News

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, May 30, 2021

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

  • May 30, 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)
Basin Road and Gold Creek as seen from Perseverance Trail on Sept. 22, 2019. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

In time for the long weekend, a look at some of Juneau’s favorite trails

What’s No, 1?

Basin Road and Gold Creek as seen from Perseverance Trail on Sept. 22, 2019. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire In this November 2019 photo, former Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, tells his favorite Walter Soboleff stories during a celebration of Soboleff at the Walter Soboleff Center on Walter Soboleff Day.

Albert Kookesh, Alaska Native leader, dies at 72

Condolences are coming in.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire In this November 2019 photo, former Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, tells his favorite Walter Soboleff stories during a celebration of Soboleff at the Walter Soboleff Center on Walter Soboleff Day.
The Alaska State Capitol was quiet on Friday, May 28, 2021, as several lawmakers returned to their home districts for the Memorial Day weekend. Negotiations on the state's budget won't begin again until Tuesday, June 1. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Divided Legislature takes holiday break

Special session ends June 19.

The Alaska State Capitol was quiet on Friday, May 28, 2021, as several lawmakers returned to their home districts for the Memorial Day weekend. Negotiations on the state's budget won't begin again until Tuesday, June 1. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Dan O’Neill on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska writer awarded an honorary degree

By Ned Rozell Alaska is large in its acreage of spruce swamps and spongey tundra but small in the number of writers who have described… Continue reading

  • May 28, 2021
  • By Ned Rozell
Dan O’Neill on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Pat White (left) and Sue Schrader (right), collect signatures to move a trio of initiatives aimed at curbing cruise ship visits to Juneau onto October's municipal ballot. The pair are members of a group called Juneau Cruise Control. With less than a week until the June 4 deadline to submit signatures for each question, organizers are not releasing the number of signatories to date. (Courtesy photo/Sue Schrader)

Cruising to the finish line: Initiative proponents, opponents continue work

Juneau Cruise Control holds numbers of signatures close to the vest ahead of next Friday’s deadline.

Pat White (left) and Sue Schrader (right), collect signatures to move a trio of initiatives aimed at curbing cruise ship visits to Juneau onto October's municipal ballot. The pair are members of a group called Juneau Cruise Control. With less than a week until the June 4 deadline to submit signatures for each question, organizers are not releasing the number of signatories to date. (Courtesy photo/Sue Schrader)
The Capitol Dome looms behind the Peace Monument statue in Washington, Friday, May 28, 2021, as the Senate tries to finish to its work going into the Memorial Day recess with Republican leaders insisting they will block a commission on the Jan. 6 insurrection by a mob loyal to former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)

GOP blocks bipartisan probe of deadly Jan. 6 riot at Capitol

Senate Republicans blocked creation of a bipartisan panel to study the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

  • May 28, 2021
  • By Mary Clare Jalonick and Lisa Mascaro Associated Press
  • National News
The Capitol Dome looms behind the Peace Monument statue in Washington, Friday, May 28, 2021, as the Senate tries to finish to its work going into the Memorial Day recess with Republican leaders insisting they will block a commission on the Jan. 6 insurrection by a mob loyal to former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)

Corps: Pebble Mine appeal review could take over a year

The proposed mine has been the subject of heated debate for years.

In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)
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, May 28

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
Capt. Jayme Johns, center, head of the Capital City Fire/Rescue’s water rescue team, briefs a group of CCFR personnel and Coast Guardsmen as they prepare to practice swiftwater rescues in the Mendenhall River on as National Boating Safety Week wraps up May 27, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

‘Current’ events: Responders rehearse river rescue

“When you’re in the river, you’re at the mercy of the water.”

Capt. Jayme Johns, center, head of the Capital City Fire/Rescue’s water rescue team, briefs a group of CCFR personnel and Coast Guardsmen as they prepare to practice swiftwater rescues in the Mendenhall River on as National Boating Safety Week wraps up May 27, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Dan Blanchard, CEO of UnCruise Adventures stands at the bridge of the Safari Quest, one of several boats that will ply Alaksa's waters this season. He said the stuffed animal is the ship's official mascot. His daughter, Denee Blanchard, is the captain of the vessel, which left Juneau for a weeklong cruise on May 15. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

UnCruise sets sail with a larger fleet

Strong demand results in more ships moving to Juneau

Dan Blanchard, CEO of UnCruise Adventures stands at the bridge of the Safari Quest, one of several boats that will ply Alaksa's waters this season. He said the stuffed animal is the ship's official mascot. His daughter, Denee Blanchard, is the captain of the vessel, which left Juneau for a weeklong cruise on May 15. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Members of a bicameral conference committee of lawmakers, seen here at their first meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, met again Thursday to negotiate the final version of the state's budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget committee adjourns until after holiday

Lengthy process.

Members of a bicameral conference committee of lawmakers, seen here at their first meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, met again Thursday to negotiate the final version of the state's budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department will be increasing its presence over Memorial Day weekend to keep holiday-makers safe, according to a news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police stepping up presence for Memorial Day weekend

Be safe over the long holiday weekend.

The Juneau Police Department will be increasing its presence over Memorial Day weekend to keep holiday-makers safe, according to a news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
Third-generation Alaskan and Juneau-transplant Paul Kelly hopes to join the Juneau City Assembly and has recently kicked off his campaign for the seat. He currently serves on the board for Juneau Public Schools. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Kelly launches campaign for CBJ Assembly

He’s a candidate for the October municipal election

Third-generation Alaskan and Juneau-transplant Paul Kelly hopes to join the Juneau City Assembly and has recently kicked off his campaign for the seat. He currently serves on the board for Juneau Public Schools. (Dana Zigmund/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 Thursday, May 27, 2021

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

  • May 27, 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 Wednesday, May 27

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
Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, at center, chairs the first meeting of a bicameral conference committee tasked with negotiating the state's final budget bill in the Senate Finance Committee chambers on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Lawmakers had said they wanted to finish before Memorial Day, but Foster said that didn't seem like a possibility. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget negotiations begin, will likely continue into June

One day at a time.

Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, at center, chairs the first meeting of a bicameral conference committee tasked with negotiating the state's final budget bill in the Senate Finance Committee chambers on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Lawmakers had said they wanted to finish before Memorial Day, but Foster said that didn't seem like a possibility. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This year’s Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist is Ernestine Saankaláxt’ Hayes. The acclaimed author is former Alaska State Writer Laureate and resides in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Pat Race)
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Capital City Weekly

Hayes receives prestigious Distinguished Artist honor

Acclaimed writer from Juneau receives Rasmuson Foundation award.

This year’s Rasmuson Foundation Distinguished Artist is Ernestine Saankaláxt’ Hayes. The acclaimed author is former Alaska State Writer Laureate and resides in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Pat Race)
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A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. Before cruise ships can sail to Alaska this summer, they must enter into a port agreement, which outlines health and safety terms. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

CBJ authorizes city manager to enter port agreements with cruise lines

CDC requires agreed-upon health and safety standards for cruises

A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. Before cruise ships can sail to Alaska this summer, they must enter into a port agreement, which outlines health and safety terms. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A northern waterthrush sings. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Larcenous lichens and some short stories

That’s not moss…

A northern waterthrush sings. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)