News

President Donald Trump shakes hands with President Vladimir Putin of Russia during a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. In the 2018 meeting, President Trump said he accepted President Vladimir Putin’s denial of election interference over the judgment of American intelligence agencies. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Alaska’s Ukrainian refugees brace for Putin’s arrival in their safe harbor

A variety of Alaskans have expressed misgivings.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with President Vladimir Putin of Russia during a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. In the 2018 meeting, President Trump said he accepted President Vladimir Putin’s denial of election interference over the judgment of American intelligence agencies. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
As of 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, the Mendenhall River height was 10.78 feet and falling. (National Weather Service)

UPDATE: Suicide Basin flood threat ends, water recedes

Evacuated areas have now been opened to residents only

As of 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, the Mendenhall River height was 10.78 feet and falling. (National Weather Service)
A flood inundation map shows areas in Juneau's Mendenhall Valley that are urged to evacuate during the 2025 annual glacial outburst flooding event, which is estimated to have begun Monday evening and expected to crest Wednesday afternoon.

Update: Mendenhall River crests, levels now falling

The release from Suicide Basin has come to an end

A flood inundation map shows areas in Juneau's Mendenhall Valley that are urged to evacuate during the 2025 annual glacial outburst flooding event, which is estimated to have begun Monday evening and expected to crest Wednesday afternoon.
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Police calls, Aug. 6-11

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement and public safety agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction… Continue reading

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The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ships in port, Aug. 13-16

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule. Capacity figures in parenthesis were pulled from cruise lines’ websites. Wednesday, Aug. 13… Continue reading

  • Aug 13, 2025
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia during a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. President Trump is pushing to end the war in Ukraine, but analysts say the Russian leader could turn a hastily-planned meeting to his advantage. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Trump to meet Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage

Trump was expected to make what amounted to a day trip to Alaska to meet with Putin.

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia during a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. President Trump is pushing to end the war in Ukraine, but analysts say the Russian leader could turn a hastily-planned meeting to his advantage. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
The Mendenhall river is pictured from Botherhood Bridge on Aug. 11, 2025. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)

CBJ, CCFR and others share flood preparedness updates ahead of expected annual flood event

Due to an atmospheric river the Juneau area experienced this weekend, both lake and river levels have risen

The Mendenhall river is pictured from Botherhood Bridge on Aug. 11, 2025. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)
A screenshot from the USGS monitoring location of the basin shows the status of the area as of Aug. 11, 2025.

Suicide Basin reaches capacity; CBJ urges residents in inundation zone to prep for evacuation

In the past, it has taken up to six days for the outburst flooding event to begin after reaching this point

A screenshot from the USGS monitoring location of the basin shows the status of the area as of Aug. 11, 2025.
Sailors participate in the commissioning ceremony for U.S. Coast Guard polar icebreaker Storis, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Image courtesy the Office of U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan)

U.S. Coast Guard adds icebreaker to fleet for first time in 25 years

Federal officials see the refurbished ship Storis as the first of many new additions and a statement of sovereignty in the Arctic under the Trump administration

Sailors participate in the commissioning ceremony for U.S. Coast Guard polar icebreaker Storis, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Image courtesy the Office of U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan)
President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks at an event at the White House in Washington, Aug. 7, 2025. Airstrikes on Ukraine by Russia on Friday came the day that President Trump’s deadline expired for Russia’s leader to agree to end the war. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)

Trump says he will meet with Putin in Alaska next week

The meeting comes as he tries to secure a deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine

  • Aug 8, 2025
  • By Tyler Pager and David E. Sanger c.2025 The New York Times Company
  • State & Legislature
President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks at an event at the White House in Washington, Aug. 7, 2025. Airstrikes on Ukraine by Russia on Friday came the day that President Trump’s deadline expired for Russia’s leader to agree to end the war. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
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Police calls, July 31-Aug. 6

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement and public safety agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction… Continue reading

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Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025.

Ships in port, Aug. 9-13

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule. Capacity figures in parenthesis were pulled from cruise lines’ websites. Saturday, Aug. 9… Continue reading

  • Aug 8, 2025
Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025.
A meter stick laid alongside the damaged petroglyph rock shows the size of the stone. (Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service)

Officials respond to vandalism that damaged a petroglyph rock at Wrangell beach site

A petroglyph rock was found split in half last month

  • Aug 8, 2025
  • By Larry Persily Wrangell Sentinel
  • Local News
A meter stick laid alongside the damaged petroglyph rock shows the size of the stone. (Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service)
A map of the Johnson Tract Mine exploration project. Photo courtesy of the Center for Biological Diversity

Cook Inletkeeper, partners file lawsuit against Cook Inlet gold mine

The Johnson Tract Mine is located on CIRI-owned lands inside Lake Clark National Park.

A map of the Johnson Tract Mine exploration project. Photo courtesy of the Center for Biological Diversity
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Traveling nurse charged with murder of 78-year-old Southcentral Alaska man

John “Skip” Dove Jr. was found on Tuesday stabbed to death in his home off Sports Lake Road north of Soldotna.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, listen to a question asked at a news conference held Tuesday at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium headquarters in Anchorage. At the event, which was part of Kennedy’s itinerary during his Alaska trip, the secretary made several claims about vaccines that are disputed by medical experts. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

US Sec. Kennedy, in Alaska trip, repeats doubts of vaccines, while promising new ‘universal vaccine’

Comments follow the secretary’s decision to axe funding for mRNA vaccine development

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, listen to a question asked at a news conference held Tuesday at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium headquarters in Anchorage. At the event, which was part of Kennedy’s itinerary during his Alaska trip, the secretary made several claims about vaccines that are disputed by medical experts. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)

Special session continues in almost-empty Alaska Capitol building

Most state legislators have left Juneau and aren’t scheduled to meet again until Aug. 19 due to differences over the agenda

The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)
Denali, the tallest mountain in the United States, is seen in this undated photo. (Denali National Park and Preserve photo)

Driver dies after hitting a moose near Denali National Park

The National Park Service said it was investigating the crash

Denali, the tallest mountain in the United States, is seen in this undated photo. (Denali National Park and Preserve photo)
Alaska National Guard courtesy photo Multiple homes and roads are seen inundated in the Mendenhall Glacier Basin following an Aug. 6, 2024, outburst flood from the Mendenhall Glacier.

Alaskans work to analyze and reduce risks of glacial outburst flooding

As residents of Juneau use new information to gird for near-annual floods, scientists are studying glacier dynamics to better understand what the future holds

Alaska National Guard courtesy photo Multiple homes and roads are seen inundated in the Mendenhall Glacier Basin following an Aug. 6, 2024, outburst flood from the Mendenhall Glacier.
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Police calls, July 31-Aug. 1

This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone listed in this report is presumed innocent

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