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City Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester smiles for a photo downtown Wednesday evening. Koester was selected by the Assembly to serve as the next city manager following the retirement of Rorie Watt in September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City selects familiar face to serve as next manager

Public Works and Engineering’s Katie Koester will take over the role from outgoing Rorie Watt.

City Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester smiles for a photo downtown Wednesday evening. Koester was selected by the Assembly to serve as the next city manager following the retirement of Rorie Watt in September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Copies of Nick Jans new book, “Romeo the Friendly Wolf,” arrived at Hearthside Books about two weeks ago. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Nick Jans goes back to ‘Romeo’

Author returns with follow-up to best-selling book about Juneau’s most famous wolf

Copies of Nick Jans new book, “Romeo the Friendly Wolf,” arrived at Hearthside Books about two weeks ago. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
Jurisdiction over this small plot of Juneau land, seen Jan. 20, is being disputed between the state of Alaska, the federal government and the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska asks judge to determine whether federal officials can create ‘Indian country’ on Juneau land

Lawsuit focuses on Tlingit and Haida’s 787-square-foot parcel of land downtown

Jurisdiction over this small plot of Juneau land, seen Jan. 20, is being disputed between the state of Alaska, the federal government and the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO David Keith listens during a city Assembly meeting in February. On Tuesday hospital officials announced his resignation after less than a year in the position. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO, CFO resign after less than a year in positions

The departure of David Keith and Sam Muse comes in wake of alleged behavioral health care crisis.

Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO David Keith listens during a city Assembly meeting in February. On Tuesday hospital officials announced his resignation after less than a year in the position. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Jason Brune, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and a member of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board of trustees, is seen during a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s top environmental regulator will resign after almost five years as commissioner

Jason Brune is one of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s last remaining original cabinet picks

Jason Brune, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and a member of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board of trustees, is seen during a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Neil Doogan, owner of J&J Deli and Asian Mart, calls out an order while his wife Alma makes a sandwich for a customer Saturday. The deli that opened in 1979 closed on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

J&J Deli and Asian Mart closes its doors after more than four decades

The business was greeted with a final flood of customers during the Monday lunch hour.

Neil Doogan, owner of J&J Deli and Asian Mart, calls out an order while his wife Alma makes a sandwich for a customer Saturday. The deli that opened in 1979 closed on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Parks and Recreation Department hosts a National Night Out event at Cope Park on Tuesday, one of three local public events connected to the national campaign that seeks to strengthen ties between police and communities. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

First responders show up with flashing lights for neighborhood non-emergencies

Local police, firefighters, Coast Guard and other agencies participate in National Night Out events.

Juneau’s Parks and Recreation Department hosts a National Night Out event at Cope Park on Tuesday, one of three local public events connected to the national campaign that seeks to strengthen ties between police and communities. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
Bradley Earl Reger, a former Echo Ranch Bible Camp volunteer, has been arrested and is suspected of sexually abusing numerous boys on religious trips across the globe, including Alaska, for more than a decade. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Former Echo Ranch volunteer pleads not guilty in California for alleged sex abuse of boys

“We are grieved by the reports about sexual abuse by Bradley Reger,” the camp’s parent ministry states.

Bradley Earl Reger, a former Echo Ranch Bible Camp volunteer, has been arrested and is suspected of sexually abusing numerous boys on religious trips across the globe, including Alaska, for more than a decade. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy is seen in a screenshot of a news conference on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, in Anchorage. (Screenshot)

Alaska pays $350,000 to settle last wrongful-firing lawsuit from loyalty-pledge scheme

The state of Alaska has paid $350,000 to settle a four-year-old lawsuit that found Gov. Mike Dunleavy and his former chief of staff personally liable… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is seen in a screenshot of a news conference on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, in Anchorage. (Screenshot)
An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in Juneau on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska to use crowdsourcing website to distribute $2M in COVID-19 money for school supplies

Alaska public school teachers short of supplies this year have a new source to turn to for funding, and it’s not the local school budget.… Continue reading

An empty classroom at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in Juneau on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)
A map shows locations for new cabins being considered by the U.S. Forest Service in and near Juneau. A multiyear project to add about 25 cabins in the Tongass and Chugach national forests, funded largely by $14 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is in the early stages. (U.S. Forest Service map)

New Forest Service cabin coming to Mendenhall Campground

Cabin may open by next summer, is among first of 25 planned in Tongass and Chugach national forests.

