The K-6th playground design is rendered for the proposed Dzantik’i Heeni playground (Juneau School District image)

Juneau school board approves funding for Dzantiki’i Heeni playground

The Dzantiki’i Heeni campus used to be a middle school, and had no dedicated playground.

The K-6th playground design is rendered for the proposed Dzantik’i Heeni playground (Juneau School District image)
Guests ride the Porcupine chairlift at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)

Eaglecrest opens Westside, offers $7 lift tickets Saturday

After a rocky start to the season, the ski area is celebrating its 50th birthday.

Guests ride the Porcupine chairlift at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
Salvage captain Trevin Carlile, left, and diver Phil Sellick at Melino’s Marine Service re-float a sunken boat in Harris harbor on Jan. 8, 2026. Record-breaking snow at the beginning of the month caused at least eight boats to sink in Harris, Douglas and Aurora harbors, resulting in oil spills. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)

A historic storm in Juneau: 10 sunken boats and what it takes to re-float them

Sunken boats don’t become wrecked relics. Left underwater, they can damage vessels overhead and threaten the environment

Salvage captain Trevin Carlile, left, and diver Phil Sellick at Melino’s Marine Service re-float a sunken boat in Harris harbor on Jan. 8, 2026. Record-breaking snow at the beginning of the month caused at least eight boats to sink in Harris, Douglas and Aurora harbors, resulting in oil spills. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)
Thomas Hatley stands before a helicopter. He was announced the new fire chief for Capital City Fire and Rescue on Friday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Thomas Hatley photo)

Hatley appointed new Juneau fire chief

Former Fire Chief Rich Etheridge announced his retirement in September.

Thomas Hatley stands before a helicopter. He was announced the new fire chief for Capital City Fire and Rescue on Friday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Thomas Hatley photo)
The Department of Environmental Conservation helped a Nikiski resident dispose of over 43 tons of contaminated soil after a home heating oil spill in November. DEC on Friday launched a program to help eligible homeowners cover cleanup costs relating to home heating oil spills. (Photo courtesy of DEC)

State launches program to help homeowners cover heating oil spill cleanup costs

The Department of Environmental Conservation announced the program on Friday, Jan. 9.

The Department of Environmental Conservation helped a Nikiski resident dispose of over 43 tons of contaminated soil after a home heating oil spill in November. DEC on Friday launched a program to help eligible homeowners cover cleanup costs relating to home heating oil spills. (Photo courtesy of DEC)
Mount Juneau stands among fog on Jan. 14, 2025. (Chloe Anderson / Kenai Peninsula Clarion)

CBJ lifts all avalanche evacuation advisories for Juneau

That includes the advisory for the Behrends slide path, the last remaining evacuation notice.

Mount Juneau stands among fog on Jan. 14, 2025. (Chloe Anderson / Kenai Peninsula Clarion)
Juneau Jazz Fest founder Sandy Fortier will be leading Alaska Arts Education Consortium. (Alaska Arts Education Consortium)

Juneau Jazz Fest founder to lead Alaska arts consortium’s education efforts

Sandy Fortier, now AAEC executive founder, was a Juneau music teacher

  • Jan 14, 2026
  • Lauren Collins
Juneau Jazz Fest founder Sandy Fortier will be leading Alaska Arts Education Consortium. (Alaska Arts Education Consortium)
A City and Borough of Juneau map from 2021 shows labels four avalanche slide paths on Mount Juneau. (City and Borough of Juneau)

Avalanche hazard on Behrends path to peak late Tuesday, CBJ says

‘Likelihood of large avalanches’ could significantly increase during that time, advisory warns.

  • Jan 13, 2026
  • Lauren Collins
A City and Borough of Juneau map from 2021 shows labels four avalanche slide paths on Mount Juneau. (City and Borough of Juneau)
A City and Borough of Juneau map from 2021 shows labels four avalanche slide paths on Mount Juneau. (City and Borough of Juneau)

Evacuation advisory in effect for Behrends slide path, all others lifted in Juneau

Avalanche hazard is still high across all known slide paths, CBJ says.

