Home

Fireworks light up the night sky over the Gastineau Channel with reds, whites and blues in the early hours of the Fourth of July. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Fireworks light up the night sky over the Gastineau Channel with reds, whites and blues in the early hours of the Fourth of July. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Imogen Resneck, 4, and Jamie Buehner finish up decorating a bike outside the Douglas Public Library parking garage on July 3, 2021. Resneck’s doll, Robbie, was bound to the bike like an amber-haired figurehead because “she wanted to go to the parade,” Resneck said. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Imogen Resneck, 4, and Jamie Buehner finish up decorating a bike outside the Douglas Public Library parking garage on July 3, 2021. Resneck’s doll, Robbie, was bound to the bike like an amber-haired figurehead because “she wanted to go to the parade,” Resneck said. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows wild flowers at Eagle Beach. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska.

This photo shows wild flowers at Eagle Beach. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)
Sherry Patterson, president of the Black Awareness Association of Juneau, will serve as a grand marshall in the Juneau parade on July 4. She is the first African-American to lead the city's parade.. (Michael S. Lockett /Juneau Empire File)

Building bridges and leading the way

Long-serving community members to serve as parade grand marshals

Sherry Patterson, president of the Black Awareness Association of Juneau, will serve as a grand marshall in the Juneau parade on July 4. She is the first African-American to lead the city's parade.. (Michael S. Lockett /Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska State Library Museum and Archives was open on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 and according to staff, seeing a rise in the amount of visitors. Numbers aren't where they were before the pandemic, but local curators are optimistic about this summer. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Library Museum and Archives was open on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 and according to staff, seeing a rise in the amount of visitors. Numbers aren't where they were before the pandemic, but local curators are optimistic about this summer. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Insulation can be seen through broken shingles on the Novatney Building’s roof. Funding for maintenance work on the roof was among Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s over $215 million in budget cuts. Design work for the effort has long been completed, said UAS facilities maintenance and operations manager Adam Zenger. The roof does not currently leak, he said, but in light of roof’s condition he said there’s concern that could change. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Insulation can be seen through broken shingles on the Novatney Building’s roof. Funding for maintenance work on the roof was among Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s over $215 million in budget cuts. Design work for the effort has long been completed, said UAS facilities maintenance and operations manager Adam Zenger. The roof does not currently leak, he said, but in light of roof’s condition he said there’s concern that could change. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a musk ox in summer 2021 at UAF’s Robert White Large Animal Research Station in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
This photo shows a musk ox in summer 2021 at UAF’s Robert White Large Animal Research Station in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here speaking at a Jun 17, 2021 news conference at the Alaska State Capitol, announced $215 million in vetoes to the state budget Thursday, and called on lawmakers to come together to solve the state's fiscal issues. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here speaking at a Jun 17, 2021 news conference at the Alaska State Capitol, announced $215 million in vetoes to the state budget Thursday, and called on lawmakers to come together to solve the state's fiscal issues. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Gov reignites fight over judicial picks

Governor asks for new slate of candidates for state high court.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
Author-signed copies of "Luna's Big Oxcident," a children's book based on a real Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, will be available in exchange for donations to the musk ox farm during First Friday. (Courtesy Image / P.T. Custard)
Author-signed copies of "Luna's Big Oxcident," a children's book based on a real Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, will be available in exchange for donations to the musk ox farm during First Friday. (Courtesy Image / P.T. Custard)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces he will call lawmakers back to Juneau for a pair of special sessions in this June photo. Dunleavy is holding a news conference today to discuss the budget recently passed by the Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

WATCH: Dunleavy holds budget news conference

Changes to be revealed.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces he will call lawmakers back to Juneau for a pair of special sessions in this June photo. Dunleavy is holding a news conference today to discuss the budget recently passed by the Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the sunset from Garnet Ledge, in Alaska.  (Courtesy Photo / Mary Catharine Martin)

