka goes to town on Friday night

Republican U.S. Senate challenger attacks Biden, Murkowski, other familiar foes in Juneau visit

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., speaks during the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, May 3, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Democrats are punting a vote to protect same-sex and interracial marriages until after the November midterm elections. The request for a delay by senators who have been pushing for the legislation comes after Baldwin, the lead senator on the legislation, had predicted that they would be able to get the 10 Republican votes they need to break a filibuster. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades / The Washington Post via AP)

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Senate Dems punt same-sex marriage vote until after election

The delay was requested by key senators who have been negotiating changes to the legislation.

Jennifer Pemberton of KTOO and Clarise Larson of the Juneau Empire, at upper left and right respectively, moderate an online candidate forum Wednesday that featured unopposed Juneau Assembly candidates Carole Triem, Greg Smith and Wade Bryson. Juneau Board of Education candidates Emil Mackey and Deedie Sorensen, also unopposed in their races, participated in the second half of the hour-long event. (Screenshot)

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Local candidates face off virtually unopposed

Three Assembly and two school board incumbents discuss priorities for upcoming terms

This image provided by the National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows a satellite view over Alaska, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. A vast swath of western Alaska could see flooding and high winds as the remnants of Typhoon Merbok move toward the Bering Sea region. The National Weather Service had in place coastal flood warnings, beginning Friday, spanning from parts of the Yukon Delta in southwest Alaska up to St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea and to the Bering Strait coast. (NOAA via AP)

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Western Alaska braces for strong storm, possible floods

JUNEAU — A vast swath of western Alaska could see flooding and high winds as the remnants of…

Republican Nick Begich, left, responds to a question at Thursday’s candidate forum for Alaska’s U.S. House candidates, hosted by Southeast Conference in Ketchikan. Republican Sarah Palin participated in the forum by teleconference. Southeast Conference Executive Director Robert Venables, right, acted as the moderator of the forum. Incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola was unable to participate in the forum but briefly provided an update to conference attendees remotely later in the day. (Sam Stockbridge / Ketchikan Daily News)

News

U.S. House candidates positive — to a point

Begich and Palin both clashed and found common ground in Ketchikan.

Duff Mitchell, managing director of Juneau Hydropower announced Juneau Hydropower’s joint development agreement to construct Sweetheart Lake Hydroelectric Plant with the Tokyo-based developer JPOWER during a Thursday afternoon Zoom news conference, which included an appearance by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, and other officials as a part of the project. (Screenshot)

News

Juneau Hydropower announces Sweetheart deal

After more than a decade of planning, project is expected to break ground sometime next year

Joann Hanson seen in this photo at home enjoying time with her family. There will be a celebration of her life held at Skater’s Cabin on Friday, Sept. 16 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for those who would like to pay their respects. (Courtesy Photo / Roxanne Thomas)

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‘She really touched people’s hearts in very meaningful ways’

Longtime AWARE staff member remembered for generosity, acceptance.

The University of Alaska Southeast annual fall lecture series Evening at Egan returned on Friday, Sept. 9 and runs until Nov. 18. All lectures start at 7 p.m. at the Egan Library on the Juneau campus and are free and open to the public. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

News

Evening at Egan is back for the fall

In-person lectures return next month.

This photo shows the Nelson Homestead in Haines and is a 128.5-acre property conserved in 2013 by the Southeast Alaska Land Trust. (Courtesy / Southeast Alaska Land Trust)

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Crowdsourcing for conservation: Southeast Alaska residents can now donate to a nonprofit’s efforts to conserve land

Residents across Southeast Alaska are now able to donate to a nonprofit’s efforts to conserve land

The ballot drop box at Don D. Statter Harbor is one of a few places voters in Juneau can cast their ballots, which were mailed on Tuesday. There is also a drop box at the Douglas Public Library/ Fire Station. Additionally, there will be vote centers at City Hall and the Mendenhall Valley Public Library and voters can mail their ballots via the U.S. Postal Service. More information, including voting center hours, is available online at https://juneau.org/clerk/elections. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

WATCH: Candidates field questions ahead of local election

Learn more about the candidates seeking local office starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Students in the Juneau Alaska Music Matters program perform earlier this month. Local youths in the tuition-free music program are scheduled to participate their first-ever Juneau Jazz Classics concert next week, appearing with the multi-genre string trio Simply Three at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Juneau Alaska Music Matters)

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Less schooling, more students at fall fest

Jazz & Classics fall fest features fewer school visits, but more music including new student concert

This combination image shows gubernatorial candidates Les Gara and Bill Walker. Gara, a former Democratic state lawmaker, and Walker, former independent governor of Alaska, took questions during a forum held as part of the annual Southeast Conference meeting. Both candidates noted the absence of incumbent Gov, Mike Dunleavy, who has been a no-show at several recent forums. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

News

Walker, Gara largely agree on Southeast issues — and governor’s absence

Dunleavy again absent at candidate forum as two other contenders talk ferries, fish and finances

Rep.-elect Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, poses for a portrait at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. (AP Photo / Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)

News

‘A seat at the table’: Peltola sworn in to Congress

Peltola’s campaign has emphasized her dedication to “fish, family and freedom.”

In a letter shared to the public on Monday, Juneau Raptor Center President Dale Cotton announced “it is with great sorrow” that the center has decided to suspend its operations in Juneau after 35 years of service. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire )

News

Juneau raptor center suspends operations

Expect a phased wind-down with building vacated by end of the year

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News

U.S. Senate hopefuls cast net for Southeast votes

Murkowski, Tshibaka and Chesbro apply their broad themes to specific issues at Southeast Conference

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A cycle rickshaw passes the North State Office Building parking garage located on Willoughby Avenue in downtown Juneau. The City and Borough of Juneau’s Assembly passed an ordinance unopposed Monday night that gave the OK for the appropriation of $5 million to go toward partially funding the planning and construction of additional parking levels.

News

City OKs $5M for future downtown parking expansion project

An addition $5M could be added if the temp. 1% sale tax extension is approved in upcoming election

The cruise industry and it's impacts on the Southeast Alaska economy are both major topics during this week's Southeast Conference. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Sunny outlook among regional leaders in Ketchikan

Optimism about post-pandemic recovery and growth of industries expressed at Southeast Conference