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The doors of the Alaska State Capitol were open Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, though the Alaska State Legislature was not in session. They will be soon, however, as Gov. Mike Dunleavy has called a fourth special session of the year. Lawmakers receive a per diem for days in session, and with so many special sessions those costs can add up. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Per diem for special sessions? It’s up to lawmakers

They have options.

The doors of the Alaska State Capitol were open Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, though the Alaska State Legislature was not in session. They will be soon, however, as Gov. Mike Dunleavy has called a fourth special session of the year. Lawmakers receive a per diem for days in session, and with so many special sessions those costs can add up. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
State health officials announced record numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths Friday, but said the high numbers were the result of a data reporting backlog and needed context. Despite the anamolies in the reporting, health officials emphasized COVID-19 was stressing the states health care systems and urgerd Alaskans to get vaccines, like these laid out during a mass-inoculation clinic in Juneau on Mar. 13, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Health department: Data backlog drives high numbers for cases, deaths

Zink: ‘Get vaccinated.’

State health officials announced record numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths Friday, but said the high numbers were the result of a data reporting backlog and needed context. Despite the anamolies in the reporting, health officials emphasized COVID-19 was stressing the states health care systems and urgerd Alaskans to get vaccines, like these laid out during a mass-inoculation clinic in Juneau on Mar. 13, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
David Rigas

Media veteran brings advertising, digital experience and operational leadership to Southeast Alaska

Juneau Empire adds new publisher.

  • Sep 24, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
David Rigas
Bartlett Regional Hospital is looking for an interim CEO after Rose Lawhorne resigned from the top job on Saturday, after six months in the position. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett to search for interim CEO

Board targets mid-October for new hire

Bartlett Regional Hospital is looking for an interim CEO after Rose Lawhorne resigned from the top job on Saturday, after six months in the position. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Zach Gordon Youth Center manager Jorden Nigro points out a quilt donated by a Monday night quilting group to Shéiyi X̱aat Hít, or Spruce Root House, Juneau’s new youth shelter, on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire) Zach Gordon Youth Center manager Jorden Nigro points out a quilt donated by a Monday night quilting group to Shéiyi X̱aat Hít, or Spruce Root House, Juneau’s new youth shelter, on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

New youth shelter spreads its branches wide

The city has been without a youth shelter for about two years.

Zach Gordon Youth Center manager Jorden Nigro points out a quilt donated by a Monday night quilting group to Shéiyi X̱aat Hít, or Spruce Root House, Juneau’s new youth shelter, on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire) Zach Gordon Youth Center manager Jorden Nigro points out a quilt donated by a Monday night quilting group to Shéiyi X̱aat Hít, or Spruce Root House, Juneau’s new youth shelter, on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the colors of deciduous trees and bushes on the upper Delta River in Interior Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: The season of senescence is upon us

Trees and other plants are simply shedding what no longer suits them.

This photo shows the colors of deciduous trees and bushes on the upper Delta River in Interior Alaska. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
In this July 2017 photo, the midnight sun shines across sea ice along the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The Biden administration is stepping up its work to figure about what to do about the thawing Arctic, which is warming three times faster than the rest of the world. The White House said Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, that it is reactivating the Arctic Executive Steering Committee, which coordinates domestic regulations and works with other Arctic nations. It also is adding six new members to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, including two indigenous Alaskans. (AP Photo / David Goldman)

White House steps up work on what to do about thawing Arctic

The White House said Friday it is reactivating the Arctic Executive Steering Committee.

In this July 2017 photo, the midnight sun shines across sea ice along the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The Biden administration is stepping up its work to figure about what to do about the thawing Arctic, which is warming three times faster than the rest of the world. The White House said Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, that it is reactivating the Arctic Executive Steering Committee, which coordinates domestic regulations and works with other Arctic nations. It also is adding six new members to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, including two indigenous Alaskans. (AP Photo / David Goldman)
A patrol vehicle driven by a Juneau Police Department officer struck a pedestrian on Thursday night, resulting in minor injuries. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau police car strikes pedestrian

The teenager suffered minor injuries but didn’t require hospitalization.

