News

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a press conference promoting tourism on April 9, 2021. Dunleavy posted a video to social media saying he had received a COVID-19 vaccine, and urged Alaskans to do the same. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Dunleavy urges to Alaskans to vaccinate

Sleeves up for summer.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a press conference promoting tourism on April 9, 2021. Dunleavy posted a video to social media saying he had received a COVID-19 vaccine, and urged Alaskans to do the same. (Peter Segall / 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 Thursday, April 22, 2021

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

  • Apr 22, 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)
Alaska Airlines and SkyNRG formed a partnership to advance sustainable aviation fuel made from municipal solid waste, the airline announced, as part of its steps towards making the airline a net-zero emissions industry. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Airlines)

Net-zero emissions, cleaner fuel… and planes that run on waste?

Alaska Airlines announces environmental commitments and efforts.

Alaska Airlines and SkyNRG formed a partnership to advance sustainable aviation fuel made from municipal solid waste, the airline announced, as part of its steps towards making the airline a net-zero emissions industry. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Airlines)
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. A medical director at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control says the numbers of active COVID-19 cases that are variants of concern are higher than what has been publicly reported in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-NIAID-RML via AP

COVID at a glance for Wednesday, April 21

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. A medical director at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control says the numbers of active COVID-19 cases that are variants of concern are higher than what has been publicly reported in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-NIAID-RML via AP
Lawmakers on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives discuss an amendment on an education funding bill on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Some House members are trying to pass a budget specifically for education, a departure from past years. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

With deadlines looming, lawmakers try to speed up school funding

Forward funding formula.

Lawmakers on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives discuss an amendment on an education funding bill on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Some House members are trying to pass a budget specifically for education, a departure from past years. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the author's first steelhead of the spring. It was the perfect shot and the perfect start for the long-awaited spring. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went To The Woods: Spring —and steelhead fishing —are finally here

Winter-spring transition was like the never-ending YouTube ads that keep good stuff from starting.

This photo shows the author's first steelhead of the spring. It was the perfect shot and the perfect start for the long-awaited spring. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This composite image shows the cast of Perseverance Theatre’s production of “White Rabbit Red Rabbit.” The play features one actor each night reading a script for the first time. Pictured are (top row) Frank Delaney, Frank Henry Kaash Katasse, Ericka Lee, Martin Sensmeier, (middle row) Ben Brown, Allison Holtkamp, Enrique Bravo, (bottom row) Jesse Alleva, Rebecca George and Tia Carrere. (Courtesy Photos)
Capital City Weekly

‘White Rabbit Red Rabbit’ drags you into the moment and maybe onto the virtual stage

“White Rabbit Red Rabbit” is Perseverance Theatre’s most successful attempt to replicate the buzz of live theater with a digital platform. The theater’s productions in… Continue reading

This composite image shows the cast of Perseverance Theatre’s production of “White Rabbit Red Rabbit.” The play features one actor each night reading a script for the first time. Pictured are (top row) Frank Delaney, Frank Henry Kaash Katasse, Ericka Lee, Martin Sensmeier, (middle row) Ben Brown, Allison Holtkamp, Enrique Bravo, (bottom row) Jesse Alleva, Rebecca George and Tia Carrere. (Courtesy Photos)
A student in Hoonah celebrates Herring Week by taking a close look at herring eggs. (Courtesy Photo / Mark Browning)
Capital City Weekly

Hoonah students welcome herring

School-wide festivities mark return of the fish

A student in Hoonah celebrates Herring Week by taking a close look at herring eggs. (Courtesy Photo / Mark Browning)
A red cedar basket fills with red seaweed in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: Gathering red seaweed

“My cedar basket is damp with seaweed, and I have relaxed.”

A red cedar basket fills with red seaweed in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Bears, like this one looking for fish in a stream along the Steep Creek Trail at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Aug. 22, 2020, have been sleeping through the winter but they’re waking up and experts want residents to be prepared.

