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Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge discusses current and future plans for parent company Royal Caribbean Group during a keynote speech Tuesday at the Alaska Travel Industry Association convention at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Royal Caribbean tries to appease angry city leaders with apology after surprise Douglas cruise port announcement

Tensions revived after cruise line president touts project in speech; email apology sent soon after.

Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge discusses current and future plans for parent company Royal Caribbean Group during a keynote speech Tuesday at the Alaska Travel Industry Association convention at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in Juneau on July 20, 2022. (Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska Native scholars propose statewide reading standards for the state’s Indigenous languages

Sealaska Heritage Institute working with specialists to develop proposed curriculum.

An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in Juneau on July 20, 2022. (Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)
Workers install Hesco Barriers along the Los Angeles River to protect against El Niño flooding in 2016. Similar barriers along the Mendenhall River are being considered by Juneau city leaders. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)

$2M for Hesco barriers OK’d by Assembly, but proposed flood-prevention project far from firmly set

Concerns raised about impacts on properties — and if homeowners will be forced to pay some costs.

Workers install Hesco Barriers along the Los Angeles River to protect against El Niño flooding in 2016. Similar barriers along the Mendenhall River are being considered by Juneau city leaders. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)
President Joe Biden honors the 10 winners of the 2023 National Humanities Medal, including Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl, during a ceremony Monday at The White House. (Screenshot from official video by The White House)
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SHI President Rosita Worl among 10 people receiving National Humanities Medal from President Biden

Ceremony at White House livestreamed online at 1:30 p.m. Monday.

President Joe Biden honors the 10 winners of the 2023 National Humanities Medal, including Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl, during a ceremony Monday at The White House. (Screenshot from official video by The White House)
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Municipal Attorney Emily Wright (left) swears in newly elected Juneau Assembly members Neil Steininger and Maureen Hall as newly reelected Mayor Beth Weldon takes a photo during an Assembly meeting Monday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hall and Steininger get sworn in to Juneau Assembly; Hale and Blake get poems as they depart

Newly reelected Mayor Beth Weldon offers tributes; Greg Smith chosen as new deputy mayor

Municipal Attorney Emily Wright (left) swears in newly elected Juneau Assembly members Neil Steininger and Maureen Hall as newly reelected Mayor Beth Weldon takes a photo during an Assembly meeting Monday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
These materials are mailed to Alaska voters who request absentee ballots. Clockwise, from the top left: The envelope from the Alaska Division of Elections, the return envelope, the ballot and instructions. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s first votes appear to show disproportionately high Democratic interest

Early voting locations opened Monday across Alaska for registered voters to cast ballots in the Nov. 5 general election. The lone exception was in Fairbanks,… Continue reading

These materials are mailed to Alaska voters who request absentee ballots. Clockwise, from the top left: The envelope from the Alaska Division of Elections, the return envelope, the ballot and instructions. (Andrew Kitchenman/Alaska Beacon)
Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Assembly member Greg Smith (left) read a formal apology to members of the Douglas Indian Association during an Assembly meeting Monday night, acknowledging the City and Borough of Juneau’s role in the burning of the Douglas Indian Village in 1962. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau offers formal apology for 1962 burning of the Douglas Indian Village

Apology called long overdue, but tribal leader says full story of destruction still needs to be shared.

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Assembly member Greg Smith (left) read a formal apology to members of the Douglas Indian Association during an Assembly meeting Monday night, acknowledging the City and Borough of Juneau’s role in the burning of the Douglas Indian Village in 1962. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich speaks to an audience at the Alaska Chamber of Commerce’s U.S. House debate on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Fairbanks. At left is incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska. The two candidates again participated in a forum on Monday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

As early voting opens, Peltola and Begich meet for last face-to-face forum before Election Day

Two leading candidates in U.S. House election appear at a forum hosted by the Anchorage Chamber.

Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich speaks to an audience at the Alaska Chamber of Commerce’s U.S. House debate on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Fairbanks. At left is incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska. The two candidates again participated in a forum on Monday. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A chart shows the level of the Mendenhall River dropping steadily after reaching a peak from a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Mendenhall River crests at 10.77 feet at 11:30 p.m. Sunday — lower and earlier than expected

Water from Suicide Basin glacial outburst flood retreats rapidly, leaving ice behind after record cold.

A chart shows the level of the Mendenhall River dropping steadily after reaching a peak from a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. (National Weather Service Juneau)
Debris left behind from a 2022 landslide, on Gastineau Avenue in Juneau on Sept. 26, 2024. Deadly landslides are increasing around the world, but in parts of Alaska, maps of the hazards remain controversial. (Christopher Miller/The New York Times)

Scientists are mapping landslide risk in Alaska. Some homeowners don’t want to know.

Maps of the hazards remain controversial in some parts of the state, including Juneau.

