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A complaint filed July 3, 2023, with the Alaska Public Offices Commission accuses advocates of repealing the state’s open primary elections and ranked choice voting of violating numerous campaign disclosure laws. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Backers of an effort to repeal Alaska’s ranked voting system fined more than $94,000 by APOC

Supporters of an effort to repeal Alaska’s ranked choice voting system have been fined more than $94,000 after the commission that enforces state campaign finance… Continue reading

A complaint filed July 3, 2023, with the Alaska Public Offices Commission accuses advocates of repealing the state’s open primary elections and ranked choice voting of violating numerous campaign disclosure laws. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Lori Anne Razpotnik, one of at least 49 victims of Gary L. Ridgway, known as the Green River Killer, is pictured in a Facebook post by the Kings County Sheriff’s Office last year confirming her remains were identified after her mother last saw her more than 40 years ago. (Kings County Sheriff’s Office)

How DNA and an obituary helped ID a victim of the Green River killer

Juneau woman finally learns what happened to daughter missing since 1982.

  • Jan 4, 2024
  • By David Gutman, The Seattle Times
  • Crimemurder
Lori Anne Razpotnik, one of at least 49 victims of Gary L. Ridgway, known as the Green River Killer, is pictured in a Facebook post by the Kings County Sheriff’s Office last year confirming her remains were identified after her mother last saw her more than 40 years ago. (Kings County Sheriff’s Office)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 6, 2004. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Jan. 7

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 6, 2004. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sun on the peaks from the Boy Scout Beach Trail on New Year’s Day. (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

Sun on the peaks from the Boy Scout Beach Trail on New Year’s Day. (Photo by Deborah Rudis)
The Patsy Ann statue at twilight on the downtown cruise ship dock. (Photo courtesy of Tricia Brown)
Capital City Weekly

‘Patsy Ann of Alaska’ finds a new home after being left astray

Children’s book from 2011 about famous Juneau dog gets new publisher after being discontinued.

The Patsy Ann statue at twilight on the downtown cruise ship dock. (Photo courtesy of Tricia Brown)
(Getty Images)

State compiles first comprehensive account of Alaska children’s stress and trauma

Bulletin details adverse childhood experiences that are known to lead to poor health outcomes.

(Getty Images)
Smokestack emissions are seen along the Fairbanks skyline on March 1, 2023. At left is the coal-fired heat and power plant on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Could a new Alaska coal power plant be climate friendly? An $11 million study aims to find out.

UA researchers plan to explore viability of injecting plant’s carbon emissions underground.

  • Jan 3, 2024
  • By Nathaniel Herz, Northern Journal, Alaska Beacon
  • Carbon capture
Smokestack emissions are seen along the Fairbanks skyline on March 1, 2023. At left is the coal-fired heat and power plant on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A worker uses machinery while working on the construction site of Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s revived Haven House on July 31, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

State: ‘Modest’ job growth likely in Southeast in ‘24, but shrinking workforce a long-term concern

Report predicts 1.4% regional growth, with wide variances by industry, compared to 1.7% statewide.

A worker uses machinery while working on the construction site of Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s revived Haven House on July 31, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The former Glory Hall shelter on South Franklin Street is sealed off from the public on Tuesday as workers inside convert the building to low-income apartments in the upper section and commercial space on the ground floor. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Glory Hall seeking commercial tenant as conversion of former downtown shelter continues on schedule

Low-income housing in upper section expected by May, commercial space downstairs includes kitchen.

The former Glory Hall shelter on South Franklin Street is sealed off from the public on Tuesday as workers inside convert the building to low-income apartments in the upper section and commercial space on the ground floor. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé guard Alwen Carrillo (#3) looks to drive inside against Albuquerque High School during the final game of the Capital City Classic at JDHS on Saturday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Albuquerque holds off rallies by JDHS girls’ and boys’ teams to win Capital City Classic

Crimson Bears boys lose double-OT thriller, girls come up short in final minutes.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé guard Alwen Carrillo (#3) looks to drive inside against Albuquerque High School during the final game of the Capital City Classic at JDHS on Saturday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A romantic view of downtown Juneau — if rain is what warms one’s heart — at midday on Christmas Eve. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

How Juneau and Alaska rank in so many ways this year

Most incompetent gamers, second-most spoiled dogs and other ways PR research firms perceived us.

A romantic view of downtown Juneau — if rain is what warms one’s heart — at midday on Christmas Eve. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An image from Ashley Lohr’s “Layered Scapes” exhibit debuting Friday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Photo courtesy Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in January

Revisiting Juneau as the first Alaska city with an established telephone system and more.

