Home

This June 2016 photo shows then-Alaska Marijuana Control Board member Brandon Emmett at the board's meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Regulators amid much fanfare in early 2020 approved the first cannabis lounges in Alaska. It was a milestone for the state's legal marijuana industry. Then the pandemic hit. An owner of one of the shops hopes to open later this year. An owner of the other said his shop opened briefly last fall before having to hit pause amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the state. Emmett, a former member of the Marijuana Control Board who strongly advocated for rules to allow onsite use, said he thinks the number of cannabis lounges or cafes in the state will be limited "for at least a couple years." (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Pandemic puts pause on on-site use for some Alaska pot shops

By Becky Bohrer Associated Press Regulators amid much fanfare in early 2020 approved two cannabis lounges in Alaska, making it one of the few states… Continue reading

This June 2016 photo shows then-Alaska Marijuana Control Board member Brandon Emmett at the board's meeting in Anchorage, Alaska. Regulators amid much fanfare in early 2020 approved the first cannabis lounges in Alaska. It was a milestone for the state's legal marijuana industry. Then the pandemic hit. An owner of one of the shops hopes to open later this year. An owner of the other said his shop opened briefly last fall before having to hit pause amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the state. Emmett, a former member of the Marijuana Control Board who strongly advocated for rules to allow onsite use, said he thinks the number of cannabis lounges or cafes in the state will be limited "for at least a couple years." (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Composite image / Juneau Empire Juneau has had 1,326 confirmed cases, including five deaths, since its first confirmed case of the coronavirus on March 22, 2020.

Juneau’s institutions look back on a year of COVID

March 22, 2020 was Juneau’s first confirmed case.

Composite image / Juneau Empire Juneau has had 1,326 confirmed cases, including five deaths, since its first confirmed case of the coronavirus on March 22, 2020.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after a closed-door morning session of US-China talks in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown / Pool via AP)

US, China wrap up testy 1st face-to-face talks under Biden

The Anchorage meetings were a new test in increasingly troubled relations between the two countries.

  • Mar 19, 2021
  • By Matthew Lee and Mark Thiessen Associated Pressz
  • National News
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media after a closed-door morning session of US-China talks in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday, March 19, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown / Pool via AP)
On Friday, Juneau school officials announced that two new principals have been named for the upcoming school year. Harborview School, will welcome Kelley Harvey as the new principal in August. William Sarandria was named the new principal at Auke Bay Elementary School, starting in August. Both Harvey and Sarandria are long-time Juneau educators. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau educators named to local principal posts

Auke Bay and Harborview Schools to welcome new principals in August

On Friday, Juneau school officials announced that two new principals have been named for the upcoming school year. Harborview School, will welcome Kelley Harvey as the new principal in August. William Sarandria was named the new principal at Auke Bay Elementary School, starting in August. Both Harvey and Sarandria are long-time Juneau educators. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Chris Kurka, R-Wasilla, leaves the chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, March 19, 2021, after an hour of delays concerning the wording on his mask. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Mask rules standoff derails House floor session

Rescheduled for Saturday.

Rep. Chris Kurka, R-Wasilla, leaves the chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, March 19, 2021, after an hour of delays concerning the wording on his mask. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A northern red-backed vole climbing down a tree. (Courtesy Photo / Todd Paris, UAF)

Alaska Science Forum: Why did the vole climb the tree?

Despite the small mammal being common, nobody had studied or written about them climbing trees.

A northern red-backed vole climbing down a tree. (Courtesy Photo / Todd Paris, UAF)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire 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.

Bill that would reshape AMHS leadership moves forward

Ideological divide over the word ‘highway.’

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire 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.
Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé senior Cooper Kriegmont shoots during a basketball game against Ketchikan on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Kriegmont and the JDHS boys will face Ketchikan for the title on March 20, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Lexie Razor)

JDHS boys ready for Ketchikan as TMHS looks back on season

JDHS will combat Ketchikan for the regional title Saturday.

Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé senior Cooper Kriegmont shoots during a basketball game against Ketchikan on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Kriegmont and the JDHS boys will face Ketchikan for the title on March 20, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Lexie Razor)
New principals will take the helm at Auke Bay and Harborview elementary schools next school year. A committee interviewed five candidates for the roles this week. School officials plan to name the new principals soon. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Principal candidates interview for open jobs

Committee interviews candidates for the top job at Harborview and Auke Bay

New principals will take the helm at Auke Bay and Harborview elementary schools next school year. A committee interviewed five candidates for the roles this week. School officials plan to name the new principals soon. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on foreign policy at the State Department in Washington. The United States and China will face a new test in their increasingly troubled relations when top officials from both countries meet in Alaska. The Biden administration has yet to signal it’s ready or willing to back down on hard-line stances taken by the Trump administration. Nor have the Chinese shown any sign the battle is over. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / Pool)

Troubled US-China ties face new test in Alaska meeting

The stage is set for a contentious first face-to-face meeting.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on foreign policy at the State Department in Washington. The United States and China will face a new test in their increasingly troubled relations when top officials from both countries meet in Alaska. The Biden administration has yet to signal it’s ready or willing to back down on hard-line stances taken by the Trump administration. Nor have the Chinese shown any sign the battle is over. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / Pool)
Tease

Opinion: Can the State of the Union be repaired?