Bear in mind: What you need to know now that they’re waking up

A bear-raising situation.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Bears, like this one looking for fish in a stream along the Steep Creek Trail at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Aug. 22, 2020, have been sleeping through the winter but they’re waking up and experts want residents to be prepared.
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, April 21, 2021

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

  • Apr 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)
Thunder Mountain High School will be closed to in-person attendance until Monday, April 26, Juneau School District announced Tuesday afternoon. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

New COVID cases reported at Thunder Mountain High School

There are five active cases associated with the school

Thunder Mountain High School will be closed to in-person attendance until Monday, April 26, Juneau School District announced Tuesday afternoon. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a news conference on April 9, 2021, to promote the state’s tourism industry, announced Tuesday Alaska was joining Florida’s lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for preventing cruise ship sailings. Dunleavy had said at the conference joining the suit was a possibility. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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Alaska joins Florida lawsuit over cruise ship pause

CDC stands by decision.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a news conference on April 9, 2021, to promote the state’s tourism industry, announced Tuesday Alaska was joining Florida’s lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for preventing cruise ship sailings. Dunleavy had said at the conference joining the suit was a possibility. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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Juneau man indicted on charges of sexual assault and assault

Next court date is in June.

  • Apr 20, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
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A man was indicted by a Juneau grand jury on April 8 for multiple sexual assault alleged to have occurred in Juneau from 2016 to 2020 in Juneau. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Man arrested in New Mexico after Juneau indictment for sexual assault

The alleged sexual assaults occurred while he worked at SEARHC

A man was indicted by a Juneau grand jury on April 8 for multiple sexual assault alleged to have occurred in Juneau from 2016 to 2020 in Juneau. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, and former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin address Judge Peter Cahill at the courthouse in Minneapolis during Chauvin’s trial in the death of George Floyd. (Court TV / Pool)

Ex-cop guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd case

By Amy Forliti, Stephen Groves and Tammy Webber Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder and manslaughter… Continue reading

In this image from video, defense attorney Eric Nelson, left, and former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin address Judge Peter Cahill at the courthouse in Minneapolis during Chauvin’s trial in the death of George Floyd. (Court TV / Pool)
A Juneau man was indicted at the beginning of April for two charges of sexual abuse of a minor, according to an Alaska Department of Law news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau man indicted on sexual abuse of a minor charges

The maximum penalty if convicted is 99 years imprisonment.

A Juneau man was indicted at the beginning of April for two charges of sexual abuse of a minor, according to an Alaska Department of Law news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A male longspur on northward migration shows his partially-developed black bib; the white edges on the bib feathers will wear off, leaving a fully black bib for the nesting time. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On The Trails: Longspurs and buntings on the wetlands

Spotting hardy harbingers of a long-awaited spring.

  • Apr 20, 2021
  • By Mary F. Willson For the Juneau Empire
A male longspur on northward migration shows his partially-developed black bib; the white edges on the bib feathers will wear off, leaving a fully black bib for the nesting time. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
In this photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigator Clint Crookshanks, left, and member Jennifer Homendy stand near the site of some of the wreckage of the DHC-2 Beaver, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, that was involved in a midair collision near Ketchikan, Alaska, a couple of days earlier. The pilots of two Alaskan sightseeing planes that collided in midair couldn’t see the other aircraft because airplane structures or a passenger blocked their views, and they didn’t get electronic alerts about close aircraft because safety systems weren’t working properly. That’s what the staff of the National Transportation Safety board found in their investigation. (Peter Knudson / NTSB)

Pilot views obstructed, alerts missing in 2019 plane crash near Ketchikan

Collission occurred near Ketchikan.

In this photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigator Clint Crookshanks, left, and member Jennifer Homendy stand near the site of some of the wreckage of the DHC-2 Beaver, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, that was involved in a midair collision near Ketchikan, Alaska, a couple of days earlier. The pilots of two Alaskan sightseeing planes that collided in midair couldn’t see the other aircraft because airplane structures or a passenger blocked their views, and they didn’t get electronic alerts about close aircraft because safety systems weren’t working properly. That’s what the staff of the National Transportation Safety board found in their investigation. (Peter Knudson / NTSB)
Rachel Saylor / Tanana Chiefs Conference In this undated photo provided by the, shows PJ Simon, chief and chairman of the Tanana Chiefs Conference in Fairbanks, Alaska, displays a COVID-19 vaccination sticker.

Alaska tribal health groups distribute vaccine far and wide

Alaska’s highest vaccination rates have been in some of its remotest, hardest-to-access communities.

Rachel Saylor / Tanana Chiefs Conference In this undated photo provided by the, shows PJ Simon, chief and chairman of the Tanana Chiefs Conference in Fairbanks, Alaska, displays a COVID-19 vaccination sticker.