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State Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, left, confers with Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and other members during Monday’s floor session about a bill allowing residents to receive Medicaid funds for providing care for elderly and disabled family members. The bill introduced by Gov. Mike Dunleavy passed unanimously. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Senate OKs Medicaid funds for home care of elderly, disabled

Bill also allows state to seek extension of COVID-era funds for other residents needing daily care

State Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, left, confers with Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and other members during Monday’s floor session about a bill allowing residents to receive Medicaid funds for providing care for elderly and disabled family members. The bill introduced by Gov. Mike Dunleavy passed unanimously. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Catherine Berry, 6, places litter in a bag held open by her mother, Mary, during a communitywide cleanup held on Earth Day. The cleanup of public lands is an annual event organized by Litter Free Inc. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Catherine Berry, 6, places litter in a bag held open by her mother, Mary, during a communitywide cleanup held on Earth Day. The cleanup of public lands is an annual event organized by Litter Free Inc. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A Capital City Fire/Rescue truck bucket lowers Vance R. Webster III from the roof of Nugget Mall after being detained by Juneau Police Department Sunday morning. (Courtesy / Nano Brooks)

Juneau man removed from mall roof, arrested

He reportedly threw objects at responding officers.

A Capital City Fire/Rescue truck bucket lowers Vance R. Webster III from the roof of Nugget Mall after being detained by Juneau Police Department Sunday morning. (Courtesy / Nano Brooks)
Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Police: Pepper spray used to apprehend Juneau woman after resisting arrest

She faces multiple criminal charges and was taken to the Lemon Creek Correctional Center.

Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
TMHS senior Mackenzie Olver (27) kicks the ball away from Colorado Wheat Ridge senior Naomi Fireman Schiavoni (4) on Thursday at Thunder Mountain for a non-conference game. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Colorado visitors provide rocky matchups for Juneau soccer teams

Colorado team visits for non-conference games.

TMHS senior Mackenzie Olver (27) kicks the ball away from Colorado Wheat Ridge senior Naomi Fireman Schiavoni (4) on Thursday at Thunder Mountain for a non-conference game. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Students from the Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy program at Harborview Elementary dance during the procession of the dedication ceremony of the Kootéeyaa Deiyí, Totem Pole Trail, held Saturday in downtown Juneau at Heritage Plaza.	(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Students from the Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy program at Harborview Elementary dance during the procession of the dedication ceremony of the Kootéeyaa Deiyí, Totem Pole Trail, held Saturday in downtown Juneau at Heritage Plaza.	(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Ships in Port for the week of April 23

Here’s what to expect the second week of the season.

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Gerald Thill, 7, inspects a weathered can before placing it in a litter bag on Saturday during the citywide cleanup. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Gerald Thill, 7, inspects a weathered can before placing it in a litter bag on Saturday during the citywide cleanup. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A delegate watches the proceedings during the final day of the 88th annual Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on Friday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tribal delegates call invocation objection at Capitol a sign of disrespect

Two Alaska governing bodies hold annual sessions a few blocks apart, yet still have wide chasms

A delegate watches the proceedings during the final day of the 88th annual Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on Friday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This March 10 photo shows fentanyl pills seized by police. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

State health alert issued for fentanyl mixture

Xylazine is not approved for human use and naloxone will not be able to reverse its effect

This March 10 photo shows fentanyl pills seized by police. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30, 2023, why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Peninsula voices among ‘parental rights’ debate in Juneau

People who spoke in opposition outnumbered those who spoke in support by three to one

Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30, 2023, why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Lax̲áakúda.oo Jessica Elopre, a Seattle delegate of the Assembly, wears a shirt in reference to missing and murdered Indigenous women during the 88th Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. On Friday a resolution to commission a totem pole in Juneau that is dedicated to missing and murdered Indigenous women passed unanimously. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Lax̲áakúda.oo Jessica Elopre, a Seattle delegate of the Assembly, wears a shirt in reference to missing and murdered Indigenous women during the 88th Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. On Friday a resolution to commission a totem pole in Juneau that is dedicated to missing and murdered Indigenous women passed unanimously. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Kugíin-g Dúu Lauryn Framke (left) was elected as emerging leader and Aurora Lehr (right) was reelected as associate justice at the 88th annual Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Tribal Assembly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tribal Assembly names associate justice, emerging leader

On the final day of the 88th annual Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Tribal Assembly, delegates reelected Aurora Lehr… Continue reading

Kugíin-g Dúu Lauryn Framke (left) was elected as emerging leader and Aurora Lehr (right) was reelected as associate justice at the 88th annual Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Tribal Assembly. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A tag is place on a evidence bag containing small baggies of drugs seized by the Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Gov proposes managing opioid settlement money like Permanent Fund

$58 million from drug companies would go to new investment fund, earnings used for treatment

A tag is place on a evidence bag containing small baggies of drugs seized by the Juneau Police Department. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Emiko and Syun-Ichi Akasofu serve tea to guests at their home in Fairbanks in December 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Aurora expert helped expand Alaska tourism

When Syun-Ichi Akasofu walks by in the building on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus that bears his name, I want to catch up and… Continue reading

Emiko and Syun-Ichi Akasofu serve tea to guests at their home in Fairbanks in December 2021. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
The U.S. Coast Guard Band, seen here, plays as a 55-member ensemble. The band will play in Juneau Saturday as part of its Ready for the Call tour. (Courtesy Photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
The U.S. Coast Guard Band, seen here, plays as a 55-member ensemble. The band will play in Juneau Saturday as part of its Ready for the Call tour. (Courtesy Photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
A gate blocks off the entrance to West Douglas’ Pioneer Road Saturday afternoon. Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal from a local company that sought to gain access to provide electric-assisted bicycle tours on the city-owned gravel road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Let’s save the Pioneer Road for local users

This application is a prime example of an activity crying out for pre-planning…

  • Apr 21, 2023
  • By Linda Kruger
A gate blocks off the entrance to West Douglas’ Pioneer Road Saturday afternoon. Monday evening the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted to reject a proposal from a local company that sought to gain access to provide electric-assisted bicycle tours on the city-owned gravel road. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)

Coming Out: A creative personal aesthetic

I think aesthetics are more than just politics.

Jane Hale (Courtesy Photo)
Six state House members vote against including an invocation that featured an Alaska Native land acknowledgement during Thursday’s floor session. (Screenshot from official Alaska State Legislature video)

House invocation with Native land acknowledgement draws objection

Six members vote to keep remarks made from official journal as tribal asssembly meets nearby

Six state House members vote against including an invocation that featured an Alaska Native land acknowledgement during Thursday’s floor session. (Screenshot from official Alaska State Legislature video)
Cindy Pederson, sets up a display table for raffle items in a hallway at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall during the  88th annual Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Peterson, a Seattle resident and delegate for nearly 20 years until taking a job with the tribe’s COVID-19 relief program last year, was named the tribe’s Delegate/Citizen of the Year on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Delegate/Citizen of the Year surprised by honor during Tribal Assembly

Long-term sustainable housing, and more also discussed on second day.

Cindy Pederson, sets up a display table for raffle items in a hallway at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall during the  88th annual Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Peterson, a Seattle resident and delegate for nearly 20 years until taking a job with the tribe’s COVID-19 relief program last year, was named the tribe’s Delegate/Citizen of the Year on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)