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This undated photos shows National Day of Mourning plaque on Cole's Hill in Plymouth, Mass, where since 1970 Indigenous groups have gathered to mourn the history of colonization in North America. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the traditional "First Thanksgiving " in 1621, but for many Indigenous people, including Alaska Natives, the holiday is a somber one. (Courtesy photo / Creative commons)

Thanksgiving has somber context for Indigenous Americans

New narratives.

This undated photos shows National Day of Mourning plaque on Cole's Hill in Plymouth, Mass, where since 1970 Indigenous groups have gathered to mourn the history of colonization in North America. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the traditional "First Thanksgiving " in 1621, but for many Indigenous people, including Alaska Natives, the holiday is a somber one. (Courtesy photo / Creative commons)
Turkey was served at the Juneau Salvation Army Thanksgiving Dinner at the Hangar on the Wharf on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, but this year COVID-19 is preventing dine-in meals but hot meals will still be distributed for free Thanksgiving Day. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Salvation Army)

Public events fill up Juneau’s Thanksgiving weekend

There’s a horn of plenty to do.

Turkey was served at the Juneau Salvation Army Thanksgiving Dinner at the Hangar on the Wharf on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, but this year COVID-19 is preventing dine-in meals but hot meals will still be distributed for free Thanksgiving Day. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Salvation Army)
Wilson Valentine (right) and John Staub rehearse ahead of the Juneau Symphony’s return to in-person performances in October. Earlier this month, Christopher Koch was named music director of the symphony. He will conduct his first concert in that role in late January. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Making beautiful music together

Meet the symphony’s new music director

Wilson Valentine (right) and John Staub rehearse ahead of the Juneau Symphony’s return to in-person performances in October. Earlier this month, Christopher Koch was named music director of the symphony. He will conduct his first concert in that role in late January. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A painted mural of Ahmaud Arbery is displayed on May 17, 2020, in Brunswick, Ga., where the 25-year-old man was shot and killed in February. Arbery was shot and killed by two men who told police they thought he was a burglar. (AP Photo / Sarah Blake Morgan)

All 3 men charged in Arbery’s death convicted of murder

Jurors on Wednesday convicted the three men charged in the death of Ahmaud Arbery.

A painted mural of Ahmaud Arbery is displayed on May 17, 2020, in Brunswick, Ga., where the 25-year-old man was shot and killed in February. Arbery was shot and killed by two men who told police they thought he was a burglar. (AP Photo / Sarah Blake Morgan)
The author with a Kenai River rainbow caught during his honeymoon in June. (Jeff Lund / for the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: It’s OK to be happy

Of course, it’s not as easy as going fishing.

The author with a Kenai River rainbow caught during his honeymoon in June. (Jeff Lund / for the Juneau Empire)
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 Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021

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

  • Nov 24, 2021
  • 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)
Public Health nurse April Rezendes gives a Juneau resident their flu vaccine at the Juneau Public Health Center on Nov. 23, 2021. The vaccine is available as are COVID-19 vaccinations. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau now offering walk-in vaccines and boosters

Boosters are free, easy, and convenient to get.

Public Health nurse April Rezendes gives a Juneau resident their flu vaccine at the Juneau Public Health Center on Nov. 23, 2021. The vaccine is available as are COVID-19 vaccinations. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A Carnival cruise ship arrives in Juneau early in the morning on Aug. 14. Local business owners say that the short and significantly scaled back 2021 cruise season was welcome after the cancelation of the 2020 season. However, they say it was not enough and they are struggling to survive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Small businesses still struggling due to pandemic’s effect on travel

“We are in survival mode”

A Carnival cruise ship arrives in Juneau early in the morning on Aug. 14. Local business owners say that the short and significantly scaled back 2021 cruise season was welcome after the cancelation of the 2020 season. However, they say it was not enough and they are struggling to survive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
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 Tuesday, Nov. 23