  • Oct 21, 2024
  • By Austyn Gaffney ©2024 The New York Times Company
  • landslide
Debris left behind from a 2022 landslide, on Gastineau Avenue in Juneau on Sept. 26, 2024. Deadly landslides are increasing around the world, but in parts of Alaska, maps of the hazards remain controversial. (Christopher Miller/The New York Times)
A campsite is seen on Oct. 18 in the woods along the Campbell Creek Trail in Midtown Anchorage. Unsheltered people face a much higher risk of cold-exposure injuries than do housed people, state data shows. But the rate of such injuries among the homeless is not clear because the homeless population is difficult to define and identify. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Trauma records show high risks of cold-exposure injuries for Alaska’s homeless

Unhoused people accounted for nearly a quarter of the Alaskans who were hospitalized with cold-related injuries like frostbite and hypothermia from 2012 to 2021, according… Continue reading

A campsite is seen on Oct. 18 in the woods along the Campbell Creek Trail in Midtown Anchorage. Unsheltered people face a much higher risk of cold-exposure injuries than do housed people, state data shows. But the rate of such injuries among the homeless is not clear because the homeless population is difficult to define and identify. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Tyler Anderson delivers a ball during the Juneau Special Olympics bowling games Sunday at Pinz Bowling Alley. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s Special Olympics bowlers show just how fun the game can be

26 athletes compete for spots on state team in Eagle River next month.

Tyler Anderson delivers a ball during the Juneau Special Olympics bowling games Sunday at Pinz Bowling Alley. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)
The swollen Mendenhall River flows past a condominium and other residences Sunday evening during a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin that crested well below the riverbanks that were reinforced with rock fill in many places following then-record flooding in August of 2023. The city is now considering installing up to four miles of Hesco barriers along one side of the river as a semi-permanent levee. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

October’s flood doesn’t mean risk of one next year is lower, expert says, as protective efforts continue

Multiple factors in Suicide Basin’s water level makes predicting odds of release dangerous, official says

The swollen Mendenhall River flows past a condominium and other residences Sunday evening during a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin that crested well below the riverbanks that were reinforced with rock fill in many places following then-record flooding in August of 2023. The city is now considering installing up to four miles of Hesco barriers along one side of the river as a semi-permanent levee. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Tom Mattice, Juneau’s emergency programs manager, uses a loader to help residents fill sandbags at Melvin Park on Sunday afternoon. The city is distributing 75,000 sandbags for free, with sand available at the park and the Thunder Mountain Middle School parking lot. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Residents spend their hours before peak of flood preparing for worst-case scenario in various ways

Generators, sandbags, hotel stays, backyard river watching keep people active as water rises Sunday.

Tom Mattice, Juneau’s emergency programs manager, uses a loader to help residents fill sandbags at Melvin Park on Sunday afternoon. The city is distributing 75,000 sandbags for free, with sand available at the park and the Thunder Mountain Middle School parking lot. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A sign at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center warns people Sunday about flooding on trails due to a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin expected to peak early Monday morning. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Mendenhall River flooding expected to peak at 11.31 feet during 20° cold between 1 and 4 a.m. Monday

People warned to avoid river area due to icy conditions; water-level rise slowing as of 11:30 p.m.

A sign at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center warns people Sunday about flooding on trails due to a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin expected to peak early Monday morning. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Amy Liddle during her win in the girls 100 yard breaststroke on Friday in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)

JDHS swimmers swamp Sitka pool with fast times

Crimson Bears are in the right lanes for the region championships

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Amy Liddle during her win in the girls 100 yard breaststroke on Friday in Sitka. (James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Justus Darbonne pins a Metlakatla opponent during the Hoonah Invitational wrestling tournament on Saturday. (Photo courtesy JDHS wrestling)

JDHS grapplers pass first tournament test at Hoonah

18 Crimson Bears wrestle 135 matches over three days

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Justus Darbonne pins a Metlakatla opponent during the Hoonah Invitational wrestling tournament on Saturday. (Photo courtesy JDHS wrestling)
Nathan and Donna Leigh lift a tube loader off a row sandbags after filling them at Melvin Park on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

People getting free sandbags on same day flood warning issued say they are making, adjusting plans

Distribution started Saturday morning, about 40 hours before flood is forecast to crest.

Nathan and Donna Leigh lift a tube loader off a row sandbags after filling them at Melvin Park on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Natalia Harris (20) and senior Evelyn Richards (8) block a kill by Wasilla senior Layla Hays during the Crimson Bears’ three-set loss to the visiting Warriors on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)

JDHS spikers stay positive after second sweep by Wasilla

Crimson Bears fall Saturday 25-17, 25-19, 25-12 to defending state champ Warriors

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Natalia Harris (20) and senior Evelyn Richards (8) block a kill by Wasilla senior Layla Hays during the Crimson Bears’ three-set loss to the visiting Warriors on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)
A hydrograph updated Saturday evening shows the Mendenhall River cresting at of 11.41 feet early Monday morning due to flooding from Suicide Basin. (National Weather Service Juneau)
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Suicide Basin flood warning issued, crest up to 11.5 feet between 1-7 a.m. Monday forecast

City urges immediate precautions in vulnerable areas; some roads and paths will close Sunday afternoon

A hydrograph updated Saturday evening shows the Mendenhall River cresting at of 11.41 feet early Monday morning due to flooding from Suicide Basin. (National Weather Service Juneau)
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