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Nano Brooks and Emily Mesch file for candidacy on Friday at the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Clerk’s office in City Hall. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

City and Borough of Juneau regular municipal election candidate filing period opens

So far, most vie for Assembly District 2 seat — mayor, Board of Education, and District 1 also open.

Nano Brooks and Emily Mesch file for candidacy on Friday at the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Clerk’s office in City Hall. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on July 12, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on July 12, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Commercial fishing boats are lined up at the dock at Seward’s harbor on June 22. Federal grants totaling a bit over $5 million have been awarded to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute to help Alaskans sell more fish to more diverse groups of consumers. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Federal grants to state agency aim to expand markets for Alaska seafood

More than $5M to help ASMI comes after Gov. Dunleavy vetoed $10M for agency.

Commercial fishing boats are lined up at the dock at Seward’s harbor on June 22. Federal grants totaling a bit over $5 million have been awarded to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute to help Alaskans sell more fish to more diverse groups of consumers. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds up the omnibus crime bill, House Bill 66, after signing it at a ceremony Thursday at the Department of Public Safety’s aircraft hangar at Lake Hood in Anchorage. At his side are Sandy Snodgrass, whose 22-year-old son died in 2021 from a fentanyl overdose, and Angela Harris, who was stabbed in 2022 by a mentally disturbed man at the public library in Anchorage and injured so badly that she now uses a wheelchair. Snodgrass and Harris advocated for provisions in the bill.Behind them are legislators, law enforcement officers and others. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Goals for new Alaska crime law range from harsher penalties for drug dealers to reducing recidivism

Some celebrate major progress on state’s thorniest crime issues while others criticize the methods.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds up the omnibus crime bill, House Bill 66, after signing it at a ceremony Thursday at the Department of Public Safety’s aircraft hangar at Lake Hood in Anchorage. At his side are Sandy Snodgrass, whose 22-year-old son died in 2021 from a fentanyl overdose, and Angela Harris, who was stabbed in 2022 by a mentally disturbed man at the public library in Anchorage and injured so badly that she now uses a wheelchair. Snodgrass and Harris advocated for provisions in the bill.Behind them are legislators, law enforcement officers and others. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The RTK drone flies on Tuesday near Snowslide Creek in Juneau. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities uses drones to evaluate snowpack and prepare for avalanches by increasing the collection of data. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Alaska leads the nation in drone innovation, wants to use it to save more lives

Visibility, data collection for disaster management reaching new heights, experts visiting Juneau say.

The RTK drone flies on Tuesday near Snowslide Creek in Juneau. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities uses drones to evaluate snowpack and prepare for avalanches by increasing the collection of data. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (left) and Vice President Emil Mackey, holding his son Emil Mackey IV, listen to discussion about next year’s budget for the school district during a meeting March 14 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Recall votes for both board members were certified this week for the Oct. 1 municipal election ballot. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Petitions to recall two Juneau school board leaders get enough signatures for Oct. 1 election ballot

President Deedie Sorensen, Vice President Emil Mackey targeted due to school district’s budget crisis.

Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (left) and Vice President Emil Mackey, holding his son Emil Mackey IV, listen to discussion about next year’s budget for the school district during a meeting March 14 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Recall votes for both board members were certified this week for the Oct. 1 municipal election ballot. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A near-capacity crowd fills the main ballroom at Centennial Hall during the final night of the Alaska Folk Festival on April 14. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Michael Franti concert nixed at Centennial Hall, moved to JDHS due to staging issues

Technical and staffing plans of concert producers not feasible, JAHC executive director says.

A near-capacity crowd fills the main ballroom at Centennial Hall during the final night of the Alaska Folk Festival on April 14. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A hiker explores the Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

The Forest Service just took an inventory of the Tongass, wants suggestions about what to protect

Two-month comment period on draft map part of major revision of forest’s land management plan.

A hiker explores the Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
The Gustavus band Cross Sound performs at the second annual Burning Pines rock concert in Gustavus on Saturday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Burning for a live and local rock concert? Find it in Gustavus

Newly built stage offers second annual Burning Pines concert the “home” it’s been missing

The Gustavus band Cross Sound performs at the second annual Burning Pines rock concert in Gustavus on Saturday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Oct. 4, 2023, is among those in Alaska that might be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau’s Safeway among 579 stores to be sold off if Kroger-Albertsons merger is approved

Kroger statement declares “no frontline workers will lose their jobs and no stores will close.”

