News

Investigator Markus Bressler, defendant John Stapleton, and public defender Eric Hedland sit in court on Jan. 13, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Man sentenced to 20 years in Yakutat murder

A man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of second-degree murder following a fatal stabbing in Yakutat. [Jury returns mixed… Continue reading

Investigator Markus Bressler, defendant John Stapleton, and public defender Eric Hedland sit in court on Jan. 13, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows one of two F-35 fighter jets that many saw (and heard) landing and departing from Juneau International Airport on Tuesday. (Courtesy Photo / Jonathan Broga)

Pair of F-35s make their presence known at airport

“It’s not at all uncommon for us to see that here.”

This photo shows one of two F-35 fighter jets that many saw (and heard) landing and departing from Juneau International Airport on Tuesday. (Courtesy Photo / Jonathan Broga)
The Juneau student ensemble Aurora Strings warm up on the stage at Carnegie Hall before their 30-minute performance as part of the Sounds of Summer International Music Festival in June of last year. (Photo courtesy of World Projects)
Features

Crushing it at Carnegie

Juneau student ensemble, among four in U.S. to play in NYC last summer, perform tribute show Sat.

The Juneau student ensemble Aurora Strings warm up on the stage at Carnegie Hall before their 30-minute performance as part of the Sounds of Summer International Music Festival in June of last year. (Photo courtesy of World Projects)
During a Wednesday rehearsal at KTOO studios for the Alaska Theater Festival: Radio Plays, Shaakindustoow Ed Littlefield, seen here, is joined by the cast of Vera Starbard’s, “The Beginning of Eagle” which is an adaptation from stories shared by DaaXKu dein Tommy Jimmie. “The Beginning of Eagle” will be performed Saturday live in-person at KTOO studios as well as on-air at KTOO News 104.3 and 91.7, and online at ktoo.org/listen. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Features

Theater takes to airwaves in collaborative festival

Theater Alaska, KTOO and Juneau Ghost Light Theatre present radio plays.

During a Wednesday rehearsal at KTOO studios for the Alaska Theater Festival: Radio Plays, Shaakindustoow Ed Littlefield, seen here, is joined by the cast of Vera Starbard’s, “The Beginning of Eagle” which is an adaptation from stories shared by DaaXKu dein Tommy Jimmie. “The Beginning of Eagle” will be performed Saturday live in-person at KTOO studios as well as on-air at KTOO News 104.3 and 91.7, and online at ktoo.org/listen. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Sally Schlichting practices the flute at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum Atrium Monday afternoon in preparation for her upcoming solo concert Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Fluting solo: Esteemed Juneau musician to perform first solo concert in nearly a decade

Con Brio’s Sally Schlichting will perform a series of classical chamber pieces on the flute

Sally Schlichting practices the flute at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum Atrium Monday afternoon in preparation for her upcoming solo concert Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023

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

  • Feb 8, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, addressing a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday,

What sank the Juneau icebreaker plan?

Sullivan, in a “bit of hearsay,” blames last-minute swap for border funds by still-unknown person

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, addressing a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday,
President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington, as Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., listen. (Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Video

Biden says in State of Union that U.S. is ‘unbowed, unbroken’

Address comes as the nation struggles to make sense of confounding cross-currents at home and abroad.

  • Feb 7, 2023
  • By Zeke Miller and Seung Min Kim Associated Press
  • National News
President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington, as Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., listen. (Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Video
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan addresses a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature in the House chambers on Tuesday. The Republican senator, appearing on the same day as Democratic President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech (and thus absent from it), criticized the administration on issues ranging from drugs to opposing resource development in Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Sullivan applauds, denounces feds in speech to Legislature

Senator praises ferry funds and monitoring of China’s balloon, fears Biden limiting oil project.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan addresses a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature in the House chambers on Tuesday. The Republican senator, appearing on the same day as Democratic President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech (and thus absent from it), criticized the administration on issues ranging from drugs to opposing resource development in Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File A porcupine dines in mid-August near the Mendnehall Glacier.

On the Trails: Putting a finer point on porcupines

Plants such as roses and devil’s club aren’t the only prickly ones…

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File A porcupine dines in mid-August near the Mendnehall Glacier.
Members of the Juneau Police Department pose for a group photo during the annual JPD awards ceremony on Monday. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JPD honors officers in annual award ceremony

The late Chief Pat Wellington presented with legislative memoriam.

Members of the Juneau Police Department pose for a group photo during the annual JPD awards ceremony on Monday. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Chunks of ice break off the Perito Moreno Glacier, in Lake Argentina, at Los Glaciares National Park, near El Calafate, in Argentina's Patagonia region, March 10, 2016. As glaciers melt and pour massive amounts of water into nearby lakes, 15 million people across the globe live under the threat of a sudden and deadly outburst flood, a new study finds. (AP Photo / Francisco Munoz)

Study: 15 million people live under threat of glacial floods

More than half of those are in just four countries: India, Pakistan, Peru and China.

