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The back side of a unit in an apartment complex at 2800 Postal Way that caught fire on Sunday evening. No one was injured in the blaze, which left its occupant temporarily homeless and a neighbor’s home with smoke damage. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire.)
The back side of a unit in an apartment complex at 2800 Postal Way that caught fire on Sunday evening. No one was injured in the blaze, which left its occupant temporarily homeless and a neighbor’s home with smoke damage. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire.)
Kevin Jainese sets up his cot along the 40 already provided by staff at the city’s new cold weather emergency shelter at a warehouse in Thane on Friday night, the first for the new facility. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Amidst a contentious process, a quiet opening night for city’s new cold weather emergency shelter

Staff — some recently homeless themselves — welcome first overnighters to converted Thane warehouse.

Kevin Jainese sets up his cot along the 40 already provided by staff at the city’s new cold weather emergency shelter at a warehouse in Thane on Friday night, the first for the new facility. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Amanda Savikko bowls a frame during the Juneau Special Olympics local games Sunday at Pinz bowling ally, where teams and participants were selected for the upcoming state games in Eagle River. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Local Special Olympics participants get into a free-for-ball knockdown

Three four-member bowling teams in weekend tournament advance to statewide event next month.

Amanda Savikko bowls a frame during the Juneau Special Olympics local games Sunday at Pinz bowling ally, where teams and participants were selected for the upcoming state games in Eagle River. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Jonathan Samuelson, chair of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, speaks Friday at the Alaska Convention of Natives convention about the effects of salmon crashes in his region. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

AFN delegates pass 28 resolutions, including plea to Congress for subsistence action

Attendees at odds with the state of Alaska on fishing and hunting issues.

Jonathan Samuelson, chair of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, speaks Friday at the Alaska Convention of Natives convention about the effects of salmon crashes in his region. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A Capital Transit bus serving the Riverside/Airport Connector route stops at the Mendenhall Mall. The route, which was suspended last December due to a shortage of drivers, is scheduled to resume Monday. (Photo courtesy City and Borough of Juneau)

Capital Transit resumes two suspended routes, begins core service earlier

Addition of new bus drivers allows restoration of cuts in service made in December due to shortages.

A Capital Transit bus serving the Riverside/Airport Connector route stops at the Mendenhall Mall. The route, which was suspended last December due to a shortage of drivers, is scheduled to resume Monday. (Photo courtesy City and Borough of Juneau)
Curt Chamberlain, an attorney who grew up practicing subsistence fishing in Aniak, argues at Friday’s Alaska Federation of Natives convention for changes to federal law to protect Native subsistence harvests. Chamberlain was one of the speakers participating in a floor session on the subject. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Native leaders at AFN call for legal overhaul to protect traditional fish harvests

The crash of salmon stocks in Western Alaska’s Kuskokwim River has sparked a bitter court fight between the federal and state governments, and now Alaska… Continue reading

Curt Chamberlain, an attorney who grew up practicing subsistence fishing in Aniak, argues at Friday’s Alaska Federation of Natives convention for changes to federal law to protect Native subsistence harvests. Chamberlain was one of the speakers participating in a floor session on the subject. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Lyle’s & Jensen’s Home Furnishings on Jordan Avenue, a family business in that location for about 27 years, has sold the building, but will continue to operate in the location until the end of December. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Furniture store closing after a long run, but may be back

Alaska Industrial Hardware purchased the building, according to assessors office.

Lyle’s & Jensen’s Home Furnishings on Jordan Avenue, a family business in that location for about 27 years, has sold the building, but will continue to operate in the location until the end of December. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
A city-owned warehouse about a mile south of the Goldbelt Tram is scheduled to open as a winter warming shelter starting Friday. The shelter will have cots, hand-washing stations, outdoor portable restrooms and other basic services. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

City: Emergency warming shelter to be open daily 9 p.m.-7 a.m. (8 a.m. Sundays) starting Friday

Multiple evening shuttles from Glory Hall and downtown, one in morning from Thane shelter planned

A city-owned warehouse about a mile south of the Goldbelt Tram is scheduled to open as a winter warming shelter starting Friday. The shelter will have cots, hand-washing stations, outdoor portable restrooms and other basic services. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A retail complex in the 9100 block of Glacier Highway is where investigators with the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) task force arrested David Melvin Cox Jr., 35, on drug charges Thursday afternoon, according to the Juneau Police Department. JPD said Cox, when approached, re-entered a business, attempting to discard drugs and cash before surrendering. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
A retail complex in the 9100 block of Glacier Highway is where investigators with the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD) task force arrested David Melvin Cox Jr., 35, on drug charges Thursday afternoon, according to the Juneau Police Department. JPD said Cox, when approached, re-entered a business, attempting to discard drugs and cash before surrendering. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
A flyer left Thursday under a car windshield of an employee at a business near the winter warming shelter scheduled to open Friday at a city-owned warehouse in Thane informs residents of an Assembly meeting Monday to discuss the shelter. The flyer also refers to a petition leaders at Resurrection Lutheran Church are circulating seeking to operate the shelter again at the church this winter after doing so the past two years. Karen Perkins, the church’s pastor, stated church leaders did not put flyers under windshields of businesses in the area or suggest people distributing the notices do so. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Resurrection Lutheran Church leaders circulate petition to again operate winter warming shelter

Objections voiced about shortcomings at planned site, lack of input by affected agencies and people.

