Site Logo
Brandon and Jackson Kessler, at front of boat, haul the first-place duck worth $5,000 in a net after it was snagged from among 5,768 others dropped over Twin Lakes on Saturday during the Glacier Valley Rotary Duck Derby. Will Fischer was the purchaser of the lucky duck. (Photo by Kelly Moore)

News

After four years on the ground, Duck Derby flies anew

Glacier Valley Rotary fundraiser raises nets about $40,000

People explore the vendor tents in the parking lot of the Juneau Arts & Culture Center during the Annual Food Festival & Farmer’s Market on Saturday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

News

Annual Food Festival features more and varied vendors

Popular JAHC event fills parking lot and interior.

This photo of the bar on the Columbia ferry was taken in July. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

News

Columbia bar soon to be back online after minor fire

11 people, two of them crew, were treated in Wrangell and returned to the ship

Fishing boats are lines up on Oct. 3, 2022, at a dock at Kodiak’s St. Paul Harbor. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska Gov. Dunleavy names ad consultant, talk show host Porcaro to Juneau-based fisheries agency

New appointee is one of two who oversees commercial fishing commission with about 20 employees.

This is a picture of a half-pipe at the Pipeline Skate Park in the Mendenhall Valley. The City and Borough of Juneau Parks and Recreation Department is looking for residents to drop in some ideas about what they’d like to see that would improve or enhance Jackie Renninger Park in a survey. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Big changes could be on deck for Pipeline Skate Park and surrounding land

City opens survey seeking input about possible improvements to Jackie Renninger Park.

Neil Steininger, appointed director of the state Office of Management and Budget by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2020, testifies before the House Finance Committee at the Alaska State Capitol in January. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Governor’s budget director departing

Neil Steininger, head of OMB since 2020, latest in series of staff moves by Dunleavy.

A photo of the Palmer Project north of Haines provided to the Empire in 2019 by Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. (Courtesy photo)

News

State decision on Palmer mine project a win and a loss, environmentalists say

DEC issues waste management permit for exploratory drilling; plaintiffs weigh further challenge.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom is seen during the governor’s annual holiday open house on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2022 at the Governor’s Mansion in Juneau. (James Brooks / Alaska Beacon)

News

Alaska lieutenant governor disqualifies legislative term-limits ballot measure

Alaska Supreme Court ruled in 1994 legislative term limits require a constitutional amendment.

This is a photo of a feature story on a page of the Juneau Empire published on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 1995, from an archived book. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Aug. 26

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Spheres and spinners ride a rainbow on a downtown wall on Aug. 13. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

Neighbors

Art in Usual Places

The Juneau Empire welcomes reader-submitted photos of art in unusual or unexpected places. To submit, email your photos…

Rorie Watt, manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce about the new City Hall project on Thursday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

City manager: A new City Hall ‘just makes financial sense’

Rorie Watt advocates for the project set to be proposed to voters on the ballot this fall

Ricardo Galindo tattoos a raven onto Juneau resident Sky Martin on Thursday afternoon at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall during the Ink Masters Tattoo Show. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Got ink? Hundreds flock to tattoo expo in Juneau

Founders of Ink Masters bringing national expo to Juneau for the first time.

Jerry Adams (right) discusses what being a hospice and home care volunteer means to him while being filmed by Gabe Strong in a pop-up video booth in a hallway at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The filming, where people offering and receiving such services were invited to participate, was part a celebration of the hospital resuming hospice and home care services after they were discontinued by Catholic Community Service last fall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Caretakers and families celebrate Bartlett’s resumption of hospice and home care services

Hospital takes over end-of-life programs nearly a year after they was halted locally.

Two Alexander Archipelago wolves are seen March 21, 2020, in a trail camera image provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)

News

Southeast Alaska wolves are not threatened or endangered, federal agency concludes

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service again rejects request to put them on Endangered Species List.

An empty hospital bed in a ward. (Photo by Flying Colours Ltd/Getty Images)

News

Thousands of Alaskans dropped from Medicaid after pandemic protections end

Federal government chides state for its handling of applications and renewals.

A “vote here” sign hangs duct taped outside of City Hall in October 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Final day to register to vote in upcoming city election is fast approaching

City officials share info and tips for this coming Oct. 3 municipal election.

Homes along the Mendenhall River damaged by record flooding on Aug. 5 are seen hanging over an eroded embankment a day later. The flood has been declared a state disaster and officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrived in Juneau on Wednesday to assess if federal disaster assistance is warranted. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

News

FEMA officials arrive in Juneau to assess flood damage

Assessors will work with state, local and tribal officials to determine if federal aid is warranted.

The Juneau Police Department’s new narcotics dog Dax smiles for a photo Wednesday afternoon outside of the Juneau Police Station. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Buddy has a friend: Police department welcomes new narcotics K-9

New pup joins JPD’s canine program as longtime officer Buddy nears retirement.

The main entrance at Bartlett Regional Hospital, which has experience staffing shortages, leadership turnover and concerns expressed about patient care in recent months. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Low employee morale a high concern for Bartlett Regional Hospital leaders

First board meeting with interim CEO focuses on better — and cautious — communications.

Heidi Drygas, executive director of the 8,000-member Alaska State Employees Association, addresses a rally outside the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 10. The union prevailed in a lawsuit against Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration alleging union dues rules were illegally changed, but the state on Wednesday appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

News

Alaska asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear case about state employee union dues

Dunleavy administration claims state supreme court decision violates workers’ First Amendment rights.