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Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WVa., speaks to the media after senate democrats luncheon, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Biden is meeting privately with Senate Democrats at the Capitol, a visit intended to deliver a jolt to the party’s long-stalled voting and elections legislation. ( AP Photo /Jose Luis Magana)

Big voting bill faces defeat as 2 Dems won’t stop filibuster

The debate carries echoes of an earlier era

  • Jan 18, 2022
  • By Lisa Mascaro AP Congressional Correspondent
  • Nation-World
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WVa., speaks to the media after senate democrats luncheon, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Biden is meeting privately with Senate Democrats at the Capitol, a visit intended to deliver a jolt to the party’s long-stalled voting and elections legislation. ( AP Photo /Jose Luis Magana)
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022

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

  • Jan 18, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
Sherry Patterson, president of the Black Awareness Association of Juneau, stands amid a mountain of donated pillows on Jan. 17. Patterson was part of a drive to collect food and household goods in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Community service marks MLK Day

Volunteers collect goods, dispense legal advice

Sherry Patterson, president of the Black Awareness Association of Juneau, stands amid a mountain of donated pillows on Jan. 17. Patterson was part of a drive to collect food and household goods in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Chair of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Board of Trustees Craig Richards answers questions from the bicameral Legislative Budget and Audit Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2022. The committee called Richards and other members of the board to answer questions about the December firing of APFC CEO Angela Rodell, who has claimed her termination was politically motivated. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Permanent Fund Corp. board members defend CEO firing

A tense start to session.

Chair of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Board of Trustees Craig Richards answers questions from the bicameral Legislative Budget and Audit Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2022. The committee called Richards and other members of the board to answer questions about the December firing of APFC CEO Angela Rodell, who has claimed her termination was politically motivated. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Former Alaska lawmaker Jason Grenn holds an Alaska Division of Elections brochure explaining ranked choice voting at his office in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. Grenn was sponsor of a ballot initiative passed by Alaska voters in 2020 that would end party primaries and send the top four vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to the general election, where ranked-choice voting would determine a consensus winner. The model is unique among states and viewed by supporters as a way to encourage civility and cooperation among elected officials. The Alaska Supreme Court is set to hear arguments over the system Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Election overhaul in Alaska aimed at reducing partisanship

The model is unique among states.

Former Alaska lawmaker Jason Grenn holds an Alaska Division of Elections brochure explaining ranked choice voting at his office in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. Grenn was sponsor of a ballot initiative passed by Alaska voters in 2020 that would end party primaries and send the top four vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to the general election, where ranked-choice voting would determine a consensus winner. The model is unique among states and viewed by supporters as a way to encourage civility and cooperation among elected officials. The Alaska Supreme Court is set to hear arguments over the system Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022

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

  • Jan 16, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
Platypus-Con, a board and card game convention, is set for later this month in Centennial Hall. (Courtesy Photo | Unsplash)

It’s game on for Platypus-Con

After a year off, it’s back.

  • Jan 16, 2022
  • Juneau Empire
  • Events
Platypus-Con, a board and card game convention, is set for later this month in Centennial Hall. (Courtesy Photo | Unsplash)
This photo shows a glacier bear walking along rocky terrain. There are four known populations of black bears in Southeast Alaska that include the lighter-colored bears, said Tania Lewis, a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. (Courtesy Photo / Tom Hausler)

Recessive genes and receding glaciers: Lecture focuses on Southeast’s blue bears

Biologist shares insights about glacier bears.

This photo shows a glacier bear walking along rocky terrain. There are four known populations of black bears in Southeast Alaska that include the lighter-colored bears, said Tania Lewis, a wildlife biologist for the National Park Service at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. (Courtesy Photo / Tom Hausler)
Courtesy photo / Juneau Raptor Center This golden eagle was rescued by the Juneau Raptor Center over the summer after being found weak and thin.

All the birds I’ve known: Rescue center, birdwatchers look back on 2021

The Christmas bird count was way down this year.

Courtesy photo / Juneau Raptor Center This golden eagle was rescued by the Juneau Raptor Center over the summer after being found weak and thin.
In this satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite, and released by the agency, shows an undersea volcano eruption at the Pacific nation of Tonga Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. An undersea volcano erupted in spectacular fashion near the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday, sending large waves crashing across the shore and people rushing to higher ground. (Japan Meteorology Agency)

Update: Tsunami advisory canceled for Southeast Alaska

It applies to Southeast from the BC border to Cape Fairweather.