A flyer left Thursday under a car windshield of an employee at a business near the winter warming shelter scheduled to open Friday at a city-owned warehouse in Thane informs residents of an Assembly meeting Monday to discuss the shelter. The flyer also refers to a petition leaders at Resurrection Lutheran Church are circulating seeking to operate the shelter again at the church this winter after doing so the past two years. Karen Perkins, the church’s pastor, stated church leaders did not put flyers under windshields of businesses in the area or suggest people distributing the notices do so. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rows of tour buses are parked Thursday next to a city-owned warehouse, at left, a portion of which is scheduled to open as a winter warming shelter starting Friday night. Some businesses managers and employees in the area say people experiencing homelessness have been found sleeping on busses and engaging in other disruptive activity, which is prompting an increase in security and other precautions in preparation for the shelter’s opening. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Security and other impacts of winter warming shelter on nearby businesses raise concerns

Resident near Mill Campground says illegal activity surged, worries about same as shelter opens.

Rows of tour buses are parked Thursday next to a city-owned warehouse, at left, a portion of which is scheduled to open as a winter warming shelter starting Friday night. Some businesses managers and employees in the area say people experiencing homelessness have been found sleeping on busses and engaging in other disruptive activity, which is prompting an increase in security and other precautions in preparation for the shelter’s opening. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska souvenirs bearing the names Oliver and Olivia are seen in a downtown Anchorage gift shop on Thursday. Oliver was the most popular name for baby boys in Alaska in 2022, and Olivia was one of the most popular names for baby girls. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska vital statistics show declines in both deaths and births in 2022

Worst COVID-19 effects may be easing, while fertility continues yearslong downward trend.

Alaska souvenirs bearing the names Oliver and Olivia are seen in a downtown Anchorage gift shop on Thursday. Oliver was the most popular name for baby boys in Alaska in 2022, and Olivia was one of the most popular names for baby girls. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
NBA basketball legend Carlos Boozer looks to move the ball in the second half of an NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Carlos Boozer opens up about lessons learned and dreams come true

QA covers his book, lifelong friends in Juneau, faith and Kobe Bryant.

NBA basketball legend Carlos Boozer looks to move the ball in the second half of an NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)
A moose is seen in Midtown Anchorage on Oct. 31, 2022. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

After illegal Alaska moose kill, 2 men will be banned globally from hunting for 4 years

A plea deal pending in Anchorage’s federal court would ban two men from hunting anywhere in the world for four years as punishment for illegally… Continue reading

A moose is seen in Midtown Anchorage on Oct. 31, 2022. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Joe Wanner is scheduled to become the new chief financial officer of Bartlett Regional Hospital on Nov. 15, the hospital announced Thursday. He has previously served in that role at the hospital as well as its controller. (Photo courtesy of Bartlett Regional Hospital)

Former Bartlett Regional Hospital CFO returning to job

Joe Wanner scheduled to start Nov. 15, following resignation of Sam Muse amidst leadership turmoil.

Joe Wanner is scheduled to become the new chief financial officer of Bartlett Regional Hospital on Nov. 15, the hospital announced Thursday. He has previously served in that role at the hospital as well as its controller. (Photo courtesy of Bartlett Regional Hospital)
Tanner Johnson, playing the role of Candide, rehearses Tuesday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. The operetta “Candide” is based on Stephen Sondheim’s adaptation of the classic novella by Voltaire. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
Tanner Johnson, playing the role of Candide, rehearses Tuesday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. The operetta “Candide” is based on Stephen Sondheim’s adaptation of the classic novella by Voltaire. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
Fall colors are seen on Aug. 24, 2015, along the Canning River on the western edge of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, the last entity to hold leases in the refuge coastal plan, has gone to federal court to try to get the canceled leases reinstated. (Photo by Katrina Liebich/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Alaska development agency sues federal government over canceled oil leases

Lawsuit about ANWR drilling argues Biden administration put politics over legal mandates

Fall colors are seen on Aug. 24, 2015, along the Canning River on the western edge of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, the last entity to hold leases in the refuge coastal plan, has gone to federal court to try to get the canceled leases reinstated. (Photo by Katrina Liebich/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
This is a photo of the front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 21, 2005. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of the front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 21, 2005. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau City Clerk Beth McEwen explains the ballot certification process to election workers Monday at the City and Borough of Juneau’s Ballot Processing Center. The results of the Oct. 3 municipal election were certified Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Candidates keep their leads, City Hall bond defeated in final municipal election results

Winter warming shelter among issues for new Assembly, transgender sports ban for new school board.

Juneau City Clerk Beth McEwen explains the ballot certification process to election workers Monday at the City and Borough of Juneau’s Ballot Processing Center. The results of the Oct. 3 municipal election were certified Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Stephanie Harold creates sketches among a crowd at the annual Traditional Food Fair in Hoonah on Sept. 9. (Photo by Ian Johnson)

Resilient Peoples and Place: ‘Our Food is Our Medicine’

Xunaa celebrates 6th annual Traditional Food Fair.

Stephanie Harold creates sketches among a crowd at the annual Traditional Food Fair in Hoonah on Sept. 9. (Photo by Ian Johnson)