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The Alaska Department of Health And Social Services building in Juneau has no visible signs indicating the department is splitting into two agencies as of Friday. Top officials at the department said many of the changes, both physical and in services, are likely weeks and in some cases months away. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Little sign of big change for DHSS

No commissioner at new department, other Dept. of Health and Social Services changes may take months

The Alaska Department of Health And Social Services building in Juneau has no visible signs indicating the department is splitting into two agencies as of Friday. Top officials at the department said many of the changes, both physical and in services, are likely weeks and in some cases months away. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Norwegian Sun sat moored in Juneau on Monday after striking striking ice Saturday afternoon near Yakutat Bay on its way to Skagway. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Update: Cruise ship that struck iceberg departs Juneau

It’s heading to Seattle for repairs.

The Norwegian Sun sat moored in Juneau on Monday after striking striking ice Saturday afternoon near Yakutat Bay on its way to Skagway. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall, 320 W. Willoughby Ave., will be open as a cooling center through Wednesday for elders who need a cool place during the ongoing heatwave. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Tlingit and Haida opens cooling center for elders

Keep your cool during the heatwave.

Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall, 320 W. Willoughby Ave., will be open as a cooling center through Wednesday for elders who need a cool place during the ongoing heatwave. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Sealaska Corp. announced it will no longer require a blood quantum for people of Alaskan Native descent to become a shareholder. (Michael S. Lockett/ Juneau Empire)

Sealaska Corp drops blood quantum requirement

The decision opens the door to approximately 15,000 people to enroll

Sealaska Corp. announced it will no longer require a blood quantum for people of Alaskan Native descent to become a shareholder. (Michael S. Lockett/ Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a Capital Transit bus en route along Glacier Highway in the Mendenhall Valley. City officials are considering temporary cuts to some routes amid a shortage of drivers low ridership. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire.)

City considers cutting bus routes

Staff shortage and low ridership drive discussion.

This photo shows a Capital Transit bus en route along Glacier Highway in the Mendenhall Valley. City officials are considering temporary cuts to some routes amid a shortage of drivers low ridership. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire.)
Drag queen Gigi Monroe reads a book about a wig during Drag Storytime at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

One for the books: Drag Storytime returns

Balloons, books, bustin’ moves.

Drag queen Gigi Monroe reads a book about a wig during Drag Storytime at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A crowd of people protesting near the Alaskan State Capitol clap at one of the many speakers at the protest. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘We won’t go back’: Abortion rights protesters rally near the state Capitol

Demonstrators denounce decision.

A crowd of people protesting near the Alaskan State Capitol clap at one of the many speakers at the protest. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Pioneers of Alaska member Ricky Deising lands a hole-in-one as he tries frisbee golf for the first time on Sandy Beach, Douglas.(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Give it a shot : Juneau Disc Golf Club teams up with the Pioneers of Alaska for a sunny celebration

Both groups pitched in.

Pioneers of Alaska member Ricky Deising lands a hole-in-one as he tries frisbee golf for the first time on Sandy Beach, Douglas.(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Juneau Culture Club Juneau Culture Club poses on the Whitehaven Beach along the Whitsundays Island in Australia on June 15.

Land Down Under goes over well with culture club

After years of waiting, youths take trip to Australia.

Courtesy Photo / Juneau Culture Club Juneau Culture Club poses on the Whitehaven Beach along the Whitsundays Island in Australia on June 15.
Has Du Eetíxʼ Xʼaakeidíx̱ Haa Sitee performs at Pride Outside at Skater’s Cabin, an LGBTQ community event organized by NAMI Juneau on June 5, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Meryl Connelly-Chew)

Local LGBTQ+ advocate receives award for work building community

Community-based work is their focus and their calling.

Has Du Eetíxʼ Xʼaakeidíx̱ Haa Sitee performs at Pride Outside at Skater’s Cabin, an LGBTQ community event organized by NAMI Juneau on June 5, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Meryl Connelly-Chew)
Emily Chapel holds up a sign containing an expletive in protest of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The decision had protected rights to abortion access for nearly 50 years. Following the new decision, states can decide to ban abortion. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Juneau residents weigh in on Supreme Court overturning Roe

Here’s what they said.

