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A resident of downtown posted a series of photos on “Juneau Bear sightings” Facebook page that showed a bear eating garbage in the area on Thursday evening. According to the source, no amount of noise was able to scare the bear away from the area. (Courtesy / Angelique Buzzek)

Officials urge locals to lock car doors after bears caught opening vehicles

Bear activity is back on the rise and will only increase as hibernation grows nearer said officials.

A resident of downtown posted a series of photos on “Juneau Bear sightings” Facebook page that showed a bear eating garbage in the area on Thursday evening. According to the source, no amount of noise was able to scare the bear away from the area. (Courtesy / Angelique Buzzek)
City Borough of Juneau’s senior project planner Beth McKibben sits outside Foodland IGA on Saturday to talk to residents about the public review draft of the CBJ’s blueprint area plan for the future of downtown Juneau, which recently was released for the public to comment on. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Foodland and area plan: Residents get a chance to speak with officials on Juneau’s downtown blueprint

Blueprint and blueberries.

City Borough of Juneau’s senior project planner Beth McKibben sits outside Foodland IGA on Saturday to talk to residents about the public review draft of the CBJ’s blueprint area plan for the future of downtown Juneau, which recently was released for the public to comment on. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Colby Nelson throw one of the 11 fish he and Patrick Willis caught on Saturday for the derby. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

A slow derby doesn’t stop local fishermen

Slow and steady wins the… salmon derby.

Colby Nelson throw one of the 11 fish he and Patrick Willis caught on Saturday for the derby. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a notice to quit form, which is a first step in the long process of evictions that the Alaska Court System hopes to make easier with a grant-supported Eviction Diversion Initiative. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Grant-supported program could mean fewer eviction cases in Alaska’s courts

Eviction diversion program seeks to provide resources before a case is filed.

This photo shows a notice to quit form, which is a first step in the long process of evictions that the Alaska Court System hopes to make easier with a grant-supported Eviction Diversion Initiative. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Hall, assistant paleontologist for the Yukon government in Whitehorse, stands in her office laboratory. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Secrets of an ancient horse of the Yukon

The Yukon is a great place to find the preserved remains of ancient creatures.

Elizabeth Hall, assistant paleontologist for the Yukon government in Whitehorse, stands in her office laboratory. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
A sign points voters toward an election center during the May special primary election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Candidates answer questions ahead of election

Responses from gubernatorial, House and Senate candidates.

A sign points voters toward an election center during the May special primary election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Two king salmon sit in ice after being weighed at the Auke Nu Cove weigh station. The fish were caught by James Jack SR at 14.4 pounds and Leonard Johnson, at 11.1 pounds. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire) (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Getting down and derby

Salmon derby kicks off with slow start

Two king salmon sit in ice after being weighed at the Auke Nu Cove weigh station. The fish were caught by James Jack SR at 14.4 pounds and Leonard Johnson, at 11.1 pounds. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire) (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Senior Jarrell Williams throws a pass during Thursday’s practice before Saturday’s opening game in Anchorage against Dimond High School. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Huskies head to Anchorage for opening game

Saturday’s game against the Dimond Lynx

Senior Jarrell Williams throws a pass during Thursday’s practice before Saturday’s opening game in Anchorage against Dimond High School. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
The motion by the Justice Department to the U.S. District Court South District of Florida to unseal the search warrant the FBI received before searching the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump, is photographed Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. Attorney General Merrick Garland cited the "substantial public interest in this matter" in announcing the request. (AP Photo / Jon Elswick)

FBI seized ‘top secret’ documents from Trump home

Decision expected soon.

  • Aug 12, 2022
  • By Michael Balsamo, Zeke Miller and Eric Tucker Associated Press
  • Nation-World
The motion by the Justice Department to the U.S. District Court South District of Florida to unseal the search warrant the FBI received before searching the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump, is photographed Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. Attorney General Merrick Garland cited the "substantial public interest in this matter" in announcing the request. (AP Photo / Jon Elswick)
In this Jan. 18, 2014, file photo, endangered orcas swim in Puget Sound and in view of the Olympic Mountains just west of Seattle, as seen from a federal research vessel that has been tracking the whales. A federal court ruling this week has thrown into doubt the future of a valuable commercial king salmon fishery in Southeast Alaska, after a conservation group challenged the government's approval of the harvest as a threat to protected fish and the endangered killer whales that eat them. (AP Photo / Elaine Thompson)

Ruling clouds future of southeast Alaska king salmon fishery

Court ruling casts doubt future of a valuable commercial king salmon fishery in Southeast Alaska

  • Aug 12, 2022
  • By Gene Johnson Associated Press
  • salmon
In this Jan. 18, 2014, file photo, endangered orcas swim in Puget Sound and in view of the Olympic Mountains just west of Seattle, as seen from a federal research vessel that has been tracking the whales. A federal court ruling this week has thrown into doubt the future of a valuable commercial king salmon fishery in Southeast Alaska, after a conservation group challenged the government's approval of the harvest as a threat to protected fish and the endangered killer whales that eat them. (AP Photo / Elaine Thompson)
This July 28, 2022, photo shows drag queen Dela Rosa performing in a mock election at Cafecito Bonito in Anchorage, Alaska where, people ranked the performances by drag performers. Several organizations are using different methods to teach Alaskans about ranked choice voting, which will be used in the upcoming special U.S. House election. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Groups get creative to help Alaska voters with ranked voting

Drag performers shimmied up and down a walkway between café tables, as enthusiastic patrons took photos, waved cash and filled out ballots ranking the shows.… Continue reading

This July 28, 2022, photo shows drag queen Dela Rosa performing in a mock election at Cafecito Bonito in Anchorage, Alaska where, people ranked the performances by drag performers. Several organizations are using different methods to teach Alaskans about ranked choice voting, which will be used in the upcoming special U.S. House election. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
U.S. Senate candidate Shoshana Gungurstein stars in a campaign sign within view of the Alaska governor’s mansion. Gungurstein, an independent, got exposure this week for being a Hollywood actress under a different last name after questions about her past went unanswered throughout the campaign. She is one of 19 candidates seeking to be among the four selected in next Tuesday’s primary to compete in the November general election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Senate candidate sheds more light on background

Shoshana Gungurstein responds at length to recent report on past film career.

