News

A home hangs over the edge of an eroded riverbank after part of the neighboring house fell into the Mendenhall River during the record flooding of Suicide Basin on Aug. 5. The rest of the second home was later demolished. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Federal SBA loans available for people, businesses affected by Suicide Basin flooding

Agency responds favorably to state request after FEMA rejects disater aid.

A home hangs over the edge of an eroded riverbank after part of the neighboring house fell into the Mendenhall River during the record flooding of Suicide Basin on Aug. 5. The rest of the second home was later demolished. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
Black bear sow with cub on the Mendenhall Wetlands, just off Egan Expressway on Sept. 5. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)

Wild Shots

To showcase our readers’ work to the widest possible audience, Wild Shots have been moved in front of the Juneau Empire’s paywall. Don’t have a… Continue reading

Black bear sow with cub on the Mendenhall Wetlands, just off Egan Expressway on Sept. 5. (Courtesy Photo / Kenneth Gill, gillfoto)
A person walks across the dock at St. Paul Harbor, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Kodiak. Alaska fishermen will be able to harvest red king crab, the largest and most lucrative of all the Bering Sea crab species, for the first time in two years, offering a slight reprieve to the beleaguered fishery beset by low numbers likely exacerbated by climate change. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)

Alaska fishermen will be allowed to harvest lucrative red king crab in the Bering Sea

Catch allowed after two canceled seasons; snow crab fishery to remain closed for second year.

A person walks across the dock at St. Paul Harbor, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Kodiak. Alaska fishermen will be able to harvest red king crab, the largest and most lucrative of all the Bering Sea crab species, for the first time in two years, offering a slight reprieve to the beleaguered fishery beset by low numbers likely exacerbated by climate change. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire The Fiddlehead Restaurant & Bakery, which used to be in this building now occupied by the Sandpiper Cafe, is the inspiration for a pop-up restaurant fundraiser scheduled Oct. 21 on behalf of the Southeast Alaska Land Trust.
Capital City Weekly

Fiddlehead Restaurant & Bakery to return as pop-up for SEALT anniversary

All money raised will go to the land trust’s Acquisition Fund.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire The Fiddlehead Restaurant & Bakery, which used to be in this building now occupied by the Sandpiper Cafe, is the inspiration for a pop-up restaurant fundraiser scheduled Oct. 21 on behalf of the Southeast Alaska Land Trust.
Denny Corson (left), Edgar Higgins (center) and Patrick Jimmerson perform as the jazz fusion trio 247 at The Alaskan Hotel and Bar this summer. The trio released its fourth recording, the EP ““Seal of Approval,”on Friday. (Photo courtesy of 247)
Capital City Weekly

Jazz fusion trio of TMHS grads releases fourth recording

Band co-founder calls EP, which can be heard free online, “a gigantic step up” from previous albums.

Denny Corson (left), Edgar Higgins (center) and Patrick Jimmerson perform as the jazz fusion trio 247 at The Alaskan Hotel and Bar this summer. The trio released its fourth recording, the EP ““Seal of Approval,”on Friday. (Photo courtesy of 247)
Heidi Drygas, executive director of the 8,000-member Alaska State Employees Association, addresses a rally outside the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 10. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Union for state employees files class action grievance over payroll delays

State has fewer than half the payroll employees needed “to run smoothly,” complaint alleges.

Heidi Drygas, executive director of the 8,000-member Alaska State Employees Association, addresses a rally outside the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 10. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
Evan Wood (left), Yvette Fountain (middle) and Nasir Spears wait outside the Alaska Department of Revenue office in the State Office Building on Thursday morning to discuss issues related to their Permanent Fund dividends. A majority of state residents got $1,312 dividends electronically deposited Thursday — or a day or two earlier — a considerably lower dividend than the $3,284 payout last year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A majority of Alaskans are $1,312 richer as of Thursday — some wish it were more

This year’s PFD is much lower than last year’s — the price of a balanced state budget.

Evan Wood (left), Yvette Fountain (middle) and Nasir Spears wait outside the Alaska Department of Revenue office in the State Office Building on Thursday morning to discuss issues related to their Permanent Fund dividends. A majority of state residents got $1,312 dividends electronically deposited Thursday — or a day or two earlier — a considerably lower dividend than the $3,284 payout last year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of the fluke of “Tango,” a humpback whale calf that was found dead on an island near Juneau in late August. (Courtesy / Bri Pettie)

Vessel strike cause of death of humpback whale calf in late August

“Deep and large” lacerations found on body, officials say.

