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Neal Brown in 1967, holding his newborn son Kris. Brown accepts the Roger Smith Lifetime Achievement award in 2016 from Geophysical Institute director Bob McCoy. Brown in 2021, on an outing in New Hampshire with his dog Molly. Courtesy Photos / Kris Brown,  Geophysical Institute, Becky Lees)

Alaska Science Forum: Neal Brown leaves legacy of learning and laughing

Brown never lost his child-like wonder about the world.

Neal Brown in 1967, holding his newborn son Kris. Brown accepts the Roger Smith Lifetime Achievement award in 2016 from Geophysical Institute director Bob McCoy. Brown in 2021, on an outing in New Hampshire with his dog Molly. Courtesy Photos / Kris Brown,  Geophysical Institute, Becky Lees)
Capitol

Gov moves special session start date

Session to begin Aug. 16, after lawmakers request delay.

Capitol
The City and Borough of Juneau raised its coronavirus alert level to Level Three- High, beginning on July 30, 2021 after a recent spike in cases. (Unsplash / Tai’s Captures)

City raises community risk level to high

Masks are now mandatory for everyone, regardless of vaccine status, for all indoor public settings.

The City and Borough of Juneau raised its coronavirus alert level to Level Three- High, beginning on July 30, 2021 after a recent spike in cases. (Unsplash / Tai’s Captures)
The Juneau Police Department is asking for community assistance as they search for suspects involved in a June break-in at Glacier Gardens. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

Police seek info on Glacier Gardens break-in

The break-in resulted in thousands of dollars of damage.

The Juneau Police Department is asking for community assistance as they search for suspects involved in a June break-in at Glacier Gardens. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, center, joined by, from left, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, announces to reporters that he and the other GOP negotiators have reached agreement on a $1 trillion infrastructure bill with Democrats and are ready to vote to take up the bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, center, joined by, from left, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, announces to reporters that he and the other GOP negotiators have reached agreement on a $1 trillion infrastructure bill with Democrats and are ready to vote to take up the bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. On Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly OK’d extending local mitigation measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)
This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. On Wednesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly OK’d extending local mitigation measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Constitution bars Alaska attorney general case, judge says

Judge says lawsuit over effective date clause is an action by the governor against the Legislature.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
A line of cars evacuates the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska on July 28, 2021, after a tsunami warning was issued following a magnitude 8.2 earthquake. The tsunami warning for much of Alaska’s southern coast was canceled when the biggest wave, of just over a half foot, was recorded in Old Harbor. Alaska. (Sarah Knapp / Homer News)

Alaska quake produces prolonged shaking, small tsunami

The National Tsunami Warning Center canceled the warnings early Thursday.

A line of cars evacuates the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska on July 28, 2021, after a tsunami warning was issued following a magnitude 8.2 earthquake. The tsunami warning for much of Alaska’s southern coast was canceled when the biggest wave, of just over a half foot, was recorded in Old Harbor. Alaska. (Sarah Knapp / Homer News)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire 
There aren’t many patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 at Bartlett Regional Hospitals, seen here on Wednesday, but health officials are urging Alaksans to get vaccinated as a flood of new cases is straining health care systems in other parts of the state.

Officials encourage vaccination as hospitals in state near capacity

Hospitalizations remain low locally, but there’s concern about a surge.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire 
There aren’t many patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 at Bartlett Regional Hospitals, seen here on Wednesday, but health officials are urging Alaksans to get vaccinated as a flood of new cases is straining health care systems in other parts of the state.
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Gold medalist Lydia Jacoby of the United States celebrates on the podium after the final of the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.(AP Photo / Matthias Schrader)

Seward embraces state’s 1st swimmer to win gold

“What happened last night couldn’t happen to a nicer kid,” he said.

Gold medalist Lydia Jacoby of the United States celebrates on the podium after the final of the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.(AP Photo / Matthias Schrader)
Killah Priest of the Wu-Tang Clan performs at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, is returning to town for a show in support of the Helping Hands of Juneau Foodbank. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)
Killah Priest of the Wu-Tang Clan performs at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, is returning to town for a show in support of the Helping Hands of Juneau Foodbank. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)
Shoppers wear masks inside of The Cool store in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course Tuesday, July 27, 2021, on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging. City and Borough of Juneau officials are considering extending local mitigation measures that advise residents to wear masks when in indoor public spaces. (AP Photo/ Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Shoppers wear masks inside of The Cool store in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course Tuesday, July 27, 2021, on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging. City and Borough of Juneau officials are considering extending local mitigation measures that advise residents to wear masks when in indoor public spaces. (AP Photo/ Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation building in October 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation building in October 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
A nearly full moon can be seen rising over Thunder Mountain last December. According to NASA, a normal lunar fluctuation-called a moon wobble- will cause coastal flooding in many parts of the country in the mid 2030s. However, an oceanographer says that Southeast Alaska will not experience the same level of flooding due to declining ocean depths driven by glacial retreat. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Researcher: Moon wobble unlikely to flood Juneau

Glacial retreat and natural tide fluctuations offer protection

A nearly full moon can be seen rising over Thunder Mountain last December. According to NASA, a normal lunar fluctuation-called a moon wobble- will cause coastal flooding in many parts of the country in the mid 2030s. However, an oceanographer says that Southeast Alaska will not experience the same level of flooding due to declining ocean depths driven by glacial retreat. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Lydia Jacoby of the United States, sees the results after winning the final of the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo / Martin Meissner)

Seward teen shocks with Olympic swim gold

A ‘stunning victory.’

Lydia Jacoby of the United States, sees the results after winning the final of the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo / Martin Meissner)
Deputy City Clerk Diane Cathcart finalizes the list of candidates seeking office in the October municipal election on Monday afternoon. On Monday, races for seats on both the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly and Juneau School District Board of Education took shape. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Deputy City Clerk Diane Cathcart finalizes the list of candidates seeking office in the October municipal election on Monday afternoon. On Monday, races for seats on both the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly and Juneau School District Board of Education took shape. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
COVID-19 cases are rising and health officials say new variants are spurring the increase, even among the vaccinated. But health officials note the majority of hospitalizations and deaths are occurring in unvaccinated people. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire file)
COVID-19 cases are rising and health officials say new variants are spurring the increase, even among the vaccinated. But health officials note the majority of hospitalizations and deaths are occurring in unvaccinated people. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire file)
Veterans and active duty servicemembers carry the totem pole on July 24, 2021 as hundreds gathered in Hoonah for its raising. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Hoonah honors veterans with totem pole, future memorial park

From the Alaska Territorial Guard to today’s servicemembers, the Southeast has a legacy of service.

Veterans and active duty servicemembers carry the totem pole on July 24, 2021 as hundreds gathered in Hoonah for its raising. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
In this May 24, 2021, photo, Linda Dunegan poses for a photo in the sanctuary of the Open Door Baptist Church in Anchorage, Alaska. Dunegan purchased a former strip club and leased the main floor to the church. (AP Photo/ Mark Thiessen)

Divine transformation: Ex-Alaska strip club becomes church

From pole to pulpit.

  • Jul 26, 2021
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
In this May 24, 2021, photo, Linda Dunegan poses for a photo in the sanctuary of the Open Door Baptist Church in Anchorage, Alaska. Dunegan purchased a former strip club and leased the main floor to the church. (AP Photo/ Mark Thiessen)