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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)
Strips of dried salmon are seen on June 25, 2009. Chum salmon runs on the Yukon River improved enough this year to allow some subsistence harvesting in Alaska, but Chinook returns did not show a similar improvement. Returns of Canada-origin fish were particularly weak. (Photo by A.R.Nanouk/U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service)

Yukon River salmon runs remain low, but chum improvements allow for some fishing

Far too few fish are reaching Canada to meet goals set in a treaty with the U.S.

Strips of dried salmon are seen on June 25, 2009. Chum salmon runs on the Yukon River improved enough this year to allow some subsistence harvesting in Alaska, but Chinook returns did not show a similar improvement. Returns of Canada-origin fish were particularly weak. (Photo by A.R.Nanouk/U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service)
Aerial view of a glacier and the surrounding mountains near Antler Lake north of Juneau on Sept. 26. (Photo by Connor M. Johnson)

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

Aerial view of a glacier and the surrounding mountains near Antler Lake north of Juneau on Sept. 26. (Photo by Connor M. Johnson)
Pianist Phoebe Wu is scheduled to play a contemporary classical concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center, plus three other concerts in Southeast Alaska between Oct. 14-21. (Photo courtesy of Phoebe Wu)
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Capital City Weekly

Concert offers modern music from a different point of Wu

Chicago pianist featuring a world of contemporary classical composers during Southeast Alaska tour.

Pianist Phoebe Wu is scheduled to play a contemporary classical concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center, plus three other concerts in Southeast Alaska between Oct. 14-21. (Photo courtesy of Phoebe Wu)
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Muskeg Collective members Erin Heist, Annie Bartholomew, Taylor Vidic and Josh Fortenbery, plus special guest Andrew Heist, perform at The Golden Saloon in McCarthy in early August. The group will be featured at the Cowboy Ball on Saturday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Photo by Cam Jimmo)
Capital City Weekly

Cowboy up for an Alaska-style country music hoedown

Local musicians with eclectic styles come together as Muskeg Collective at Cowboy Ball on Saturday.

Muskeg Collective members Erin Heist, Annie Bartholomew, Taylor Vidic and Josh Fortenbery, plus special guest Andrew Heist, perform at The Golden Saloon in McCarthy in early August. The group will be featured at the Cowboy Ball on Saturday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Photo by Cam Jimmo)
Rep. Josiah Patkotak, I-Utqiagvik, speaks in favor of HJR 6, the resolution in support of the Willow oil project, on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, at the Alaska State Capitol. The resolution passed 36-0. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Applications now being accepted for nation’s northernmost legislator

Rep. Josiah Patkotak resigns after win in North Slope mayor’s race; governor seeks replacement online

Rep. Josiah Patkotak, I-Utqiagvik, speaks in favor of HJR 6, the resolution in support of the Willow oil project, on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, at the Alaska State Capitol. The resolution passed 36-0. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A man heads to the City Hall Assembly Chambers to cast his ballot on Election Day on Oct. 3. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Updated election count: Voter turnout soars, preliminary results see small shifts

Leading candidates continue in their positions, rejection of City Hall bond continues to grow.

A man heads to the City Hall Assembly Chambers to cast his ballot on Election Day on Oct. 3. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A sign opposing the participation of transgender girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Ban on transgender girls from girls’ sports teams approved 5-3 by state school sports association

Juneau officials say enforcement specifics — and if they affect any local athletes — to be determined.

A sign opposing the participation of transgender girls in girls sports is propped against a fire hydrant outside of the George A. Navarre Admin Building on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in Soldotna. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Houses line the streets of South Douglas in late May. The deadline has passed for short-term rental operators to register their units with the City and Borough of Juneau before they face a $25 daily fine. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Non-registered short-term rental operators in Juneau now face daily fine

About 230 units registered before the deadline out of the nearly 600 estimated in the capital city.

