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Photo by James Brooks / Alaska Beacon Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor speaks at a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau.

Alaska attorney general approves free legal defense for top officials accused of ethical lapses

Policy change was unanimously opposed by those members of the public who testified.

Photo by James Brooks / Alaska Beacon Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor speaks at a news conference on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau.
Rhoda Walker, right, Sharon Early, and Audrey Kohler work on their improvisation as Mike Christenson, left, and Seth Caron prepare to enter during a rehearsal at Christenson’s house on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Kohler, now a Seattle resident, is returning as part of a nine-person group to perform an improv comedy show at Crystal Saloon on Friday. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Capital City Weekly

Improv poet and performer returns home for a laugh

Former Juneau comic Audrey Kohler bringing members of Seattle troupe for show at Crystal Saloon.

Rhoda Walker, right, Sharon Early, and Audrey Kohler work on their improvisation as Mike Christenson, left, and Seth Caron prepare to enter during a rehearsal at Christenson’s house on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Kohler, now a Seattle resident, is returning as part of a nine-person group to perform an improv comedy show at Crystal Saloon on Friday. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire The theme for this year’s annual Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce event was “Under the Sea: A Celebration of Ocean Industries.” The event was held at Centennial Hall, which was festooned with items linked to the sea such as giant jellyfish decorations.

Chamber adds new award to its biggest night

Gala celebration honored trash collector, plus construction firm key to saving homes during flood.

Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire The theme for this year’s annual Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce event was “Under the Sea: A Celebration of Ocean Industries.” The event was held at Centennial Hall, which was festooned with items linked to the sea such as giant jellyfish decorations.
Albert Dick packs belongings into a dry bag at Mill Campground shortly before its official closing for the season at noon Monday. Many people experiencing homelessness who were staying the campsite this summer left before the final day due to problems such as bears ransacking tents. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Homeless out in the wind and rain as Mill Campground closes, but warming shelter to open Friday

Due to cold forecast, city plans to open converted warehouse before Assembly gives official OK.

Albert Dick packs belongings into a dry bag at Mill Campground shortly before its official closing for the season at noon Monday. Many people experiencing homelessness who were staying the campsite this summer left before the final day due to problems such as bears ransacking tents. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Students compete in a game at the Sources of Strength training in Bethel on Oct. 10. (Photo by Katie Basile for the Alaska Beacon)

Suicide-prevention program teaches Alaska students how to identify their own strength

School district pits cultural, personal strengths against adversity

Students compete in a game at the Sources of Strength training in Bethel on Oct. 10. (Photo by Katie Basile for the Alaska Beacon)
Three-point buck eating greens near tank farm south of downtown Juneau on Oct. 7. (Photo by Steve Hamilton)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Three-point buck eating greens near tank farm south of downtown Juneau on Oct. 7. (Photo by Steve Hamilton)
City and Borough of Juneau photo Aurora Harbor is where a Tennessee fugitive wanted for child rape and related charges was staying on a houseboat when he was apprehended by U.S. Marshals last week.

Fugitive renting a houseboat picked up by U.S. Marshals

Adam James Gabarra has been wanted in Tennessee since July.

City and Borough of Juneau photo Aurora Harbor is where a Tennessee fugitive wanted for child rape and related charges was staying on a houseboat when he was apprehended by U.S. Marshals last week.
Thunder Mountain High School’s Kara Strong (16) knocks the ball past Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Evelyn Richards (12) and Remi Starks (2) during the two local teams’ play-in game to reach the championship of the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza at JDHS on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

TMHS finishes second, JDHS third as Chugiak repeats as champs at JIVE tournament

Crimson Bears overcome season-long struggles to make semifinal against high-flying Falcons.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Kara Strong (16) knocks the ball past Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Evelyn Richards (12) and Remi Starks (2) during the two local teams’ play-in game to reach the championship of the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza at JDHS on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen Monday, June 6, 2022 in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Permanent Fund leaders may recommend constitutional amendment to fix fiscal problem

Correction: The quote “Inflation is like a thief in the night” was misattributed in the original version of the article. Elmer Rasmuson said it, not… Continue reading

The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen Monday, June 6, 2022 in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A city election work handles envelopes from the Oct. 3 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center leading up the scheduled Oct 17 certification of results. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

No changes in election results after relative handful of ballots added Friday

Assembly and school board winners, defeat of City Hall bond seem set ahead of final results Tuesday.

