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Felix (Eddie Jones ), Vivian Melde (Della), Max (Mike Rao) and  Visarut  (Phai Giron) sit on high alert for signs of the supernatural during a rehearsal of "Brothers Paranormal" at Perseverance Theatre. The play, which opens Friday tells the story of two Thai American brothers hired by a Black couple to investigate a ghost. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Representation takes center stage

Thai American and Black communities are at the forefront of theater’s new play.

Felix (Eddie Jones ), Vivian Melde (Della), Max (Mike Rao) and  Visarut  (Phai Giron) sit on high alert for signs of the supernatural during a rehearsal of "Brothers Paranormal" at Perseverance Theatre. The play, which opens Friday tells the story of two Thai American brothers hired by a Black couple to investigate a ghost. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Gubernatorial candidate Les Gara, right, announced as his running mate Jessica Cook, left, an Eagle River school teacher, at a news conference in Anchorage on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Erin Kirkland)
Gubernatorial candidate Les Gara, right, announced as his running mate Jessica Cook, left, an Eagle River school teacher, at a news conference in Anchorage on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Erin Kirkland)
Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, seen here on Feb. 7, 2022, announced Thursday he was running to fill the Alaska State Senate seat soon to be vacated by Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson who's announced a bid for the U.S. Senate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, seen here on Feb. 7, 2022, announced Thursday he was running to fill the Alaska State Senate seat soon to be vacated by Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson who's announced a bid for the U.S. Senate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore speaks at a press conference in Anchorage on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, to announce three bills introduced by Gov. Mike Dunleavy meant to address sex and human trafficking in the state. (Screenshot)
Deputy Attorney General John Skidmore speaks at a press conference in Anchorage on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, to announce three bills introduced by Gov. Mike Dunleavy meant to address sex and human trafficking in the state. (Screenshot)
A person is injected with her second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a Dallas County Health and Human Services vaccination site in Dallas, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021.  Federal health regulators on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022 delayed next week's public meeting to review Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5, saying they want to see more data. (AP Photo / LM Otero)

In reversal, FDA puts brakes on COVID shots for kids under 5

FDA said it became clear it needed to wait for data on how well a third shot works for youths.

A person is injected with her second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a Dallas County Health and Human Services vaccination site in Dallas, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021.  Federal health regulators on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022 delayed next week's public meeting to review Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5, saying they want to see more data. (AP Photo / LM Otero)
John Gaedeke’s lodge overlooks Iniakuk Lake in the Brooks Range, where his permafrost-stabilized beers and sodas do not freeze. (Courtesy Photo / John Gaedeke)

Alaska Science Forum: Ninety below zero and the unfrozen beer

“How the heck is that possible?”

John Gaedeke’s lodge overlooks Iniakuk Lake in the Brooks Range, where his permafrost-stabilized beers and sodas do not freeze. (Courtesy Photo / John Gaedeke)
“To some, the Winter Olympics represent an opportunity for the nations of Earth to unite in peace (and spandex),” writes Geoff Kirsch. “To others, they symbolize planetary inequality and toxic nationalism. For everyone, the 2022 Beijing Winter Games are a great excuse to spend 16 days glued to the TV firmly convinced you’re doing something worthwhile.” (Bryan Turner / Unsplash)

Slack Tide: Olym-pics or it didn’t happen

As you watch the remainder of the 2018 Winter Olympics unfold, consider these ponderables…

  • Feb 11, 2022
  • By Geoff Kirsch
“To some, the Winter Olympics represent an opportunity for the nations of Earth to unite in peace (and spandex),” writes Geoff Kirsch. “To others, they symbolize planetary inequality and toxic nationalism. For everyone, the 2022 Beijing Winter Games are a great excuse to spend 16 days glued to the TV firmly convinced you’re doing something worthwhile.” (Bryan Turner / Unsplash)
Law enforcement officials arrested an Arizona woman at Juneau International Airport on Tuesday for felony drug possession. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police seize more than $60,000 in drugs in airport arrest

A 40-year-old Arizona resident was arrested and charged.

