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Living & Growing: May their memory be a blessing

A leaf drops to the ground, where it nourishes the soil…

  • Mar 26, 2021
  • By Patricia Turner Custard
Leaf
The Department of Environmental Conservation has an ongoing study to measure the effects of air pollution from cruise ship emissions in Juneau, particularly the waterfront area, seen here on March 24, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

State scientist talks cruise ship emission effects in Juneau

Ongoing data gathering will show much the big ships affects air quality in Juneau.

The Department of Environmental Conservation has an ongoing study to measure the effects of air pollution from cruise ship emissions in Juneau, particularly the waterfront area, seen here on March 24, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, listens to representatives debate a COVID-19 disaster declaration on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers clash on how to manage pandemic

Disaster debate shows deep divisions.

House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, listens to representatives debate a COVID-19 disaster declaration on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears hockey team, posing here for a team photo at Twin Lakes, went through a gameless season in 2021, with all travel curtailed by the coronavirus. (Courtesy photo / Steve Quinn)

Resiliency and focus: Hockey coach looks back on limited season

Juneau’s club teams accounted handily for themselves, however.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears hockey team, posing here for a team photo at Twin Lakes, went through a gameless season in 2021, with all travel curtailed by the coronavirus. (Courtesy photo / Steve Quinn)
A panel of state and local experts answered questions and encouraged COVID-19 vaccinations during a moderated online discussion Wednesday evening. Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, encouraged all eligible Alaskans to get vaccinated as soon as possible to end the pandemic. Here, department of Veterans Affairs nurse Regina McComber applies a bandage to David Summers’ arm on the morning of March 13, 2021. Summers was among the veterans who were vaccinated at a VA clinic in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

An ounce of prevention through a shot in the arm

Experts gather to talk COVID vaccines, answer local questions.

A panel of state and local experts answered questions and encouraged COVID-19 vaccinations during a moderated online discussion Wednesday evening. Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, encouraged all eligible Alaskans to get vaccinated as soon as possible to end the pandemic. Here, department of Veterans Affairs nurse Regina McComber applies a bandage to David Summers’ arm on the morning of March 13, 2021. Summers was among the veterans who were vaccinated at a VA clinic in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
Passengers at the Juneau International Airport make their way past signage notifying the public about the state’s travel restrictions on Monday, Nov. 15, 2020. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services released a request for information seeking to determine interest among potential contractors to provide a one-dose vaccine to interested travelers in a secure section of the airports in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks and Ketchikan. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska health department floats idea of airport vaccinations

Could vaccines be coming to Alaska’s busiest airports?

Passengers at the Juneau International Airport make their way past signage notifying the public about the state’s travel restrictions on Monday, Nov. 15, 2020. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services released a request for information seeking to determine interest among potential contractors to provide a one-dose vaccine to interested travelers in a secure section of the airports in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks and Ketchikan. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Sens. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, left and Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, questioned acting Attorney General Treg Taylor about the administration’s approach to legal matters at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 23, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

AG defends pandemic emergency orders during hearing

Liberties can be limited.

Sens. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, left and Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, questioned acting Attorney General Treg Taylor about the administration’s approach to legal matters at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 23, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss checks someone in during a vaccine clinic held at a school district facility. The district will hold in-house clinics for any Juneau resident between 16 and 18 on April 9. (Courtesy photo / Juneau School District)

School district announces student-focused vaccine clinics

The clinic is open for any 16+ child in Juneau, not just school district students.

Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss checks someone in during a vaccine clinic held at a school district facility. The district will hold in-house clinics for any Juneau resident between 16 and 18 on April 9. (Courtesy photo / Juneau School District)
The sign for the Department of Motor Vehicles in Juneau on March 18, 2021. Had a proposal to close six rural DMVs gone through, Juneau woud be the closest DMV for residents in Haines, who aren't able to drive there. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Public pushback puts pause on DMV proposal

I want my DMV.

The sign for the Department of Motor Vehicles in Juneau on March 18, 2021. Had a proposal to close six rural DMVs gone through, Juneau woud be the closest DMV for residents in Haines, who aren't able to drive there. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a rig and supply vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, off the cost of Louisiana. Thirteen states sued the Biden administration Wednesday, March 24, 2021 to end a suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water and to reschedule canceled sales of offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska waters and western states. The Republican-leaning states, led by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, seek a court order ending the moratorium imposed after Democratic President Joe Biden signed executive orders on climate change on Jan. 27. (AP Photo / Gerald Herbert)

States sue to undo Biden pause on oil and gas lease sales

Thirteen states, including Alaska, sued the Biden administration Wednesday.