Chunks of ice break off the Perito Moreno Glacier, in Lake Argentina, at Los Glaciares National Park, near El Calafate, in Argentina's Patagonia region, March 10, 2016. As glaciers melt and pour massive amounts of water into nearby lakes, 15 million people across the globe live under the threat of a sudden and deadly outburst flood, a new study finds. (AP Photo / Francisco Munoz)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023

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

  • Feb 7, 2023
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Edward Richards, left, a high school student in the Sitka School District, talks about the lack of mental health services in Alaska’s public schools as part of the testimony also offered by district Superintendent Frank Hauser, center, and student Felix Myers during a Senate Education Meeting on Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee is proposing a 17% increase in the state’s school funding formula, which was remained essentially flat since 2017.

School’s in at the Capitol

Students and education leaders from around state make case for more classroom cash.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Edward Richards, left, a high school student in the Sitka School District, talks about the lack of mental health services in Alaska’s public schools as part of the testimony also offered by district Superintendent Frank Hauser, center, and student Felix Myers during a Senate Education Meeting on Monday at the Alaska State Capitol. The committee is proposing a 17% increase in the state’s school funding formula, which was remained essentially flat since 2017.
Juneau Police Department say a suspicious package found Monday afternoon outside Sayéik: Gastineau Community School did not pose a threat. (Juneau Empire File)

Police investigate suspicious package at Gastineau Elementary School

The package was determined not a threat

Juneau Police Department say a suspicious package found Monday afternoon outside Sayéik: Gastineau Community School did not pose a threat. (Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Ayuq Blanchett and Josaia Lehauli recieve awards for their work at the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program at Harborview Elementary School Monday morning.

Tlingit language and culture program expands its reach

The optional district program is extending to eighth grade, hiring full-time principal

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Ayuq Blanchett and Josaia Lehauli recieve awards for their work at the Tlingit Culture Language and Literacy program at Harborview Elementary School Monday morning.
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Kyle Clayton, Ryan Staska and Brandon Wilks, all members of the Lynn Canal Community Players, perform a staged reading of the play, “The Strange Fate of the Clara Nevada” on Sunday at the Haines Sheldon Museum to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the ship’s sinking in 1898.

Exhibit shines a light on shipwreck’s history

Haines commemorates 125th anniversary of the Clara Nevada.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Kyle Clayton, Ryan Staska and Brandon Wilks, all members of the Lynn Canal Community Players, perform a staged reading of the play, “The Strange Fate of the Clara Nevada” on Sunday at the Haines Sheldon Museum to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the ship’s sinking in 1898.
Folks at the Alaska State Capitol openly admit to plenty of fish tales, but to a large degree in ways intended to benefit residents and sometimes even the fish. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

The bizarre bills other state legislatures are considering

Alaska’s Legislature isn’t mulling the headline-grabbers some statehouses have in the works.

Folks at the Alaska State Capitol openly admit to plenty of fish tales, but to a large degree in ways intended to benefit residents and sometimes even the fish. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows snow-covered hills in the Porcupine River Tundra in the Yukon Territories, Canada. In July 1997, a hunter contacted troopers in Fairbanks, Alaska, and reported finding a human skull along the Porcupine River, around 8 miles (13 kilometers) from the Canadian border. Investigators used genetic genealogy to help identify the remains as those of Gary Frank Sotherden, according to a statement Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, from Alaska State Troopers. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)

Skull found in ‘97 in Interior belongs to New York man

A skull found in a remote part of Alaska’s Interior in 1997 belongs to a New York man who likely died in a bear mauling,… Continue reading

This photo shows snow-covered hills in the Porcupine River Tundra in the Yukon Territories, Canada. In July 1997, a hunter contacted troopers in Fairbanks, Alaska, and reported finding a human skull along the Porcupine River, around 8 miles (13 kilometers) from the Canadian border. Investigators used genetic genealogy to help identify the remains as those of Gary Frank Sotherden, according to a statement Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, from Alaska State Troopers. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire From left to right, AFS and Rotary exchange students Goce Dimitriev, Leni Schilling, Ana Scopel and Wasiq Malik pose for a photo at Floyd Dryden Middle School on Friday. Each met with various classes throughout the day to share their presentations and answer questions from Juneau students.

Students expand worldview through exchange programs

Sixteen-year-old Leni Schilling said she’s been dreaming of traveling to America through an international national program since she was a young girl. The aspiration began… Continue reading

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire From left to right, AFS and Rotary exchange students Goce Dimitriev, Leni Schilling, Ana Scopel and Wasiq Malik pose for a photo at Floyd Dryden Middle School on Friday. Each met with various classes throughout the day to share their presentations and answer questions from Juneau students.