A City and Borough of Juneau map from 2021 shows labels four avalanche slide paths on Mount Juneau. (City and Borough of Juneau)
Capital City Fire Rescue is asking Juneau residents to dig out fire hydrants near their homes and businesses as heavy snow continues. File photo

Capital City Fire Rescue asks Juneauites to clear nearby fire hydrants

Clearing a three-foot radius can “save precious minutes in an emergency.”

Capital City Fire Rescue is asking Juneau residents to dig out fire hydrants near their homes and businesses as heavy snow continues. File photo
A map from the City and Borough of Juneau shows the potentially impacted area of an avalanche advisory that was issued Friday morning (Jan. 9, 2026) (City and Borough of Juneau)
A map from the City and Borough of Juneau shows the potentially impacted area of an avalanche advisory that was issued Friday morning (Jan. 9, 2026) (City and Borough of Juneau)
A map from the City and Borough of Juneau shows the potentially impacted area of an avalanche advisory that was issued Friday morning (Jan. 9, 2026) (City and Borough of Juneau)

UPDATE: Downtown Juneau residents in slide zone advised to evacuate amid avalanche risk

Emergency shelter will be available at Centennial Hall by noon.

A map from the City and Borough of Juneau shows the potentially impacted area of an avalanche advisory that was issued Friday morning (Jan. 9, 2026) (City and Borough of Juneau)
A snow pile sits outside Thunder Mountain Middle School. Juneau School District has cancelled school Friday Jan. 9, due to hazardous road and weather conditions as an atmospheric river arrives. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

UPDATE: Schools closed in Juneau Friday, potential for remote learning next week

Flood watch in effect through Saturday night for Juneau and much of the Southeast.

A snow pile sits outside Thunder Mountain Middle School. Juneau School District has cancelled school Friday Jan. 9, due to hazardous road and weather conditions as an atmospheric river arrives. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Juneau Friday (Jan. 9, 2026). (NWS)

Flood watch in effect for Juneau

The National Weather Service warns that snowpack blocking storm drains may cause ponding on roadways.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Juneau Friday (Jan. 9, 2026). (NWS)
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Friday morning through Saturday for Juneau and much of the Southeast. (NWS screenshot)

Governor declares state emergency ahead of heavy rain to hit Juneau Friday

The state declaration comes after city and tribal officials declared a local emergency and requested state assistance.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Friday morning through Saturday for Juneau and much of the Southeast. (NWS screenshot)
The City and Borough of Juneau encourages residents to assist in the efforts to clear storm drains as heavy rainfall is forecast (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire)

Heavy rain forecast for Juneau as atmostpheric river approaches

While snowpiles are shrinking, rain falling on snow and ice has made streets slick and wet.

The City and Borough of Juneau encourages residents to assist in the efforts to clear storm drains as heavy rainfall is forecast (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire)
Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire
A tow plow drives along Glacier Highway on Monday, Jan. 5.

Rain-snow showers and a gradual warm-up forecast for Juneau

The city is set to see more manageable precipitation this week after days of relentless snowfall.

Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire
A tow plow drives along Glacier Highway on Monday, Jan. 5.
Alex Bookless and Rachel Levy

Juneau exhibition evokes the entity of womanhood in print

“My Mother’s Bones” is an exhibition by Rachel Levy and Alex Bookless.

Alex Bookless and Rachel Levy
The Fred Meyer gas station roof collapsed early morning on Thursday, Jan. 1.  (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire)

Fred Meyer gas station awning collapse raises concern over roof stability

The amount of snow that each roof can handle is highly variable.

The Fred Meyer gas station roof collapsed early morning on Thursday, Jan. 1.  (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire)
A mound of a snow obscures a "student drop off" sign near Sít' Eetí Shaanàx-Glacier Valley School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Schools and city facilities are closed amid another winter storm

A winter storm warning is in effect with snow dump of around one foot forecast for the day.

A mound of a snow obscures a "student drop off" sign near Sít' Eetí Shaanàx-Glacier Valley School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)