News

A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, flying an MH-60 Jayhawk like the one above, rescued a backcountry skier who was attacked by a bear outside of Haines on Feb. 6, 2021. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard rescues skier mauled by bear near Haines

The man is currently in stable condition at Bartlett Regional Hospital.

A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, flying an MH-60 Jayhawk like the one above, rescued a backcountry skier who was attacked by a bear outside of Haines on Feb. 6, 2021. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)
Grandpa Mickey Prescott celebrates his 80th birthday via Zoom in 2020. (Vivian Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: Plans A through Z

While some look to the groundhog for signs of spring, I look to plants.

Grandpa Mickey Prescott celebrates his 80th birthday via Zoom in 2020. (Vivian Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021

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

  • Feb 7, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows snow- and sun-drenched mountains on Kupreanof Island in early morning, and a tree covered point on Mitkof Island at a cove by Marker 49 along the Inside Passage on Jan. 26. (Courtesy Photo / Cindi Lagoudakis)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska.

This photo shows snow- and sun-drenched mountains on Kupreanof Island in early morning, and a tree covered point on Mitkof Island at a cove by Marker 49 along the Inside Passage on Jan. 26. (Courtesy Photo / Cindi Lagoudakis)
This combination of photos shows people riding bicycles in New York's Times Square, left, on April 29, 2020, and in Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Ala., March 12, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. The human loss from the pandemic isn’t going to be reflected in the U.S. population count used for divvying up congressional seats among the states. And that could save a congressional seat for New York but cost Alabama one. (AP Photo)

Calendar timing means virus deaths won’t be seen in census

Mid-March deaths won’t show in population figures that determine representation in Congress.

This combination of photos shows people riding bicycles in New York's Times Square, left, on April 29, 2020, and in Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Ala., March 12, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. The human loss from the pandemic isn’t going to be reflected in the U.S. population count used for divvying up congressional seats among the states. And that could save a congressional seat for New York but cost Alabama one. (AP Photo)
In this March 2018 photo, Aliy Zirkle runs her team during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska. There has been another dramatic change to the world’s most famous sled dog race this year because of the pandemic, with officials announcing Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, that the ceremonial start has been canceled. (AP Photo / Michael Dinneen)

Iditarod drops ceremonial start over crowd-size concerns

Officials announced Friday that the ceremonial start has been canceled.

  • Feb 6, 2021
  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press
  • Iditarod
In this March 2018 photo, Aliy Zirkle runs her team during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska. There has been another dramatic change to the world’s most famous sled dog race this year because of the pandemic, with officials announcing Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, that the ceremonial start has been canceled. (AP Photo / Michael Dinneen)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, has his temperature taken inside the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 19, 2021. The high tech check-ins have become routine over the past few weeks. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

High tech temp check: Devices with camera, infrared scanner part of lawmakers’ routine

Have you seen these yet?

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, has his temperature taken inside the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 19, 2021. The high tech check-ins have become routine over the past few weeks. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
There's money in Gov. Mike Dunleavy's bond proposal package for projects like the one taking place at Aurora Harbor, seen here in this Nov. 5, 2020, photo, but Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, doesn't think there's enough local investment. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Governor’s $356M bond proposal gets cool reaction from lawmakers

Legislators cautious on revisions, additions

There's money in Gov. Mike Dunleavy's bond proposal package for projects like the one taking place at Aurora Harbor, seen here in this Nov. 5, 2020, photo, but Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, doesn't think there's enough local investment. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
UnCruise, operating small-deck vessels like the one seen above, will be one of very few companies that can continue to operate in Alaska this summer following a surprise announcement by the Canadian government banning cruise ships in its harbors until 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Alaska congressional delegation: Canadian cruise ban unacceptable

While small-deck cruises are still viable, their support for their heftier colleagues is ardent.

UnCruise, operating small-deck vessels like the one seen above, will be one of very few companies that can continue to operate in Alaska this summer following a surprise announcement by the Canadian government banning cruise ships in its harbors until 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A Juneau man was indicted for possession of child pornography on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau man indicted for possession of child pornography

A warrant has been issued for the 62-year-old man’s arrest.

A Juneau man was indicted for possession of child pornography on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Deborah J. Atuk is the new president and CEO of Kootznoowoo Inc., the Alaska Native village corporation for Angoon. (Courtesy Photo)

Kootznoowoo Inc announces new CEO and president

She was officially appointed to the position in January.

  • Feb 5, 2021
Deborah J. Atuk is the new president and CEO of Kootznoowoo Inc., the Alaska Native village corporation for Angoon. (Courtesy Photo)
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Alaska Science Forum: Were blue beads in the tundra the first U.S. import from Europe?

They predate the arrival of Columbus by a few decades

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Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Friday, Feb. 5, 2021

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

  • Feb 5, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
A lab scientist processes upper respiratory samples from patients suspected of having COVID-19 at the Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Palo Alto, Calif. Two new cases were confirmed in Juneau School District on Feb. 4, 2021, prompting quarantines of possible contacts. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)

Two new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Juneau School District

Basketball teams, elementary school class are quarantining.

A lab scientist processes upper respiratory samples from patients suspected of having COVID-19 at the Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Palo Alto, Calif. Two new cases were confirmed in Juneau School District on Feb. 4, 2021, prompting quarantines of possible contacts. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
A fishing vessel is drawfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau's downtown harbor in September 2014. On Thursday, Canada announced a ban on cruise vessels in Canadian waters through February 2022. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

‘Devestating decision’: Locals react to Canada’s cruise ban

The announcement was made Thursday.

A fishing vessel is drawfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau's downtown harbor in September 2014. On Thursday, Canada announced a ban on cruise vessels in Canadian waters through February 2022. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
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 Thursday, Feb. 4

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)
Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department in September 2019.The drop box gives residents a safe place to disposed of their unused prescription narcotics. The state announced on Thursday it will receive more than $1 million as part of a settlement with a consulting firm accused of “turbocharging” the opioid epidemic. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska to receive over $1.3M from opioid settlement

More than 47 states, 5 territories, and D.C. are part of the settlement.

Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department in September 2019.The drop box gives residents a safe place to disposed of their unused prescription narcotics. The state announced on Thursday it will receive more than $1 million as part of a settlement with a consulting firm accused of “turbocharging” the opioid epidemic. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Members of the House of Representatives leave the chamber Wednesday, Feb. 3,. after failing to elect a temporary speaker, part of a deadlock that was broken Thursday, when Rep. Josiah Patkotak was elected Speaker Pro Tem. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State House picks temporary speaker

One step closer.

Members of the House of Representatives leave the chamber Wednesday, Feb. 3,. after failing to elect a temporary speaker, part of a deadlock that was broken Thursday, when Rep. Josiah Patkotak was elected Speaker Pro Tem. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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Sustainable Alaska: Crossing this pandemic’s finish line will take team work

We need to hold out just a little while longer.

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Koren Bosworth (Courtesy Photo / Brian Wallace for Juneau's Climate Change Solutionists)

Juneau’s Climate Change Solutionists: Preserving Wetlands and Peatlands with Koren Bosworth

We in Juneau might wonder if every day is wetlands day.

Koren Bosworth (Courtesy Photo / Brian Wallace for Juneau's Climate Change Solutionists)