Biden’s address to the nation before a joint session of Congress is sorely overdue.

  • Mar 18, 2021
  • By Win Gruening
Tease
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Detective Patrick Taylor draws a sidearm-controller Wednesday during a VR training simulation as Sgt. Sterling Salisbury controls the scenario from a computer elsewhere.

VRPD: Police using virtual tools to train for real de-escalation

De-escalation formed the core of a recent major training block

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Detective Patrick Taylor draws a sidearm-controller Wednesday during a VR training simulation as Sgt. Sterling Salisbury controls the scenario from a computer elsewhere.
The Juneau Police Department announced a program to help better serve the community and its at-risk members on March 16, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau police begin program for at-risk community members

The database will allow police to better help Juneau residents in distress.

The Juneau Police Department announced a program to help better serve the community and its at-risk members on March 16, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
The Juneau School District, it’s headquarters seen here in this Juneau Empire file photo, will receive a portion of Alaska’s more than $358 million in federal relief money for schools. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Alaska to receive over $358 million to reopen schools

Reopen “quickly and safely.”

The Juneau School District, it’s headquarters seen here in this Juneau Empire file photo, will receive a portion of Alaska’s more than $358 million in federal relief money for schools. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Mary Khaye Gacia (2) dribbles toward Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Skylar Tuckwood (13) during a 46-41 TMHS victory. It took four quarters and two overtime periods to determine which team would go on to face Ketchikan High School in Ketchikan. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

‘Epic, classic’ game determines which Juneau team competes for Region V title

Local team advances in double-overtime game.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Mary Khaye Gacia (2) dribbles toward Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s Skylar Tuckwood (13) during a 46-41 TMHS victory. It took four quarters and two overtime periods to determine which team would go on to face Ketchikan High School in Ketchikan. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Antony Blinken, U.S. secretary of state, speaks to Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's foreign minister, and Nobuo Kishi, Japan's defense minister, both not pictured, during the two plus two security talks at Iikura guest house in Tokyo Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Defense and foreign ministers from the U.S. and Japan are meeting to discuss their concern over China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region as the Biden administration tries to reaffirm engagement with its key regional allies. (Kiyoshi Ota / Pool Photo)

White House sets low expectations for China talks in Alaska

Senior administration official: Talks allow sides chance for “taking stock” in the relationship.

Antony Blinken, U.S. secretary of state, speaks to Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's foreign minister, and Nobuo Kishi, Japan's defense minister, both not pictured, during the two plus two security talks at Iikura guest house in Tokyo Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Defense and foreign ministers from the U.S. and Japan are meeting to discuss their concern over China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region as the Biden administration tries to reaffirm engagement with its key regional allies. (Kiyoshi Ota / Pool Photo)
An Anchorage man was arrested in Anchorage Tuesday, March 16, 2021 by the FBI for his alleged participation in the Capitol riots in January. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Man arrested in Anchorage for alleged participation in Capitol riots

He’s one of many wanted in connection with the abortive attempt to overturn the election results.

An Anchorage man was arrested in Anchorage Tuesday, March 16, 2021 by the FBI for his alleged participation in the Capitol riots in January. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A Department of Corrections nurse vaccinates a Fairbanks Correctional Center inmate. The DOC eased restrictions on March 15, 2021, to allow attorneys to visit fully vaccinated inmates at DOC facilities. (Courtesy Photo / DOC)

DOC to allow attorney-client visitation in facilities

Attorneys will be allowed to visit fully vaccinated inmates in person again.

A Department of Corrections nurse vaccinates a Fairbanks Correctional Center inmate. The DOC eased restrictions on March 15, 2021, to allow attorneys to visit fully vaccinated inmates at DOC facilities. (Courtesy Photo / DOC)
Rep. Christopher Kurka, R-Wasilla, seen here leaving the House chambers on Feb. 22, questioned masking rules on the floor of the House Monday and said there was political bias behind enforcement of rules. However, also on Monday two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and 14 other people, including two House lawmakers, have gone into quarantine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

New COVID-19 cases at the Capitol

Two cases, 14 close contacts.

Rep. Christopher Kurka, R-Wasilla, seen here leaving the House chambers on Feb. 22, questioned masking rules on the floor of the House Monday and said there was political bias behind enforcement of rules. However, also on Monday two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and 14 other people, including two House lawmakers, have gone into quarantine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Alaska Republican Party has not only censured Sen. Murkowski for voting to convict former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial, but it also does not want her to identity as a GOP candidate in next year’s election, a member of the party’s State Central Committee said Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger / Pool Photo via AP)

State GOP wants Murkowski to stop identifying as Republican

Former President Donald Trump has said he would campaign against Murkowski in Alaska.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Alaska Republican Party has not only censured Sen. Murkowski for voting to convict former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial, but it also does not want her to identity as a GOP candidate in next year’s election, a member of the party’s State Central Committee said Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger / Pool Photo via AP)