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"But while I may find temporary solace in the arms of another carbohydrate," writes Geoff Kirsch. :I’ll always return to my first love. Indeed, my three favorite foods are French fries, mashed potatoes and a kosher deli item known as a “knish,” which is essentially a mashed potato stuffed inside a crust that tastes like French fries."

Slack Tide: Why I dig growing my own

“Potatoes are a gateway starch, and take it from me, I’ve done them all…”

  • Oct 10, 2020
  • By Geoff Kirsch For the Juneau Empire
"But while I may find temporary solace in the arms of another carbohydrate," writes Geoff Kirsch. :I’ll always return to my first love. Indeed, my three favorite foods are French fries, mashed potatoes and a kosher deli item known as a “knish,” which is essentially a mashed potato stuffed inside a crust that tastes like French fries."
Beth McEwen and Lacey Davis introduce the unofficial results of the City and Borough of Juneau's by-mail Municipal Election from Anchorage on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. (Screenshot)

Update: City shares more unofficial election results

Another 1,950 added to Friday’s numbers.

Beth McEwen and Lacey Davis introduce the unofficial results of the City and Borough of Juneau's by-mail Municipal Election from Anchorage on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. (Screenshot)
Two prisoners in custody at Lemon Creek Correctional Center have tested positive for the coronavirus, Oct. 9, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

2 Lemon Creek inmates among city’s recent cases

The inmates were quarantined upon being admitted per prison policy.

Two prisoners in custody at Lemon Creek Correctional Center have tested positive for the coronavirus, Oct. 9, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Independent candidate for Senate Dr. Al Gross at a campaign event at Marine Park in downtown Juneau on Sept. 19, 2020. A letter from state GOP lawmakers raised allegations against one of Gross' staffers, setting off denials and accusations of hypocrisy between political parties. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Denials and accusations follow from state Republicans’ letter

‘Couldn’t be more baseless,’ says campaign spokeswoman.

Independent candidate for Senate Dr. Al Gross at a campaign event at Marine Park in downtown Juneau on Sept. 19, 2020. A letter from state GOP lawmakers raised allegations against one of Gross' staffers, setting off denials and accusations of hypocrisy between political parties. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Image / U.S Forest ServiceThis image shows the location of the proposed Hecla Greens Creek Mine extension.

Forest Service takes comment on proposed mine extension

45-day scoping period is underway.

  • Oct 9, 2020
  • Juneau Empire
Courtesy Image / U.S Forest ServiceThis image shows the location of the proposed Hecla Greens Creek Mine extension.
A 9-year-old Carl Tape — now a seismologist at UAF’s Geophysical Institute — poses beside a thermometer registering 50 below zero Fahrenheit during a Fairbanks cold snap in January 1989. (Courtesy Photo / Walt Tape)

Cold tolerance not the same for everyone

What makes someone hot-blooded when others are cold as ice?

A 9-year-old Carl Tape — now a seismologist at UAF’s Geophysical Institute — poses beside a thermometer registering 50 below zero Fahrenheit during a Fairbanks cold snap in January 1989. (Courtesy Photo / Walt Tape)
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska may have illegally directed $5M consulting contract

Former Alaska state employees said they believe a government consulting contract was illegal.

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Judge Deb O’Gara enters the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Tribal Court on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Funding from federal grants will allow Tlingit and Haida to expand its court. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Tlingit and Haida receives federal public safety grants

The two Department of Justice grants totalled nearly $3 million.

Judge Deb O’Gara enters the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Tribal Court on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Funding from federal grants will allow Tlingit and Haida to expand its court. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Corri A. Feige.

Opinion: Thank-you, wildland firefighters

I join the president in conveying my deepest appreciation to all those who fight wildland fires.

  • Oct 9, 2020
Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Corri A. Feige.
An unsheltered man who gave only his middle name, Wayne, sat on south Franklin Street near the Glory Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. An ad hoc committee on homelessness was started by the city to come up with short term solutions to the lack of housing for unsheltered people, a problem made worse by health precautions taken due to COVID-19. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Mind the gaps: Social service organizations come together

End duplications and find gaps.

