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Members of United Academics - American Association of University Professors/American Federation of Teachers Local 4996 gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, to call on University of Alaska officials to agree to a negotiated contract. After an agreement failed to materialize Monday, negotiations are ongoing. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

University contract impasse continues as classes near

Union and administration schedule talks through September after negotiations fall short Monday

Members of United Academics - American Association of University Professors/American Federation of Teachers Local 4996 gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, to call on University of Alaska officials to agree to a negotiated contract. After an agreement failed to materialize Monday, negotiations are ongoing. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire William Stich-Smith stands on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday morning to showcase his pandemic quilt, which he’s currently touring all throughout the country. Alaska marks the 39th state he’s traveled to so far.

Washington teen tours country with his pandemic quilt

A Stich-Smith in time.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire William Stich-Smith stands on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday morning to showcase his pandemic quilt, which he’s currently touring all throughout the country. Alaska marks the 39th state he’s traveled to so far.
Fire trucks flash their lights in a line during an emergency drill at Juneau International Airport. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Fire department needs volunteers

Volunteerism reaches 20-year low for fire department.

Fire trucks flash their lights in a line during an emergency drill at Juneau International Airport. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A for sale sign sits outside a house in the Mendenhall Valley area. The City and Borough of Juneau’s finance staff recently released an online FAQ dedicated to answering a series of frequently asked questions about the borough’s real estate mandatory disclosure policy.

Disclosure FAQ met with more questions

Local Realtors share their take on new web page; city officials say more answers coming.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire A for sale sign sits outside a house in the Mendenhall Valley area. The City and Borough of Juneau’s finance staff recently released an online FAQ dedicated to answering a series of frequently asked questions about the borough’s real estate mandatory disclosure policy.
Jayden Johnson smiles as he reaches the end zone in the fourth quarter. The Huskies were victorious in their home-opener against Bartlett High School. The score extended Juneau's lead to 26-14 and helped stave off a turnover-fueled comeback bid by Bartlett. The Huskies went on to win 33-14. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Huskies fight for frantic finish

Juneau beats Bartlett in home opener 33 to 14

Jayden Johnson smiles as he reaches the end zone in the fourth quarter. The Huskies were victorious in their home-opener against Bartlett High School. The score extended Juneau's lead to 26-14 and helped stave off a turnover-fueled comeback bid by Bartlett. The Huskies went on to win 33-14. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Gray whale shoots water from its spout while Angoon residents try to free it from being entangled in a broken crab pot Thursday evening inside Favorite Bay. (Courtesy Photo)

Angoon residents work to free gray whale

NOAA encourages public to call 24-hour hotline.

Gray whale shoots water from its spout while Angoon residents try to free it from being entangled in a broken crab pot Thursday evening inside Favorite Bay. (Courtesy Photo)
A forecast for Alaska’s U.S. Senate race by FiveThirtyEight, long considered the gold standard in prediction punditry, following Tuesday’s primary is wildly at odds with virtually all polls and conventional wisdom by showing Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka is the dominant favorite to win in November’s general election. Most analysts expect incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski to be reelected under the new ranked choice voting system due to support from Democrats and Independents. Murkowski also defied some predictions by getting the most Republican votes in the primary, although that may have been because the leading Democratic candidate got considerably fewer votes than expected. (Screenshot from FiveThirtyEight)

Odds and unends from a primarily special campaign

Bits of weirdness from a uniquely mystifying election week.

A forecast for Alaska’s U.S. Senate race by FiveThirtyEight, long considered the gold standard in prediction punditry, following Tuesday’s primary is wildly at odds with virtually all polls and conventional wisdom by showing Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka is the dominant favorite to win in November’s general election. Most analysts expect incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski to be reelected under the new ranked choice voting system due to support from Democrats and Independents. Murkowski also defied some predictions by getting the most Republican votes in the primary, although that may have been because the leading Democratic candidate got considerably fewer votes than expected. (Screenshot from FiveThirtyEight)
This photo shows an aerial view of the Montana Creek area. A master plan draft for the area is currently in the works. (Courtesy / CBJ Parks and Recreation)

Montana Creek’s draft master plan takes another step forward

It proposes projects like new public use cabins, parking areas, new trails and maintenance.

This photo shows an aerial view of the Montana Creek area. A master plan draft for the area is currently in the works. (Courtesy / CBJ Parks and Recreation)
A political sign that was later removed sits in a field near the Mendenhall Wetlands. Rules around standalone political signs are tightly regulated in Alaska. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Time of the signs: A rules rundown for campaign season

State road right of ways are off-limits for campaign signs.

