Home

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Susan McKenzie, director of Innovation and Education Excellence for the state’s education department, testifies about two bills during a House Education Committee meeting on Monday. McKenzie, scheduled to become commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development on April 1, announced Wednesday she has decided not to accept the job for personal reasons.

Education commissioner designee changes mind, rejects job

Susan McKenzie cites personal reasons in withdrawing only a few weeks after accepting appointment

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Susan McKenzie, director of Innovation and Education Excellence for the state’s education department, testifies about two bills during a House Education Committee meeting on Monday. McKenzie, scheduled to become commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development on April 1, announced Wednesday she has decided not to accept the job for personal reasons.
Snow blankets the courtyard outside the Juneau - State Courthouse, where a sit-in starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday was announced by people protesting what they called unconstitutional restrictions recently placed on grand juries. Only one protester said she came by shortly before noon, but didn’t stay long because no other people were there. Similar (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cold case for grand jury protesters

Participants gather in wintry weather to air claims of unconstitutional restrictions on process

Snow blankets the courtyard outside the Juneau - State Courthouse, where a sit-in starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday was announced by people protesting what they called unconstitutional restrictions recently placed on grand juries. Only one protester said she came by shortly before noon, but didn’t stay long because no other people were there. Similar (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The banks of the Kenai River can be seen on July 14, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

KRSA founder Bob Penney dead at 90

Statements were released by KRSA, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Gov. Mike Dunleavy

The banks of the Kenai River can be seen on July 14, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
An employee leaves the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, where the 60 members of the Alaska State Legislature are slated to get a 67% pay increase to $84,000 annually following the unanimous vote by the five new members of the Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission, who were appointed during the past week to replace commission members whose majority voted to rejected the raises. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sudden 67% pay hike OK’d for legislators

Salary commission that rejected raises is replaced by new members who recommend salaries of $84K.

An employee leaves the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, where the 60 members of the Alaska State Legislature are slated to get a 67% pay increase to $84,000 annually following the unanimous vote by the five new members of the Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission, who were appointed during the past week to replace commission members whose majority voted to rejected the raises. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

ACLU of Alaska sues over prison involuntary medication rules

The organization said it filed a lawsuit against state corrections officials Wednesday

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
Juneau School Board member Martin Stepetin listens during the discussion Tuesday night as the board finalizes the district’s budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

The school board passed a budget — it’s probably going to change

Spending plan uses an uncertain $430 increase in per-student funding from the state.

Juneau School Board member Martin Stepetin listens during the discussion Tuesday night as the board finalizes the district’s budget. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Kristi Elliott, owner of Juneau International Airport’s gift shop Hummingbird Hollow Gifts, stands with Debra Holman to review inventory. If the airport moves forward with proposed plans to reconfigure the allocated space for the gift shop, Elliott said it could dramatically limit the current wide selection of inventory Hummingbird Hollow Gifts offers, which then cuts down their overall revenue. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Change is in the wings for the airport gift shop

Hummingbird Hollow Gifts’ contract expires in September, request for proposals is open.

Kristi Elliott, owner of Juneau International Airport’s gift shop Hummingbird Hollow Gifts, stands with Debra Holman to review inventory. If the airport moves forward with proposed plans to reconfigure the allocated space for the gift shop, Elliott said it could dramatically limit the current wide selection of inventory Hummingbird Hollow Gifts offers, which then cuts down their overall revenue. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn during the summer months of 2022. Residents and youth in Juneau are invited to learn more about the species at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center this Saturday for the final installment of the Mendenhall Minis series of the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Capital City Weekly

Learn more about salmon at this winter’s final Mendenhall Minis event

The series returned in-person after two years of online only

Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn during the summer months of 2022. Residents and youth in Juneau are invited to learn more about the species at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center this Saturday for the final installment of the Mendenhall Minis series of the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Ryan Redington poses with his lead dogs Sven, left, and Ghost, after he won the 2023 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in Nome, Alaska. Redington, 40, is the grandson of Joe Redington Sr., who helped co-found the arduous race across Alaska that was first held in 1973 and is known as the “Father of the Iditarod.” (Loren Holmes / Anchorage Daily News)

Iditarod co-founder’s grandson Ryan Redington wins dog race

Ryan Redington on Tuesday won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

Ryan Redington poses with his lead dogs Sven, left, and Ghost, after he won the 2023 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in Nome, Alaska. Redington, 40, is the grandson of Joe Redington Sr., who helped co-found the arduous race across Alaska that was first held in 1973 and is known as the “Father of the Iditarod.” (Loren Holmes / Anchorage Daily News)
A small crowd gathers outside the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday evening for an annual vigil recognizing residents who have died from suicide. Alaska has one of the highest rates of suicide in the United States. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A candle for each life no longer lit

Annual vigil at Capitol recognizes rising number of deaths by suicide in Alaska.

A small crowd gathers outside the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday evening for an annual vigil recognizing residents who have died from suicide. Alaska has one of the highest rates of suicide in the United States. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Nora Canfield Nashville-based singer-songwriter Kyshona Armstrong, who performs music under just her first name, poses for a photo with her guitar. Kyshona will be performing at the Crystal Saloon and 7 p.m. on Wednesday with her bandmates Nickie Conley and Shannon LaBrie.

