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Lew Shapiro, in white hat, inspects a potential water system repair project in Ghana on July 5, 2010. (Photo by Josie Sam)

Alaska Science Forum: From the Bronx to Barrow to Ghana

Lewis Shapiro covered a lot of ground during his 90 years.

Lew Shapiro, in white hat, inspects a potential water system repair project in Ghana on July 5, 2010. (Photo by Josie Sam)
Trees standing in water on the flooded shore of Mendenhall Lake are pictured from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor’s Center on Sept. 15, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)

Updated: Flood warning canceled as Suicide Basin release comes to an end

Mendenhall Lake observed a crest of 9.6 feet as of 7 p.m.

Trees standing in water on the flooded shore of Mendenhall Lake are pictured from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor’s Center on Sept. 15, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)
The main campus of the University of Alaska Southeast. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Trump administration terminates University of Alaska grants for Alaska Native, Indigenous students

The full extent of the grant funding freeze across the University of Alaska system is still being analyzed

The main campus of the University of Alaska Southeast. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Renee Boozer, Carlos Boozer Jr. and Carlos Boozer Sr. attend the enshrinement ceremony at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Sprinfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. As a member of the 2008 U.S. men's Olympic team, Boozer Jr. is a member of the 2025 class. (Photo provided by Carlos Boozer Sr.)

Boozer Jr. inducted into Naismith Hall of Fame with ‘Redeem Team’

Boozer Jr. is a 1999 graduate of Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kale

Renee Boozer, Carlos Boozer Jr. and Carlos Boozer Sr. attend the enshrinement ceremony at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Sprinfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. As a member of the 2008 U.S. men's Olympic team, Boozer Jr. is a member of the 2025 class. (Photo provided by Carlos Boozer Sr.)
Salmon caught on the opening day of the spring Chinook salmon run in 2020 in Washougal, Washington. (Grant Hindsley/The New York Times)

Another bust year for Yukon River king salmon returns, sonar counters show

Fish counters show 2025 returns have again failed to meet that target after missing in 2024 as well.

Salmon caught on the opening day of the spring Chinook salmon run in 2020 in Washougal, Washington. (Grant Hindsley/The New York Times)
Natalie Brown plays a drum and sings during an Orange Shirt Day event near the Mendenhall Wetlands viewing area in Juneau on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘Always in our hearts:’ September an important month for boarding school survivors

The National Day of Remembrance coincides with Congressional consideration of the boarding school healing bill

Natalie Brown plays a drum and sings during an Orange Shirt Day event near the Mendenhall Wetlands viewing area in Juneau on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Photo by Martin Truffer
The 18,008-foot Mount St. Elias rises above Malaspina Glacier and Sitkagi Lagoon (water body center left) in 2021.

Alaska Science Forum: The long fade of Alaska’s largest glacier

SITKAGI BLUFFS — While paddling a glacial lake complete with icebergs and milky blue water, I dipped my left hand, then tasted my fingers. Salty.… Continue reading

Photo by Martin Truffer
The 18,008-foot Mount St. Elias rises above Malaspina Glacier and Sitkagi Lagoon (water body center left) in 2021.
The northern lights are pictured near the Mendenhall Glacier on Sept. 3, 2025. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)

Weekly Wonder: Chasing the aurora

She’s hard to find, and even trickier to photograph

The northern lights are pictured near the Mendenhall Glacier on Sept. 3, 2025. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Artic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)

Coast Guard issues contract for major icebreaker port expansion in Seattle

The budget package also included $300 million for port construction in Juneau to support the newly commissioned Coast Guard icebreaker Storis

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Artic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)
Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire
From left, Assembly candidates Wade Bryson, Nano Brooks, Greg Smith and Ella Adkison participate in a forum moderated by the Juneau Downtown Business Association on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Candidates discuss visions for Juneau at election forum

Juneau Downtown Business Association hosts Board of Education and Assembly candidate forum

  • Sep 5, 2025
  • By Chloe Anderson For the Juneau Empire
  • Local News
Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire
From left, Assembly candidates Wade Bryson, Nano Brooks, Greg Smith and Ella Adkison participate in a forum moderated by the Juneau Downtown Business Association on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Photo courtesy Corvus Design
The Anan Wildlife Observatory’s main viewing deck, shelter and spiral staircase to lower-level platforms all factored into the design award presented by the Alaska chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Anan Observatory rebuild wins landscape architects award in Wrangell

The award recognizes the new viewing platforms, shelter, boardwalk and stairs by Corvus Design

Photo courtesy Corvus Design
The Anan Wildlife Observatory’s main viewing deck, shelter and spiral staircase to lower-level platforms all factored into the design award presented by the Alaska chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Photo by Jeff Lund/Juneau Empire
The point of fishing is to catch fish, but there are other things to see and do while out on a trip.