In this satellite image taken by Himawari-8, a Japanese weather satellite, and released by the agency, shows an undersea volcano eruption at the Pacific nation of Tonga Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. An undersea volcano erupted in spectacular fashion near the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday, sending large waves crashing across the shore and people rushing to higher ground. (Japan Meteorology Agency)
Superior Court Judge Amy Mead delivers an instruction to the jury on Jan. 13, 2021 as she presides over the trial of a man charged with killing another man in Yakutat in 2018. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Trial continues as major witness testifies

She found the victim dead and called 911.

Superior Court Judge Amy Mead delivers an instruction to the jury on Jan. 13, 2021 as she presides over the trial of a man charged with killing another man in Yakutat in 2018. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML

COVID at a Glance for Friday, Jan. 14, 2022

Numbers come from reports from the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, as well… Continue reading

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML
The next session of the Alaska State Legislature will begin next week at the Capitol building in Juneau, seen here on Jan. 10, 2022, and lawmakers have already filed dozens of new bills for consideration. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Juneau lawmakers’ prefiled bills seek state services stability

Session starts Tuesday.

The next session of the Alaska State Legislature will begin next week at the Capitol building in Juneau, seen here on Jan. 10, 2022, and lawmakers have already filed dozens of new bills for consideration. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
This picture shows recent editions of the Juneau Empire. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

Empire moves to partial mail delivery

Change begins next week

This picture shows recent editions of the Juneau Empire. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
Ned Rozell holds a shard of ice crust, one-inch thick, that lurks in the middle of the Fairbanks snowpack. (Courtesy Photo / Kristen Rozell)

Midwinter rain-on-snow a game changer

A few hours of a December day may affect living things for years to come in the middle of Alaska.

Ned Rozell holds a shard of ice crust, one-inch thick, that lurks in the middle of the Fairbanks snowpack. (Courtesy Photo / Kristen Rozell)
The Juneau Police Department was reaccredited as a department after a multi-year process. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Police department completes reaccreditation process

It took over a year to certify, due to the pandemic.

The Juneau Police Department was reaccredited as a department after a multi-year process. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Superior Court Judge Amy Mead delivers an instruction in court on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, as she presides over the case of a man charged with killing his friend.

Yakutat killing trial begins with statements and witnesses

Attorneys for both sides are establishing the timeline of events.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Superior Court Judge Amy Mead delivers an instruction in court on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, as she presides over the case of a man charged with killing his friend.
This Aug. 21, 2020 photo shows the interior of Riverbend Elementary School, which suffered severe damage after two water pipes burst following extreme cold in Juneau. The Juneau School District announced Thursday the school would remain closed until at least next week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Riverbend Elementary to remain closed due to water damage

Alternative plans being made.

This Aug. 21, 2020 photo shows the interior of Riverbend Elementary School, which suffered severe damage after two water pipes burst following extreme cold in Juneau. The Juneau School District announced Thursday the school would remain closed until at least next week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
A king salmon on a line in Southeast Alaska gets pulled toward the net. The 2020 SeaBank report calls industrial logging and climate change “double jeopardy for salmon.” (Courtesy Photo / Bjorn Dihle)

SalmonState: ‘Alaska’s untold secret’ — The dividends paid by Southeast Alaska’s ‘Seabank’

By Mary Catharine Martin Wild salmon. Clean water. Clean air. Carbon storage. Climate change mitigation. Tourism, commercial fisheries — and billions of dollars in economic… Continue reading

A king salmon on a line in Southeast Alaska gets pulled toward the net. The 2020 SeaBank report calls industrial logging and climate change “double jeopardy for salmon.” (Courtesy Photo / Bjorn Dihle)
Sightseeing buses and tourists are seen at a pullout popular for taking in views of North America's tallest peak, Denali, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, on Aug. 26, 2016. The U.S. Interior Department plans to use $25 million in federal infrastructure funds on a bridge project over a slumping section of the only road into Denali National Park and Preserve. Park officials have attributed the accelerated slumping to climate change, and closed about half the 92-mile park road until they can address the repairs. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Bridge proposed along section of slumping Alaska park road

Denali National Park and Preserve

Sightseeing buses and tourists are seen at a pullout popular for taking in views of North America's tallest peak, Denali, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, on Aug. 26, 2016. The U.S. Interior Department plans to use $25 million in federal infrastructure funds on a bridge project over a slumping section of the only road into Denali National Park and Preserve. Park officials have attributed the accelerated slumping to climate change, and closed about half the 92-mile park road until they can address the repairs. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)