This photo shows a rig and supply vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, off the cost of Louisiana. Thirteen states sued the Biden administration Wednesday, March 24, 2021 to end a suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water and to reschedule canceled sales of offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska waters and western states. The Republican-leaning states, led by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, seek a court order ending the moratorium imposed after Democratic President Joe Biden signed executive orders on climate change on Jan. 27. (AP Photo / Gerald Herbert)
Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé player Tias Carney looks to pass to Lope Elizarde during the first half in the boys’ varsity Region V basketball championship against Ketchikan High School at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)

Boys basketball team members eye independent tournament

The team, unaffiliated with the school district, would travel to California to compete.

Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé player Tias Carney looks to pass to Lope Elizarde during the first half in the boys’ varsity Region V basketball championship against Ketchikan High School at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)
The shelves at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank were full on Feb. 18, 2021, as food banks around the state have been working hard to meet extra demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but starting in April its possible the state could lose $8 million a month in federal food stamp benefits. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Looming benefit loss causes food security concerns

Two bills are being considered to keep increased food stamp benefits.

The shelves at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank were full on Feb. 18, 2021, as food banks around the state have been working hard to meet extra demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but starting in April its possible the state could lose $8 million a month in federal food stamp benefits. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The City and Borough of Juneau is working to correct violations that occurred at two of their three wastewater treatment facilities between 2015 and 2019. Many of the violations occurred during a summer construction project at the Juneau-Douglas facility, which was accepting wastewater from cruise ships during the construction process. A number of effluent violations were reported from that timeframe. Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

Wastewater treatment violations result in fines

Juneau to pay $64,000 and undertake corrective actions

The City and Borough of Juneau is working to correct violations that occurred at two of their three wastewater treatment facilities between 2015 and 2019. Many of the violations occurred during a summer construction project at the Juneau-Douglas facility, which was accepting wastewater from cruise ships during the construction process. A number of effluent violations were reported from that timeframe. Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the federal coronavirus response on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)

White House drops Interior nominee after Murkowski objects

Tommy Beaudreau, who grew up in Alaska, is expected as new nominee.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the federal coronavirus response on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)
After months of discussion, the board of education gathered via Zoom late last week to finalize the district’s fiscal year 2021-2022 operating budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

School board OKs funds for teaching supplies, finalizes budget

An additional $5.5 million in federal money coming soon

After months of discussion, the board of education gathered via Zoom late last week to finalize the district’s fiscal year 2021-2022 operating budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
European starlings are among the birds that add fresh, green-leafy, nonstructural material to theirs nests. In general, the added greenery is from species that have aromatic leaves, rich in volatile compounds; these plants are a highly non-random, carefully selected portion of the plants available in the nesting habitat. (Mick Thompson / Flickr)

On The Trails: Greenery in avian nests

Behavior is less well-known to non-ornithologists.

European starlings are among the birds that add fresh, green-leafy, nonstructural material to theirs nests. In general, the added greenery is from species that have aromatic leaves, rich in volatile compounds; these plants are a highly non-random, carefully selected portion of the plants available in the nesting habitat. (Mick Thompson / Flickr)
Rose Lawhorne has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Bartlett Regional Hospital, officials announced in a news release on Monday. Lawhorne is a long-time hospital employee and is currently serving as Bartlett’s chief nursing officer. She will begin the CEO role on April 4. (Courtesy Photo/Bartlett REgional Hospital)

Longtime Bartlett employee Rose Lawhorne named CEO

She is currently the chief nursing officer

Rose Lawhorne has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Bartlett Regional Hospital, officials announced in a news release on Monday. Lawhorne is a long-time hospital employee and is currently serving as Bartlett’s chief nursing officer. She will begin the CEO role on April 4. (Courtesy Photo/Bartlett REgional Hospital)
A bear statue near the Alaska State Capitol Building stares pensively into the snow as inches fall on Juneau as part of a series of winter storm systems on March 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Snow is falling, and the avalanche risk rising

March will be a hefty but not record-breaking month for snow.

A bear statue near the Alaska State Capitol Building stares pensively into the snow as inches fall on Juneau as part of a series of winter storm systems on March 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé player Cooper Kriegmont holds the 2021 Region V championship plaque up for Juneau spectators following a 87-68 win over Ketchikan in the boys’ varsity Region V basketball championship at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS’ boys formidable season ends with win at Region V tournament

The Thunder Mountain girls were not so fortunate.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé player Cooper Kriegmont holds the 2021 Region V championship plaque up for Juneau spectators following a 87-68 win over Ketchikan in the boys’ varsity Region V basketball championship at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)
Volunteers with the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network perform a necropsy on a beached humpback whale on Kuzof Island on Thursday, March 18, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network)

Beached humpback provides rare opportunity for scientists

Volunteers led by UAS researchers dissect whale near Sitka.

Volunteers with the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network perform a necropsy on a beached humpback whale on Kuzof Island on Thursday, March 18, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network)