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Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Juneau’s downtown waterfront sits empty Monday. In a typical year, businesses would be getting ready for the flood of local tourists. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, Alaska’s cruise ship season remains uncertain.

New guidelines for cruise ships, but Alaska’s still off the itinerary

Maritime law cuts off Alaskan tourism.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Juneau’s downtown waterfront sits empty Monday. In a typical year, businesses would be getting ready for the flood of local tourists. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, Alaska’s cruise ship season remains uncertain.
Doug Woodby, co-chair of environmental group 350Juneau, holds up a letter addressed to the CEO of Wells Fargo alongside Irene Alexakos and Dick Farnell, wearing the costume. The group delivered the letter urging divestment from the fossil fuel industry to the bank's branch in downtown Juneau on Friday, April 2, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Costume-clad conservationist calls on banks to divest from fossil fuels

Tyrannosaurus checks.

Doug Woodby, co-chair of environmental group 350Juneau, holds up a letter addressed to the CEO of Wells Fargo alongside Irene Alexakos and Dick Farnell, wearing the costume. The group delivered the letter urging divestment from the fossil fuel industry to the bank's branch in downtown Juneau on Friday, April 2, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Department are seeking a man, seen here in security footage, involved in the robbery of the Safeway fueling station early Sunday morning.

Police investigating early-morning gas station burglary

About $500 in merchandise was taken.

The Juneau Police Department are seeking a man, seen here in security footage, involved in the robbery of the Safeway fueling station early Sunday morning.
Courtesy photo / Heather Holt An Air Force C-32A landed at Juneau International Airport on Friday as part of a training flight. The C-32A, one of four in the world operated by the 89th Airlift Wing, is often the transport for the vice president or other VIPs.

Vice presidential plane visits Juneau for training flight

No VIPs were aboard the aircraft, which stayed less than a day.

Courtesy photo / Heather Holt An Air Force C-32A landed at Juneau International Airport on Friday as part of a training flight. The C-32A, one of four in the world operated by the 89th Airlift Wing, is often the transport for the vice president or other VIPs.
A marbled godwit has winkled a lugworm out of its burrow in the sediments. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On The Trails: Mudflats at low tide

A walk on a gray, March day turned out to be more interesting than expected.

A marbled godwit has winkled a lugworm out of its burrow in the sediments. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Teachers greeted students as they reentered school on Jan. 11 with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place at Floyd Dryden Middle School. After several months of partial week attendance to accommodate student cohorts, the school district is expanding in-person learning opportunities. Next week, middle and high school students will return to in-person school four days each week. Many elementary school students returned to four days this week. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

School district announces expansion of in-person learning

Middle and high school students to attend four days a week

Teachers greeted students as they reentered school on Jan. 11 with distancing strategies and mitigation protocols in place at Floyd Dryden Middle School. After several months of partial week attendance to accommodate student cohorts, the school district is expanding in-person learning opportunities. Next week, middle and high school students will return to in-person school four days each week. Many elementary school students returned to four days this week. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

COVID at a glance for Tuesday, April 6

The most recent state and local numbers.

FILE - This May 10, 2017 file photo shows Denali, North America's tallest peak, from an airplane flying over the Alaska Range near Talkeetna, Alaska. Officials on Monday, April 5, 2021, said five people had to ski to a shelter after they landed on Ruth Glacier at the base of Denali on April 2, 2021, and a heavy snowstorm stranded them for at least three days. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Snowstorm strands 5 who landed 3 planes on Denali glacier

They were stranded for the weekend after landing Friday on Ruth Glacier.

FILE - This May 10, 2017 file photo shows Denali, North America's tallest peak, from an airplane flying over the Alaska Range near Talkeetna, Alaska. Officials on Monday, April 5, 2021, said five people had to ski to a shelter after they landed on Ruth Glacier at the base of Denali on April 2, 2021, and a heavy snowstorm stranded them for at least three days. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Tuesday, April 6, 2021

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

  • Apr 5, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

US approves $47.5M to build new Newtok airport, repair 2

Newtok was granted more than $21.1 million to construct a new airport scheduled to be completed by 2023.

