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The first rule of wild harvesting is, “Don’t harvest what you don’t know.” It’s also the second rule. That’s because for a novice harvester, it can be easy to confuse the potentially deadly false hellebore with watermelon berry shoots. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Mork Yéilk’)
Capital City Weekly

Harvesting watermelon berry shoots. What to know before you go

“Don’t harvest what you don’t know.”

The first rule of wild harvesting is, “Don’t harvest what you don’t know.” It’s also the second rule. That’s because for a novice harvester, it can be easy to confuse the potentially deadly false hellebore with watermelon berry shoots. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Mork Yéilk’)
Members of a bicameral conference committee of lawmakers, seen here at their first meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, will meet again Wednesday, June 2. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget talks to resume Wednesday

19 days left.

Members of a bicameral conference committee of lawmakers, seen here at their first meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, will meet again Wednesday, June 2. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé baseball and softball teams will travel to Anchorage this weekend to compete in their respective state tournaments. (Unsplash / Thomas Park)

Beginnings and ends: Teams head to state as others wind down

Young teams will make for lively seasons next year.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé baseball and softball teams will travel to Anchorage this weekend to compete in their respective state tournaments. (Unsplash / Thomas Park)
Members of the TMHS boys soccer team celebrate winning the school’s first-ever, state-wide soccer championship besting Soldotna in a hard-fought 3-2 victory on May 29, 2021. (Courtesy Photo/Tim Lewis)

TMHS boys soccer brings home state championship

JDHS came in third

Members of the TMHS boys soccer team celebrate winning the school’s first-ever, state-wide soccer championship besting Soldotna in a hard-fought 3-2 victory on May 29, 2021. (Courtesy Photo/Tim Lewis)
An adult male American redstart is brightly attired with contrasting black and orange (Courtesy Photo /Mark Schwann)

On the Trails: Hither and yon in late May

Daily walks seldom lead to disappointment.

An adult male American redstart is brightly attired with contrasting black and orange (Courtesy Photo /Mark Schwann)
COVID-19 vaccines, like these seen at a March 13, 2021 Department of Veteran’s Affairs vaccine clinic, will be available at Alaska three main airports and open to anyone who wants one. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Vaccines for visitors: Shots now available at 3 Alaska airports

Ages 12 and up.

COVID-19 vaccines, like these seen at a March 13, 2021 Department of Veteran’s Affairs vaccine clinic, will be available at Alaska three main airports and open to anyone who wants one. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
This undated aerial photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a herd of caribou on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. The Biden administration is suspending oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as it reviews the environmental impacts of drilling in the remote region.(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Biden suspends oil leases in Alaska’s Arctic refuge

Move draws rebuke from the state.

This undated aerial photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a herd of caribou on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. The Biden administration is suspending oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as it reviews the environmental impacts of drilling in the remote region.(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau residents sing together outside the Juneau Montessori School, formerly the Mayflower School built by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to honor the 215 dead Indigenous children found at a residential school in Canada, on May 31, 2021.

Locals mourn deceased children found at Canadian residential school

The local Montessori school was adorned with flowers and feathers.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau residents sing together outside the Juneau Montessori School, formerly the Mayflower School built by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to honor the 215 dead Indigenous children found at a residential school in Canada, on May 31, 2021.
Members of the JDHS girls soccer team celebrate after clinching the state soccer title. The team capped a perfect season by besting the Soldotna Stars 5-1 to clinch the Division II title. (Courtesy Photo/Carolyn Kelley)

JDHS girls soccer clinches state title

Juneau’s soccer teams dominate state tournament

Members of the JDHS girls soccer team celebrate after clinching the state soccer title. The team capped a perfect season by besting the Soldotna Stars 5-1 to clinch the Division II title. (Courtesy Photo/Carolyn Kelley)
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5559 junior vice commander David Carroll, nearer, and post service officer Tom Armstrong, further, salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery on May 31, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Rain does little to dampen larger-than-usual Memorial Day ceremony

Many gathered at Evergreen Cemetery to honor America’s war dead.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5559 junior vice commander David Carroll, nearer, and post service officer Tom Armstrong, further, salute during a Memorial Day ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery on May 31, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Dick Hand, a Coast Guard veteran, stands at salute after laying a wreath at Alaskan Memorial Park in remembrance of Americans who gave their lives for the country on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Remembering the fallen

Rain didn’t deter the crowd from remembering America’s lost service members

Dick Hand, a Coast Guard veteran, stands at salute after laying a wreath at Alaskan Memorial Park in remembrance of Americans who gave their lives for the country on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Local fireworks ordinance makes too many exceptions

I applaud (adopting the ordinance) but am of the opinion that it does not go far enough.

  • May 31, 2021
  • By Don Koch
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows a view of one of the faces of North America’s tallest peak, then-named Mount McKinley, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Rangers who keep an eye on North America’s highest mountain peak say they are seeing impatient and inexperienced climbers take more risks and put their lives and other climbers in danger In 2021. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Risky, impatient climbers bring danger to Denali

Rangers say impatient and inexperienced climbers are taking more risks and endangering themselves.

This photo shows a view of one of the faces of North America’s tallest peak, then-named Mount McKinley, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Rangers who keep an eye on North America’s highest mountain peak say they are seeing impatient and inexperienced climbers take more risks and put their lives and other climbers in danger In 2021. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
teasers

Opinion: History needs a face

My memories of WWII, Korea and Vietnam all have faces.

  • May 31, 2021
  • By Mike Clemens
teasers
Members of the 2021 JDHS men's soccer team. (Courtesy Photo/Michael Penn)

Thank you letters highlight a soccer search.

Thank you, merci, danke, gracias, gunalchéesh.

Members of the 2021 JDHS men's soccer team. (Courtesy Photo/Michael Penn)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Dunleavy’s fiscal laziness

Voters first need a well-developed analysis.

  • May 29, 2021
  • By Rich Moniak
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Basin Road and Gold Creek as seen from Perseverance Trail on Sept. 22, 2019. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

In time for the long weekend, a look at some of Juneau’s favorite trails

What’s No, 1?

Basin Road and Gold Creek as seen from Perseverance Trail on Sept. 22, 2019. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire In this November 2019 photo, former Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, tells his favorite Walter Soboleff stories during a celebration of Soboleff at the Walter Soboleff Center on Walter Soboleff Day.

Albert Kookesh, Alaska Native leader, dies at 72

Condolences are coming in.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire In this November 2019 photo, former Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, tells his favorite Walter Soboleff stories during a celebration of Soboleff at the Walter Soboleff Center on Walter Soboleff Day.
The Alaska State Capitol was quiet on Friday, May 28, 2021, as several lawmakers returned to their home districts for the Memorial Day weekend. Negotiations on the state's budget won't begin again until Tuesday, June 1. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Divided Legislature takes holiday break

Special session ends June 19.

The Alaska State Capitol was quiet on Friday, May 28, 2021, as several lawmakers returned to their home districts for the Memorial Day weekend. Negotiations on the state's budget won't begin again until Tuesday, June 1. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Dan O’Neill on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska writer awarded an honorary degree

By Ned Rozell Alaska is large in its acreage of spruce swamps and spongey tundra but small in the number of writers who have described… Continue reading

  • May 28, 2021
  • By Ned Rozell
Dan O’Neill on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)