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A Forest Service fire crew gets brief during an operation. Fire crews from Alaska are frequently deployed to the Lower 48 to help combat wildfires that are growing larger and closer to urban areas in many cases. (Courtesy photo / Parker Anders)

Into the fire: Alaska’s wildlands firefighters eye coming dry season

Alaska’s wildlands firefighters lend a hand where needed nationwide.

A Forest Service fire crew gets brief during an operation. Fire crews from Alaska are frequently deployed to the Lower 48 to help combat wildfires that are growing larger and closer to urban areas in many cases. (Courtesy photo / Parker Anders)
Michael Patz, raised in Juneau, stands on the ice in front of the S.A. Agulhas II next to a sign showing the location of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s vessel, the Endurance, rediscovered by searchers aboard the icebreaker. (Courtesy photo / Michael Patz)

‘My interest was in the adventure’: Man from Juneau talks role in finding long-lost ship near Antarctica

Cold ice, clear water and lots of sealife.

Michael Patz, raised in Juneau, stands on the ice in front of the S.A. Agulhas II next to a sign showing the location of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s vessel, the Endurance, rediscovered by searchers aboard the icebreaker. (Courtesy photo / Michael Patz)
In this Jan. 30, 2014 photo, an RQ7 Shadow unmanned aircraft flies from its pneumatic catapult launcher at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. U.S. military bases in the Arctic and sub-Arctic are failing to harden their installations against long-term climate change as required, even though soaring temperatures and melting ice already are cracking base runways and roads and worsening flood risks up north, the Pentagon’s watchdog office said April 14, 2022. (AP Photo / Dan Joling)

Climate toll on Arctic bases: Sunken runways, damaged roads

Watchdog office: Military bases are failing to prepare for long-term climate change.

In this Jan. 30, 2014 photo, an RQ7 Shadow unmanned aircraft flies from its pneumatic catapult launcher at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. U.S. military bases in the Arctic and sub-Arctic are failing to harden their installations against long-term climate change as required, even though soaring temperatures and melting ice already are cracking base runways and roads and worsening flood risks up north, the Pentagon’s watchdog office said April 14, 2022. (AP Photo / Dan Joling)
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Gondola is a go: City agrees to pay $1.33 million for used lift in Austria

Now, the trick is getting it home and installed at Eaglecrest Ski Area.

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Paula Casperson (center) meets Wednesday at JDHS with Amanda Duvall (left) the district’s teacher and learning support coordinator, and Carrie Pusich, an activities assistant for the district. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A principal of matter: Longtime JDHS leader Paula Casperson named regional principal of the year

Ordinarily parents aren’t thrilled to get a call from the principal…

Paula Casperson (center) meets Wednesday at JDHS with Amanda Duvall (left) the district’s teacher and learning support coordinator, and Carrie Pusich, an activities assistant for the district. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Jiselle Tagaloa, a kindergarten student, accepts payment for a card from Jan Beauchamp. Beauchamp was among those who bought cards' bearing students drawings to support a Ukrainian family living in Washington state. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

A small kindness: Kindergarten students raise money for Ukrainian family

The kindness squad has a big job to do.

Jiselle Tagaloa, a kindergarten student, accepts payment for a card from Jan Beauchamp. Beauchamp was among those who bought cards' bearing students drawings to support a Ukrainian family living in Washington state. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
UAS

House passes bill to protect higher education funding

A month left in session.

UAS
JDHS athlete Robbie Gabel throws the shot put during a practice at TMHS on April 14, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Big teams, talented athletes: Track and field teams ready to race

Their first official meet is coming soon.

JDHS athlete Robbie Gabel throws the shot put during a practice at TMHS on April 14, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Two dogs greet each other Jan. 7, 2022, when the temperature was minus 22F and the sun set before 5 p.m. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Endless northern winter about to end

The end is in sight.

Two dogs greet each other Jan. 7, 2022, when the temperature was minus 22F and the sun set before 5 p.m. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Cassee Olin, director of administrative services for Juneau School District, Superintendent Bridget Weiss and City Manager Rorie Watt participate in a City and Borough of Juneau Finance Committee meeting. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Budgeting one tough step at a time

Lack of funds, people and certainty add to challenges as city leaders review spending plans.

Cassee Olin, director of administrative services for Juneau School District, Superintendent Bridget Weiss and City Manager Rorie Watt participate in a City and Borough of Juneau Finance Committee meeting. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Soon-to-be instructors from the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Xheighaa Warrior Veteran Canoe Journey, Coast Guard Sector Juneau, and the 17th Coast Guard District took part in a Kids Don’t Float training session being held at Dimond Park Aquatic Center in Juneau, Alaska, April 13, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)

Training the trainers: Coast Guard holds boating safety instructor class

Every kid with safe boating habits might be a life saved in the future.