Law enforcement officials arrested an Arizona woman at Juneau International Airport on Tuesday for felony drug possession. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
Members of the House Committee of Military and Veterans' Affairs heard testimony on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, on the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers amid public pressure to take disciplinary action against Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, who is a member of the group. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Members of the House Committee of Military and Veterans' Affairs heard testimony on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, on the far-right militia group the Oath Keepers amid public pressure to take disciplinary action against Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, who is a member of the group. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
AP Photo/Matt Rourke 
Shown are KN95 protective masks before being distributed to students at Camden High School in Camden, N.J., Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022.
AP Photo/Matt Rourke 
Shown are KN95 protective masks before being distributed to students at Camden High School in Camden, N.J., Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022.
Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, seen here Feb. 4, 2022, has come under scrutiny from the public and some of his legislative colleagues for his membership in the Oath Keepers, a far-right organization whose leaders have been arrested and charged with sedition for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State rep defends Oath Keepers, laments ‘cancel culture’

A Q & A with Rep. David Eastman amid public scrutiny, potential disciplinary action.

Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, seen here Feb. 4, 2022, has come under scrutiny from the public and some of his legislative colleagues for his membership in the Oath Keepers, a far-right organization whose leaders have been arrested and charged with sedition for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
State Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, an Anchorage Democrat, filed her paperwork on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 at the Division of Elections offices in Juneau, to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Lisa Murkowski. Gray-Jackson, a Democrat, is the first from her party to enter the race and the first Black woman to run for a U.S. Senate seat from Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
State Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, an Anchorage Democrat, filed her paperwork on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 at the Division of Elections offices in Juneau, to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Lisa Murkowski. Gray-Jackson, a Democrat, is the first from her party to enter the race and the first Black woman to run for a U.S. Senate seat from Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File 
Clare Boily brings her and Hal Turman’s “The Siren” to life at the Wearable Art show at Centennial Hall in February 2019. This weekend, the popular runway show returns to the stage. Tickets are available now.
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File 
Clare Boily brings her and Hal Turman’s “The Siren” to life at the Wearable Art show at Centennial Hall in February 2019. This weekend, the popular runway show returns to the stage. Tickets are available now.
A bus full of students from Riverbend Elementary School arrives for the first day of classes at the school's temporary location at Chapel by the Lake in Auke Bay on Jan. 24. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

School continues at Riverbend-by-the Lake

Officials thank the community, offer an update

A bus full of students from Riverbend Elementary School arrives for the first day of classes at the school's temporary location at Chapel by the Lake in Auke Bay on Jan. 24. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Kéet and Oscar walk the bike path after it’s plowed. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: For the love of community

We often don’t know how the things we do affects our community.

Kéet and Oscar walk the bike path after it’s plowed. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
The City and Borough of Juneau lowered its COVID risk level to Moderate on Feb. 9, 2022. (Screenshot)

City lowers risk level to Moderate

Masks are still mandatory indoors or in crowded public areas for the unvaccinated.

The City and Borough of Juneau lowered its COVID risk level to Moderate on Feb. 9, 2022. (Screenshot)
Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Daniel Winfree gave his first State of the Judiciary address to the Alaska State Legislature on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. Winfree emphasized the need for courts to remain impartial in order to maintain a healthy democracy. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Daniel Winfree gave his first State of the Judiciary address to the Alaska State Legislature on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. Winfree emphasized the need for courts to remain impartial in order to maintain a healthy democracy. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking to increase recruitment numbers after a pandemic-induced drop left the expanding service understrength. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Crewing the cutters: Pandemic complicated recruiting, says Coast Guard

Distancing and not being able to get face to face with folks didn’t help numbers.

The U.S. Coast Guard is seeking to increase recruitment numbers after a pandemic-induced drop left the expanding service understrength. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File 
Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas pulls into Icy Point Strait in Hoonah, on Thursday, July 22, 2021. Royal Caribbean personnel are saying booking numbers for the 2022 season are looking healthy.

Local companies and Royal Caribbean anticipating busy cruise season

“We are getting more bookings today than we were at this time in 2019…”

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File 
Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas pulls into Icy Point Strait in Hoonah, on Thursday, July 22, 2021. Royal Caribbean personnel are saying booking numbers for the 2022 season are looking healthy.
An Alaska State Ombudsman report released Tuesday detailed numbers issued raised at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, a state-run psychiatric facility.

Report: API is still not meeting federal regulatory requirements

The department’s commissioner says many of the concerns raised have or are being resolved.

An Alaska State Ombudsman report released Tuesday detailed numbers issued raised at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, a state-run psychiatric facility.