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A person aboard the American Constellation wears a mask as the ship arrives late Monday afternoon at the downtown cruise docks. A cluster of COVID-19 cases associated with the ship has reached 10. All known cases in the cluster are isolating. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Cruise ship COVID cluster reaches 10

Public Health: Risk of exposure to the public is low

A person aboard the American Constellation wears a mask as the ship arrives late Monday afternoon at the downtown cruise docks. A cluster of COVID-19 cases associated with the ship has reached 10. All known cases in the cluster are isolating. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a negotiator in the infrastructure talks, pauses for reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Murkowski hasn’t officially announced her re-election plans but her campaign released fundraising details, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, that an advisor says “strongly positions,” a re-election bid by Murkowski. The campaign statement comes ahead of a filing deadline and days after Republican party leaders in Alaska endorsed newcomer Kelly Tshibaka for Senate. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)

Murkowski camp teases fundraising ahead of deadline

Adviser: Fundraising “strongly positions” the Alaska Republican for a reelection bid.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a negotiator in the infrastructure talks, pauses for reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Murkowski hasn’t officially announced her re-election plans but her campaign released fundraising details, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, that an advisor says “strongly positions,” a re-election bid by Murkowski. The campaign statement comes ahead of a filing deadline and days after Republican party leaders in Alaska endorsed newcomer Kelly Tshibaka for Senate. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
The commercial fishing vessel Della G, seen here the next morning, caught fire and was completely destroyed in the Gastineau Channel on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Knight)

Adrift and ablaze: emergency services respond to late-night boat fire

Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire that torched the 32-foot vessel.

The commercial fishing vessel Della G, seen here the next morning, caught fire and was completely destroyed in the Gastineau Channel on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Knight)
Brita Fagerstrom performs as Roman Wilde at the Alaskan Hotel and Bar on July 8. During the show, Fagerstrom performed show-stopping numbers as Wilde, including an homage to Queen, a roof-raising Bon Jovi tribute, and a fun turn as a retro crooner. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Brita Fagerstrom performs as Roman Wilde at the Alaskan Hotel and Bar on July 8. During the show, Fagerstrom performed show-stopping numbers as Wilde, including an homage to Queen, a roof-raising Bon Jovi tribute, and a fun turn as a retro crooner. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
William Tamaree of the Kayáashkéedítaan clan stands next to the Kéet Koowaal in this undated photo. The Kéet Koowaal is being returned to the clan from a museum in Alabama. (Courtesy photo / CCTHITA)

Alaska Native works coming home after decades down South

The objects will be returned to home, to be displayed in a future cultural ceremony.

William Tamaree of the Kayáashkéedítaan clan stands next to the Kéet Koowaal in this undated photo. The Kéet Koowaal is being returned to the clan from a museum in Alabama. (Courtesy photo / CCTHITA)
Troy Wuyts-Smith on July 12. Wuyts-Smith recently entered the race to replace long-serving City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Member Loren Jones, who is barred from seeking an additional term due to term limits. His entry means there are now three candidates for the seat. Paul Kelly and Barbara Blake have also announced bids to run. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

CBJ Assembly race heats up

A third candidate files to run for District 1 position

Troy Wuyts-Smith on July 12. Wuyts-Smith recently entered the race to replace long-serving City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Member Loren Jones, who is barred from seeking an additional term due to term limits. His entry means there are now three candidates for the seat. Paul Kelly and Barbara Blake have also announced bids to run. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A map of Alaska shows the number of projects throughout the state that have received grants from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy since 2009. On Tuesday, July 13, 2021, DOE announced $12 million in energy grants for 13 American Indian and Alaska Native communities, seven of which are in Alaska. (Courtesy image / U.S. Department of Energy)
A map of Alaska shows the number of projects throughout the state that have received grants from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy since 2009. On Tuesday, July 13, 2021, DOE announced $12 million in energy grants for 13 American Indian and Alaska Native communities, seven of which are in Alaska. (Courtesy image / U.S. Department of Energy)
Courtesy photo / CCTHITA
Tribal leaders from across the Southeast, including President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson of Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, left; President Gloria Burns of the Ketchikan Indian Community, center; and Marina Anderson, Tribal Adminitrator of the Organized Village of Kaasan, right; and many others attended a consultation with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service last week to meet and set the ground for replacing protections for the Tongass National Forest.

Federal officials meet with Southeast tribal governments

The current administration says they’re trying to have a better relationship than the previous one.

