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A chart shows the level of the Mendenhall River dropping steadily after reaching a peak from a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

News

Mendenhall River crests at 10.77 feet at 11:30 p.m. Sunday — lower and earlier than expected

Water from Suicide Basin glacial outburst flood retreats rapidly, leaving ice behind after record cold.

Debris left behind from a 2022 landslide, on Gastineau Avenue in Juneau on Sept. 26, 2024. Deadly landslides are increasing around the world, but in parts of Alaska, maps of the hazards remain controversial. (Christopher Miller/The New York Times)

News

Scientists are mapping landslide risk in Alaska. Some homeowners don’t want to know.

Maps of the hazards remain controversial in some parts of the state, including Juneau.

The swollen Mendenhall River flows past a condominium and other residences Sunday evening during a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin that crested well below the riverbanks that were reinforced with rock fill in many places following then-record flooding in August of 2023. The city is now considering installing up to four miles of Hesco barriers along one side of the river as a semi-permanent levee. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

October’s flood doesn’t mean risk of one next year is lower, expert says, as protective efforts continue

Multiple factors in Suicide Basin’s water level makes predicting odds of release dangerous, official says

President Joe Biden honors the 10 winners of the 2023 National Humanities Medal, including Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl, during a ceremony Monday at The White House. (Screenshot from official video by The White House)

News

SHI President Rosita Worl among 10 people receiving National Humanities Medal from President Biden

Ceremony at White House livestreamed online at 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Tyler Anderson delivers a ball during the Juneau Special Olympics bowling games Sunday at Pinz Bowling Alley. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)

Sports

Juneau’s Special Olympics bowlers show just how fun the game can be

26 athletes compete for spots on state team in Eagle River next month.

A campsite is seen on Oct. 18 in the woods along the Campbell Creek Trail in Midtown Anchorage. Unsheltered people face a much higher risk of cold-exposure injuries than do housed people, state data shows. But the rate of such injuries among the homeless is not clear because the homeless population is difficult to define and identify. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

Trauma records show high risks of cold-exposure injuries for Alaska’s homeless

Unhoused people accounted for nearly a quarter of the Alaskans who were hospitalized with cold-related injuries like frostbite…

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Assembly member Greg Smith (left) read a formal apology to members of the Douglas Indian Association during an Assembly meeting Monday night, acknowledging the City and Borough of Juneau’s role in the burning of the Douglas Indian Village in 1962. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau offers formal apology for 1962 burning of the Douglas Indian Village

Apology called long overdue, but tribal leader says full story of destruction still needs to be shared.

Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich speaks to an audience at the Alaska Chamber of Commerce’s U.S. House debate on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Fairbanks. At left is incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska. The two candidates again participated in a forum on Monday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

As early voting opens, Peltola and Begich meet for last face-to-face forum before Election Day

Two leading candidates in U.S. House election appear at a forum hosted by the Anchorage Chamber.

A sign at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center warns people Sunday about flooding on trails due to a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin expected to peak early Monday morning. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

News

Mendenhall River flooding expected to peak at 11.31 feet during 20° cold between 1 and 4 a.m. Monday

People warned to avoid river area due to icy conditions; water-level rise slowing as of 11:30 p.m.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Justus Darbonne pins a Metlakatla opponent during the Hoonah Invitational wrestling tournament on Saturday. (Photo courtesy JDHS wrestling)

Sports

JDHS grapplers pass first tournament test at Hoonah

18 Crimson Bears wrestle 135 matches over three days

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Amy Liddle during her win in the girls 100 yard breaststroke on Friday in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Sports

JDHS swimmers swamp Sitka pool with fast times

Crimson Bears are in the right lanes for the region championships

Gov. Mike Dunleavy sits in the Cabinet Room at his Anchorage office Tuesday. (Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal)

News

Data centers face growing opposition Outside. Gov. Mike Dunleavy wants them in Alaska.

Amid a growing backlash to the factory-sized data centers that power the global internet, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy…

A hydrograph updated Saturday evening shows the Mendenhall River cresting at of 11.41 feet early Monday morning due to flooding from Suicide Basin. (National Weather Service Juneau)

News

Suicide Basin flood warning issued, crest up to 11.5 feet between 1-7 a.m. Monday forecast

City urges immediate precautions in vulnerable areas; some roads and paths will close Sunday afternoon

Nathan and Donna Leigh lift a tube loader off a row sandbags after filling them at Melvin Park on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

People getting free sandbags on same day flood warning issued say they are making, adjusting plans

Distribution started Saturday morning, about 40 hours before flood is forecast to crest.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Natalia Harris (20) and senior Evelyn Richards (8) block a kill by Wasilla senior Layla Hays during the Crimson Bears’ three-set loss to the visiting Warriors on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS spikers stay positive after second sweep by Wasilla

Crimson Bears fall Saturday 25-17, 25-19, 25-12 to defending state champ Warriors

A sign outside of a McDonald’s restaurant in Midtown Anchorage, seen on Oct. 7, advertises openings for jobs that pay up to $16 an hour. Voters will decide the fate of a ballot measure that would set a $15-an-hour minimum wage by 2027 and mandate paid sick leave for workers. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaskans to vote on measure raising the minimum wage and mandating paid sick leave

Alaska voters will weigh in on a ballot measure that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $15…

Dwayne Corbin, one of four candidates to become the new music director of the Juneau Symphony, conducts the orchestra during a rehearsal Tuesday for this weekend’s concerts at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Candidate seeks to convey ‘Brilliant Defiance’ during Juneau Symphony’s election-season concerts

Dwayne Corbin, one of four finalists to replace Christopher Koch as music director, conducts weekend shows.

Members of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé hockey team help Mendenhall Valley residents affected by the record Aug. 6 flood fill more than 3,000 sandbags earlier this month. (JHDS Hockey photo)

News

CBJ distribution of 75,000 sandbags to flood-affected residents occurs as Suicide Basin drops again

Up to 200 sandbags per household available starting Saturday; release of water limited as of Friday.

John Blasco, shown coaching the Thunder Mountain High School basketball team during the state tournament in March of this year, was honored as the Juneau Greater Chamber of Commerce’s citizen of the year at the organization’s annual awards gala at Centennial Hall last Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Double take: John Blasco wins local Citizen of the Year award months after state coach of the year honor

Chamber of Commerce also honors Bullwinkle’s, Juneau Bach Society’s Bruce Simonson at annual gala

Lisa Pearce (center), chief financial officer for the Juneau School District, discusses the district’s financial crisis in her role as an analyst during a work session Feb. 17 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. She announced her intention to resign on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Lisa Pearce resigning as Juneau School District’s chief financial officer after taking on budget crisis

Consultant hired last December became permanent CFO July 1 after helping resolve record deficit.