Emily Chapel holds up a sign containing an expletive in protest of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The decision had protected rights to abortion access for nearly 50 years. Following the new decision, states can decide to ban abortion. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Demonstrators gather outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022. The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years, a decision by its conservative majority to overturn the court's landmark abortion cases. (AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana)

Update: Alaskans react to Supreme Court overturn of Roe v. Wade

The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion.

Demonstrators gather outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022. The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years, a decision by its conservative majority to overturn the court's landmark abortion cases. (AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Peter Froehlich, a retired Juneau district judge who is now a volunteer tour guide, explains the history of the history of the Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ in the State Office Building to a group of visitors Thursday. The organ has been idle since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and now needs repairs before regular Friday lunchtime concerts and other performances on the 94-year-old instrument can resume.

Historic organ is in need of tuneup

How much it will cost and who will do it remain up in the air.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Peter Froehlich, a retired Juneau district judge who is now a volunteer tour guide, explains the history of the history of the Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ in the State Office Building to a group of visitors Thursday. The organ has been idle since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and now needs repairs before regular Friday lunchtime concerts and other performances on the 94-year-old instrument can resume.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who spoke to the Alaska State Legislature on Feb. 22, 2022, said in a news conference Thursday she was supporting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act aimed at addressing the high levels of gun violence in the U.S. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Murkowski defends federal gun bill, criticizes inaction

Republican resistance.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who spoke to the Alaska State Legislature on Feb. 22, 2022, said in a news conference Thursday she was supporting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act aimed at addressing the high levels of gun violence in the U.S. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Excess deaths across Alaska rose above predicted numbers as the pandemic continued to hit the state hard through 2021. COVID-19, as an underlying cause, became the third-largest cause of death. (Associated Press photo)

Report: COVID was Alaska’s third-leading cause of death in 2021

Excess deaths were also way up from predicted numbers.

Excess deaths across Alaska rose above predicted numbers as the pandemic continued to hit the state hard through 2021. COVID-19, as an underlying cause, became the third-largest cause of death. (Associated Press photo)
Juneau is on track to beat record high temperatures going into the weekend and following week as a heatwave rolls through the Southeast. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Sun and potentially record-setting heat are in Juneau’s future

Heatwave goodbye to the clouds.

Juneau is on track to beat record high temperatures going into the weekend and following week as a heatwave rolls through the Southeast. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Kobe Rielly grabs a hot dog Wednesday evening at the grand unveiling of the new pavilion at Riverside Rotary Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

One in pavilion

Locals celebrate the new pavilion at the Riverside Rotary Park.

Kobe Rielly grabs a hot dog Wednesday evening at the grand unveiling of the new pavilion at Riverside Rotary Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Members of United Academics - American Association of University Professors/American Federation of Teachers Local 4996 gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, to call on University of Alaska officials to agree to a negotiated contract. Faculty at the university haven't seen a pay increase in six years, but UA officials say there isn't money for what the union is asking. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Faculty union rallies for renewed negotiations

Thursday talks.

Members of United Academics - American Association of University Professors/American Federation of Teachers Local 4996 gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, to call on University of Alaska officials to agree to a negotiated contract. Faculty at the university haven't seen a pay increase in six years, but UA officials say there isn't money for what the union is asking. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows Sít' Eetí Shaanáx - Glacier Valley School the evening of Tuesday, June 14. On Wednesday the Juneau Police Department shared the findings of its investigation into an incident in which a dozen children drank floor sealant when it was served instead of milk during a summer program breakfast at the school. There was nothing to obviously suggest criminal charges are appropriate, but the findings have been sent to the district attorney for review, according to JPD. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Police: No obvious basis for charges in ‘milk’ incident

Investigation of floor sealant being served at summer youth program being reviewed by prosecutors

This photo shows Sít' Eetí Shaanáx - Glacier Valley School the evening of Tuesday, June 14. On Wednesday the Juneau Police Department shared the findings of its investigation into an incident in which a dozen children drank floor sealant when it was served instead of milk during a summer program breakfast at the school. There was nothing to obviously suggest criminal charges are appropriate, but the findings have been sent to the district attorney for review, according to JPD. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows Juneau's Salmon Creek Dam. (Courtesy Photo / AEL&P)

Salmon Creek Dam to gain engineering landmark status

It’s not the only Southeast structure to earn the status.

This photo shows Juneau's Salmon Creek Dam. (Courtesy Photo / AEL&P)