Then-Gov. Sean Parnell speaks during an interview at the governor's mansion in July 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Then-Gov. Sean Parnell speaks during an interview at the governor's mansion in July 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
"Ducks at Dusk" by Thunder Mountain High School student Alain Soltys-Gray recently won best in show in the Alaska Junior Duck Stamp Contest. (Courtesy Image)
"Ducks at Dusk" by Thunder Mountain High School student Alain Soltys-Gray recently won best in show in the Alaska Junior Duck Stamp Contest. (Courtesy Image)
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, May 12, 2021

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

  • May 12, 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 Tuesday, May 11

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. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, speaks to his concerns about Gov. Mike Dunleavy's appointment of Treg Taylor of Attorney General during a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, speaks to his concerns about Gov. Mike Dunleavy's appointment of Treg Taylor of Attorney General during a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Coast Guardsmen and partner organizations practice oil spill cleanup in the Gastineau Channel near Sandy Beach on May 11. 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

A well-oiled routine: Oil spill responders train in Gastineau Channel

Residents of the Savikko Park area might have been perplexed to see boats with oil booms swanning about near Douglas Harbor on Tuesday morning. The… Continue reading

Coast Guardsmen and partner organizations practice oil spill cleanup in the Gastineau Channel near Sandy Beach on May 11. 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit flies over the Gulf of Alaska in support of Northern Edge 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps / Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin)

Marines and sailors take part in largest joint exercise of 2021

Ships, aircraft, and 15,000 servicemembers all came together to hold the huge interservice exercise.

A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit flies over the Gulf of Alaska in support of Northern Edge 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps / Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin)
A sign downtown encourages residents to wear a face covering while in public spaces. The city announced on Tuesday it will be relaxing masking mitigation measures in spaces where people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

City lowers risk level, restrictions ease

Changes for masks and distancing requirements.

A sign downtown encourages residents to wear a face covering while in public spaces. The city announced on Tuesday it will be relaxing masking mitigation measures in spaces where people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
The vivid colors of male bluebirds result from structural features in the feather barbs, and males with more vivid colors father more chicks, with their own mates or with other females. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On the Trails: Tree sparrows and bluebirds

By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire In the early part of April, there were sometimes two dozen mallards on my mostly icy home… Continue reading

The vivid colors of male bluebirds result from structural features in the feather barbs, and males with more vivid colors father more chicks, with their own mates or with other females. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
As COVID restrictions ease, assembly members are making plans to move municipal meetings back to the Assembly Chambers in city hall while maintaining the broad public access that Zoom meetings provide. During Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, pictured here, assembly members discussed the transition in advance of the May 24 regular assembly meeting, which will be the first meeting to take place in person in more than a year. (Screenshot)
As COVID restrictions ease, assembly members are making plans to move municipal meetings back to the Assembly Chambers in city hall while maintaining the broad public access that Zoom meetings provide. During Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, pictured here, assembly members discussed the transition in advance of the May 24 regular assembly meeting, which will be the first meeting to take place in person in more than a year. (Screenshot)
Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes, a Kodiak Republican, looks out on the floor of the Alaska House on Monday, May 10, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House on Monday resumed debate on a version of the state operating budget. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer, Pool)

House passes budget; dividend amount unsettled

By Becky Bohrer Associated Press The Alaska House passed a version of the state operating budget Monday that leaves for later debate over how much… Continue reading

Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes, a Kodiak Republican, looks out on the floor of the Alaska House on Monday, May 10, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House on Monday resumed debate on a version of the state operating budget. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer, Pool)
Lawmakers took a brief break from an all-day floor session Monday, May 10, 2021, when a plexiglass divider around a lawmakers desk fell over. Debate on the state's operating budget bill covered a range of political issues beyond just funding. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Lawmakers took a brief break from an all-day floor session Monday, May 10, 2021, when a plexiglass divider around a lawmakers desk fell over. Debate on the state's operating budget bill covered a range of political issues beyond just funding. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a vial of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 in Seattle. U.S. regulators on Monday, May 10, 2021, expanded use of Pfizer’s shot to those as young as 12, sparking a race to protect middle and high school students before they head back to class in the fall. (AP Photo / Ted S. Warren)