A map shows locations for new cabins being considered by the U.S. Forest Service in and near Juneau. A multiyear project to add about 25 cabins in the Tongass and Chugach national forests, funded largely by $14 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is in the early stages. (U.S. Forest Service map)
President Donald Trump arrives at the White House after golfing Nov. 7, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Trump indicted for efforts to overturn 2020 election and block transfer of power

Donald Trump was indicted on felony charges Tuesday for working to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the violent riot… Continue reading

  • Aug 1, 2023
  • By Eric Tucker and Michael Kunzelman Associated Press
President Donald Trump arrives at the White House after golfing Nov. 7, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
U.S. Coast Guard personnel conducts a rescue of a man aboard a commercial fishing vessel that began taking on water in Gastineau Channel Tuesday morning. (Courtesy / Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska)

Coast Guard: No injuries reported after fishing vessel nearly sinks in Juneau

No environmental impacts reported at this time, spokesperson says

U.S. Coast Guard personnel conducts a rescue of a man aboard a commercial fishing vessel that began taking on water in Gastineau Channel Tuesday morning. (Courtesy / Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska)
This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new cruise ship dock downtown that was approved for a conditional-use permit by the City and Borough of Juneau Planning Commission in early July. (City and Borough of Juneau)

City says more public outreach planned as permit for Huna Totem cruise ship dock moves forward

Upcoming meeting for uplands development permit scheduled for Aug. 8.

This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new cruise ship dock downtown that was approved for a conditional-use permit by the City and Borough of Juneau Planning Commission in early July. (City and Borough of Juneau)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau man turns himself into police, arrested on child pornography charges

He pleaded not guilty and is out on bail, according to court documents.

(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska flag flies from the bow of a boat in one of Ketchikan’s small-boat harbors on July 24. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

With Alaska’s maritime heritage at risk of being lost, program seeks to preserve it

Alaska Maritime Heritage Preservation Program is open to funding projects by museums, others

The Alaska flag flies from the bow of a boat in one of Ketchikan’s small-boat harbors on July 24. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A black bear catches a salmon, causing eggs to squirt out, at Peterson Lake on July 26. The bear then ignored the salmon and ate the eggs before hunting for more fish. (Photo by Steve Hamilton)

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

A black bear catches a salmon, causing eggs to squirt out, at Peterson Lake on July 26. The bear then ignored the salmon and ate the eggs before hunting for more fish. (Photo by Steve Hamilton)
This is a photo of a Capital City Fire/Rescue vehicle at the scene of a fire in June. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Police investigate abandoned vehicle fire as arson

The possible intentional fire appears to be an isolated incident, fire marshal says.

This is a photo of a Capital City Fire/Rescue vehicle at the scene of a fire in June. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Two people ride an all-terrain vehicle on Utqiagvik’s beach on Aug. 2, 2022. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska natural resources agency OKs bigger off-road vehicles on most state land

Alaskans can now use larger and heavier recreational off-road vehicles on most state land without a specialty permit, a move intended to accommodate the growth… Continue reading

Two people ride an all-terrain vehicle on Utqiagvik’s beach on Aug. 2, 2022. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
A sexual assault kit. (Photo from Alaska Department of Public Safety)

Sexual assault survivors in Alaska can now track their rape kits online

A new online tool will allow survivors to check the status of their sexual assault kits, Alaska’s Department of Public Safety announced last week. The… Continue reading

A sexual assault kit. (Photo from Alaska Department of Public Safety)