News

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

Ships in port, Aug. 16-20

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. 16… Continue reading

  • Aug 15, 2025
The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
President Donald Trump greets President Vladimir Putin of Russia as they met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Trump and Putin put on a show of friendship but come away without a deal

ANCHORAGE — President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached no agreement to end the war in Ukraine at a high-profile summit meeting Friday,… Continue reading

President Donald Trump greets President Vladimir Putin of Russia as they met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
HESCO flood barriers installed near the banks of the Mendenhall River are photographed on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. Water levels rose by a record-breaking 16.65 feet on the morning of Aug. 13 during a glacial outburst from Suicide Basin. (Chloe Anderson/Juneau Empire)

‘What a difference a year makes’

Juneau flood recovery begins

HESCO flood barriers installed near the banks of the Mendenhall River are photographed on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. Water levels rose by a record-breaking 16.65 feet on the morning of Aug. 13 during a glacial outburst from Suicide Basin. (Chloe Anderson/Juneau Empire)
A Juneau Police Department vehicle. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Police Department names officer seen throwing man during arrest

The man was medevaced to a Seattle hospital following the incident

A Juneau Police Department vehicle. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
In this screengrab, City and Borough of Juneau project managers for the HESCO barrier project — Carleton Shorey, Nick Druyvestein and Jeffrey Thole — speak during a Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, press conference in the aftermath of the 2025 GLOF.

Unified Command switches from response to recovery in aftermath of flooding

The community will start to see preliminary damage assessment teams in affected neighborhoods

In this screengrab, City and Borough of Juneau project managers for the HESCO barrier project — Carleton Shorey, Nick Druyvestein and Jeffrey Thole — speak during a Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, press conference in the aftermath of the 2025 GLOF.
A map shows the location of Sunday's landslide. (Courtesy of Alaska Earthquake Center)

Alaska Earthquake Center says Sunday’s tsunami-causing slide was largest in decade

Sawyer Island sees a 100-foot wave; Harbor Island reports 20-foot waves

A map shows the location of Sunday's landslide. (Courtesy of Alaska Earthquake Center)
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