Houses line the streets of South Douglas in late May. The deadline has passed for short-term rental operators to register their units with the City and Borough of Juneau before they face a $25 daily fine. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Colony High School’s Morgan Ainsworth sprints for the finish line against Chugiak High School’s Aaliyah Fields at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Cross Country State Running Championships in Palmer on Saturday. (Peter Pounds / Alaska Sports Report)

Juneau girls finish second at state D1 cross-country championships

Local boys team finishes fifth; three Juneau girls and one boy finish in top 10 individually.

Colony High School’s Morgan Ainsworth sprints for the finish line against Chugiak High School’s Aaliyah Fields at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Cross Country State Running Championships in Palmer on Saturday. (Peter Pounds / Alaska Sports Report)
Juneau’s high school tennis team finished second overall in the ASAA Alaska State Tennis Championship that ended Saturday in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy of Mona Mametsuka)

Juneau tennis team swings into second overall at state tournament

Team takes first place in mixed doubles, second in girls doubles and third in boys doubles

Juneau’s high school tennis team finished second overall in the ASAA Alaska State Tennis Championship that ended Saturday in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy of Mona Mametsuka)
Jolleen LaRue, a student from the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program, sings alongside other students during a healing event on Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday to acknowledge and accept an apology of the closure of Juneau’s Memorial Presbyterian Church in 1962. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘This is just the beginning’: Apology for closure of Juneau’s Memorial Presbyterian Church means healing decades later

Presbyterian Church commits nearly $1M in reparations for the “racist and unchristian” 1962 closure

Jolleen LaRue, a student from the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program, sings alongside other students during a healing event on Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday to acknowledge and accept an apology of the closure of Juneau’s Memorial Presbyterian Church in 1962. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A former surplus warehouse at 1325 Eastaugh Way, seen here in 2021 and now used as a city election ballot processing center, is the current preferred location of a winter warming shelter, officials said Monday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Winter warming shelter now likely to be at CBJ Ballot Processing Center, officials say

Use of former warehouse south of downtown criticized by pastor of church hosting shelter last year.

A former surplus warehouse at 1325 Eastaugh Way, seen here in 2021 and now used as a city election ballot processing center, is the current preferred location of a winter warming shelter, officials said Monday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Workers install drywall and other material in a house needing repair in Haines following a landslide in 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

State job satisfaction study shows homes are fun to design, not build

Drywall workers in Alaska among unhappiest workers in 79 professions, architects the happiest.

Workers install drywall and other material in a house needing repair in Haines following a landslide in 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau Police Department and Alaska State Troopers officials walk toward the Cope Park parking lot Monday afternoon. A death investigation is underway following the discovery of a body. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Death investigation underway at Cope Park

The death of the 29-year-old man is not considered suspicious, police say.

Juneau Police Department and Alaska State Troopers officials walk toward the Cope Park parking lot Monday afternoon. A death investigation is underway following the discovery of a body. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Jenna Dobson (4) knocks the ball past a Mt. Edgecumbe High School player on Saturday night at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Four-four time: TMHS volleyball defeats Mt. Edgecumbe by 3-1 set scores on consecutive nights

Falcons remain among state’s best teams with pair of physical back-and-forth victories.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Jenna Dobson (4) knocks the ball past a Mt. Edgecumbe High School player on Saturday night at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Boxes of envelopes and secrecy sleeves that have had their ballots are removed are stored at the City and Borough of Juneau’s ballot processing center on Tuesday, Oct. 3, the date of this year’s municipal election. Because it was a by-mail election, ballots postmarked by that date are still being tallied, with the official results scheduled to be certified Oct. 17. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Local candidates retain early leads, rejection of City Hall bond grows in updated results Friday

Third-place Nano Brooks edges closer to second-place Ella Adkison in Areawide Assembly race.

Boxes of envelopes and secrecy sleeves that have had their ballots are removed are stored at the City and Borough of Juneau’s ballot processing center on Tuesday, Oct. 3, the date of this year’s municipal election. Because it was a by-mail election, ballots postmarked by that date are still being tallied, with the official results scheduled to be certified Oct. 17. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)