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A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. Lawmakers passed the Alaska Reads Act on the last day of the legislative session, but several members of the House of Representatives were upset with the bill, and the way it was passed. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

In last-minute move, Legislature passes early reading overhaul

Underlying inequities.

A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. Lawmakers passed the Alaska Reads Act on the last day of the legislative session, but several members of the House of Representatives were upset with the bill, and the way it was passed. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Heather Best (in water), a USGS hydrologist, prepares to toss a road-grader blade with a river-measuring device attached into the Yukon River near Eagle, Alaska. USGS hydrologic technician Liz Richards watches for icebergs. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Wading into the icy Yukon River for science

EAGLE, ALASKA — Snow geese flew in a ragged V overhead, rasping as they looked down upon Alaska’s bumpy face for the first time in… Continue reading

Heather Best (in water), a USGS hydrologist, prepares to toss a road-grader blade with a river-measuring device attached into the Yukon River near Eagle, Alaska. USGS hydrologic technician Liz Richards watches for icebergs. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Juneau City Finance Director Jeff Rogers, second from right, updates next year’s city budget to reflect changes made Wednesday night by the Assembly’s Finance Committee during a break in the meeting. The committee approved a $172.3 million general fund spending plan that on paper shows a $10.3 million surplus, but that extra amount is subject to considerable unpredictability – including a potential loss of $16 million in state funds – before a final budget is approved by the full Assembly by June 15. Assisting Rogers with the budget presentation to Assembly members are, from left, Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, City Manager Rorie Watt and Budget Analyst Adrien Speegle. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

City budget: More last-minute spending, no new taxes

City budget approved by Finance Committee rejects mill rate increase, adds funds for social programs.

Juneau City Finance Director Jeff Rogers, second from right, updates next year’s city budget to reflect changes made Wednesday night by the Assembly’s Finance Committee during a break in the meeting. The committee approved a $172.3 million general fund spending plan that on paper shows a $10.3 million surplus, but that extra amount is subject to considerable unpredictability – including a potential loss of $16 million in state funds – before a final budget is approved by the full Assembly by June 15. Assisting Rogers with the budget presentation to Assembly members are, from left, Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, City Manager Rorie Watt and Budget Analyst Adrien Speegle. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An online do-it-yourself budget simulator allows users to submit their proposals for Juneau’s budget next year to city officials resulted in 73 spending plans during its first budget cycle, according to officials. (Screenshot)

DIY city budget simulator yields ’educational’ results

More taxes for thee, not me; more community projects for me, not thee among ’unsurprising’ results

An online do-it-yourself budget simulator allows users to submit their proposals for Juneau’s budget next year to city officials resulted in 73 spending plans during its first budget cycle, according to officials. (Screenshot)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks with reporters about the state's budget at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 19, 2022. The governor said lawmakers had sent a complete budget, and that there was no need for a special session. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy: No need for special session

Cuts to come.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks with reporters about the state's budget at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 19, 2022. The governor said lawmakers had sent a complete budget, and that there was no need for a special session. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Public defender Nicolas Ambrose gestures during a trial centered around a 2019 stabbing May 19, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Prosecution reconstructs events leading to fatal stabbing

Jurors watched multiple angles of the events leading and following the stabbing.

Public defender Nicolas Ambrose gestures during a trial centered around a 2019 stabbing May 19, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Assistant Fire Manager Leif Mathiesen, of the Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nation Park Fire Service, looks for an opening in the burned-out sequoias from the Redwood Mountain Grove which was devastated by the KNP Complex fires earlier in the year in the Kings Canyon National Park, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2021. Thousands of sequoias have been killed by wildfires in recent years. (AP Photo / Gary Kazanjian)

Forest plan stirs dispute over what counts as ‘old’

Already disagreement is emerging…

Assistant Fire Manager Leif Mathiesen, of the Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nation Park Fire Service, looks for an opening in the burned-out sequoias from the Redwood Mountain Grove which was devastated by the KNP Complex fires earlier in the year in the Kings Canyon National Park, Calif., on Nov. 19, 2021. Thousands of sequoias have been killed by wildfires in recent years. (AP Photo / Gary Kazanjian)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Left to right, investigator Emily Chapel, defendant Fenton Jacobs and defense attorney Nicolas Ambrose stand as the jury in Jacobs’ trial enters the courtroom on May 18, 2022.

Fatal stabbing trial begins with statements, witnesses

The prosecution and defense paint different contexts for the events which ended in a death.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Left to right, investigator Emily Chapel, defendant Fenton Jacobs and defense attorney Nicolas Ambrose stand as the jury in Jacobs’ trial enters the courtroom on May 18, 2022.
Lawmakers from both bodies of the Alaska State Legislature mingle in the halls of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, the last day of the legislative session, following the Senate's passing of the state's budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Update: Legislature passes budget with minutes to spare

To the governor’s desk.