SalmonState: A trip on the Stikine

By Mary Catharine Martin Each year, my partner, Bjorn, and I take a river trip. Parenthood (we have a 2-year-old and a 5-month-old) has also… Continue reading

This photo shows the sunset from Garnet Ledge, in Alaska.  (Courtesy Photo / Mary Catharine Martin)
This July 1, 2021 photo shows flooding along the Taku River south of Juneau. The National Weather Service lifted flood warnings for area rivers but not before record-high floodwaters on the Taku River damaged homes. (Courtesy photo / Kathleen Samalon)
This July 1, 2021 photo shows flooding along the Taku River south of Juneau. The National Weather Service lifted flood warnings for area rivers but not before record-high floodwaters on the Taku River damaged homes. (Courtesy photo / Kathleen Samalon)
Jill Kaasteen Meserve helps a student learn the art of flatstich beading on a Ravenstail pattern on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Sharing techniques with the next generation

“It’s so fun that we get to pass this on to the next generation.”

Jill Kaasteen Meserve helps a student learn the art of flatstich beading on a Ravenstail pattern on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Walter Alexander Soboleff Jr., listens to the story he shared and narrated for the Juneau Voices audio walk on June 24, 2021. His story recounts the struggles he had growing up as the child of prominent Alaskan Native leader and minister Walter Soboleff, namesake of building listeners look out on while hearing the installation. He wore his late father’s hat to a recent celebration of the project. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Walter Alexander Soboleff Jr., listens to the story he shared and narrated for the Juneau Voices audio walk on June 24, 2021. His story recounts the struggles he had growing up as the child of prominent Alaskan Native leader and minister Walter Soboleff, namesake of building listeners look out on while hearing the installation. He wore his late father’s hat to a recent celebration of the project. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron flies over Fort Greely, Alaska during RED FLAG-Alaska 21-2, June 24, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Jose Miguel T. Tamondong)

Multinational Air Force exercise wraps up successfully

Three nations and hundreds of aircraft participated.

A C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron flies over Fort Greely, Alaska during RED FLAG-Alaska 21-2, June 24, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Jose Miguel T. Tamondong)
Alyssa London, second from right, and her team are working to produce Culture Story, which will showcase modern Alaska Native cultures across and outside of Alaska. (Courtesy photo / Culture Story)
Alyssa London, second from right, and her team are working to produce Culture Story, which will showcase modern Alaska Native cultures across and outside of Alaska. (Courtesy photo / Culture Story)
People follow the One People’s Canoe Society canoe to Savikko Park at the end of the Douglas Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2019. After the pandemic forced a hiatus on festivities last year, a full slate of activities are scheduled for this weekend. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

It’s shaping up to be a busy July 4 weekend

Party like it’s America’s 245th birthday

People follow the One People’s Canoe Society canoe to Savikko Park at the end of the Douglas Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2019. After the pandemic forced a hiatus on festivities last year, a full slate of activities are scheduled for this weekend. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Angoon, seen in this Tuesday photo, is one of the nearly 200 communities across Alaska that are served by the Power Cost Equalization program, which reduces power coasts for rural customers. PCE is poised to be unfunded due to a bookkeeping mechanism known as “the sweep.” Legislative leaders have said they intend to vote on the “reverse sweep,” which would fund the PCE among other programs, during a special session in August. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Customers in PCE communities unlikely to see immediate power bill spike

A previous situation where the funds weren’t released occurred three years ago.

Angoon, seen in this Tuesday photo, is one of the nearly 200 communities across Alaska that are served by the Power Cost Equalization program, which reduces power coasts for rural customers. PCE is poised to be unfunded due to a bookkeeping mechanism known as “the sweep.” Legislative leaders have said they intend to vote on the “reverse sweep,” which would fund the PCE among other programs, during a special session in August. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
When the rules changed in May, the city published this summary to help residents understand the updated fireworks regulations. (Courtesy Image/City and Borough of Juneau)
When the rules changed in May, the city published this summary to help residents understand the updated fireworks regulations. (Courtesy Image/City and Borough of Juneau)