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Mayor Beth Weldon flips through an Assembly meeting agenda to give a glimpse at the workload potential candidates for the upcoming election can expect if elected into local office. Weldon was joined by Kristin Bartlett, chief of staff for the Juneau School District (left), Juneau School Board President Deedie Sorenson (middle right) and Mila Cosgrove, former deputy city manager (right), at the City and Borough of Juneau’s annual “How To Run For Local Office” workshop Saturday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City holds workshop to help residents learn the ropes of running for local office

Assembly and school board members offer advice as filing period for local races nears.

Mayor Beth Weldon flips through an Assembly meeting agenda to give a glimpse at the workload potential candidates for the upcoming election can expect if elected into local office. Weldon was joined by Kristin Bartlett, chief of staff for the Juneau School District (left), Juneau School Board President Deedie Sorenson (middle right) and Mila Cosgrove, former deputy city manager (right), at the City and Borough of Juneau’s annual “How To Run For Local Office” workshop Saturday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Man arrested after firing flare gun at police during foot chase downtown

JPD gets numerous calls after pursuit near Franklin Dock on Friday night

Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Angoon students paddle their dugout, war-style canoe into Chatham Strait from Front Street on June 19. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Angoon students name, launch first dugout canoe since 1882 Bombardment

Residents celebrate enduring culture after the village was devastated by the U.S. Navy shelling.

Angoon students paddle their dugout, war-style canoe into Chatham Strait from Front Street on June 19. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. headquarters in Juneau is where most of the estimated 70 employees manage the state’s primary savings account. The corporation’s board of trustees has directed staff to evaluate options for moving some operations to Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Permanent Fund Corp. considers moving some operations to Anchorage

Opposition to latest “capital creep” voiced by Juneau lawmaker, who says no funds exists for the move.

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. headquarters in Juneau is where most of the estimated 70 employees manage the state’s primary savings account. The corporation’s board of trustees has directed staff to evaluate options for moving some operations to Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This March 10 photo shows drugs seized by police. A Juneau man was arrested Thursday on felony drug charges and police seized several types of drugs with a street value of $32,650, plus nearly $50,000 in cash. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Police: Juneau man arrested for distributing multiple types of drugs

Narcotics seized have an estimated value of more than $30,000.

This March 10 photo shows drugs seized by police. A Juneau man was arrested Thursday on felony drug charges and police seized several types of drugs with a street value of $32,650, plus nearly $50,000 in cash. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Mandy Cole, executive director of AWARE, speaks to the crowd at the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon at the Moose Lodge alongside Amy Skilbred, executive director of the Juneau Community Foundation. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Community leaders share new nonprofit housing council’s goals to address crisis

“This problem cannot be solved by the free market alone.”

Mandy Cole, executive director of AWARE, speaks to the crowd at the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon at the Moose Lodge alongside Amy Skilbred, executive director of the Juneau Community Foundation. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Cans of smoked sockeye salmon line the shelves at the Alaska Seafood Company facility in Lemon Creek. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently purchased the company and will begin operations by beginning of July, the tribe’s president told the Empire. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tlingit and Haida purchases Alaska Seafood Company

The tribe’s president said the acquisition supports mission of economic sovereignty.

Cans of smoked sockeye salmon line the shelves at the Alaska Seafood Company facility in Lemon Creek. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently purchased the company and will begin operations by beginning of July, the tribe’s president told the Empire. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Brendan West, 17, left, and Jack Adams, 15, guide one sailboat while Wesley Torgerson, 16, helps guide another to the dock during a Juneau Youth Sailing course this week. (Therese Pokorney / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Youth Sailing makes waves, inspires young mariners

Participants navigate the waters of growth, confidence and adventure on Gastineau Channel.

Brendan West, 17, left, and Jack Adams, 15, guide one sailboat while Wesley Torgerson, 16, helps guide another to the dock during a Juneau Youth Sailing course this week. (Therese Pokorney / Juneau Empire)
Longtime Juneau musician Rob Cohen performs at an outdoor cabaret show during the Alaska Theater Festival in 2022. This year’s festival will begin with a series of Neighborhood Cabaret shows at various locations throughout Juneau between June 28 and July 2. (Courtesy of Theater Alaska)
Capital City Weekly

Neighborhood watch

Fourth annual Alaska Theater Festival to stage outdoor productions throughout Juneau this summer.

Longtime Juneau musician Rob Cohen performs at an outdoor cabaret show during the Alaska Theater Festival in 2022. This year’s festival will begin with a series of Neighborhood Cabaret shows at various locations throughout Juneau between June 28 and July 2. (Courtesy of Theater Alaska)
This is a picture of the Alaska Department of Health building in downtown Juneau on Thursday afternoon. A recently released bulletin shows a dramatic increase in the number of infants born with congenital syphilis in Alaska. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Alaska sees ‘dramatic’ rise in number of infants born with congenital syphilis

The bulletin identified 26 cases reported in Alaska between 2018 and 2022.

