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Shona Osterhout holds up a 26-pound king salmon turned into the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor weigh station for the 75th annual Golden North Salmon Derby on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Osterhout, a derby volunteer, said at the time the fish was leading the derby. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Derby days: Heavy rains and heavy fish

Rainy start, but Saturday sees more action.

Shona Osterhout holds up a 26-pound king salmon turned into the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor weigh station for the 75th annual Golden North Salmon Derby on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Osterhout, a derby volunteer, said at the time the fish was leading the derby. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File
The Alaska State Capitol.

Dividend size is a sticking point for special session

Debate over the check size in recent years has become politically charged and overshadowed issues.

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File
The Alaska State Capitol.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
Participants burn an example of a commercial garment that led to a now-settled intellectual property lawsuit in a ceremony commemorating the settlement with the fashion company on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
Participants burn an example of a commercial garment that led to a now-settled intellectual property lawsuit in a ceremony commemorating the settlement with the fashion company on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021.
The Power Cost Equalization program works with regional electrical utilities like the Inside Passage Electrical Cooperative, seen here on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, to provide subsidies to bring down electricity rates in rural Alaska. Payments for the program had been tied up by legislative deadlock but a Anchorage Superior Court Case Thursday said the money could be released. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Power Cost Equalization program works with regional electrical utilities like the Inside Passage Electrical Cooperative, seen here on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, to provide subsidies to bring down electricity rates in rural Alaska. Payments for the program had been tied up by legislative deadlock but a Anchorage Superior Court Case Thursday said the money could be released. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
Mariya Lovishchuk, executive director of the Glory Hall, gestures toward where the shelter’s garden will soon be built on Thursday.

Glory Hall operating at near normal capacity

The shelter personnel are confident they’re ready for the winter.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
Mariya Lovishchuk, executive director of the Glory Hall, gestures toward where the shelter’s garden will soon be built on Thursday.
This photo shows a “shore-pine” version of lodgepole pine near the town of Yakutat. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Pine grove near Yakutat is farthest north

By Ned Rozell YAKUTAT — “There they are,” Ben Gaglioti said, after a short hike off a gravel road leading away from this small fishing… Continue reading

  • Aug 13, 2021
This photo shows a “shore-pine” version of lodgepole pine near the town of Yakutat. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
With heavy rains predicted, City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors asked boat owners to check on their vessels. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch, which may be upgraded to a warning, in light of the expected weather.

National Weather Service, city warn of severe rain

The worst of the rain should be over by Friday afternoon, meteorologists say.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
With heavy rains predicted, City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors asked boat owners to check on their vessels. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch, which may be upgraded to a warning, in light of the expected weather.
This photo shows an envelope containing a 2020 census letter mailed to a U.S. resident. On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the state of Ohio that tried to get the U.S. Census Bureau to provide data used for drawing congressional and legislative districts ahead of its planned release. (AP Photo / Matt Rourke)

Census data for state show population gains and losses

Mat-Su Borough population gew by over 20%..

This photo shows an envelope containing a 2020 census letter mailed to a U.S. resident. On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the state of Ohio that tried to get the U.S. Census Bureau to provide data used for drawing congressional and legislative districts ahead of its planned release. (AP Photo / Matt Rourke)
Members of the Juneau Huskies practice on Tuesday. After COVID-19 forced the cancelation of the 2020 high school football season, the Juneau Huskies are eager to take the field for the season opener against Colony High School. The varsity and JV squad will both play Saturday, August 14 on the field at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

Huskies football returns —after nearly 700 days between games

The Juneau high school football team prepares to take the field.

Members of the Juneau Huskies practice on Tuesday. After COVID-19 forced the cancelation of the 2020 high school football season, the Juneau Huskies are eager to take the field for the season opener against Colony High School. The varsity and JV squad will both play Saturday, August 14 on the field at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
Dana Zigmund / Capital City Weekly 
Shara Kay Diamond, left, of Anchorage and Chelsea Bighorn, right, of Sante Fe, apply paint to a section of a mural that will depict Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich, a Tlingit civil rights icon. The mural is the work of Tlingit and Athabascan artist, designer, and activist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl. Kay Diamond and Bighorn are apprentices on the project. Right, local artist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl, center, and her apprentices, Shara Kay Diamond, left, and Chelsea Bighorn, right, assemble sections of the mural to apply paint in Worl’s downtown studio on Aug. 10.