This is a photo of the fluke of “Tango,” a humpback whale calf that was found dead on an island near Juneau in late August. (Courtesy / Bri Pettie)
Two queer space cadets cruising the galaxy crash land on a strange planet in the film “Anathema,” which is scheduled to be screened during the HUMP! Film Fest scheduled at the Gold Town Theater Oct. 21-22. (Photo courtesy of HUMP! Film Fest)
Capital City Weekly

Organized amateur porn festival makes its theatrical debut in Juneau

HUMP! Film Fest at Gold Town Theater Oct. 21-22.

Two queer space cadets cruising the galaxy crash land on a strange planet in the film “Anathema,” which is scheduled to be screened during the HUMP! Film Fest scheduled at the Gold Town Theater Oct. 21-22. (Photo courtesy of HUMP! Film Fest)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2o23

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This is a photo of the front page of the Juneau Empire on Thursday, Sept. 28, 1995. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Oct. 8

Three decades of capital city coverage.

This is a photo of the front page of the Juneau Empire on Thursday, Sept. 28, 1995. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Brick Engstrom (right) connects his harness to a rope on a crane-like device Thursday morning that allows him, co-worker Colton Baucom and two other people to rappel down the 11-story State Office Building as they clean it with pressure washers. The first such cleaning in at least a decade, which began a week ago, is expected to take about another month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Rappelling the dirt and slime from the State Office Building

11-story bastion of bureaucracy getting first thorough exterior cleaning in at least a decade.

Brick Engstrom (right) connects his harness to a rope on a crane-like device Thursday morning that allows him, co-worker Colton Baucom and two other people to rappel down the 11-story State Office Building as they clean it with pressure washers. The first such cleaning in at least a decade, which began a week ago, is expected to take about another month. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Boats berth at Don D. Statter Harbor in February. On Wednesday evening the City and Borough of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors Board OK’d a 9% increase to all docks and harbors fees with one exception. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Docks and Harbors board OKs 9% increase for nearly all fees

Increase will go into effect in January if passed by the Assembly.

Boats berth at Don D. Statter Harbor in February. On Wednesday evening the City and Borough of Juneau’s Docks and Harbors Board OK’d a 9% increase to all docks and harbors fees with one exception. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Alaska salmon troller Bay of Pillars in Chatham Strait. (Photo courtesy of NOAA Fisheries)

Dispute about salmon and whales between Alaska and Washington again before federal regulators

NMFS seeks input for environmental impact statement in wake of court rulings.

Alaska salmon troller Bay of Pillars in Chatham Strait. (Photo courtesy of NOAA Fisheries)
An empty hallway at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska seeks to create statewide reading standards for Alaska Native languages

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development is seeking a specialist in Alaska Native language education to create state standards for reading in Alaska… Continue reading

An empty hallway at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Lisa Phu/Alaska Beacon)
Campaign signs for Areawide Assembly candidates Paul Kelly and Ella Adkison sit side-by-side in a yard on Douglas. Kelly and Adkison are the candidates currently leading in the 10-person field for two open Assembly Areawide seats, according to preliminary results released Wednesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Candidates react to unofficial local election results

City Hall bond faces narrow rejection, Assembly races with razor-thin margins.

Campaign signs for Areawide Assembly candidates Paul Kelly and Ella Adkison sit side-by-side in a yard on Douglas. Kelly and Adkison are the candidates currently leading in the 10-person field for two open Assembly Areawide seats, according to preliminary results released Wednesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2o23

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Wednesday, is among those in Alaska that might be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

24 of 60 Alaska state lawmakers sign letter opposing merger of Safeway, Fred Meyer parent companies

All three of Juneau’s Democratic legislators among those opposing merger.

The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Wednesday, is among those in Alaska that might be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An emergency alert is displayed on a cellphone, Oct. 30, 2020, in Rio Rancho, N.M. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File)

Nationwide emergency alert test to hit cellphones and TVs starting at 10:20 a.m. Wednesday

People scheduled to get an alert during a 30-minute window.

  • Oct 4, 2023
  • By Rebecaa Santana Associated Press
An emergency alert is displayed on a cellphone, Oct. 30, 2020, in Rio Rancho, N.M. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File)
Michael Beasley drops a ballot into a drop box at the City Hall Assembly Chambers on Election Day Tuesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Preliminary election results: Tight Assembly races, narrow City Hall rejection

Results released early Wednesday, more votes to be counted in next two weeks.

Michael Beasley drops a ballot into a drop box at the City Hall Assembly Chambers on Election Day Tuesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)