News

A male sockeye salmon spawns in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo / Jonny Armstrong)

Pride of Bristol Bay: Life of a sockeye

It only took one sockeye to remind of how lucky I am to live in a world with wild salmon

A male sockeye salmon spawns in Bristol Bay. (Courtesy Photo / Jonny Armstrong)
Otis, the four-time Fat Bear Week champion, fishes at Katmai National Park on Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)

Katmai announces its hefty champion

O, tis a hefty bear.

Otis, the four-time Fat Bear Week champion, fishes at Katmai National Park on Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks 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 Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021

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

  • Oct 6, 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)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Sarah Traiger drops off a ballot at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library vote center on Tuesday, the last day to cast a ballot in the City and Borough of Juneau’s 2021 municipal election.

Local election wraps up —results expected Friday

Nearly 5,000 ballots had already been mailed in by last weekend.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Sarah Traiger drops off a ballot at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library vote center on Tuesday, the last day to cast a ballot in the City and Borough of Juneau’s 2021 municipal election.
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, Oct.5

The most recent state and local figures

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 Juneau Police Department is investigating a body found in the woods across from the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Police investigating body found near ferry terminal

The body was recovered Tuesday afternoon

The Juneau Police Department is investigating a body found in the woods across from the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Crews aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf prepare to board a fishing vessel flying the flag of the People’s Republic of China in the North Pacific on Sep. 21, 2021. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard, partner nations ID numerous fisheries violations

Ships found operating in concert with more than 450 shark fins aboard, according to Coast Guard.

Crews aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf prepare to board a fishing vessel flying the flag of the People’s Republic of China in the North Pacific on Sep. 21, 2021. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
From left to right: Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, House Majority Leader Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, and House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, discuss messages from the Senate in the hall of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. A plan to hold the special session mostly from afar was hampered by demands from Republican Senators. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Plan for remote session stalled by lawmakers

Next meeting is Friday.

From left to right: Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, House Majority Leader Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, and House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, discuss messages from the Senate in the hall of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. A plan to hold the special session mostly from afar was hampered by demands from Republican Senators. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Joyce Johnson-Albert looks on as she receives an antibody infusion while lying on a bed in a trauma room at the Upper Tanana Health Center Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, in Tok, Alaska. Johnson-Albert was optimistic but also realistic. "I just hope the next few days I'll be getting a little better than now," Johnson-Albert told a reporter on the other side of a closed, sliding glass door to the treatment room two days after testing positive for COVID-19 and while receiving an antibody infusion. "It's just hard to say. You can go either way." (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)

COVID spike pushes Alaska’s health care system to brink

One Alaska Native village knew what to do to keep out COVID-19.

Joyce Johnson-Albert looks on as she receives an antibody infusion while lying on a bed in a trauma room at the Upper Tanana Health Center Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, in Tok, Alaska. Johnson-Albert was optimistic but also realistic. "I just hope the next few days I'll be getting a little better than now," Johnson-Albert told a reporter on the other side of a closed, sliding glass door to the treatment room two days after testing positive for COVID-19 and while receiving an antibody infusion. "It's just hard to say. You can go either way." (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)
Tuesday, Oct. 5, is the last day to vote in the City and Borough of Juneau’s 2021 municipal election. This photo shows a ballot for the races that will be decided this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Today is election day. Here’s how to vote if you haven’t yet cast a ballot

Election centers will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 5, is the last day to vote in the City and Borough of Juneau’s 2021 municipal election. This photo shows a ballot for the races that will be decided this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / 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 Monday, Oct. 4

The most recent state and local figures

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
Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, and House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, step outside the House chambers on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, to discuss a message from the Senate. Lawmakers entered their fourth special session Monday, with a resolution to hold committee meetings remotely. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

4th special session gets off to a slow start

Lawmakers discuss making legislative work remote

Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, and House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, step outside the House chambers on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, to discuss a message from the Senate. Lawmakers entered their fourth special session Monday, with a resolution to hold committee meetings remotely. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Agencies and family members are searching for a man reported missing on Sept. 29, 2021, whose truck was found near Perseverance Trail. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)

Authorities, family searching for missing man

His truck was found near Perseverance Trail.

Agencies and family members are searching for a man reported missing on Sept. 29, 2021, whose truck was found near Perseverance Trail. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)
This photo shows Bartlett Regional Hospital on Oct. 4, 2021. As hospitals across the state move to crisis standards of care due to surging COVID-19 cases, local hospital officials say that Bartlett Regional Hospital is not at a crisis point. (Michael S. Lockett/Juneau Empire)

Bartlett Hospital services are stable

Hospital officials say no need to delay care

This photo shows Bartlett Regional Hospital on Oct. 4, 2021. As hospitals across the state move to crisis standards of care due to surging COVID-19 cases, local hospital officials say that Bartlett Regional Hospital is not at a crisis point. (Michael S. Lockett/Juneau Empire)
A Juneau resident receives the booster shot for the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at Centennial Hall on Oct. 2, 2021. More than 1,300 Juneau residents received booster shots at the clinic. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

More than 1,300 receive booster shots over weekend

More than 700 doubled down and also got their flu shot for the year.

A Juneau resident receives the booster shot for the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at Centennial Hall on Oct. 2, 2021. More than 1,300 Juneau residents received booster shots at the clinic. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Michael Williams scans the shoreline for moose while traveling up the Yukon River on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, near Stevens Village, Alaska. For the first time in memory, both king and chum salmon have dwindled to almost nothing and the state has banned salmon fishing on the Yukon. The remote communities that dot the river and live off its bounty are desperate and doubling down on moose and caribou hunts in the waning days of fall. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

Dwindling Alaska salmon leave Yukon River tribes in crisis

For the first time in memory, both king and chum salmon have dwindled to almost nothing.

Michael Williams scans the shoreline for moose while traveling up the Yukon River on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, near Stevens Village, Alaska. For the first time in memory, both king and chum salmon have dwindled to almost nothing and the state has banned salmon fishing on the Yukon. The remote communities that dot the river and live off its bounty are desperate and doubling down on moose and caribou hunts in the waning days of fall. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)
Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire The author glasses harsh terrain on a beautiful October day on an unsuccessful hunt in 2015.

I Went to the Woods: The danger of overexposure

Outdoors content isn’t a monolith.

Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire The author glasses harsh terrain on a beautiful October day on an unsuccessful hunt in 2015.
This photo shows Bartlett Regional Hospital, which was among the 20 facilities for which the state activated crisis standards of care on Saturday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

State activates crisis standards of care for 20 health care facilities, including Bartlett Regional Hospital

Surging COVID cases, strained resources in some hospitals cited as reason.

This photo shows Bartlett Regional Hospital, which was among the 20 facilities for which the state activated crisis standards of care on Saturday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Electric Vehicle Association held its 8th annual meet up for National Drive Electric Week on Oct. 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Leafs of autumn: Juneau Electric Vehicle Association holds meet-up

Owners and enthusiasts had the event as the skies briefly cleared.

The Juneau Electric Vehicle Association held its 8th annual meet up for National Drive Electric Week on Oct. 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This screenshot from the National Weather Service website shows a low pressure system coming ashore from the Gulf of Alaska hit Juneau hard on Oct. 1, 2021, downing trees and causing widespread power outages. (Screenshot)

High winds and heavy rain makes for a busy night for firefighters, power company crews

AEL&P responding to widespread tree downings and outages.

This screenshot from the National Weather Service website shows a low pressure system coming ashore from the Gulf of Alaska hit Juneau hard on Oct. 1, 2021, downing trees and causing widespread power outages. (Screenshot)