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The MV Matanuska awaits repairs at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Thursday as lawmakers at the state Capitol debated whether the Alaska Marine Highway System was actually a highway. A bill that would shape long-term planning for the system passed out of committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: The feigning champions of the ferry system

Token improvements aren’t anything to brag about.

  • May 1, 2021
  • By Rich Moniak
The MV Matanuska awaits repairs at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Thursday as lawmakers at the state Capitol debated whether the Alaska Marine Highway System was actually a highway. A bill that would shape long-term planning for the system passed out of committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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Damage to undersea cable leads to widespread communication outages

Services have been restored via other cables, and a repair ship is deployed to fix the breakage.

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The Lumberman, shown here moored alongside the City and Borough of Juneau’s pier downtown, will be scuttled in the open sea when clear weather allows. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Lumberman scuttling on weather hold for now

Sometimes, it’s like you can look out and still see her moored there.

The Lumberman, shown here moored alongside the City and Borough of Juneau’s pier downtown, will be scuttled in the open sea when clear weather allows. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. The future of large vessel cruise ship-based tourism is a topic of debate as a group of cruise reform activists are trying to advance ballot measures aimed at limiting cruise ships in Juneau. Another community group has started a Stop the Sign campaign to prevent the questions from appearing on the ballot in October's municipal election. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

Cruise control on the ballot?

Not so fast, says Protect Juneau’s Future committee

The Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. The future of large vessel cruise ship-based tourism is a topic of debate as a group of cruise reform activists are trying to advance ballot measures aimed at limiting cruise ships in Juneau. Another community group has started a Stop the Sign campaign to prevent the questions from appearing on the ballot in October's municipal election. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
A screenshot from the FBI’s Most Wanted page showing a photo the FBI said was taken on Jan. 6, 2021, inside the U.S.Capitol. Marilyn Hueper said FBI agents showed her this image and claimed it was her. (Screenshot)

Homer residents said home was searched by FBI in connection to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots

Couple said agents seized computers, cellphones

A screenshot from the FBI’s Most Wanted page showing a photo the FBI said was taken on Jan. 6, 2021, inside the U.S.Capitol. Marilyn Hueper said FBI agents showed her this image and claimed it was her. (Screenshot)
Juneau Pioneer Home resident Phyllis Woodman, left, sits with the home's administrator Gina Del Rosario, right, on Thursday, April 29, 2021. Del Rosario is retiring and friends and colleagues say she'll be hard to replace. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

‘Only one Gina’: Pioneer Home administrator announces retirement

‘A friend and an admin.”

Juneau Pioneer Home resident Phyllis Woodman, left, sits with the home's administrator Gina Del Rosario, right, on Thursday, April 29, 2021. Del Rosario is retiring and friends and colleagues say she'll be hard to replace. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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Communications outage downs phones and internet service

The cause is currently unknown.

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A drop box awaits ballots at Don D. Statter Harbor in late September 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Petition seeks to limit local vote-by-mail options

Group wants voters to weigh in on the future of municipal elections

A drop box awaits ballots at Don D. Statter Harbor in late September 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Members of Thunder Mountain High School's four robotics teams stand with four robots. (Courtesy Photo / Carol May)

Wired to win:Robotics teams earn awards in state contest

TMHS team took top honors but weren’t the only winners.

Members of Thunder Mountain High School's four robotics teams stand with four robots. (Courtesy Photo / Carol May)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, listens as residents discuss a levee they have concerns with on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Hyder, Alaska. Hyder was among the Southeast Alaska communities that Dunleavy visited as part of a one-day trip. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Dunleavy’s travel signals move to return to normalcy

Have Gov. will travel.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, listens as residents discuss a levee they have concerns with on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Hyder, Alaska. Hyder was among the Southeast Alaska communities that Dunleavy visited as part of a one-day trip. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
Dozens of amendments to a bill extending the state's disaster declaration are laid out on a table outside the Senate chambers on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Lawmakers eventually passed the bill, but didn't adjourned until late in the evening. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire.)

Lawmakers pass disaster bill, wait for governor

Disaster disagreement.