Courtesy photo / CCTHITA
Tribal leaders from across the Southeast, including President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson of Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, left; President Gloria Burns of the Ketchikan Indian Community, center; and Marina Anderson, Tribal Adminitrator of the Organized Village of Kaasan, right; and many others attended a consultation with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service last week to meet and set the ground for replacing protections for the Tongass National Forest.
Two black bears walk along Skilak Lake Road on Monday, June 14, 2021 near Skilak Lake, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears and dogs don’t mix

The best way to enjoy bear country with pups is by keeping them close.

Two black bears walk along Skilak Lake Road on Monday, June 14, 2021 near Skilak Lake, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Holland America Line Eurodam pulls into Juneau’s downtown harbor heading for the city-owned dock on Monday, May 6, 2019. The privately-owned South Franklin Dock, foreground, is currently the only dock set up to provide electric power to a ship while at berth in Juneau. However, city officials are hoping to get a federal grant to add electrified docks. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Plugging into federal money

City OKs match for potential electric docks grant

The Holland America Line Eurodam pulls into Juneau’s downtown harbor heading for the city-owned dock on Monday, May 6, 2019. The privately-owned South Franklin Dock, foreground, is currently the only dock set up to provide electric power to a ship while at berth in Juneau. However, city officials are hoping to get a federal grant to add electrified docks. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The American Constellation arrives at the cruise ship docks Monday evening. Crew members will quarantine on board he American Cruise Lines vessel following multiple reported cases of COVID-19 among the crew, according to City and Borough of Juneau. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The American Constellation arrives at the cruise ship docks Monday evening. Crew members will quarantine on board he American Cruise Lines vessel following multiple reported cases of COVID-19 among the crew, according to City and Borough of Juneau. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Judge hears case challenging new Alaska election system

Superior Court Judge Gregory Miller did not immediately rule Monday.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
A former SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium chiropractor accused of more than 15 counts of sexual assault while he was employed at SEARHC will not have his conditions of release altered, a Juneau judge decided on Monday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Conditions unchanged for ex-chiropractor charged with sexual assaults

The defendant isn’t to leave the country or to do chiropractictic work, but remains unincarcerated.

A former SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium chiropractor accused of more than 15 counts of sexual assault while he was employed at SEARHC will not have his conditions of release altered, a Juneau judge decided on Monday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Photo

Slack Tide: Meditations on July

“In like a crab, out like a lion.”

  • Jul 11, 2021
  • By Geoff Kirsch
Photo
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File 
The Coast Guard’s 2020 Boating Safety Statistics Report highlighted an expected spike in boater accidents, deaths, and injuries with more people on the water during the pandemic.

Boating accidents, casualties expectedly high in 2020

More people on the water with the pandemic means more potential for accidents to happen.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File 
The Coast Guard’s 2020 Boating Safety Statistics Report highlighted an expected spike in boater accidents, deaths, and injuries with more people on the water during the pandemic.
Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell 
The crest of summer warmth is near in Alaska. Many locales in the Last Frontier have their temperature peak in July.

Alaska Science Forum: The peak of summer warmth is near

Alaska is about to make a left turn toward winter.

Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell 
The crest of summer warmth is near in Alaska. Many locales in the Last Frontier have their temperature peak in July.
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Judge to hear case challenging new voting process

Arguments set for Monday.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File 
Coeur Alaska will likely be able to expand their facilities at the Kensington Gold Mine including the Tailing Treatment Facility, seen here in this October 2019 photo, after the U.S. Forest Service announced it intends to approve the company’s proposal to extend the mine’s life by 10 years. Operations were expected to end in 2023 under a plan approved in 2005.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File 
Coeur Alaska will likely be able to expand their facilities at the Kensington Gold Mine including the Tailing Treatment Facility, seen here in this October 2019 photo, after the U.S. Forest Service announced it intends to approve the company’s proposal to extend the mine’s life by 10 years. Operations were expected to end in 2023 under a plan approved in 2005.
Two hikers, third and fourth from the right, were rescued after being stranded on Mount Roberts Wednesday evening by rapidly changing weather. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Mountain Rescue)

2 hikers stranded by weather rescued off Mount Roberts

Juneau’s mercurial weather left them high, but not dry.

Two hikers, third and fourth from the right, were rescued after being stranded on Mount Roberts Wednesday evening by rapidly changing weather. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Mountain Rescue)
The second of two summer school terms offered by the Juneau School District started on July 6. Harborview School, shown here in May 2020, is one of the locations offering the program. Summer sessions offer an opportunity for students to brush up on content they may have missed over three semesters marked by COVID-19-related schedule disruptions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Hitting the books this summer

In-person summer programs offer catch-up opportunity

The second of two summer school terms offered by the Juneau School District started on July 6. Harborview School, shown here in May 2020, is one of the locations offering the program. Summer sessions offer an opportunity for students to brush up on content they may have missed over three semesters marked by COVID-19-related schedule disruptions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)