This is a picture of the Alaska Department of Health building in downtown Juneau on Thursday afternoon. A recently released bulletin shows a dramatic increase in the number of infants born with congenital syphilis in Alaska. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Emily Mesch, president of Southeast Alaska LGBTQ+ Alliance, smiles for a photo near the Mendenhall Glacier Thursday evening. SEAGLA is a Juneau-based nonprofit that works to “provide a supporting social network for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in Southeast Alaska.” (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Faces of Pride: Emily Mesch

“There are people out there and we want to help support them.”

Emily Mesch, president of Southeast Alaska LGBTQ+ Alliance, smiles for a photo near the Mendenhall Glacier Thursday evening. SEAGLA is a Juneau-based nonprofit that works to “provide a supporting social network for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in Southeast Alaska.” (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This undated image provided by OceanGate Expeditions in June 2021 shows the company’s Titan submersible. (OceanGate Expeditions via AP, File)

Pilot and four passengers of the Titan submersible are dead, U.S. Coast Guard says

Missing submersible imploded near the wreckage of the Titanic, killing all five people on board.

  • Jun 22, 2023
  • By Patrick Whittle and Holly Ramer Associated Press
This undated image provided by OceanGate Expeditions in June 2021 shows the company’s Titan submersible. (OceanGate Expeditions via AP, File)
Fireworks burst over Juneau on July 4, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Juneau’s July 4 celebrates what is good about America

Growing up in Juneau, and later when raising our own children, our family attended countless Fourth of July parades, patriotic celebrations, and picnics. The holiday… Continue reading

Fireworks burst over Juneau on July 4, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Change in city leadership brings opportunity

With current and projected turnover in city leadership, Juneau citizens might consider new ways to meet the challenges facing the community. Understanding how these challenges… Continue reading

  • Jun 22, 2023
  • By Win Gruening
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The Columbia docks at the terminal in Haines while in service previously. (Geraldine Young / Alaska DOTPF)

Columbia cancels sailings for at least a week due to repairs

Mechanical issue on aging ferry affects stops between Haines and Bellingham

The Columbia docks at the terminal in Haines while in service previously. (Geraldine Young / Alaska DOTPF)
Planned Parenthood’s location in Juneau is now offering vasectomy services as of Wednesday and a procedure day will take place every two months, officials say. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Planned Parenthood now offers vasectomy services in Juneau

The procedure service will be provided on a bimonthly basis.

Planned Parenthood’s location in Juneau is now offering vasectomy services as of Wednesday and a procedure day will take place every two months, officials say. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Uhtred Permanentfundsen, the “defender of the Permanent Fund,” occupies a shelf near the head of the table in the Senate Finance Committee room at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee was responsible for adding to the state budget the formula being used to calculate this year’s Permanent Fund dividend, which is estimated to be $1,304. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

This year’s PFD is a budget-balancing $1,304. Is this the new normal?

Dunleavy OKs lower dividend despite originally seeking a $3,800 “statutory” payout.

Uhtred Permanentfundsen, the “defender of the Permanent Fund,” occupies a shelf near the head of the table in the Senate Finance Committee room at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee was responsible for adding to the state budget the formula being used to calculate this year’s Permanent Fund dividend, which is estimated to be $1,304. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
The F/V Tommy L II, co-owned by longtime Juneau resident Joe Emerson, sits berthed in Aurora Harbor in late May. On Wednesday a federal court decision allowed for the king salmon troll fishery in Southeast Alaska to begin July 1, a reversal of a lower court ruling in May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Fishing is a go for Southeast Alaska troll fishery this summer

Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals reverses lower court ruling, allows season to begin July 1.

The F/V Tommy L II, co-owned by longtime Juneau resident Joe Emerson, sits berthed in Aurora Harbor in late May. On Wednesday a federal court decision allowed for the king salmon troll fishery in Southeast Alaska to begin July 1, a reversal of a lower court ruling in May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Coast Guard officials are silhouetted by rescue aircraft during a change of command ceremony on June 9 in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s top Coast Guard official warns of rising medevac cases as he leaves command

As cruise ship tourism returns and grows, the demand for emergency services is growing, too

Coast Guard officials are silhouetted by rescue aircraft during a change of command ceremony on June 9 in Juneau. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference in April focusing on the budget and a long-range fiscal plan for the state. He signed the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 on Sunday, but did not publicly announce the signing or line-item vetoes made — including cutting in half an increase to public education spending — until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Lawmakers call for override of Dunleavy’s budget cuts to education funding

Odds are “going to be very difficult,” says Juneau senator.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference in April focusing on the budget and a long-range fiscal plan for the state. He signed the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 on Sunday, but did not publicly announce the signing or line-item vetoes made — including cutting in half an increase to public education spending — until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)