Pfizer COVID-19 shot expanded to US children as young as 12

City, district partner for clinics at high schools

This photo shows a vial of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 in Seattle. U.S. regulators on Monday, May 10, 2021, expanded use of Pfizer’s shot to those as young as 12, sparking a race to protect middle and high school students before they head back to class in the fall. (AP Photo / Ted S. Warren)
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, May 10

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
Courtesy Photo/Ron Gile
Wearable Art 2021 is newly reimagined and features a variety of pandemic-safe activities. At last year’s event, “La Fauna et La Flore” by Jessica Sullivan and modeled by Jesse Riessenberger earned the third-place juror’s award at Wearable Art 2020: Joie de Vivre.

Blast off to Wearable Art 2021

Reimagined festival offers something for everyone

Courtesy Photo/Ron Gile
Wearable Art 2021 is newly reimagined and features a variety of pandemic-safe activities. At last year’s event, “La Fauna et La Flore” by Jessica Sullivan and modeled by Jesse Riessenberger earned the third-place juror’s award at Wearable Art 2020: Joie de Vivre.
Fashion enthusiasts and retail boutique buyers and owners from around the state and the Pacific Northwest descended on Juneau to preview fall collections from local and national designers during the first-ever Alaska Fashion Week. Here, Qaulluq of Kotzebue, Inuraaq of Nome, Carley Thayer and Suzanne Nierra, both of Juneau, watch Saturday's runway show from inside the Harris Building. The windows were removed so spectators could watch models as they came down Shattuck Way, which served as the runway for the event. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Juneau serves as Alaska’s Fashion Capital

First-ever Alaska Fashion Week in the books

Fashion enthusiasts and retail boutique buyers and owners from around the state and the Pacific Northwest descended on Juneau to preview fall collections from local and national designers during the first-ever Alaska Fashion Week. Here, Qaulluq of Kotzebue, Inuraaq of Nome, Carley Thayer and Suzanne Nierra, both of Juneau, watch Saturday's runway show from inside the Harris Building. The windows were removed so spectators could watch models as they came down Shattuck Way, which served as the runway for the event. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
U.S. Coast Guard photo 
Rear Adm. Nathan A. Moore, commander, Coast Guard 17th District, shakes hands with a member at Air Station Sitka after presenting the crew with Air Medals on Friday. The aircrew received medals in recognition of the heroic actions and extraordinary measures taken to save the life of a lone fisherman adrift at sea Nov. 1, 2020.

New D17 commander awards aircrew for November rescue

Between near-zero visibility and a 70 mph headwind, conditions were far from ideal.

U.S. Coast Guard photo 
Rear Adm. Nathan A. Moore, commander, Coast Guard 17th District, shakes hands with a member at Air Station Sitka after presenting the crew with Air Medals on Friday. The aircrew received medals in recognition of the heroic actions and extraordinary measures taken to save the life of a lone fisherman adrift at sea Nov. 1, 2020.
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 11, 2021

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

  • May 10, 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)
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 9, 2021

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

  • May 9, 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)
Courtesy Photo
Erin Walker-Tolles, executive director of Catholic Community Service, stands with Wayne Stevens, president and CEO of United Way of Southeast Alaska. CCS was among the organizations to receive grant funding from UWSEAK’s COVID-19 Response Fund.

United Way of Southeast Alaska distributes over $52K to local nonprofits

Juneau Empire United Way of Southeast Alaska has distributed $52,375 in grants to seven agencies serving 16 communities across Southeast Alaska from its COVID-19 Response… Continue reading

  • May 9, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
Courtesy Photo
Erin Walker-Tolles, executive director of Catholic Community Service, stands with Wayne Stevens, president and CEO of United Way of Southeast Alaska. CCS was among the organizations to receive grant funding from UWSEAK’s COVID-19 Response Fund.