An image from Ashley Lohr’s “Layered Scapes” exhibit debuting Friday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Photo courtesy Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
Mary Snook, a Ketchikan resident of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian ancestry, takes a photo of her fellow Alaska Natives passing by during the Celebration parade in downtown Juneau on Saturday, June 11, 2022. In the background is one of the large cruise ships docked in town for the day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Here are the headlines likely to loom large in 2024

Fiscal and social education matters, tourism impacts, Suicide Basin and elections among top issues.

Mary Snook, a Ketchikan resident of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian ancestry, takes a photo of her fellow Alaska Natives passing by during the Celebration parade in downtown Juneau on Saturday, June 11, 2022. In the background is one of the large cruise ships docked in town for the day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The parking lot of the Juneau Costco on Sunday afternoon, a day after a car hit a pedestrian and six vehicles. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Six vehicles damaged, pedestrian hospitalized with injuries, by car in Costco parking lot

Man cited for reckless driving and insurance violation, released at scene, according to JPD.

The parking lot of the Juneau Costco on Sunday afternoon, a day after a car hit a pedestrian and six vehicles. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The boys’ all-tournament team at last week’s Clarke Cochrane Christmas Classic in Ketchikan includes Thunder Mountain High School guards Thomas Baxter and Samuel Lockhart. TMHS finished third among the eight boys’ teams in the tournament. (Photo courtesy TMHS basketball)

TMHS boys finish third in Clarke Cochrane Christmas Classic in Ketchikan

Falcons open with OT victory, fall short in comeback against champs before win in consolation game.

The boys’ all-tournament team at last week’s Clarke Cochrane Christmas Classic in Ketchikan includes Thunder Mountain High School guards Thomas Baxter and Samuel Lockhart. TMHS finished third among the eight boys’ teams in the tournament. (Photo courtesy TMHS basketball)
Brett Weideman, wearing a banana costume, and his son Bodhi, 7, dressed as a Pikachu, celebrate the New Year by emerging from Auke Bay during the 33rd annual Juneau Polar Bear Dip at the Auke Village Recreation Area on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hundreds wave goodbye to last year, plunge into 2024 during 33rd annual Juneau Polar Bear Dip

Participants embrace cold waters of Auke Bay, prospects for 2024 with equal enthusiasm.

Brett Weideman, wearing a banana costume, and his son Bodhi, 7, dressed as a Pikachu, celebrate the New Year by emerging from Auke Bay during the 33rd annual Juneau Polar Bear Dip at the Auke Village Recreation Area on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A U.S. Forest Service map shows Wrangell Island and the location of the Zimovia Highway, which runs along Zimovia Strait. Rockfall-mitigation work planned this summer is part of a yearslong project funded in 2020. It targets different sites than the area buried in the fatal Nov. 20 landslide. (Image from U.S. Forest Service map of the Tongass National Forest)

Rockfall-mitigation work on tap for Wrangell after deadly landslide

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is seeking bids for rockfall-prevention work along a highway in Wrangell that was the site of a… Continue reading

A U.S. Forest Service map shows Wrangell Island and the location of the Zimovia Highway, which runs along Zimovia Strait. Rockfall-mitigation work planned this summer is part of a yearslong project funded in 2020. It targets different sites than the area buried in the fatal Nov. 20 landslide. (Image from U.S. Forest Service map of the Tongass National Forest)
The sun sets on snow-covered boats in Auke Bay on Jan. 10, 2022. On Jan. 1, 2024, most local docks and harbors fees will increase 9%. (Photo by the City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors Department)

Changes in state minimum wage and alcohol laws, local harbor fees and sales taxes coming Jan. 1

Free IDs for released prisoners, lifetime trapping licenses for disabled vets also start in 2024.

The sun sets on snow-covered boats in Auke Bay on Jan. 10, 2022. On Jan. 1, 2024, most local docks and harbors fees will increase 9%. (Photo by the City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors Department)
A skier skates on Feb. 28, 2021 to the high point of the Spencer Loop trail in the Hillside neighborhood of Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

With New Year’s resolutions on the way, Alaska health officials tout Fresh Start program

Just in time for people to declare their resolutions for 2024, the Alaska Department of Health is publicizing some success stories from a self-improvement program… Continue reading

A skier skates on Feb. 28, 2021 to the high point of the Spencer Loop trail in the Hillside neighborhood of Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A polar bear walks along the shore in Alaska on Sept. 6, 2019. A different animal discovered dead in October near Utqiagvik is now confirmed to be the world’s first documented case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a polar bear.(Photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Avian influenza death of Alaska polar bear is a global first and a sign of the virus’ persistence

A polar bear found dead on Alaska’s North Slope is the first of the species known to have been killed by the highly pathogenic avian… Continue reading

A polar bear walks along the shore in Alaska on Sept. 6, 2019. A different animal discovered dead in October near Utqiagvik is now confirmed to be the world’s first documented case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a polar bear.(Photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)