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Cyclists pedal away from University of Alaska Southeast Sunday during Ironman Alaska 2022, the first --- and for now---last Ironman to be held in the state. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Ironman Alaska canceled

Popular endurance race scratched for ‘23 and ‘24, citing “economic pressure.”

Christopher Koch, music director for the Juneau Symphony, leads the symphony’s string section through rehearsal ahead of Juneau Symphony’s Holiday Cheer concert. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau Symphony presents 3rd annual Holiday Cheer

“It brings us together for all the right reasons at the holiday season.”

Gail Fenumiai talks about some of Alaska’s most unusual elections on Friday, her last day as director of the state Division of Elections in Juneau after a 20-year career with the division. Behind her are congratulatory and farewell plates covering the walls, while her floor was strewn with a “balloon drop” from well-wishers before she arrived. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Elections director makes a final call

Gail Fenumiai retires and gets her own balloon drop after 20-year career at division

Then-Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, sits in her office at the State Capitol in February 2020. After a recount, Giessel has been reaffirmed as the winner of a narrow three-way race for an Anchorage-area Senate seat. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Recount reaffirms former senate president as winner of Anchorage-area race

Cathy Giessel won her bid for a state Senate seat.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., center left, and other members of congress, signs the H.R. 8404, the Respect For Marriage Act, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. (AP Photo / Andrew Harnik)

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Bill protecting same-sex, interracial unions clears Congress

Peltola calls it “a major victory for freedom, privacy, dignity, and equality”

A “sold” sign hangs outside the property that formerly housed Walmart Thursday after it was announced it has been purchased by U-Haul. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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U-Haul purchases former Walmart building

Storage containers, trucks, trailers, boxes, bike racks and more to be available at site

A state court judge is weighing whether to allow a case to proceed to trial that alleges that Rep. David Eastman's ties to the far-right Oath Keepers group disqualifies him from holding office. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Judge weighs how to proceed on case against Eastman

He said he would aim to issue a ruling by Friday.

Wildflower Court, which has been forced to scale back its long-term nursing care to about 75% of capacity due to staffing and other difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, is being acquired by Bartlett Regional Hospital, officials at both facilities said Thursday. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire file photo)

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Bartlett to acquire Wildflower Court

Long-term facility recently forced to reduce capacity; officials hope merger also helps hospice gap

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Teachers and school board members talk during the Juneau Board of Education and Juneau Education Association’s annual meet and greet in mid November. JEA contract negotiation team declared impasse last Friday and are in the process of filing for federal mediation.

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Juneau teachers union declares impasse amid drawn-out negotiations

Still, the teachers union and district express optimism about working toward agreement.

FILE - A student visits a sensory room at Williams Elementary School, on Nov. 3, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. Schools contending with soaring student mental health needs and other challenges have been struggling to determine just how much the pandemic is to blame. (AP Photo / Charlie Riedel)

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Many kids are struggling. Is special education the answer?

Are the challenges the sign of a disability, or something more temporary?

Kéet and Oscar wait patiently to play on the beach in winter in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

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Planet Alaska: Winter words

Phrases and words to use to create a Lingít language immersion outing in the winter.

Rain drops in a puddle of water on Wednesday afternoon in the Valley area. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Juneau breaks rainfall record

It’s the most rain seen in Juneau since recording began 86 years ago

This photo shows an Alaska State Trooper patrol vehicle (Juneau Empire File)

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Troopers: Man killed raven, consumed its tongue

No arrests or citations made at this time, but investigation is underway.

This photo shows downtown Juneau in late October. Between July and September of this year, the City and Borough of Juneau collected more than $20.2 million in sales tax revenue — equalling $2.3 million more than originally expected. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Summer quarter brings in $2.3M more than expected in sales tax

City official say “take it with a grain of salt.”

The author was able to look at his new watch and see exactly what time the sun set so he could get to a location to photograph it. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

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I Went to the Woods: Watch and learn

Wrist-y business.

In this screenshot from official Senate video, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, discusses oil and gas policy during an Armed Services Committee meeting at the U.S. Capitol in May. (Screenshot)

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Georgia’s Senate loss unlikely to be Alaska’s

Despite, 51-49 Dem majority, Murkowski and Sullivan likely to keep seats.

Mark Hager, left, positions a camera with the help of Anthony Lucia, right, as captain Al Cottone watches the feed on a monitor from his boat, the Sabrina Maria, in Gloucester, Mass., May 11, 2022. Hager’s Maine-based startup, New England Maritime Monitoring, is one of a bevy of companies seeking to help commercial vessels comply with new federal mandates aimed at protecting dwindling fish stocks. But taking the technology overseas, where the vast majority of seafood consumed in the U.S. is caught, is a steep challenge. (AP Photo / David Goldman)

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Could trawler cams help save world’s dwindling fish stocks?

Deman has exploded from the Gulf of Alaska to the Straits of Florida.

Police vehicles block Egan Drive going outbound toward the Valley area after a multi-vehicle wreck Wednesday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire) Police vehicles block Egan Drive going toward the Mendenhall Valley after a multi-vehicle wreck Wednesday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Police: Vehicle traveling in wrong direction led to wreck

Police are investigating.

Male harlequins earn their name with their patchwork colors. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

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On the Trails: The colorful world of harlequins

On a cold, windy day in late November, I wandered out to Point Louisa. A strong, cold north…

Juneau Animal Rescue’s in-house Veterinarian, Dr. Tracy Ward, performs the first public spaying procedure at JAR since 2014 on a female cat named Monte. In mid-November JAR reopened its doors to the public for its spay and neuter services. (Courtesy Photo / Samantha Blankenship)

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Dogged efforts underway at local shelter

Spay and neuter services, food collection and more.