Soon-to-be instructors from the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, Xheighaa Warrior Veteran Canoe Journey, Coast Guard Sector Juneau, and the 17th Coast Guard District took part in a Kids Don’t Float training session being held at Dimond Park Aquatic Center in Juneau, Alaska, April 13, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)
JDHS forward Kyla Bentz, top center, celebrates with her team after scoring on TMHS during a game at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on April 12, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau girls soccer teams clash in early season match

It was a decisive 4-0 win for JDHS

JDHS forward Kyla Bentz, top center, celebrates with her team after scoring on TMHS during a game at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on April 12, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A child playing with lighter fluid started a fire in a backyard shed on Tuesday that completely consumed the structure. (Courtesy photo / Capital City Fire/Rescue)

Investigation concludes child accidentally burned down shed

The fire comes as a dry week witnesses multiple grass fires.

A child playing with lighter fluid started a fire in a backyard shed on Tuesday that completely consumed the structure. (Courtesy photo / Capital City Fire/Rescue)
Courtesy photo / ASC Elin Antaya, a Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior, was awarded the Hoffman-Greene Ocean Youth Award by the Alaska SeaLife Center for work supporting and stewarding the ocean.

Making waves: Juneau teen wins statewide award for ocean stewardship

Her involvement with the ocean ranges across all aspects of her life.

Courtesy photo / ASC Elin Antaya, a Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior, was awarded the Hoffman-Greene Ocean Youth Award by the Alaska SeaLife Center for work supporting and stewarding the ocean.
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Mix and mask: Administrators, students say ‘variety of strategies’ working well with masking optional

“It seems to be going very well,” said Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss.

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With Mount Edgecumbe in the background, a sea lion pops its head out of the water next to a buoy crowded with other sea lions in Sitka, Alaska on April 7, 2018. A swarm of hundreds of small earthquakes have been reported near Mount Edgecumbe volcano 15 miles west of Sitka, in southeast Alaska. The reason for the swarm is not known, officials at the Alaska Volcano Observatory said Wednesday, April 13, 2022. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Hundreds of small earthquakes recorded near Mount Edgecumbe

The volcano has been dormant 800 years, cause of the quakes is unknown.

  • Apr 13, 2022
  • Mark Thiessen Associated Press
With Mount Edgecumbe in the background, a sea lion pops its head out of the water next to a buoy crowded with other sea lions in Sitka, Alaska on April 7, 2018. A swarm of hundreds of small earthquakes have been reported near Mount Edgecumbe volcano 15 miles west of Sitka, in southeast Alaska. The reason for the swarm is not known, officials at the Alaska Volcano Observatory said Wednesday, April 13, 2022. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
It's not that Southeast Alaskans don't have style, it's just that the style happens to contain a lot of waterproof materials such as the jacket his wife wore to check shrimp pots. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: All about style

Style isn’t about clothing, it’s everything.

It's not that Southeast Alaskans don't have style, it's just that the style happens to contain a lot of waterproof materials such as the jacket his wife wore to check shrimp pots. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This screenshot from a video shown during a Juneau School District Board of Education meeting shows Riverbend Elementary School students working on a project. The school may soon have a new name, Kaxdigoowú Héen Elementary School. The name translates to “going back to clear water," in English. (Screenshot)

Renaming Riverbend: School board expresses support for gifted name

Further consideration of Kaxdigoowú Héen Elementary School comes next month.

This screenshot from a video shown during a Juneau School District Board of Education meeting shows Riverbend Elementary School students working on a project. The school may soon have a new name, Kaxdigoowú Héen Elementary School. The name translates to “going back to clear water," in English. (Screenshot)
Alaska SeaLife Center Animal Care Specialist Savannah Costner releases a 1-year-old female elephant seal back to the ocean on March 24, 2022, after the animal was admitted as a patient to the ASLC Wildlife Response Program. The 320-pound animal was released near Lowell Point in Seward, Alaska. (Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center rehabs baby elephant seal

The seal is the first mammal admitted to the center’s Wildlife Response Program this year

Alaska SeaLife Center Animal Care Specialist Savannah Costner releases a 1-year-old female elephant seal back to the ocean on March 24, 2022, after the animal was admitted as a patient to the ASLC Wildlife Response Program. The 320-pound animal was released near Lowell Point in Seward, Alaska. (Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Janalee Minnich Gage, activist and artist at home in Ketchikan. (Courtesy Photo / Janalee Minnich Gage)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: ‘A day that changed everything’

“Whoosh! I was floating,”

Janalee Minnich Gage, activist and artist at home in Ketchikan. (Courtesy Photo / Janalee Minnich Gage)