The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Oct. 4, 2023, is among those in Alaska that might be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A pay to park sign is seen by the Downtown Transit Center on July 2, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Downtown parking changes aim to ensure rules are enforced

Transition to modern technology reduces the amount of time required to manage and enforce parking

A pay to park sign is seen by the Downtown Transit Center on July 2, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Downtown Juneau and Douglas on Aug. 22, 2023. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau’s cost of living 27.8% above US average, annual study finds

Report: Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks had highest food and healthcare costs of 265 cities in 2023.

Downtown Juneau and Douglas on Aug. 22, 2023. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
A screenshot of the front page of e-edition of the Anchorage Daily News on Monday.

Anchorage Daily News cuts print editions to twice a week, will continue e-paper six days a week

Change effective July 15 “reflects changing reader habits and rising costs,” according to newspaper.

A screenshot of the front page of e-edition of the Anchorage Daily News on Monday.
Alaska U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing. (Screenshot from Senate Judiciary Committee video)

Federal judge Joshua Kindred resigns after reprimand for judicial misconduct involving law clerks

Trump appointee, 46, created hostile work environment, had “inappropriately sexualized relationship.”

Alaska U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing. (Screenshot from Senate Judiciary Committee video)
Whales in Glacier Bay on July 17, 2009. The National Park Service has issued its first whale waters alert of the season, slowing boats through areas where whales have been observed feeding. (Courtesy/Christopher Michael, Wikimedia Commons)

Glacier Bay tells boaters to slow down due to at least nine humpback whales feeding in the area

13-knot speed limit intended to reduce vessel strikes in effect until further notice.

  • Jul 8, 2024
  • By Francisco Martínezcuello, Chilkat Valley News
  • Whales
Whales in Glacier Bay on July 17, 2009. The National Park Service has issued its first whale waters alert of the season, slowing boats through areas where whales have been observed feeding. (Courtesy/Christopher Michael, Wikimedia Commons)
Juneau’s Jacob Thibodeau (right) takes a selfie with WSOP legend Phil Hellmuth in the background. (Photo provided by Alaska Sports Report)

Juneau’s Jacob Thibodeau and Mario Fata consistently cashing in at World Series of Poker

Anchorage pro Adam Hendrix remains Alaska’s most prominent poker player, but don’t sleep on Juneau stalwarts Jacob Thibodeau and Mario Fata, who have been cashing… Continue reading

  • Jul 8, 2024
  • By Doyle Woody, Alaska Sports Report
  • poker
Juneau’s Jacob Thibodeau (right) takes a selfie with WSOP legend Phil Hellmuth in the background. (Photo provided by Alaska Sports Report)
Students with the Della Keats precollege program attend a lecture at the University of Alaska Anchorage campus in 2024. (Photo by Chanmi Joo)

Precollege program for rural, Alaska Native health students gets reboot and grant after funding gap

Della Keats program introduces students from far-flung parts of Alaska to college courses.

Students with the Della Keats precollege program attend a lecture at the University of Alaska Anchorage campus in 2024. (Photo by Chanmi Joo)
Heidi Reifenstein reaches Father Brown’s Cross to complete the Goldbelt Tram-Mount Roberts Trail Run on Saturday, setting a new women’s record for the 3½-mile race with a time of 37 minutes and 40 seconds. (Photo by Jeff Gnass)

A mother of a mountain: Heidi Reifenstein sets new women’s record for Goldbelt Tram-Mount Roberts Trail Run

Longtime Juneau resident returns to peak form after taking break from racing while raising kids.

Heidi Reifenstein reaches Father Brown’s Cross to complete the Goldbelt Tram-Mount Roberts Trail Run on Saturday, setting a new women’s record for the 3½-mile race with a time of 37 minutes and 40 seconds. (Photo by Jeff Gnass)
Juneau School District leaders discuss items to add back to this year’s budget during an online meeting Saturday. (Screenshot from Juneau Board of Education meeting)

School board spends $3.6M in staff add-backs, nixes $1M CBJ loan after getting $5.2M extra from state

Members also consider new food service contract and first increase in school meal prices since 2020.

Juneau School District leaders discuss items to add back to this year’s budget during an online meeting Saturday. (Screenshot from Juneau Board of Education meeting)
Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire
Kaylie Simpson poses with a turkey leg from V’s Cellar Door at the Master’s Faire on Saturday.

A musical Master’s Faire invites all of Juneau to dress up

Musicians “crashing” local renaissance faire a welcome addition as the event continues to grow.

Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire
Kaylie Simpson poses with a turkey leg from V’s Cellar Door at the Master’s Faire on Saturday.