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Please, Fish and Wildlife Service, help me introduce polar bears to Antarctica

Please, Fish and Wildlife Service, help me introduce polar bears to Antarctica

First off, let me briefly mention my two current GoFundMe campaigns. The first is the cloning and reintroduction of short-faced bears, dire wolves and steppe… Continue reading

Please, Fish and Wildlife Service, help me introduce polar bears to Antarctica
Walker opposes Kavanaugh confirmation

Walker opposes Kavanaugh confirmation

Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott issued a joint statement Thursday declaring their opposition to the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S.… Continue reading

Walker opposes Kavanaugh confirmation
Juneau Assembly candidates for the Areawide and District 2 seats are asked to raise their hand if they support the Juneau Access Project during a forum at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce during its weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. District 2 candidate Emil Mackey did not attend the event because of work travel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Economic-minded candidates talk future of business in Juneau

At Thursday’s Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Assembly candidates were probed about an issue that many of them know quite a bit about: Juneau’s economy.… Continue reading

Juneau Assembly candidates for the Areawide and District 2 seats are asked to raise their hand if they support the Juneau Access Project during a forum at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce during its weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. District 2 candidate Emil Mackey did not attend the event because of work travel. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Video: Juneau League of Women Voters Candidates Forum

Video: Juneau League of Women Voters Candidates Forum

Municipal candidates will take the stage Thursday night.

Video: Juneau League of Women Voters Candidates Forum
Passengers board an Alaska Airlines jet at the Juneau International Airport in December 2014. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Passenger elbows window after plane lands in Juneau

A man elbowed and damaged a window on an Alaska Airlines flight that had just landed in Juneau on Thursday.

Passengers board an Alaska Airlines jet at the Juneau International Airport in December 2014. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Running much more than a sport for the Ellefsons

Running much more than a sport for the Ellefsons

There was never a time in Arne Ellefson-Carnes’ life that wasn’t connected to the Juneau-Douglas High School cross country team. His mom, Merry, became the… Continue reading

Running much more than a sport for the Ellefsons
Commerce boss takes leave to campaign for Walker

Commerce boss takes leave to campaign for Walker

Mike Navarre, head of the state department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, has temporarily left his job in order to campaign for incumbent Gov.… Continue reading

Commerce boss takes leave to campaign for Walker
Mariyan Aleksiev, of Earthmovers, cuts into the pavement at the intersection of Franklin and Front Streets on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. This is not the intersection that will be closed Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Downtown intersection scheduled to be partially closed Friday

As construction continues in downtown Juneau, the intersection of North Franklin and Second streets will be partially closed Friday. According to an email from City… Continue reading

Mariyan Aleksiev, of Earthmovers, cuts into the pavement at the intersection of Franklin and Front Streets on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. This is not the intersection that will be closed Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Volunteers gather at the arch of Project Playground during the first day of the community rebuilt, Aug. 8, 2018. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Project Playground to reopen

For the first time since it burnt down in April of 2017, children will play at Project Playground.

Volunteers gather at the arch of Project Playground during the first day of the community rebuilt, Aug. 8, 2018. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Pilot production of ‘Matilda’ readies for takeoff
Features

Pilot production of ‘Matilda’ readies for takeoff

Heather Mitchell and Karen Allen knew “Matilda” would be perfect for Theater at Latitude 58’s teen and tween actors. But there was a sizable obstacle:… Continue reading

Pilot production of ‘Matilda’ readies for takeoff
Carol Stauffer fills out paperwork while Brian Van Kirk, Thunder Mountain High School music chair, inspects a trumpet donated by Stauffer, who also donated a clarinet. Stauffer’s daughters played the instruments in high school, when they were Van Kirk’s students. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)
Features

Music drive is instrumental for high school program

They took the retired, the worn and the muddled saxes. Brian Van Kirk, music chair at Thunder Mountain High School, and a handful of band… Continue reading

