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A disability pride activity sits in the lobby of Gold Town Theater. Southeast Alaska Independent Living hosted a showing of the movie “The Peanut Butter Falcon” on Wednesday to celebrate Disability Pride Month. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

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In Disability Pride Month, Alaska advocates celebrate progress and look to a more accessible future

This year is the 33rd anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act

Retiring Juneau Chief of Police Ed Mercer (left) and City Manager Rorie Watt (right) smile for a photo during Mercer’s retirement ceremony Friday afternoon at the Juneau Police Department station. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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‘He is the rock that this department rests on:’ Ceremony honors police chief’s retirement

Ed Mercer, JPD chief for six years, starting new job as head of anti-drug trafficking program.

The Adventure Bound tour boat is seen here docked at Aurora Harbor during the past week. The vessel’s owner-operator was given four notices of deficiencies last year, but continued to operate, according to a U.S. Coast Guard report that also raises questions about the agency’s handling of a grounding incident involving the company. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

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Adventure Bound Alaska was grounded, issued citations and continued to operate

U.S. Coast Guard report also raises questions about agency’s handling of incident

Juneau Drag performer and event emcee Gigi Monroe struts the runway in front of hundreds gathered at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Southeast Alaska State Fair greets Juneau Drag with ‘incredible’ turnout

The debut show went on despite the group facing local scrutiny months prior to the event.

A black bear catches a salmon, causing eggs to squirt out, at Peterson Lake on July 26. The bear then ignored the salmon and ate the eggs before hunting for more fish. (Photo by Steve Hamilton)

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Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of…

Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives Marie Darlin unpacks her record collection as she moves into her fifth-floor apartment in Fireweed Place.

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Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of July 29

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The Juneau School District is responding to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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State broadens challenge of ‘outside the cap’ funding to all school districts in Alaska

The years-long practice of extra funding may be halted across the state; Juneau board defends stance

A children’s playground sits empty in Anchorage. (Photo by Sophia Carlisle/Alaska Beacon)

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Alaska Department of Health moves to ease parts of child care licensing burden

The state government is taking aim at eliminating one of the most common barriers for people who want…

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Juneau Chief of Police Ed Mercer speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon ahead of his retirement slated for Monday, July 31.

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Police chief talks recruitment woes, threat of illegal drugs ahead of retirement

Ed Mercer gives his final talk to the Chamber days before his departure from department.

A section of safety rail ends into a bull rail along the downtown cruise ship docks in July. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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Dock and Harbors moves forward with proposed $2M installation of Seawalk safety railings

Safety concerns cited as reason for potential project.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Mark Whitman, a Douglas resident, joins others in offering opinions about the future of Telephone Hill during an open house at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Wednesday.

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Residents say they feel disconnected at first Telephone Hill redevelopment meeting

Lots of possible projects for historic downtown area met with lots of doubts.

A bike is parked outside the main entrance of Bartlett Regional Hospital on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Doctor: ‘Inhumane treatment’ of behavioral health care patients at Bartlett Regional Hospital

Staff shortage puts patients and employees at risk, some officials say; hospital CEO blames policies

Michael Valore, senior director of advanced reactors energy systems, and Danielle Kline, test engineer, stand at a booth promoting Westinghouse’s microreactor technology at an Anchorage conference in 2022. Westinghouse plans to bid on a contract to build a nuclear microreactor at Eielson Air Force Base. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

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No new nuclear facilities along vulnerable coasts, Alaska regulators say

You can build a small nuclear reactor in Alaska, but not within 2,700 feet of a house.

Tents fill a homeless camp near Davis Park in Mountain View on July 3 in Anchorage. An unfunded proposal by Anchorage’s mayor to pay for plane tickets to warmer climates for homeless people who would otherwise be forced to winter outside in the bitter cold has caused a stir in Alaska’s biggest city. If the program moves forward, people can choose to relocate to the Lower 48 or somewhere else in Alaska where it might be warmer or where they have relatives. (Bill Roth / AP)

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Anchorage mayor wants to give homeless people a one-way ticket to warm climates before winter

ANCHORAGE — An unfunded proposal by Anchorage’s mayor to pay for plane tickets to warmer climates for homeless…

This is a photo of Paul Jose Rodriguez Jr. shared by a friend who said he sent the photo to her the day he was reported missing on July 11. (Courtesy / JoAnna Pilapil)

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Safety concerns put search for body of man who drowned kayaking at Mendenhall Lake on hold

Officials waiting for release of water from ice dam, which may have killed Paul Rodriguez Jr.

A person departs Bartlett Regional Hospital on Wednesday morning. Hospital officials said Tuesday they expect to begin providing home health and hospice care services as soon as Thursday, after they were halted last October by an organization which had provided such services locally for 20 years. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Hospice and home care services to resume this week, Bartlett officials say

Hospital expects to accept first patient by Friday after taking over program suspended last year

Foam floats trails alongside an entangled humpback whale calf near Juneau on July 17. (John Moran/NOAA Fisheries)

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Whale woes continue with entanglements, boat strikes

Third whale snared in fishing gear this month freed; two whales also reportedly injured by vessels

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on April 28, 2022. Transgender girls would be barred from participating on high school girls' athletic teams in Alaska under a proposal being considered Wednesday by the state board of education. Opponents of the proposal call it discriminatory and unconstitutional and say it likely will lead to litigation. Supporters, including Dunleavy, say it is needed to ensure fairness in girls' sports. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

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Alaska board delays action on proposal to bar transgender girls from girls’ high school sports teams

Alaska board delays action on proposal to bar transgender girls from girls’ high school sports teams

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Davina Cole Drones participates in an Alaska Native dance during the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council’s 50th anniversary celebration Thursday at Sealaska Heritage Plaza.

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JAHC’s golden anniversary highlights present talent and big plans

Arts and culture organization celebrates 50th birthday with party and awards

Actors rehearse for Theatre in the Rough’s “She Kills Monsters,” which opens Friday, at McPhetres Hall on Monday night. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

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A present-day story of sisterhood, grief, and Dungeons and Dragons

Theatre in the Rough’s “She Kills Monsters” opens Friday, with free previews Tuesday and Thursday