Dozens of amendments to a bill extending the state's disaster declaration are laid out on a table outside the Senate chambers on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Lawmakers eventually passed the bill, but didn't adjourned until late in the evening. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire.)
Courtesy image / Larry Johansen Local author Larry Johansen has written a book about the history of baseball in Alaska during the Gold Rush. The book, called “The Golden Days of Baseball, The Story of Baseball Played in Frontier Alaska and the Klondike” is the first about this previously unexplored topic. The book is available for purchase beginning May 5.
Capital City Weekly

Baseball in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Local author shares untold story of frontier baseball in a new book

Courtesy image / Larry Johansen Local author Larry Johansen has written a book about the history of baseball in Alaska during the Gold Rush. The book, called “The Golden Days of Baseball, The Story of Baseball Played in Frontier Alaska and the Klondike” is the first about this previously unexplored topic. The book is available for purchase beginning May 5.
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speaks to Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, before a floor session to debate a bill over a disaster declaration in the state on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The debate would take lawmakers into the evening Wednesday, as over 40 amendments were submitted on the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Disaster debate drags out in Senate

Even if bill advances, governor might not sign it.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speaks to Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, before a floor session to debate a bill over a disaster declaration in the state on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The debate would take lawmakers into the evening Wednesday, as over 40 amendments were submitted on the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
An Arizona man was arrested for his role bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to Fairbanks between 2019 and 2020 according to a Department of Justice news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Arizona man arrested for trafficking 60 pounds of meth to Fairbanks

The scale indicates it could be part of a larger operation.

An Arizona man was arrested for his role bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to Fairbanks between 2019 and 2020 according to a Department of Justice news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Bowls like those seen here will be available for sale or auction during the Glory Hall’s Empty Bowls fundraiser beginning Friday, April 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Mariya Lovishchuk)

Empty Bowls goes on amid reduced fanfare

The Glory Hall also recieved a major donation of cleaning supplies.

Bowls like those seen here will be available for sale or auction during the Glory Hall’s Empty Bowls fundraiser beginning Friday, April 30, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Mariya Lovishchuk)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Karl Lewkowski’s book “Cool Man Lewk: My Journey from Orphan to Crimefighter” talks about Lewkowski’s seven years as an officer in the Juneau Police Department, among other aspects of his life.
Capital City Weekly

Former JPD officer, PI reflects on time in Juneau in new book

Lewkowski was a man of many hats.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Karl Lewkowski’s book “Cool Man Lewk: My Journey from Orphan to Crimefighter” talks about Lewkowski’s seven years as an officer in the Juneau Police Department, among other aspects of his life.
An Alaska Department of Corrections news release announced that all DOC facilities, including Lemon Creek Correctional Center, shown above, will reopen for public visitation on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Prisons to reopen public visitation statewide

All visits will be subject to health and safety guidelines.

An Alaska Department of Corrections news release announced that all DOC facilities, including Lemon Creek Correctional Center, shown above, will reopen for public visitation on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Members of the JDHS boys soccer team help junior Callan Smith celebrate a goal in the season opener against TMHS Tuesday night. In the end, TMHS walked away with a 3-2 victory. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

High school boys soccer returns

TMHS bests JDHS in first game since 2019

Members of the JDHS boys soccer team help junior Callan Smith celebrate a goal in the season opener against TMHS Tuesday night. In the end, TMHS walked away with a 3-2 victory. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
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Rep Young announces reelection bid

He’s Congress’ longest-ever-serving Republican member.

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State officials are trying to facilitate the transfer of federal lands to the University of Alaska but where those lands are hasn’t yet been determined. What is known is the lands will be drawn from the state’s allotment of federal lands granted to it under statehood, seen here in this July 30, 2020 Bureau of Land Management map. (Courtesy Image / U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

State pushes for university land grant transfer

Stable fiscal future.

State officials are trying to facilitate the transfer of federal lands to the University of Alaska but where those lands are hasn’t yet been determined. What is known is the lands will be drawn from the state’s allotment of federal lands granted to it under statehood, seen here in this July 30, 2020 Bureau of Land Management map. (Courtesy Image / U.S. Bureau of Land Management)