‘Music of the people and for the people’ comes to Juneau

Kyshona’s local performance is part of small Alaska tour.

Courtesy Photo / Nora Canfield Nashville-based singer-songwriter Kyshona Armstrong, who performs music under just her first name, poses for a photo with her guitar. Kyshona will be performing at the Crystal Saloon and 7 p.m. on Wednesday with her bandmates Nickie Conley and Shannon LaBrie.
This snow pile outside Thunder Mountain High School is expected grow. The National Weather Service in Juneau issued a winter weather advisory starting Wednesday morning and running through Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

NWS: Snow followed by heavy rain on the way

Roughly 2-5 inches of snow predicted.

This snow pile outside Thunder Mountain High School is expected grow. The National Weather Service in Juneau issued a winter weather advisory starting Wednesday morning and running through Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Dozens of Juneau teachers, students and residents gather at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 23 in advocacy of an increase in the state’s per-student funding formula, which hasn’t increased sizeably since 2017 and has failed to keep pace with inflation during the past decade. Dozens of Juneau teachers, students and residents gather at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 23 in advocacy of an increase in the state’s per-student funding formula, which hasn’t increased sizeably since 2017 and has failed to keep pace with inflation during the past decade. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Studies give teacher retention bonuses a mixed report card

Year-end bonuses sought by governor most effective for top-performing employees, specific subjects.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Dozens of Juneau teachers, students and residents gather at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 23 in advocacy of an increase in the state’s per-student funding formula, which hasn’t increased sizeably since 2017 and has failed to keep pace with inflation during the past decade. Dozens of Juneau teachers, students and residents gather at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 23 in advocacy of an increase in the state’s per-student funding formula, which hasn’t increased sizeably since 2017 and has failed to keep pace with inflation during the past decade. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A car drives up a hill near Auke Bay in early March. Transportation was a popular topic in a recent draft report that found lower greenhouse gas emissions in Juneau when comparing 2010 to 2021. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Report: Juneau’s greenhouse gas emissions down from 2010 to 2021

While dubbed good news, it concludes a trend cannot be definitively established.

A car drives up a hill near Auke Bay in early March. Transportation was a popular topic in a recent draft report that found lower greenhouse gas emissions in Juneau when comparing 2010 to 2021. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A dog poop bag dispenser sits filled with bags ready for use at the entrance of Kaxdigoowu Héen Dei, also known as Brotherhood Bridge Trail. The City and Borough of Juneau spends about $10,000 a year on dog poop bags, officials say, but the issue of owners not picking after their pets persists. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City prepares for dog doo doom of the spring thaw

CBJ spends $10,000 on dog poop bags each year but the problem still persists, officials say

A dog poop bag dispenser sits filled with bags ready for use at the entrance of Kaxdigoowu Héen Dei, also known as Brotherhood Bridge Trail. The City and Borough of Juneau spends about $10,000 a year on dog poop bags, officials say, but the issue of owners not picking after their pets persists. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Cars fill the parking lot outside of Driftwood Lodge in downtown Juneau Monday morning. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently announced it’s purchase of the site.

Tlingit and Haida purchases downtown Driftwood Lodge

The building is located near Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall and Foodland IGA.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Cars fill the parking lot outside of Driftwood Lodge in downtown Juneau Monday morning. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently announced it’s purchase of the site.
Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire

Hooping and hollering: Photos from Day 4 of Region V

The Juneau Empire’s expanded coverage of the Region V tournament is made possible by Sealaska Corp. Thanks to this sponsorship, this article —and all 2023… Continue reading

Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire
TMHS senior Kiara Kookesh holds up a strand from the net after securing the win against JDHS on Friday for the two teams’ final math up in the 4A Region V tournament. Kookesh tied for the lead in scoring with a total of 12 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

TMHS girls net Region V title at home

ASAA March Madness Alaska State takes place March 22-25

TMHS senior Kiara Kookesh holds up a strand from the net after securing the win against JDHS on Friday for the two teams’ final math up in the 4A Region V tournament. Kookesh tied for the lead in scoring with a total of 12 points. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A sign points to the two wells, Tinmiaq 2 and 6, that are part of ConocoPhillips Willow project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. (Courtesy of ConocoPhillips)

Many ‘what’s next’ questions remain for Willow and drilling ban

Newly approved project facing lawsuits, while halt on new activity may not be relevant or permanent.

A sign points to the two wells, Tinmiaq 2 and 6, that are part of ConocoPhillips Willow project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. (Courtesy of ConocoPhillips)
Wrangell senior Jacen Hay (23) puts up a shot while sandwiched by Petersburg senior Kyle Biggers (12) and junior Hunter Conn (30). Hay l (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Wrangell defeats Petersburg for second place in region tournament

Fifth time’s the charm for Wolves against Vikings in second-seed play-in game.

Wrangell senior Jacen Hay (23) puts up a shot while sandwiched by Petersburg senior Kyle Biggers (12) and junior Hunter Conn (30). Hay l (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)