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Steven Kissack and Jennifer Ross accept pizzas from a person who dropped them off anonymously where they were sitting at the sheltered entrance to a building on Front Street on Sunday evening. Ross and Kissack, accompanied by his dog Juno, were among a group of people gathering at the entrance who said they might spend some of Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day at the warming shelter south of downtown, but were uncertain about their plans. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Just a typical Christmas Eve among homeless friends on Front Street

Food, drink, stories and dog adoration share much of the spirit as multitude of gatherings indoors.

Steven Kissack and Jennifer Ross accept pizzas from a person who dropped them off anonymously where they were sitting at the sheltered entrance to a building on Front Street on Sunday evening. Ross and Kissack, accompanied by his dog Juno, were among a group of people gathering at the entrance who said they might spend some of Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day at the warming shelter south of downtown, but were uncertain about their plans. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A classified “Operation Gift Force” chart warns people in Southeast Alaska about strong winds expected throughout much of the region on Christmas Eve. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Is Juneau going to have a white Christmas? No. (But expect a peak performance for the holiday)

Rain and wind forecast during Santa’s overnight visit, with both increasing in strength on Monday.

A classified “Operation Gift Force” chart warns people in Southeast Alaska about strong winds expected throughout much of the region on Christmas Eve. (National Weather Service Juneau)
Martha Crockroft (foreground) and Jeff Marks wrap gifts for the annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas Gift Program at the St. Vincent de Paul Juneau complex on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Getting an early start on helping Santa and people in need of good cheer

Hundreds of Southeast families get food, gifts as need, donations high in Juneau’s goodwill efforts.

Martha Crockroft (foreground) and Jeff Marks wrap gifts for the annual Adopt-A-Family Christmas Gift Program at the St. Vincent de Paul Juneau complex on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Salmon fisherman stack their nets June 22 in Kodiak. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)

Alaska fishers, consumers likely to see higher seafood prices due to expanded Russian products ban

Political and industrial leaders praise Biden’s order, citing abusive practices by Russia and China.

Salmon fisherman stack their nets June 22 in Kodiak. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)
An exploration rig operates in the winter of 2019 at ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.’s Willow prospect. The company announced on Friday that it made its final investment decision in favor of developing the huge prospect. (Photo provided by ConocoPhillips)

ConocoPhillips announces official go-ahead for Willow oil project

Nine months after the Biden administration approved it, ConocoPhillips Inc. announced it has officially sanctioned full development of its huge Willow oil project on Alaska’s… Continue reading

An exploration rig operates in the winter of 2019 at ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc.’s Willow prospect. The company announced on Friday that it made its final investment decision in favor of developing the huge prospect. (Photo provided by ConocoPhillips)
Kenneth Kitka, 65, is taken into custody following a nearly three-hour standoff with police at a downtown Juneau residence on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Man arrested after downtown standoff faces 10 criminal charges as drugs, cash, handguns seized

Kenneth Kitka, 65, has previous history of drug charges as new case gets first hearing Friday.

Kenneth Kitka, 65, is taken into custody following a nearly three-hour standoff with police at a downtown Juneau residence on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Police Department and FBI officers are deployed outside a downtown residence at midday Thursday, with JPD attempting to serve a search warrant for the house and a person inside. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Nearly three-hour standoff with JPD, FBI in drug case at home near Capitol ends with man in custody

Streets closed off as officers fire chemical projectiles inside structure.

Juneau Police Department and FBI officers are deployed outside a downtown residence at midday Thursday, with JPD attempting to serve a search warrant for the house and a person inside. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mila Hargrave pitches for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé against Sitka High School on June 3 during the ASAA Division II State Softball Championships. (Courtesy of JDHS Softball)

JDHS all-star softball player to pitch for U.S. team at international tournament

Mila Hargrave selected for one of 16 teams at The Cup in the Netherlands next month.

Mila Hargrave pitches for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé against Sitka High School on June 3 during the ASAA Division II State Softball Championships. (Courtesy of JDHS Softball)
Hepatitis B virus particles, in orange, are seen in this microscopic image captured in 1981. Since so many people are unaware that they are infected, state health officials recommend stepped-up screening. (Photo by Dr. Erskin Palmer/U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Experts recommend steps to reduce Alaska’s high rate of chronic hepatitis B

All adults should be screened at least once during their lifetimes, bulletin advises

Hepatitis B virus particles, in orange, are seen in this microscopic image captured in 1981. Since so many people are unaware that they are infected, state health officials recommend stepped-up screening. (Photo by Dr. Erskin Palmer/U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Former President Donald Trump speaks to a capacity crowd at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on July 9, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaska among states with lawsuits seeking to make Trump ineligible to run

Federal court complaint filed in September gets more attention after successful Colorado challenge.