I Went to the Woods: Fish of the summer

I was amped to be out on the polished ocean and was game for the necessary work of jigging

Photo by Jeff Lund/Juneau Empire
The point of fishing is to catch fish, but there are other things to see and do while out on a trip.
A view of visitors exploring the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area taken from the visitor center on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Researcher is feared dead after falling into hole on Mendenhall Glacier

Officials said that the man was a resident of Italy and that they were trying to notify his family there

A view of visitors exploring the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area taken from the visitor center on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Nathaniel Wilder / The New York Times
Local fishermen use dipnets to catch salmon at the mouth of Alaska’s Kenai River, where it runs into Cook Inlet, on July 21.

Alaska produces a ton of gas. Soon, its biggest city might not have enough.

Officials expect that, in the next several years, they may not have enough of the fuel to keep all the lights on in Anchorage

Nathaniel Wilder / The New York Times
Local fishermen use dipnets to catch salmon at the mouth of Alaska’s Kenai River, where it runs into Cook Inlet, on July 21.
A female brown bear and her cub are pictured near Pack Creek on Admiralty Island on July 19, 2024. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)

Bears: Beloved fuzzy Juneau residents — Part 2

Humor me for a moment and picture yourself next to a brown bear

A female brown bear and her cub are pictured near Pack Creek on Admiralty Island on July 19, 2024. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)
Isaac Updike of Ketchikan finished 16th at the World Championships track and field meet in Budapest, Hungary, on Tuesday. (Alaska Sports Report)

Ketchikan steeplechaser makes Team USA for worlds

Worlds are from Sept. 13 to 21, with steeplechase prelims starting on the first day

Isaac Updike of Ketchikan finished 16th at the World Championships track and field meet in Budapest, Hungary, on Tuesday. (Alaska Sports Report)
A gray-headed chickadee feeds along the Canning River in northern Alaska in 2015. Photo by Aaron Lang.

Alaska Science Forum: Calling lost chickadees in far north poplars

If and when beavers do arrive, they could completely change habitats along North Slope river corridors

A gray-headed chickadee feeds along the Canning River in northern Alaska in 2015. Photo by Aaron Lang.
Delcenia Cosman / Homer News
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to Anchor Point residents during a community meeting held at the Virl “Pa” Haga VFW Post 10221 on Friday, May 30, in Anchor Point, Alaska.

Sullivan discusses federal advocacy, legislation during Soldotna visit

Since June, the secretaries of the interior, energy, homeland security, health and human services, housing and urban development, and transportation have all visited Alaska

Delcenia Cosman / Homer News
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to Anchor Point residents during a community meeting held at the Virl “Pa” Haga VFW Post 10221 on Friday, May 30, in Anchor Point, Alaska.
Thomas Casey, missing since Aug. 30, 2025, is pictured in this undated photo. (Provided by Juneau Police Department)

Updated: Arizona man found dead near Mendenhall Glacier

The man was in Juneau for the summer

Thomas Casey, missing since Aug. 30, 2025, is pictured in this undated photo. (Provided by Juneau Police Department)
Former Juneau Police Department Officer Brandon LeBlanc is seen throwing a man to the sidewalk in dash-camera footage from another officer’s patrol car outside the Douglas Public Library in Douglas, Alaska, on July 30, 2025. (Provided by Juneau Police Department)

Juneau officer seen throwing man in July arrest resigns; department releases footage of incident

Brandon LeBlanc was identified by the department as the officer involved in a July 30 encounter that sent man to hospital

Former Juneau Police Department Officer Brandon LeBlanc is seen throwing a man to the sidewalk in dash-camera footage from another officer’s patrol car outside the Douglas Public Library in Douglas, Alaska, on July 30, 2025. (Provided by Juneau Police Department)