Lawmakers from both bodies of the Alaska State Legislature mingle in the halls of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, the last day of the legislative session, following the Senate's passing of the state's budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Assistant U.S. Commerce Secretary Alejandra Castillo, second from left, meets Southeast Alaska Native leaders at the Sealaska Heritage Plaza on Wednesday to discuss the Spruce Roots project, which is among 60 finalists seeking a share of a $1 billion federal development grant. Spruce Roots is hoping to be among the 20-30 winners who will each receive up to $100 million, with the project seeking to create 250 new jobs, $22 million in new annual economic activity and $20 million in new infrastructure. Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire

Spruce Root among 60 finalists for $1B in development grants

Assist. U.S. Commerce Secretary Alejandra Castillo visits SE Native coalition seeking up to $100M

Assistant U.S. Commerce Secretary Alejandra Castillo, second from left, meets Southeast Alaska Native leaders at the Sealaska Heritage Plaza on Wednesday to discuss the Spruce Roots project, which is among 60 finalists seeking a share of a $1 billion federal development grant. Spruce Roots is hoping to be among the 20-30 winners who will each receive up to $100 million, with the project seeking to create 250 new jobs, $22 million in new annual economic activity and $20 million in new infrastructure. Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Local Tlingit beader Jill Kaasteen Meserve is making waves as her work becomes more widely known, both in Juneau and the Lower 48. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Old styles in new ways: beader talks art and octopus bags

She’s been selected for both a local collection and a major Indigenous art market.

Local Tlingit beader Jill Kaasteen Meserve is making waves as her work becomes more widely known, both in Juneau and the Lower 48. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Thursday, May 19, 2022

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

  • May 18, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Volunteers clear deadwood and undergrowth as part of the cleanup of the cemetery near Lawson Creek on May 14, 2022.

Clearing and healing: Lawson Creek Cemetery restoration continues

Volunteers are bringing what was neglected back to light.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Volunteers clear deadwood and undergrowth as part of the cleanup of the cemetery near Lawson Creek on May 14, 2022.
This October 2020 photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast campus. Neo (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

UA moves forward with faculty salary increases; union says negotiations aren’t done

The university and United Academics have recently been engaged in federal mediation.

This October 2020 photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast campus. Neo (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
This screenshot of Google Earth shows the area of a proposed “green corridor” from Seattle to Southeast Alaska. (Screenshot)

Juneau joins first effort at ‘green corridor’ for cruise ships

Government, industry officials in Seattle, Canda and Juneau set goal of net-zero emmisions by 2050.

This screenshot of Google Earth shows the area of a proposed “green corridor” from Seattle to Southeast Alaska. (Screenshot)
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, chair of the bicameral conference committee tasked with hammering out differences in the state's budget bill, signs the committee report as members finished their work on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire

Committee compromises on PFD in budget plan

Process moves forward as deadline looms.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, chair of the bicameral conference committee tasked with hammering out differences in the state's budget bill, signs the committee report as members finished their work on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Smoke and steam rise from a coal processing plant in Hejin in central China’s Shanxi Province on Nov. 28, 2019. A study released on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, blames pollution of all types for 9 million deaths a year globally, with the death toll attributed to dirty air from cars, trucks and industry rising 55% since 2000. (AP Photo / Sam McNeil File)

Study finds global pollution kills 9 million people a year, study finds

Overall pollution deaths in 2019 were about the same as 2015, according to the study.

Smoke and steam rise from a coal processing plant in Hejin in central China’s Shanxi Province on Nov. 28, 2019. A study released on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, blames pollution of all types for 9 million deaths a year globally, with the death toll attributed to dirty air from cars, trucks and industry rising 55% since 2000. (AP Photo / Sam McNeil File)
Coast Guard Sector Juneau deployed a number of assets including an MH-60 Jayhawk to search for a woman reported fallen overboard from a cruise ship near the Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal on May 17, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Search for cruise passenger reported overboard suspended

Multiple Coast Guard assets were deployed but no sign of the woman was found

Coast Guard Sector Juneau deployed a number of assets including an MH-60 Jayhawk to search for a woman reported fallen overboard from a cruise ship near the Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal on May 17, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
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Senate effectively kills restrictive transgender sports bill

Bipartisan group of senators votes to table controversial bill.

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From left to right, Nick Begich III, foreground, and John Coghill, state Sen. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, and Tara Sweeney, all Republican candidates for Alaska's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, were at Juneau's Baranoff Hotel on Tuesday, May 16, 2022, for a debate hosted by local Republicans. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Republican candidates for Congress make their case in Juneau

Republican roundtable.

From left to right, Nick Begich III, foreground, and John Coghill, state Sen. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, and Tara Sweeney, all Republican candidates for Alaska's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, were at Juneau's Baranoff Hotel on Tuesday, May 16, 2022, for a debate hosted by local Republicans. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)