Former President Donald Trump speaks to a capacity crowd at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on July 9, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A screenshot of the Alaska Division of Finance’s “Checkbook Online” system.

One year and $250,000 later, Alaska’s new spending database is missing in action

Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration has missed a legal deadline to expand Alaska’s public spending database to some of its most heavily scrutinized state corporations,… Continue reading

A screenshot of the Alaska Division of Finance’s “Checkbook Online” system.
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 23, 2005. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Dec. 24

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 23, 2005. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau City Manager Katie Koester (center) discusses options for additional office space for city workers during a Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday night as Deputy City Manager Robert Barr (left) and City Attorney Robert Palmer listen. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

City to yet again consider office space options after voters twice reject new City Hall

Trio of options range from space for all staff to moving just those in one troublesome building.

Juneau City Manager Katie Koester (center) discusses options for additional office space for city workers during a Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday night as Deputy City Manager Robert Barr (left) and City Attorney Robert Palmer listen. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Afternoon skies at Mendenhall Campground on Dec. 16. (Photo by Deborah Rudis)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Afternoon skies at Mendenhall Campground on Dec. 16. (Photo by Deborah Rudis)
A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. Ten Alaskans are suing the state over its failure to provide food stamps within the time frames required by federal law. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images)

Division of Public Assistance makes progress on food stamp backlog

Backlog that was 12,000 down to 10,074 after eight days, according to agency’s director.

A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. Ten Alaskans are suing the state over its failure to provide food stamps within the time frames required by federal law. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images)
A pair of skiers are among the first to board the Ptarmigan lift on the first day of the 2023-24 season at Eaglecrest Ski Area shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Eaglecrest Ski Area opens at last with fresh snow, early-season conditions

Skiers describe conditions as excellent, but ski patrol warns people to watch for hazards.

A pair of skiers are among the first to board the Ptarmigan lift on the first day of the 2023-24 season at Eaglecrest Ski Area shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Charles Skultka Jr. teaches formline design during a Sitka High School class supported by the Sitka Native Education Program and Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Bethany Goodrich)
Capital City Weekly

Resilient Peoples and Place: Celebrating and supporting Southeast Alaska’s growing arts economy

Thousands of artists, tens of millions of dollars annually, generations of passing on traditions.

Charles Skultka Jr. teaches formline design during a Sitka High School class supported by the Sitka Native Education Program and Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Photo by Bethany Goodrich)
SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s (SEARHC) new Vintage Park Campus, under construction since the summer of 2022, is seen a few hours after opening for limited services on Tuesday morning. Work on some parts of the facility is scheduled to continue for the next month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

SEARHC’s new Vintage Park Campus opens with limited services

Urgent care, imaging, lab work available now; optometry, pediatrics, primary care scheduled soon.

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium’s (SEARHC) new Vintage Park Campus, under construction since the summer of 2022, is seen a few hours after opening for limited services on Tuesday morning. Work on some parts of the facility is scheduled to continue for the next month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Lt. Krag Campbell with the Juneau Police Department smiles for a photo outside of City Hall on Sept. 26, when he was interviewed as one of two finalists for police chief. Campbell on Tuesday was named JPD’s new deputy chief as of Jan. 1, serving under new Chief Derek Bos who is scheduled to start Feb. 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Krag Campbell, runner-up for JPD’s new chief, named deputy chief starting Jan. 1

21-year veteran of department will serve as acting chief until Derek Bos takes over Feb. 1

Lt. Krag Campbell with the Juneau Police Department smiles for a photo outside of City Hall on Sept. 26, when he was interviewed as one of two finalists for police chief. Campbell on Tuesday was named JPD’s new deputy chief as of Jan. 1, serving under new Chief Derek Bos who is scheduled to start Feb. 1. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The ConocoPhillips Alaska headquarters, seen here on April 8, 2020, looms over downtown Anchorage. An appeals court order denying environmentalists’ request for an emergency injunction allows the company to proceed with its ongoing winter construction at its massive Willow project on the North Slope. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Appeals court allows ConocoPhillips to keep building its Willow project

Construction is underway at the massive oil project even as the legal fight continues.

The ConocoPhillips Alaska headquarters, seen here on April 8, 2020, looms over downtown Anchorage. An appeals court order denying environmentalists’ request for an emergency injunction allows the company to proceed with its ongoing winter construction at its massive Willow project on the North Slope. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)