Carol Stauffer fills out paperwork while Brian Van Kirk, Thunder Mountain High School music chair, inspects a trumpet donated by Stauffer, who also donated a clarinet. Stauffer’s daughters played the instruments in high school, when they were Van Kirk’s students. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)
Former Alaska governor Bill Sheffield talks life, time in office and new book
Features

Former Alaska governor Bill Sheffield talks life, time in office and new book

Alaska’s fifth governor has his first memoir. Former Gov. Bill Sheffield, 90, has a new book, “Bill Sheffield: A Memoir, From the Great Depression to… Continue reading

Former Alaska governor Bill Sheffield talks life, time in office and new book
Ricky Tagaban smiles at a Tiny Desk concert at Kindred Post. Tagaban said his work in drag and weaving are both related to gender identity. Photo by Annie Bartholomew.
Features

Chilkat weaver, drag queen wins award and $7,500 from Rasmuson Foundation

Ricky Tagaban has a garbage bag of mountain goat wool and $7,500 in award money. Tagaban, a Chilkat weaver and drag queen, of Juneau is… Continue reading

Ricky Tagaban smiles at a Tiny Desk concert at Kindred Post. Tagaban said his work in drag and weaving are both related to gender identity. Photo by Annie Bartholomew.
Sarah Dybdahl and Ralph Wolfe
Features

Wolfe and Dybdahl named 40 Under 40, Kindred Post gets grant, AWARE seeks nominations

Arts and culture news in brief for the week of Sept. 19, 2018.

Sarah Dybdahl and Ralph Wolfe
Juneau poet wins national award for self-published book
Features

Juneau poet wins national award for self-published book

Miriam Wagoner never thought her poems would be published, let alone win national awards. But Sept. 9, the Juneau poet won a National Federation of… Continue reading

Juneau poet wins national award for self-published book
Library intern organizes Native culture fest
Features

Library intern organizes Native culture fest

The Douglas Public library wasn’t quiet Saturday. The sounds of drums, singing and dancing from the Woosh.ji.een Dance Group echoed out from the library’s meeting… Continue reading

Library intern organizes Native culture fest
Ashleigh Watt portraying Emily and Ty Yamaoka portraying George talk during a rehearsal of “Our Town” at the Perseverance Theatre. They both picked the ladder scene from the play as one of their favorites. The classic Thornton Wilder play will kickoff the theater’s 40th season. While the play is 80 years old and set before World War I, the two 20-something actors said it’s still poignantly relevant today. (Capital City Weekly | Ben Hohenstatt)
Features

“Our Town” feels like theirs, say Perseverance Theatre actors

A play featuring a soda fountain set in early 20th century New England is absolutely relevant to present day Juneau, said its 20-something leads. “Our… Continue reading

Ashleigh Watt portraying Emily and Ty Yamaoka portraying George talk during a rehearsal of “Our Town” at the Perseverance Theatre. They both picked the ladder scene from the play as one of their favorites. The classic Thornton Wilder play will kickoff the theater’s 40th season. While the play is 80 years old and set before World War I, the two 20-something actors said it’s still poignantly relevant today. (Capital City Weekly | Ben Hohenstatt)
Devita Stipek Writer talks about her murals and other paintings that are now gracing Carnival Cruise ships. Writer, a member of the Juneau Artist Gallery co-op, was interviewed there on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Features

Cinderella story brings Juneau artist’s work to millions

The offer that changed Devita Stipek Writer’s life came as a surprise. In 2001, the Juneau artist received a Saturday phone call from a man… Continue reading

Devita Stipek Writer talks about her murals and other paintings that are now gracing Carnival Cruise ships. Writer, a member of the Juneau Artist Gallery co-op, was interviewed there on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day comes to Juneau
Features

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day comes to Juneau

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day has been an event in Anchorage for years, and now it’s coming to Juneau. The collaboration between Girl Scouts… Continue reading

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day comes to Juneau
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is looking at all options in the sale of the subport land along Juneau downtown waterfront on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mental Health Trust spending time, money on subport property

City officials are growing increasingly impatient with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority is looking at all options in the sale of the subport land along Juneau downtown waterfront on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)