A city election work handles envelopes from the Oct. 3 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center leading up the scheduled Oct 17 certification of results. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
An acid spill and a diesel spill of significant size were detected Wednesday at the Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to officials. A spill of a still-unknown toxic substance was also detected the same day at the Auke Bay treatment plant. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Three incidents of toxic substances detected in city’s wastewater system in one day raises concerns

Significant amounts of acid, diesel and a still-unknown substance detected at treatment plants.

An acid spill and a diesel spill of significant size were detected Wednesday at the Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to officials. A spill of a still-unknown toxic substance was also detected the same day at the Auke Bay treatment plant. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Mill Campground, seen here Aug. 15, is scheduled to close on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Mill Campground set to close Monday, without winter warming shelter agreement in place

Temperatures expected to stay above freezing, but with frequent rain, during coming week.

Mill Campground, seen here Aug. 15, is scheduled to close on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire A manager at Alaska Glacier Seafood shows a filleted sea cucumber ready for further processing.

Sea cucumber season off to a good start

Divers seeing much better prices than last year to start

Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire A manager at Alaska Glacier Seafood shows a filleted sea cucumber ready for further processing.
Chris Anderson mounts a Marine View and Heritage Way sign together in preparation for the South Seward Street name change Nov. 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Time of the signs: New Heritage Way signs ready to go ahead of November name swap

CBJ Streets employees make the custom signs Thursday morning.

Chris Anderson mounts a Marine View and Heritage Way sign together in preparation for the South Seward Street name change Nov. 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Tallie Medel, who will be teaching a series of clowning classes in Juneau next week, arrives for the world premiere of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” at the Paramount Theatre on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)
Capital City Weekly

No joke: Clowning classes coming by actor from this year’s Oscar-winning best picture

Ketchikan-born Tallie Medel teaching three days of classes at Perseverance Theatre starting Monday.

Tallie Medel, who will be teaching a series of clowning classes in Juneau next week, arrives for the world premiere of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” at the Paramount Theatre on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)
This is a photo of the front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 14, 1985. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Oct. 15

Three decades of capital city coverage.

This is a photo of the front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 14, 1985. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A Chinook salmon is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS)

Salmon drift gillnet season ends with a hint at final numbers

King goals expected to be met in six of 11 index locations

A Chinook salmon is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS)
Telephone Hill resident Callie Conerton expresses concerns about the new design concepts for the Telephone Hill redevelopment project that were presented Wednesday evening at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. She said she is concerned about the affordability of the proposed units. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tension on Telephone Hill: Residents displeased with city’s proposed redevelopment ideas for downtown hillside

Many who attended the city’s Wednesday open house say they don’t want to see development at all

Telephone Hill resident Callie Conerton expresses concerns about the new design concepts for the Telephone Hill redevelopment project that were presented Wednesday evening at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. She said she is concerned about the affordability of the proposed units. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Jerry Millsaps, who is visually impaired, and Autumn Booths, who teaches local students who are visually impaired, discuss a proposed new roundabout on Mendenhall Loop Road near Millsaps’ house during at open house about the project Wednesday evening at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. Millsaps said he is concerned because he cannot safely cross the street where two other roundabouts already exist, and the new one will create the same problem unless a pedestrian signal with audio and visual cues is installed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sounding concerns about proposed new roundabout on Mendenhall Loop Road

Difficulties for visually impaired pedestrians, side street traffic raised at open house meeting.

Jerry Millsaps, who is visually impaired, and Autumn Booths, who teaches local students who are visually impaired, discuss a proposed new roundabout on Mendenhall Loop Road near Millsaps’ house during at open house about the project Wednesday evening at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. Millsaps said he is concerned because he cannot safely cross the street where two other roundabouts already exist, and the new one will create the same problem unless a pedestrian signal with audio and visual cues is installed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
In this photo provided by the National Park Service is Grazer, the winner of the 2023 Fat Bear Contest, at Katmai National Park on Sept. 14, 2023. The park holds an annual contest in which people logging on to live webcams in park pick the fattest bear of the year. Grazer had 108,321 votes to handily beat Chunk, who has 23,134 votes, in the finals on Tuesday. (F. Jimenez/National Park Service via AP)

Don’t mess with this mama bear: Grazer easily wins popular Fat Bear Contest at Alaska national park

When it comes to packing on the pounds to survive an Alaska winter, this year’s undisputed champ is Grazer. Grazer, also known as Bear 128… Continue reading

In this photo provided by the National Park Service is Grazer, the winner of the 2023 Fat Bear Contest, at Katmai National Park on Sept. 14, 2023. The park holds an annual contest in which people logging on to live webcams in park pick the fattest bear of the year. Grazer had 108,321 votes to handily beat Chunk, who has 23,134 votes, in the finals on Tuesday. (F. Jimenez/National Park Service via AP)