A mural is born

Local artist works to prepare pieces

Dana Zigmund / Capital City Weekly 
Shara Kay Diamond, left, of Anchorage and Chelsea Bighorn, right, of Sante Fe, apply paint to a section of a mural that will depict Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich, a Tlingit civil rights icon. The mural is the work of Tlingit and Athabascan artist, designer, and activist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl. Kay Diamond and Bighorn are apprentices on the project. Right, local artist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl, center, and her apprentices, Shara Kay Diamond, left, and Chelsea Bighorn, right, assemble sections of the mural to apply paint in Worl’s downtown studio on Aug. 10.
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes Monday, students will attend each weekday, and COVID mitigations will be in place. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes Monday, students will attend each weekday, and COVID mitigations will be in place. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
A sixth death from the coronavirus, which occurred at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this January 2021 photo, was reported on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Ben Hohenstattl / Juneau Empire File)

City reports 6th COVID death

12 new cases also reported.

A sixth death from the coronavirus, which occurred at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this January 2021 photo, was reported on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. (Ben Hohenstattl / Juneau Empire File)
Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. At Tuesday night's Juneau School District Board of Education meeting, the school board unanimously approved a policy that requires masks inside school buildings and makes them optional outdoors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

School board OKs mask plan for fall

Students to mask inside, optional outside

Signs on the doors at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé remind those entering the building to wear masks. At Tuesday night's Juneau School District Board of Education meeting, the school board unanimously approved a policy that requires masks inside school buildings and makes them optional outdoors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department, seen here on March 20, 2020, will hold a Citizen’s Police Academy beginning this October. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Police to reinstate Citizen’s Police Academy

The eight-week class was a regular event pre-pandemic.

The Juneau Police Department, seen here on March 20, 2020, will hold a Citizen’s Police Academy beginning this October. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
(Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: 13 ways of looking at goose tongue

The heritage of 10,000 years of Tlingit ancestors harvesting and from Tlingit Aaní.

(Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Screenshot 
Deputy attorney general John Skidmore of the Alaska Department of Law speaks during a news conference about a new DNA collection initiative being undertaken by the state on Aug. 10, 2021.

Governor, law enforcement agencies announce DNA collection initiative

The effort will prioritize getting samples from violent or sex offenders.

Screenshot 
Deputy attorney general John Skidmore of the Alaska Department of Law speaks during a news conference about a new DNA collection initiative being undertaken by the state on Aug. 10, 2021.
Juneau’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in June 2013. Members of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Public Works and Facilities Committee have a plan to address concerns about the long-term viability of Juneau’s landfill and of complaints about odors in the Lemon Creek area. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in June 2013. Members of the City and Borough of Juneau’s Public Works and Facilities Committee have a plan to address concerns about the long-term viability of Juneau’s landfill and of complaints about odors in the Lemon Creek area. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This May 30 photo shows a view aboard the MV LeConte. The Alaska Marine Highway System is poised to benefit from a massive spending plan with bipartisan backing. The $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed the Senate on Tuesday. The bill, a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda, now heads to the House. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska’s senators part of bipartisan push for big bill

Both voted for the ‘historic’ $1T infrastructure plan.

This May 30 photo shows a view aboard the MV LeConte. The Alaska Marine Highway System is poised to benefit from a massive spending plan with bipartisan backing. The $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed the Senate on Tuesday. The bill, a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda, now heads to the House. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau’s first electric bus, parked in the Capital Transit garage on April 8, 2021. As more electric busses join the fleet and the new Valley Transit Center opens, existing bus routes will be reconfigured. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau’s first electric bus, parked in the Capital Transit garage on April 8, 2021. As more electric busses join the fleet and the new Valley Transit Center opens, existing bus routes will be reconfigured. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
A sign points the way to the weigh station at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor during last year's Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 16, 2020. This year is the derby's 75th year and organizers have added additional prizes in celebration of the event. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A sign points the way to the weigh station at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor during last year's Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 16, 2020. This year is the derby's 75th year and organizers have added additional prizes in celebration of the event. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)