Bethel OKs investigator to review sex crime processes

The move is in response to a case in which a woman said it took police seven hours to respond.

Rose Lawhorne, a longtime employee at Bartlett Regional Hospital, stands next to the new CEO nameplate outside her office on April 1. She takes over as CEO this week. Lawhorne first joined the hospital staff in 1993 and has worked her way up the ranks in a variety of roles. She expects to draw on her vast experience as she guides the hospital post-pandemic. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett Regional Hospital’s new CEO is focused on stability

Longtime employee Rose Lawhorne steps into the top job this week

Rose Lawhorne, a longtime employee at Bartlett Regional Hospital, stands next to the new CEO nameplate outside her office on April 1. She takes over as CEO this week. Lawhorne first joined the hospital staff in 1993 and has worked her way up the ranks in a variety of roles. She expects to draw on her vast experience as she guides the hospital post-pandemic. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Sunday, April 4, 2021

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

  • Apr 4, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, contracting with Coastal Helicopters, works to reduce avalanche risk on Thane Road by setting off avalanches in a controlled fashion on Feb. 5, 2021.(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Update: Thane Road closure canceled.

Weather conditions cause cancellation.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, contracting with Coastal Helicopters, works to reduce avalanche risk on Thane Road by setting off avalanches in a controlled fashion on Feb. 5, 2021.(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Courtesy Photo/ Consortium for Ocean Leadership A group of students from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé won the Tsunami Bowl, a regional ocean science academic competition that is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The team, which uses the name New Squids on the Dock, will join winners from 20 other regional bowls for virtual finals in May.

JDHS students win regional ocean science competition

Next up: virtual finals

Courtesy Photo/ Consortium for Ocean Leadership A group of students from Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé won the Tsunami Bowl, a regional ocean science academic competition that is part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The team, which uses the name New Squids on the Dock, will join winners from 20 other regional bowls for virtual finals in May.
Lisa X’unyéil Worl was recently awarded the Carla Timpone Award for Activism from the Alaska Women’s Lobby for her work in the education system. (Courtesy photo / Konrad Frank)

Local education advocate wins award for activism

The award is the result of years of work on behalf of equity of education for Juneau’s children

Lisa X’unyéil Worl was recently awarded the Carla Timpone Award for Activism from the Alaska Women’s Lobby for her work in the education system. (Courtesy photo / Konrad Frank)
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

COVID at a glance for Friday, April 2

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)
City and Borough of Juneau Public Library Director Robert Barr was announced Friday, April 2, 2021, as Juneau’s next deputy city manager. Barr was also announced this week as the winner of the American Library Association’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession for his work as the city’s planning section chief through the pandemic. (Courtesy photo / CBJ)

Raising the Barr: Library chief picked for deputy city manager job

He also won a national award for his work through the pandemic.

City and Borough of Juneau Public Library Director Robert Barr was announced Friday, April 2, 2021, as Juneau’s next deputy city manager. Barr was also announced this week as the winner of the American Library Association’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession for his work as the city’s planning section chief through the pandemic. (Courtesy photo / CBJ)
Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department displayed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. The state is suing prescription drug companies, accusing them of helping to fuel a drug crisis in the state. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

State sues drug companies over opioids

Not Alaska’s first opioid lawsuit.

Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department displayed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. The state is suing prescription drug companies, accusing them of helping to fuel a drug crisis in the state. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
George J. Bennett Sr., left, and Arsenio “Pastor” Credo, right, were among the hundreds of Alaskans who deployed to Vietnam during the war and were collectively welcomed home during an event held by the Southeast Intertribal Collective for National Vietnam War Veterans Day over Facebook Live on March 29, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska Native group honors, welcomes Vietnam veterans home

The event was held to give veterans a welcoming they may not have received 50 years ago.

George J. Bennett Sr., left, and Arsenio “Pastor” Credo, right, were among the hundreds of Alaskans who deployed to Vietnam during the war and were collectively welcomed home during an event held by the Southeast Intertribal Collective for National Vietnam War Veterans Day over Facebook Live on March 29, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)