A political sign that was later removed sits in a field near the Mendenhall Wetlands. Rules around standalone political signs are tightly regulated in Alaska. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to a report Thursday evening of a fire at a residence in the Mendenhall Valley. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Electrical issue starts small residential fire

A fire involving a battery-powered scooter broke out and was quickly extinguished.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to a report Thursday evening of a fire at a residence in the Mendenhall Valley. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows polls at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal along with all other poll stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Unpredecented election draws strong interest, some confusion

Juneau voters turn out steadily as world watches ranked choice vote, famous candidates

This photo shows polls at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal along with all other poll stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 16. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
A map shows land tracts where Alaska Native Vietnam veterans can apply for parcels under an allocation program finalized this month by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The most common land parcels potentially available are shaded in light yellow. Areas shaded in light green, including the ones nearest Juneau, represent potentially available state selected land. Applications processing and selection by the bureau is scheduled to start Sept. 14. (U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

28M acres of land now available for Vietnam-era Alaska Native veterans

160-acre parcels for Vietnam-era applicants viewable online, allocations to begin in September

A map shows land tracts where Alaska Native Vietnam veterans can apply for parcels under an allocation program finalized this month by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The most common land parcels potentially available are shaded in light yellow. Areas shaded in light green, including the ones nearest Juneau, represent potentially available state selected land. Applications processing and selection by the bureau is scheduled to start Sept. 14. (U.S. Bureau of Land Management)
The sun shines over Auke Bay on Aug. 18 as a sunny weekend belies the coming autumn. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Sun shines as weather edges toward autumn

A sunny weekend belies the coming of gray skies and cooling temperatures.

The sun shines over Auke Bay on Aug. 18 as a sunny weekend belies the coming autumn. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Montana Creek Bridge is closed to all vehicle traffic following recent weather that has damaged the structure, according to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Montana Creek Bridge closed to all vehicles due to damage

Recent weather has rendered it unsafe for cars, ATVs, and other vehicles, as well as horses.

The Montana Creek Bridge is closed to all vehicle traffic following recent weather that has damaged the structure, according to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
In this October 2018 photo, Bjorn Dihle inspects the acid mine drainage flowing into the Tulsequah River from a containment pond filled by effluent from the Tulsequah Chief Mine in British Columbia, Canada. (Courtesy Photo / Chris Miller)

Cleanup could be coming for Tulsequah Chief mine

Environmental groups welcome end of receivership after decades of limbo.

In this October 2018 photo, Bjorn Dihle inspects the acid mine drainage flowing into the Tulsequah River from a containment pond filled by effluent from the Tulsequah Chief Mine in British Columbia, Canada. (Courtesy Photo / Chris Miller)
A thunderstorm passes between Midland and Odessa, Texas, just behind an array of pump jacks on Thursday, May 14, 2020. While the Inflation Reduction Act concentrates on clean energy incentives that could drastically reduce overall U.S. emissions, it also buoys oil and gas interests by mandating leasing of vast areas of public lands and off the nation’s coasts. (Eli Hartman / Odessa American)

Climate bill’s unlikely beneficiary: U.S. oil and gas industry

The climate measure guarantees new drilling opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.

A thunderstorm passes between Midland and Odessa, Texas, just behind an array of pump jacks on Thursday, May 14, 2020. While the Inflation Reduction Act concentrates on clean energy incentives that could drastically reduce overall U.S. emissions, it also buoys oil and gas interests by mandating leasing of vast areas of public lands and off the nation’s coasts. (Eli Hartman / Odessa American)
Team Elm faces off against Team Cypress in a battle of tug of war during the Coast Guard’s annual Buoy Tender Olympics on Wednesday at the Coast Guard Station Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard hosts Buoy Tender Olympics in Juneau

Off the chain.

Team Elm faces off against Team Cypress in a battle of tug of war during the Coast Guard’s annual Buoy Tender Olympics on Wednesday at the Coast Guard Station Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Democratic U.S. House Candidate Mary Peltola hugs a supporter during a campaign event in Juneau on Friday. Peltola emerged as the top finisher in the first round of results on election night, but is facing two better-known Republican challengers who may prevail when the new ranked choice ballots get a final tabulation Aug. 31. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Election results and reactions

Ranked choice will determine who wins House seat; November races take shape.

Democratic U.S. House Candidate Mary Peltola hugs a supporter during a campaign event in Juneau on Friday. Peltola emerged as the top finisher in the first round of results on election night, but is facing two better-known Republican challengers who may prevail when the new ranked choice ballots get a final tabulation Aug. 31. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn. Alaska’s overall commercial salmon harvest across all species is currently up 15% from 2021 (2020 for pinks) with Bristol Bay and the Prince William Sound largely carrying the weight while other regions lag, according to data from the most recent Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute weekly salmon harvest update. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Statewide salmon harvest on the upswing compared to last year, species vary in harvest success

See the salmon stats here.

Sockeye salmon return to Steep Creek to spawn. Alaska’s overall commercial salmon harvest across all species is currently up 15% from 2021 (2020 for pinks) with Bristol Bay and the Prince William Sound largely carrying the weight while other regions lag, according to data from the most recent Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute weekly salmon harvest update. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Democratic U.S. House Candidate Mary Peltola hugs a supporter during a campaign event in Juneau on Friday. Peltola emerged as the top finisher in the first round of results on election night, but is facing two better-known Republican challengers who may prevail when the new ranked choice ballots get a final tabulation Aug. 31. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Update: Unofficial results roll in

Peltola, Murkowski take early leads

Democratic U.S. House Candidate Mary Peltola hugs a supporter during a campaign event in Juneau on Friday. Peltola emerged as the top finisher in the first round of results on election night, but is facing two better-known Republican challengers who may prevail when the new ranked choice ballots get a final tabulation Aug. 31. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)