A patrol vehicle driven by a Juneau Police Department officer struck a pedestrian on Thursday night, resulting in minor injuries. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
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, Sept. 24, 2021

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

  • Sep 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)
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 Thursday, Sept. 23

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
A voter casts his ballot in Juneau’s municipal election at the Douglas Library on Sept. 23. All ballots must be returned to the city by 8 p.m. on election day, Oct. 5. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Local election moves to high gear as ballots roll in

Voters are casting ballots

A voter casts his ballot in Juneau’s municipal election at the Douglas Library on Sept. 23. All ballots must be returned to the city by 8 p.m. on election day, Oct. 5. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced legislation to permanently exempt large ships from the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which threatened Alaska's cruise ship season this year. The PVSA puts regulations on large cruise ship vessels, like this one entering the Gastineau Channel on Aug. 22, which are critical to the local tourism industry. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski enters bill to exempt Alaska from Passenger Vessel Services Act

Legislation would let ships travel to Alaska without stopping in Canada.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced legislation to permanently exempt large ships from the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which threatened Alaska's cruise ship season this year. The PVSA puts regulations on large cruise ship vessels, like this one entering the Gastineau Channel on Aug. 22, which are critical to the local tourism industry. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking public comment until Oct. 18, to generate ideas for investment opportunities for the Biden administration’s Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy which hopes to build upon partnerships with regional entities. The USDA Forest Service has previously worked with regional organizations to promote regional development, such as this May, 2021 stream restoration project near Craig, done in partnership with the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition and many others. (Courtesy photo / Ian Johnson via U.S. Forest Service)

US Forest Service seeks public comment for regional investment ideas

Door’s wide open.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking public comment until Oct. 18, to generate ideas for investment opportunities for the Biden administration’s Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy which hopes to build upon partnerships with regional entities. The USDA Forest Service has previously worked with regional organizations to promote regional development, such as this May, 2021 stream restoration project near Craig, done in partnership with the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition and many others. (Courtesy photo / Ian Johnson via U.S. Forest 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 Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021

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

  • Sep 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)
From left to right: Jackie Manning, curator of exhibits for the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum; Aaron Elmore, exhibit designer, and Ellen Carrlee, conservator for the museum unpack an ancient raven's tail robe on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. This robe is one of only about a dozen older robes in existence, according to SLAM collections curator Steven Kenrikson, and will only be on display at SLAM until next month. (Courtesy Photo/ Chelsea Kilgore, Alaska State Library Archives and Museum)
Capital City Weekly

Book celebrates historic Ravenstail robe exhibit at state museum

Robes ancient and new are leaving Oct. 9

From left to right: Jackie Manning, curator of exhibits for the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum; Aaron Elmore, exhibit designer, and Ellen Carrlee, conservator for the museum unpack an ancient raven's tail robe on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. This robe is one of only about a dozen older robes in existence, according to SLAM collections curator Steven Kenrikson, and will only be on display at SLAM until next month. (Courtesy Photo/ Chelsea Kilgore, Alaska State Library Archives and Museum)
teaser

The Salmon State: An early fall trip to Hasselborg Lake

We were already happier, ready to skip our phones across the water like stones.

teaser
Gov. Dunleavy called for Alaskans to be careful and avoid putting more demand on the perilously strained healthcare system as he announced measures to ease some of that demand during a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

State officials: Health care reinforcements are coming

State contracts short-term health care workers to buttress fatigued hospitals

Gov. Dunleavy called for Alaskans to be careful and avoid putting more demand on the perilously strained healthcare system as he announced measures to ease some of that demand during a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / 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 Wednesday, Sept.22

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
A ballot for the 2021 municipal election. On Wednesday, Will Muldoon entered the race for a seat on the Juneau Board of Public Education. He’s joining the field of candidates as a write-in option, eight days after city officials mailed ballots to voters and 13 days before ballots are due back. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

Second write-in candidate joins school board race

Muldoon cites concern over candidate stances on COVID mitigations and board scope drive candidacy

A ballot for the 2021 municipal election. On Wednesday, Will Muldoon entered the race for a seat on the Juneau Board of Public Education. He’s joining the field of candidates as a write-in option, eight days after city officials mailed ballots to voters and 13 days before ballots are due back. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the school board candidates that will appear on ballot's in next month's municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

School board candidate forum responses

Find out where local candidates stand

This photo shows the school board candidates that will appear on ballot's in next month's municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)