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A plane flies in front of a downtown Juneau neighborhood in early May. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly approved $2 million in funding during the Monday night Assembly meeting toward four affordable housing projects. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

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Assembly approves $2M in funding for four affordable housing projects

Four applicants awarded funding set to be dispersed around February, according to city officials.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy answers media questions about his proposed budget for next year and the upcoming legislative session shortly before the annual holiday open house at the governor’s mansion on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Dunleavy offers holiday sneak peek of budget, agenda

Governor to seek new revenue in budget, abortion amendment, favors motorized Mendenhall access.

Juneau residents the streets in Douglas during a winter storm in December of 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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City officials “feel confident” amid plow driver shortage

Winter maintenance team down four operators as winter storms boom across the state

Alaska Republican state Rep. David Eastman speaks on the floor of the Alaska House on Jan. 31, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A lawyer said in opening arguments Tuesday, Dec. 13 in a case against Eastman that the Alaska lawmaker is unfit to hold office because he's a member of the far-right Oath Keepers, a group that has either advocated or engaged in concrete action to overthrow the U.S. government. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

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Trial starts: Alaska lawmaker with Oath Keepers ties

Trial before will determine whether state rep will be seated in the Legislature next month.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy greets visitors to the annual holiday open house at the governor’s mansion on Tuesday. Hundreds of people indulged in cookies and music by local students during the three-hour event. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Cookies, carols and quizzes for Christmas

How the governor’s holiday favorites compare to his constituents visiting his annual open house.

Children traumatized by the war play with an American Pit Bull Terrier "Bice" in the Center for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation in Boyarka close Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. Bice is an American pit bull terrier with an important and sensitive job in Ukraine — comforting children traumatized by the war. The Center for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation is a state-operated community center where a group of people are trying to help those who have experienced a trauma after the Feb. 24 Russian invasion, and now they are using dogs like Bice to give comfort. (AP Photo / Vasilisa Stepanenko)

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Dog therapy for kids facing the trauma of the war in Ukraine

In came Bice, the tail-wagging therapist.

Santa and Mrs. Claus chat with the flight crew of an Alaska National Guard cargo plane while en route to Nuiqsut, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Operation Santa Claus, the guard’s outreach program, attempts to bring Santa and Mrs. Claus and gifts to children in two or three Alaska Native villages each year. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

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Santa visit brings joy to a frosty Alaska Inupiat village

Once again, it was time for Operation Santa Claus in Alaska.

A snow plow pulls off of Glacier Highway to clear the sidewalks near a bus stop during heavy snow fall on Monday morning. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

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Flaky weather: Heavy snow was expected, an inch or 2 fell

When it rains, it snows.

“I Voted” stickers await Alaskan voters during in-person voting at Mendenhall Mall. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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Congressional winners raise, spend and save big bucks

Murkowski and Peltola have plenty of funds left over after heavy spending sprees to end elections

A candle lighting by Juneau and other Alaska residents on the night of the winter solstice in 2020 was initiated by state officials as a show of solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were both separated from other community members and experiencing the loss of loved ones. The winter solstice, by tradition a Wiccan/Pagan holiday, also is observed by other people and cultures both spiritual and secular worldwide. (Juneau Empire file photo)

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The 12 days of not Christmas

December has lots religious and winter solstice holidays; here’s how some are celebrated locally.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire, file Capital Transit is suspending Route 5 University Connector and Route 6 Riverside/Airport Connector starting Monday, Dec. 12 and will be suspended until further notice.

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Two Capital Transit routes suspended amid driver shortage

Routes 5 and 6 will be discontinued until further notice starting Monday

The U.S. Forest Service suggests areas off of Fish Creek Road leading to the Eaglecrest Ski Area, shown in this photo, as an area suitable for Christmas tree harvest. Households are allowed to harvest one tree a year, but there are certain guidelines to be followed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Spruce up your holiday by harvesting your own tree

Here’s what to know before you get chopping.

People gather in Washington’s Lafayette Park to see the White House illuminated with rainbow colors to mark the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to legalize same-sex marriage, June 26, 2015. President Joe Biden plans to sign legislation this coming week that will protect gay unions even if the Supreme Court revisits its ruling supporting a nationwide right of same-sex couples to marry. It’s the latest part of Biden’s legacy on gay rights, which includes his unexpected endorsement of marriage equality on national television a decade ago when he was vice president. (AP Photo / Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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Biden called gay marriage ‘inevitable’ and soon it’ll be law

He plans to sign legislation, passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress, to protect gay unions.

Margaret Mimnaugh with Tidal Creations from Ketchikan sets up her seasonal creations made with found hand painted sea urchin shells, along with snowmen and jelly fish at this year’s Stocking Stuffer Showcase on Saturday the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

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Stocking up for the holidays

Annual $25 and under market boasts biggest turnout yet.

B. Thomas of the beginner level violins with Juneau Alaska Music Matters plays for a full crowd at the Mendenhall Mall during the annual Juneau Holiday Village on Saturday. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

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JAMM takes center stage at Holiday Village

Kids jam for a good cause.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A gas pump at Petro One gas station off Egan Drive shows prices on Friday that, at about $4.90 a gallon for regular unleaded, are lower than peaks earlier this year but still far above the national average. The price of Alaska North Slope crude oil dropped to $74.22 a barrel on Wednesday, far below the $87 the state needs to average to break even for the fiscal year, however, consumers have cause for good cheer as nationwide gas prices are now cheaper than a year ago, dropping about one-third from their $5 a gallon average.

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Oil hits lowest price of ’22 a week before state budget is due

$74.22 a barrel far below $87 break-even price for FY23; governor mum on how drop may affect FY24

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire McKinley Research Group President Susan Bell, left, and CBJ Tourism Manager Alexandra Pierce discuss the results of an annual survey of residents about tourism during the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center.

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Leaders: Record cruise tourism, limits both possible

City may see record number of tourists next year, but residents want cap on ships, businesses told.

City and Borough of Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt and Mayor Beth Weldon smile for a photo at the Alaska Municipal League luncheon Thursday afternoon. Watt was named AML’s municipal official of the year at the event. (Courtesy / CBJ)

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Watt receives statewide municipal official of the year award

Can I get a Watt Watt?

he Alaska Range sits beneath a December sunrise as seen from the UAF campus. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

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Alaska Science Forum: The dark season turns on winter solstice

One winter day not long ago, a reporter from the Sacramento Bee called. She had read a story…

Rain drizzles on a sign Wednesday morning at a trailhead leading into the Montana Creek Wetlands area. A public meeting was held Wednesday evening presenting a revised Montana Creek draft master plan. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Residents get a new view of the Montana Creek draft master plan

It proposes projects like new public use cabins, trails and maintenance.