Site Logo
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 11, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Dec. 14

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Jayden Johnson (4), shown in action against West Anchorage during the ASAA State Playoffs on Oct. 12, was selected to play in the 2025 Native American High School Football All-Star Game, Jan. 7, at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Jayden Johnson one of three Alaskans selected for Native American High School Football All-Star Game

60 Native American athletes from across U.S. will play in front of college recruiters Jan. 7 in Texas.

At left, the U.S. Coast Guard’s light icebreaker Storis is seen patrolling in Womens Bay near Kodiak on an unspecified date. At right, the Aiviq icebreaker, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about two weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (Photo of Storis from the Library of Congress / Photo of Aiviq by USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs)

News

Update: Coast Guard confirms Juneau icebreaker to be named after historic ‘Storis’ stationed here after WWII

Newly painted Aiviq bears name of ship in service for 64 years, including a lengthy local legacy.

The 2024-25 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears are, standing left-to-right, sophomore manager Amelia Geary, junior Brandon Casperson (5), senior Pedrin Saceda-Hurt (10), senior Ben Sikes (11), sophomore Logan Carriker (24), junior Elias Dybdahl (20), freshman Keaton Belcourt (44), junior Damian Efergan (1), junior Tyler Frisby (21) and sophomore manager Skylar Oliva. Seated at front l-r, junior Kurt Kuppert (14), senior Ahmir Parker (2), senior Gavin Gerrin (3) and sophomore Hunter Carte (15). Not pictured is junior Joren Gasga. (Photo courtesy Crimson Bears)

Sports

Crimson Bears look to return to the show

JDHS boys basketball team ready to earn next state title.

Juneau Assembly members and city administrative leaders participate in group discussions during the Assembly’s annual retreat in the main conference room at Juneau International Airport on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Big list of critical needs means mill rate increase is inevitable, Juneau’s leaders say at annual retreat

Brainstorming session also floats ideas from seasonal sales tax to “we should smoke weed for kids.”

James Cheng, and his daughter Gwen, 1, help themselves to some of the 17,050 cookies being offered to visitors during the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

House of carbs: Sweet power trips and tooting of horns at Governor’s Holiday Open House

The best thing about 17,050 cookies is that they stack so neatly.

The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Oct. 4, 2023, was among those in Alaska set to be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merged with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Albertsons backs out of merger deal and sues Kroger after court rulings

Decision comes after federal judge blocks $25B deal between parent companies of Safeway, Fred Meyer.

Alev Kelter, a member of the bronze-winning USA’s Rugby Sevens team at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, is one of two new inductees in the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. (USA Rugby photo)

Sports

NHL star Brandon Dubinsky, Olympic rugby medalist Alev Kelter elected to Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Hall also adding historic Alaska moments involving 1992 Winter Games, 2008 NCAA basketball title game

Kahyl Dybdahl, left, and Bronze Chevis eat an egg sandwich breakfast before school at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Juneau School District gets $500K extra from BSA increase, may use about $100K to extend free student breakfasts

Juneau gets $5.7M rather than $5.2M from one-time funding boost; free meals set to end this month.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy talks to members of the media about the upcoming legislative session before the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Dunleavy: No surprises in upcoming budget; energy and education will again be big policy goals

Governor also optimistic about Trump, says cancelled post-election announcement wasn’t about Cabinet job.

Charity collectors Peppin (played by Natalia Spenglere) and “Salt” played by (Roblin Gray Davis) try in vain to get a donation from Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Tom Robenolt) during Theater Alaska’s production of “A Christmas Carol” on Sunday at McPhetres Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Miners from Douglas in early 1900s put in shift work in Theater Alaska’s version of ‘A Christmas Carol’

Theater’s largest-ever production casts multiple people for roles, seeks to grow into annual tradition.

Hans Rivera (foreground) plays a Mexican song on cello with other Juneau Alaska Music Matters students and a mariachi band from Anchorage as part of a Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration at St. Paul’s Catholic Church on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

An enlightenment into sights, sounds and spirit of Mexico at annual Feast Day celebration

Local music students join visiting mariachis at church celebrating national holiday for holy visionary.

Juneau International Airport Manager Patty Wahto addresses attendees at a Juneau Airport Board meeting on July 11. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Patty Wahto, manager at Juneau International Airport, retiring next spring after 27-year career

Hired as deputy manager in 1998, she took over top job in 2013 and presided over a series…

The fishing vessel Wind Walker fishes near Sitka on March 29, 2022. (James Poulson / The Daily Sitka Sentinel)

News

Two bodies from capsized fishing vessel found Monday amidst debris from boat on beach near Hoonah

Three people remain missing eight days after Sitka-based vessel sinks southwest of Juneau.

Alaska Division of Elections officials on Thursday display scanned ballots from the Nov. 5 election on screens for attorneys monitoring a recount of a measure to repeal ranked choice in the state. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Recount of ranked choice repeal upholds voters’ rejection — and increases margin by six votes

State elections officials declare measure failed by 743 votes out of 335,767 cast, or 49.88%-50.12%.

Signs at the front of the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday indicate a designated entrance for legislators and their staff, and direct members of the public to a separate door. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Security screenings for people entering Alaska State Capitol to be considered by legislators Thursday

Signs already designating separate entrance for public, bids from security providers received.

An intersection in the Mendenhall Valley is submerged during record flooding from Suicide Basin on Aug. 6. A report published last week states such flooding is the result of glacier melt occurring due to climate change. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

News

Believe it or not, costs and damage of climate change are expanding in Juneau and elsewhere in Alaska

Record flooding, fatal landslides, decimated seafood industry cited as regional impacts in new report.

Deanna and Dakota Strong have been working as a bear patrol in Klukwan. Now, they’re set to the become the new Village Public Safety Officers. (Photo courtesy of Deanna Strong)

News

Mother and son duo volunteering as Klukwan’s only wildlife protection now taking on VPSO role

Tlingit and Haida hires pair heading for Trooper academy as villagers begin donating their support.

A dump truck reportedly stolen by a drunk driver is ensnared in power lines on Industrial Boulevard early Saturday morning. (Photo by Jeremy Sidney)

News

Stolen dump truck hits power lines, knocks out electricity on Industrial Boulevard; driver arrested for DUI

Officials estimate power will be out in area for 8 to 12 hours Saturday.

Darius Heumann tries his hand at an old-fashioned steering wheel on the bridge of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker during a public tour on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

A shipload of elephants, oysters and narwhals for visitors aboard Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker

Hundreds of locals take tours of ship with power 40,000 Formula One cars during its stop in Juneau.