News

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 causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)

COVID at a glance for Wednesday, Dec. 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 causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)
This photo shows Vivian Mork Yeilk’ and supplies for villages in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Aakatchaq Shaeffer)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: It takes a planet

Wooch.éen Yéi Jintuné. We Are Working Together.

  • Dec 2, 2020
  • By Vivian Mork Yéik’ and Vivian Faith Prescott For the Captal City Weekly
  • Capital City Weekly
This photo shows Vivian Mork Yeilk’ and supplies for villages in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Aakatchaq Shaeffer)
The author never saw the buck he captured on his game camera. In fact, he didn’t see many bucks at all after the first weekend of November. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went To The Woods: Is ‘my way’ overrated

It seems that plans unravel more than they unfold.

The author never saw the buck he captured on his game camera. In fact, he didn’t see many bucks at all after the first weekend of November. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This photo of a by-mail ballot sent to an Alaska voter in October shows Ballot Measure 2. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Lawsuit challenges constitutionality of Ballot Measure 2

It passed narrowly with voters.

This photo of a by-mail ballot sent to an Alaska voter in October shows Ballot Measure 2. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A mudslide at the top of Wire Street near Twin Lakes Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, sent rocks and other debris down the road. City and Borough of Juneau staff were on-site to assess the damage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Heavy rain and mudslides strike buildings, wash out roads

Tuesday set a record for rainfall for the Dec. 1 of any year.

A mudslide at the top of Wire Street near Twin Lakes Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, sent rocks and other debris down the road. City and Borough of Juneau staff were on-site to assess the damage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Alaska State Troopers investigate a fatal shooting scene at a home on North Valley Way in Palmer, Alaska, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. An 18-year-old Alaska man just out of jail for assaulting a family member has been charged with killing four members of his family, including two cousins under the age of 10, charging documents released Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 said. (Marc Lester / Anchorage Daily News)

18-year-old man charged in 4 shooting deaths

Charging documents did not indicate a motive for the shootings.

Alaska State Troopers investigate a fatal shooting scene at a home on North Valley Way in Palmer, Alaska, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. An 18-year-old Alaska man just out of jail for assaulting a family member has been charged with killing four members of his family, including two cousins under the age of 10, charging documents released Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 said. (Marc Lester / Anchorage Daily News)
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020

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

  • Dec 2, 2020
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau School District building and Harborview Elementary School on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. The district's funding is stable for this year according to the Board of Education, but next year's budget depends on the Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State provision means JSD’s funding formula remains steady

Classes are still online.

The Juneau School District building and Harborview Elementary School on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. The district's funding is stable for this year according to the Board of Education, but next year's budget depends on the Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
zoom tease
Capital City Weekly

Writers’ Weir: Meeting In Plague Times

A poem by Margo Waring.

zoom tease
Juneauites head into the Douglas Community Building to vote in the 2020 General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. The Alaska Division of Elections certified the results of the election on Dec. 1. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

General election results certified, but recount possible in close race

Still not quite done yet.

Juneauites head into the Douglas Community Building to vote in the 2020 General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. The Alaska Division of Elections certified the results of the election on Dec. 1. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Tucker Reece, a laborer with the City and Borough Department of Parks and Recreation heads to clear a blockage near Cope Park caused by heavy rains on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Heavy rain brings avalanche, flood warnings

Drive safe.

Tucker Reece, a laborer with the City and Borough Department of Parks and Recreation heads to clear a blockage near Cope Park caused by heavy rains on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gordon Chew uses a GoPro on a pole to assess the humpback entanglement while Steve Lewis carefully negotiates the full circumference of the whale. (Courtesy photo / Rachel Myron)

‘Small town’ residents rescue big animal

Nearly 20 people braved choppy seas and foul weather to free the snared whale

Gordon Chew uses a GoPro on a pole to assess the humpback entanglement while Steve Lewis carefully negotiates the full circumference of the whale. (Courtesy photo / Rachel Myron)
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 causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)

COVID at a glance for Tuesday, Dec. 1

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 causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)
A second Alaska Department of Corrections inmate has died from complications related to the coronavirus at Goose Creek Correctional Center in Wasilla, shown above, as of Nov. 30, 2020. GCCC is currently experiencing a major coronavirus outbreak, with more than 200 confirmed cases amongst the inmates. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Department of Corrections)

State reports 2nd inmate death related to COVID-19

The first, also at Goose Creek Correctional Center, died in late November.

A second Alaska Department of Corrections inmate has died from complications related to the coronavirus at Goose Creek Correctional Center in Wasilla, shown above, as of Nov. 30, 2020. GCCC is currently experiencing a major coronavirus outbreak, with more than 200 confirmed cases amongst the inmates. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Department of Corrections)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Students from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé honor society are holding a clothing drive for patrons of the Glory Hall from the high school every Wednesday.

Passing the hat: Students hold clothing drive for Glory Hall

The group came up with the idea to help out during the bitter winter.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Students from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé honor society are holding a clothing drive for patrons of the Glory Hall from the high school every Wednesday.
It has always been a police car. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020

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

  • Dec 1, 2020
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
It has always been a police car. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
This glaucous-winged gull is trying to cope with a sea star that seems too big, but you never know. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: For every armored defense, there is a countermeasure

There is no perfect defense.

This glaucous-winged gull is trying to cope with a sea star that seems too big, but you never know. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Juneau is expected to receive between five and ten inches of rain between Monday, Nov. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, possibly leading to avalanches, mudslides, and high water levels and flooding, like Gold Creek, shown here July 26, 2020 after heavy rains. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City warns against mudslides, avalanches as heavy rains predicted

Juneau may get as much as 10 inches of rain by Wednesday evening.

Juneau is expected to receive between five and ten inches of rain between Monday, Nov. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, possibly leading to avalanches, mudslides, and high water levels and flooding, like Gold Creek, shown here July 26, 2020 after heavy rains. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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 causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)

COVID at a glance for Monday, Nov. 30

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 causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)
Health care workers help distribute flu vaccines to thousands of Juneau residents at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Local health authorities said the drive-thru clinic was a practice run for an eventual mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Health officials want Alaskans ready for vaccine

“They are coming.”

Health care workers help distribute flu vaccines to thousands of Juneau residents at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Local health authorities said the drive-thru clinic was a practice run for an eventual mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)