News

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Police calls, Sept. 1-2

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 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.
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.
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Ships in port, Sept. 3-6

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule. Capacity figures in parenthesis were pulled from cruise lines’ websites. Wednesday, Sept. 3… Continue reading

  • Sep 2, 2025
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Police calls, Aug. 27-31

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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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)
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Ships in port, Aug. 30-Sept. 3

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. 30… Continue reading

  • Sep 1, 2025
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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)
University of Alaska Board of Regents Chair Ralph Seekins speaks during a meeting at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Regents to meet on Juneau campus this week

Committee meetings will take place Wednesday and Thursday; a regular meeting will be held Friday and Saturday

University of Alaska Board of Regents Chair Ralph Seekins speaks during a meeting at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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Police calls, Aug. 25-27

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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U.S. Army pilots engage opposing forces with the AH-64 Apache during the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on June 13, 2024. This is an example of the types of aircraft that will be transferring through the Yukon to stand up a new Combat Aviation Brigade in Alaska. (Spc. Brandon Vasquez/11th Airborne Division)

U.S. Army helicopters fly over Yukon to stand up new Combat Aviation Brigade

Military spokespeople say aircraft will be seen traveling through northern Canadian territory to Alaska earlier in August may not be the last

U.S. Army pilots engage opposing forces with the AH-64 Apache during the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on June 13, 2024. This is an example of the types of aircraft that will be transferring through the Yukon to stand up a new Combat Aviation Brigade in Alaska. (Spc. Brandon Vasquez/11th Airborne Division)
U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kukui, homeported in Washington, and cutter Elm (The Bar Tender) homeported in Oregon, are seen ported at Coast Guard Station Juneau in August 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard awards contract for homeport improvements in Sitka

Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed in 2028.

U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kukui, homeported in Washington, and cutter Elm (The Bar Tender) homeported in Oregon, are seen ported at Coast Guard Station Juneau in August 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

USDA announces intent to rescind Roadless Rule protections

The deadline for public comment is Sept. 19

The Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Waterfalls in Taku Inlet are seen during a 2024 boat excursion by participants in the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference. (Jasz Garrett/ Juneau Empire)

EPA announces $1.7M in transboundary watershed grants, including over $600K for Southeast projects

Recipients of the grant funding include Tlingit & Haida, Ketchikan Indian Community, and ADF&G

Waterfalls in Taku Inlet are seen during a 2024 boat excursion by participants in the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference. (Jasz Garrett/ Juneau Empire)
A harbor seal is released into Cook Inlet by the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program at North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward’s SeaLife Center releases 2 harbor seals at Kenai beach

The two seals were admitted into the center’s Wildlife Response Program in June.

A harbor seal is released into Cook Inlet by the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program at North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID vaccine doses at a vaccination site at a shopping mall in Bayamn, Puerto Rico, Jan. 7, 2022. The FDA has approved updated Covid vaccines for the fall 2025 season that limit who can get the shots, the federal government’s most restrictive policy since the vaccines became available. (Erika P. Rodriguez/The New York Times)

FDA approves COVID shots with new restrictions

The policy is the federal government’s most restrictive since the vaccines became available

COVID vaccine doses at a vaccination site at a shopping mall in Bayamn, Puerto Rico, Jan. 7, 2022. The FDA has approved updated Covid vaccines for the fall 2025 season that limit who can get the shots, the federal government’s most restrictive policy since the vaccines became available. (Erika P. Rodriguez/The New York Times)
Members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources talk with reporters at Juneau International Airport on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

US House delegation visits Alaska this week, with focus on mining, timber and drilling

Ten members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources are visiting Southeast and Southcentral Alaska, including addressing the annual conference of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association

Members of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources talk with reporters at Juneau International Airport on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)