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The fifth Governor of Alaska, Bill Sheffield, second from right, speaks to Alaska State Archives staff during a visit to present a copy of his book, “Bill Sheffield: A Memoir, From the Great Depression to the Governor’s Mansion and Beyond” at the Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building in September 2018. Admiral Richard Knapp, right, who was Commissioner of Transportation during Gov. Sheffield’s administration, also attended the event. Sheffield died Friday at age 94. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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Former Gov. Bill Sheffield dies at 94

Bill Sheffield, Alaska’s fifth governor and a prominent public service figure in the state, died in his Anchorage…

Jessica Cook, right, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in Tuesday’s election, shows plans for her visit to Juneau to supporter Monica Southworth at the downtown Heritage Coffee on Friday afternoon. Cook, visiting town Thursday and Friday, was hoping to meet volunteers there to distribute “turf packets” that would assign them neighborhoods for last-minute door-to-door campaigning, but none showed up. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Cooking up the campaign’s final days

Candidates and supporters plot door-knocking, phone-banking and sign-waving for last-minute frenzy.

A Juneau Police Department vehicle parks in front of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalè in early September. Police are currently investigating social media threats reported by students from both Thunder Mountain High School and Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Police: 2 students arrested on threat charges

The threats are being investigated by JPD’s threat assessment team.

Participants sit in “jail” Wednesday afternoon at a reentry simulation at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall hosted by the Juneau Reentry Coalition. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Reentry simulation gives a glimpse of life after incarceration

Juneau residents and stakeholders learn about the challenges faced by former convicts

Two residents stand in voter booths on the first day of early and absentee in-person voting across the state for the Nov. 8 general election. Recent filings for candidates in statewide races shows spending ramping up as the big day approaches. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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Spending spree as campaigns near end

APOC reports one week before election show ad blitz in governor’s race and by ConCon foes

CCFR responding to a trailer fire at Sprucewood Park in Mendenhall Valley Wednesday morning at approximately 8:30 a.m. No injuries were reported. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

News

No one injured in trailer park fire

Residence badly damaged in the morning blaze

Michael Christenson, Juneau resident and producer of Moonlit Poets, reads his poetry at Moonlit Poets’ soft opening event hosted in early September. The poetry group is set to kick off its grand monthly entrance in downtown Juneau at the Crystal Saloon’s back room this Friday night. (Courtesy Photo / Summer Koester)

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New event shines (moon) light on local poets: Moonlit Poets to debut monthly event this Friday

It’s lit — moonlit that is.

Featured artist Mary McEwen displays clever and fun items created from “locally-sourced trash,” including colorful sturdy animal feed sacks at the Juneau Artists Gallery for November’s First Friday. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Artists Gallery)

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Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

Mary McEwen featured artist for November at Juneau Artists Gallery

Mendenhall River and Mendenhall Lake, heavily used by rafters and other non-motorized vessel operators, are the targets of a lawsuit by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that seeks to seize state control of the waters from the federal government. The lawsuit is based on claiming the state owns the submerged lands beneath the waters, which the federal government has failed to recognize. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Gov sues to seize Mendenhall lake, river from feds

Lawsuit filed a week before election claims state owns submerged land; feds disagree.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski prepares to meet officials at the Sealaska Heritage Institute during a visit to Juneau on Tuesday. She was planning to visit the city on Wednesday, but moved up and rescheduled much of her trip when a stop in Bethel was cancelled due to weather concerns. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Murkowski seeks capital opportunities amid election storm

Senator discusses energy, earmarks and last-minute campaigning during unscheduled stop in Juneau.

Greens flourish in the bright lights of one of the six hydroponic units located in the hydroponic cultivation and demonstration facility at the Chatham School District building in Angoon. The room, lined with plastic and filled with six indoor hydroponic growing pods, was built after receiving a Department of Early Education and Development American Rescue Plan Act grant this spring, which funded the renovation of its science lab into the new facility. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Growing greens and resiliency: Angoon school hopes to increase village’s food sovereignty

“I think the most important thing I have learned is that change can be realistic and possible”

CCFR Acting Captain John Adams poses with plaque awarded at his presentation ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Adams was awarded the 2022 Fire Life Safety Educator of the Year for his dedication to educating Juneau youth and community of fire safety. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

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CCFR captain recognized for commitment to fire safety education

John Adams first member of department to earn the statewide award.

This photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast Juneau campus on a rainy day. UA administration and faculty have reached a tentative end to 14 months of negotiations. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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UA administration and faculty union reach tentative deal

While 14-month negotiation has ended, unfair labor practice complaints process still ongoing.

Mari Fester holds up a carved spaghetti squash that filled in for a pumpkin during an underwater carving event held Sunday at Auke Rec. With more standard fare in short supply locally, acorn pumpkins, warty pumpkins and even a pumpkin sourced from Anchorage thanks to a traveler passing through served as canvases for the aquatic artists. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

Splashing pumpkins: Underwater carving puts a twist on Halloween tradition

Alternative headline: The knife aquatic.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to a structure fire in the 3000 block of Wood Duck Avenue Sunday morning, Oct 30. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

News

No injuries reported in Sunday morning fire

Firefighters say Wood Duck Avenue blaze was unintentional

A person enters the Division of Election’s office at the Mendenhall Mall, where early voting is taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 8. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Mail-in remains popular for early voters

Half of 30,000 ballots during first week of early arrive via mail, requests far above 2018 midterms

Luke, Wesley and Elsie Stevens smile alongside other trick-or-treaters as they walk down Franklin Street Monday afternoon during the downtown trick-or-treat event. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Halloween is back in business: Downtown trick-or-treating returns

Thrills and chills

Large crowds turned out to support high school swimmers through Alaska at the Region V meet on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28, 29 at in Juneau at Dimond Park Aquatic Center. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Prep swim teams score big at Region V meet

TMHS and JDHS swim teams score big at Region V meet

Bar-tailed godwits stand on the beach at Marion Bay in Australia's Tasmania state on Feb. 17, 2018. A young bar-tailed godwit appears to have set a non-stop distance record for migratory birds by flying at least 13,560 kilometers (8,435 miles) from Alaska to the Australian state of Tasmania, a bird expert said Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. (Eric Woehler)

News

Alaska-Australia flight could place bird in record books

A young bar-tailed godwit appears to have set a non-stop distance record for migratory birds.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire JDHS junior Mila Hargrave winds up to spike the ball while TMHS junior Ashlyn Gates attempts to deflect it.

Sports

Volleyball wraps up regular season

Region tournament set for Nov. 4 and Nov. 5