An unsheltered man who gave only his middle name, Wayne, sat on south Franklin Street near the Glory Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. An ad hoc committee on homelessness was started by the city to come up with short term solutions to the lack of housing for unsheltered people, a problem made worse by health precautions taken due to COVID-19. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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City announces 8 new COVID-19 cases

Total includes two at Lemon Creek Correctional Center

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A harlequin duck flies in front of Jeff Lund, who decided sometimes a camera is better than a shotgun for shooting when dinner has been secured. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

Duck, duck, jalapeno popper

To really love music, you have to at least appreciate different styles. Same goes with hunting.

A harlequin duck flies in front of Jeff Lund, who decided sometimes a camera is better than a shotgun for shooting when dinner has been secured. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
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Opinion: Ballot Measure 2 puts voters first

This is a law creating transparency.

  • Oct 8, 2020
  • By Jonathon Taylor
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Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium staff in Wrangell pose with an imaging machine used for mammograms. In honor of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, SEARHC is offering free screenings to women in Sitka and Wrangell. (Courtesy photo / SEARHC)

Health care workers remind women breast cancer screening is important

Better technology, less uncertainty.

Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium staff in Wrangell pose with an imaging machine used for mammograms. In honor of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, SEARHC is offering free screenings to women in Sitka and Wrangell. (Courtesy photo / SEARHC)
Maralee Guiher drops off her ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. By 8:30 a.m., 28 voters had dropped off ballots, election officials said. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Voter turnout for by-mail election highest since 2000

Preliminary results Friday.

Maralee Guiher drops off her ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. By 8:30 a.m., 28 voters had dropped off ballots, election officials said. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department arrested a Juneau man suspected of killing a woman in a domestic incident in 2019 on Oct. 2. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police arrest suspect, release details of alleged 2019 murder

A trial is scheduled for January.

The Juneau Police Department arrested a Juneau man suspected of killing a woman in a domestic incident in 2019 on Oct. 2. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the Juneau Pioneer Home on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. Weekly staff testing and vigilance about infection control have kept cases out of the home according to JPH Administrator Gina Del Rosario. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Pioneer Home administrator: No cases in Juneau

Update comes in light of coronavirus cases in Fairbanks home.

This photo shows the Juneau Pioneer Home on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. Weekly staff testing and vigilance about infection control have kept cases out of the home according to JPH Administrator Gina Del Rosario. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Election officials Kim Peterson and Jack Chenoweth look up voter information for Mary Ellen Yadao on Oct. 6, 2020.

Candidates, residents await results from by-mail election

With voting closed, the waiting begins.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Election officials Kim Peterson and Jack Chenoweth look up voter information for Mary Ellen Yadao on Oct. 6, 2020.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, leaves a Senate Republican policy meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sullivan said Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, he plans to vote for President Donald Trump, telling a radio program Trump and his administration “have been fully committed to helping our state.” Four years ago, after a 2005 video surfaced in which Trump made lewd comments about women, Sullivan cited the “reprehensible revelations” about Trump in withdrawing his support of Trump’s candidacy. (AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Sullivan says he plans to vote for Trump

Senator said the choice to support Trump this go-round is, to him, “very clear.”

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, leaves a Senate Republican policy meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sullivan said Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, he plans to vote for President Donald Trump, telling a radio program Trump and his administration “have been fully committed to helping our state.” Four years ago, after a 2005 video surfaced in which Trump made lewd comments about women, Sullivan cited the “reprehensible revelations” about Trump in withdrawing his support of Trump’s candidacy. (AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
Jensen-Olson Arboretum’s long term manager, Merrill Jensen, is retiring after 13 years guiding and shaping the space. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Growing from the ground up: Longtime arboretum manager retiring

He’s going to miss the view.

Jensen-Olson Arboretum’s long term manager, Merrill Jensen, is retiring after 13 years guiding and shaping the space. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)