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

  • Nov 23, 2021
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
State Rep. David Eastman sits at his desk on the Alaska House floor in Juneau, Alaska, on March 5, 2020. Dozens of West Point graduates have demanded state Rep. Eastman resign from office over his ties to a right wing extremist group, saying his affiliation has betrayed the values of the U.S. Military Academy he attended. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

70 West Point graduates call on Eastman to resign

ANCHORAGE — Dozens of West Point graduates have demanded state Rep. David Eastman resign from office over his ties to a right-wing extremist group, saying… Continue reading

State Rep. David Eastman sits at his desk on the Alaska House floor in Juneau, Alaska, on March 5, 2020. Dozens of West Point graduates have demanded state Rep. Eastman resign from office over his ties to a right wing extremist group, saying his affiliation has betrayed the values of the U.S. Military Academy he attended. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
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, Nov. 23, 2021

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

  • Nov 23, 2021
  • 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)
The egg mass under the tipped up shell is indicated by A, and the head of the male sculpin by B. (Courtesy Photo / John Palmes)

On the Trails: Caring for offspring

Vertebrates have a broad spectrum of ways to care for their offspring

The egg mass under the tipped up shell is indicated by A, and the head of the male sculpin by B. (Courtesy Photo / John Palmes)
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File Alexandra Pierce, a planning manager at the City and Borough of Juneau, gives a presentation to the Visitor Industry Task Force in the Assembly chambers on Dec. 3, 2019. Task force members suggested creating a Tourism Manager role. On Monday, city officials named Pierce to fill the newly created role.

CBJ employee named to new tourism manager post

The job is a Visitor Industry Task Force recommendation

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File Alexandra Pierce, a planning manager at the City and Borough of Juneau, gives a presentation to the Visitor Industry Task Force in the Assembly chambers on Dec. 3, 2019. Task force members suggested creating a Tourism Manager role. On Monday, city officials named Pierce to fill the newly created role.
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 Monday, Nov. 22

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

  • Nov 22, 2021
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
An Alaska Airlines flight lands at the Juneau International Airport on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, amid a day of rain and snow. The National Weather Services issued a winter storm warning for Tuesday to Thursday, which covers “Black Wednesday,” the busiest travel day of the year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Wintry weather coincides with busy travel days

Safe travels.

An Alaska Airlines flight lands at the Juneau International Airport on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, amid a day of rain and snow. The National Weather Services issued a winter storm warning for Tuesday to Thursday, which covers “Black Wednesday,” the busiest travel day of the year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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Alaska man pleads not guilty to threatening 2 US senators

If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.

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The Wrangell Institute was one of many residential schools in Alaska dedicated to involuntarily teaching the Indigenous people of the state European ways of living, forcibly breaking them from their own Alaska Native cultures. (Courtesy photo / National Park Service)

Churches respond to revelations about residential schools

That acknowledgement is taking a number of forms, varying by institution.

The Wrangell Institute was one of many residential schools in Alaska dedicated to involuntarily teaching the Indigenous people of the state European ways of living, forcibly breaking them from their own Alaska Native cultures. (Courtesy photo / National Park Service)
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 Friday, Nov. 19, 2021

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

  • Nov 21, 2021
  • 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)
Derek St Clair aims at a target during the Juneau Gun Club’s annual Turkey Shoot on Nov. 20, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Shooters shoot: Juneau Gun Club brings back Turkey Shoot

Juneau residents came out firing for the annual event.

Derek St Clair aims at a target during the Juneau Gun Club’s annual Turkey Shoot on Nov. 20, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Marie and Molly Heidemann smile as molly pets Penny the turkey on Saturday at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé IGNITE Club’s second annual turkey shoot event. The photo shoot raised money to support the club, which hopes to build a small barn at the school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Lights, camera, turkey: Club holds annual photo shoot fundraiser

Bird’s the word.

Marie and Molly Heidemann smile as molly pets Penny the turkey on Saturday at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé IGNITE Club’s second annual turkey shoot event. The photo shoot raised money to support the club, which hopes to build a small barn at the school. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)