U.S. Senate candidate Shoshana Gungurstein stars in a campaign sign within view of the Alaska governor’s mansion. Gungurstein, an independent, got exposure this week for being a Hollywood actress under a different last name after questions about her past went unanswered throughout the campaign. She is one of 19 candidates seeking to be among the four selected in next Tuesday’s primary to compete in the November general election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A workman from Power Shift Solar installs a solar panel Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Salt Lake City. Congress is poised to pass a transformative climate change bill on Friday, Aug. 12. The crux of the long-delayed bill is to use incentives to accelerate the expansion of clean energy such as wind and solar power, speeding the transition away from the oil, coal and gas that largely cause climate change. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)

Big climate bill: Major new spending to spur green energy

Experts say it isn’t enough, but it’s a big start.

A workman from Power Shift Solar installs a solar panel Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, in Salt Lake City. Congress is poised to pass a transformative climate change bill on Friday, Aug. 12. The crux of the long-delayed bill is to use incentives to accelerate the expansion of clean energy such as wind and solar power, speeding the transition away from the oil, coal and gas that largely cause climate change. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)
Juneau School District Bridget Weiss, shown in this September 2021 photo, shows an art project she completed as a kindergarten student at Harborview Elementary School. Weiss, superintendent since 2018, received a one-year extension of her contract until June of 2025 on Tuesday. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire File)

Superintendent gets contract extension, raise

Bridget Weiss, Alaska’s 2022 Superintendent of the Year, to preside over Juneau schools until 2025.

Juneau School District Bridget Weiss, shown in this September 2021 photo, shows an art project she completed as a kindergarten student at Harborview Elementary School. Weiss, superintendent since 2018, received a one-year extension of her contract until June of 2025 on Tuesday. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire File)
Screenshot from www.predictit.org A betting chart lists Sarah Palin as the strong favorite to win the special election for Alaska’s U.S. House seat next Tuesday despite polling suggesting she is the least likely of the three candidates on the ballot to prevail.

The odds are odd for special election

Palin a strong favorite and Peltola a 7-1 longshot, which differs from polls.

Screenshot from www.predictit.org A betting chart lists Sarah Palin as the strong favorite to win the special election for Alaska’s U.S. House seat next Tuesday despite polling suggesting she is the least likely of the three candidates on the ballot to prevail.
This May 2022 photo shows a ballot and return envelope in the state's special primary election. Tuesday is Election Day for the general election featuring three of the top vote-getters from the earlier ballot. Aug. 16 will also include a regular primary election. Only the special election will feature ranked choice voting. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Clarifying an election unlike any other

Confusion about unique ballot impairs otherwise lively vote next week.

This May 2022 photo shows a ballot and return envelope in the state's special primary election. Tuesday is Election Day for the general election featuring three of the top vote-getters from the earlier ballot. Aug. 16 will also include a regular primary election. Only the special election will feature ranked choice voting. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This combination photo shows hiring signs in the windows of businesses in downtown Juneau this spring. As of Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau has 23 open employment positions, some with multiple vacancies within them according to the CBJ website. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire)

Help wanted Juneau: City feels the sting of the nationwide worker shortage

Openings include multiple City and Borough of Juneau departments.

This combination photo shows hiring signs in the windows of businesses in downtown Juneau this spring. As of Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau has 23 open employment positions, some with multiple vacancies within them according to the CBJ website. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of a young Gabrielle Shaawatgoox George-Frank smiling as she holds a fish caught near Angoon, Alaska where her family originates from. George-Frank is one of the five students who received this year’s Golden North Salmon Derby’s annual scholarships. (Courtesy Photo / Gabrielle Shaawatgoox George-Frank)

Salmon derby scholarship helps local student reach longtime goal

She shares what the upcoming event’s scholarship means to her.

This is a photo of a young Gabrielle Shaawatgoox George-Frank smiling as she holds a fish caught near Angoon, Alaska where her family originates from. George-Frank is one of the five students who received this year’s Golden North Salmon Derby’s annual scholarships. (Courtesy Photo / Gabrielle Shaawatgoox George-Frank)
Keke Tian Ke featured in this photo on First Friday next to her work which is on display at the Juneau Artist Gallery located at 175 S. Franklin St. Ke is the gallery’s artist of the month. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Artists showcase Alaska-influenced work during First Friday

First Friday holds up through bad weather

Keke Tian Ke featured in this photo on First Friday next to her work which is on display at the Juneau Artist Gallery located at 175 S. Franklin St. Ke is the gallery’s artist of the month. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Aaron Surma, the executive director for National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition, leads a safety plan workshop Tuesday night hosted by NAMI and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition. The workshop was a collaborative brainstorming session with Juneau residents about how to create a safety plan that people can use to help someone who is experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis.

Study shows a rise in anxiety and depression among children in Alaska

Increase may indicate growing openness to discussing mental health, according to experts.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Aaron Surma, the executive director for National Alliance on Mental Illness Juneau and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition, leads a safety plan workshop Tuesday night hosted by NAMI and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition. The workshop was a collaborative brainstorming session with Juneau residents about how to create a safety plan that people can use to help someone who is experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis.