News

Foodstuffs sit on tables at St. Vincent de Paul on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2019, to be bagged to feed up to 200 families for Thanksgiving. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Charities prepare for a pandemic-conscious Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving meal will go on, albeit in very modified form.

Foodstuffs sit on tables at St. Vincent de Paul on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2019, to be bagged to feed up to 200 families for Thanksgiving. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This is a police car. It has always been a police car.

Police calls for Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020

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

  • Oct 29, 2020
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
This is a police car. It has always been a police car.
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has pledged $400,000 toward work on the Sealaska Heritage Institute Arts Campus. The donation is contingent upon SHI reaching its fundraising goal, the nonprofit announced. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Support pledged for arts campus, symposium and lecture series share schedules

News briefs for the week of Oct. 29, 2020.

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has pledged $400,000 toward work on the Sealaska Heritage Institute Arts Campus. The donation is contingent upon SHI reaching its fundraising goal, the nonprofit announced. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. On Wednesday, the United States Department of Agriculture announced its decision to exempt the nation’s largest national forest from the Roadless Rule. Proponents say the rule change will make it easier for responsible resource development while critics say it removes essential protections on critical environments. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

USDA exempts Tongass National Forest from Roadless Rule

Reactions are pouring in.

A Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. On Wednesday, the United States Department of Agriculture announced its decision to exempt the nation’s largest national forest from the Roadless Rule. Proponents say the rule change will make it easier for responsible resource development while critics say it removes essential protections on critical environments. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The site of the future Glory Hall at the corner of Teal Street and Alpine Avenue in the Mendenhall Valley. Co-located will be the Southeast Community Services Center, forming and integrated campus, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Trust donates $150K to Juneau community services center

The structure will be a hub for many of Juneau’s community-oriented nonprofits.

The site of the future Glory Hall at the corner of Teal Street and Alpine Avenue in the Mendenhall Valley. Co-located will be the Southeast Community Services Center, forming and integrated campus, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Frank Henry Kaash Katasse is the writer and director of the new play "The Spirit of the Valley." The all-ages comedy began as something like a writing exercise for Katasse's wife and kids. It's his first time writing and directing a full-length play. “This is certainly a different beast than anything I’ve ever been a part of," he said. “It’s been a really fun experience.” (Courtesy Photo)
Capital City Weekly

Stage is set for all-ages comedy with a message

Thinking green and green screens factor into new play.

Frank Henry Kaash Katasse is the writer and director of the new play "The Spirit of the Valley." The all-ages comedy began as something like a writing exercise for Katasse's wife and kids. It's his first time writing and directing a full-length play. “This is certainly a different beast than anything I’ve ever been a part of," he said. “It’s been a really fun experience.” (Courtesy Photo)
Sherry Simpson, shown in this 2013 photo, passed away recently at the age of 60. Simpson is widely respected and beloved as a writer and educator. (Courtesy Photo / Scott Kiefer)
Capital City Weekly

Sherry Simpson, much-loved writer and educator, dies at 60

Alaska recently lost one of its most influential writers and impactful writing teachers.

Sherry Simpson, shown in this 2013 photo, passed away recently at the age of 60. Simpson is widely respected and beloved as a writer and educator. (Courtesy Photo / Scott Kiefer)
This photos shows Juneau City Hall on Tuesday. The City and Borough of Juneau passed an ordinance requiring the confidential disclosure to the city assessor's office of the sales price of real estate transactions in the borough. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

New local law could change how property is valued. Here’s how

Supports say it’s more accurate, opponents say it’s an invasion of privacy.

This photos shows Juneau City Hall on Tuesday. The City and Borough of Juneau passed an ordinance requiring the confidential disclosure to the city assessor's office of the sales price of real estate transactions in the borough. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Downtown Juneau will soon have improved signage and maps like this one at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park for tourists as part of the Wayfinding Project on Oct. 10, 2020.

Update to downtown signage on track for 2021 completion

Technical concerns delayed aspects of the project.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire Downtown Juneau will soon have improved signage and maps like this one at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park for tourists as part of the Wayfinding Project on Oct. 10, 2020.
Emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport screening site on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. City officials said Tuesday contact tracers are behind in tracking down positive COVID-19 cases. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City asks residents to help with contact tracing

Limit your social circle.

Emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport screening site on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. City officials said Tuesday contact tracers are behind in tracking down positive COVID-19 cases. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows Amalga Harbor on Oct. 18. (Courtesy Photo / Judith MacBrine)

Wild Shots: Photos of Mother Nature in Alaska

Reader-submitted photos of Southeast Alaska in autumn 2020.

This photo shows Amalga Harbor on Oct. 18. (Courtesy Photo / Judith MacBrine)
Brock Pierce may not be the best-known presidential candidate, but his name appears first on ballots in Alaska. Pierce, a former child actor and current cryptocurrency billionaire, who is running for president. (Courtesy photo / Brock Pierce campaign)

Ex-child actor, now cryptocurrency billionaire wants to be president

A second president Pierce?

Brock Pierce may not be the best-known presidential candidate, but his name appears first on ballots in Alaska. Pierce, a former child actor and current cryptocurrency billionaire, who is running for president. (Courtesy photo / Brock Pierce campaign)
An ermine emerges to look around while exploring the crevices among the roadside rocks. While its white winter coat is conspicuous now, it will help it blend in with its surroundings during winter. (Courtesy Photo /David Bergeson)

A white weasel wanders on a wintry walk

Darting in and out of the rocks was a small, white critter that quickly disappeared.

An ermine emerges to look around while exploring the crevices among the roadside rocks. While its white winter coat is conspicuous now, it will help it blend in with its surroundings during winter. (Courtesy Photo /David Bergeson)
This is a police car.

Police calls for Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020

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

  • Oct 27, 2020
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
This is a police car.
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, meets with Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Greg Nash / Pool)

Barrett confirmed as Supreme Court justice in partisan vote

Monday’s 52-48 vote was the closest high court confirmation ever to a presidential election.

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, meets with Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Greg Nash / Pool)
A skeleton beset by flamingos stands sentinel in Dana Hanselman’s front yard next to Glacier Highway on Oct. 9, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau readies for coronavirus-adjusted Halloween

Flamingos, trunk-or-treating, and masks are all part of the holiday in pandemic.

A skeleton beset by flamingos stands sentinel in Dana Hanselman’s front yard next to Glacier Highway on Oct. 9, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Health workers and volunteers guide hundreds of cars through drive-thru flu shot clinics at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. A collaboration between state and local authorities, health officials set up the clinic to mass vaccinate Juneauites as an additional deterrent against the spread of the coronavirus. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Over 1,000 vaccinated against flu over weekend

‘A wonderful collaboration”

Health workers and volunteers guide hundreds of cars through drive-thru flu shot clinics at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. A collaboration between state and local authorities, health officials set up the clinic to mass vaccinate Juneauites as an additional deterrent against the spread of the coronavirus. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Hand sanitizer and declaration forms for out-of-state arrivals to the Juneau International Airport on Oct. 12, 2020. An update to the state's travel mandates and to the way tests from the airport are processed, out-of-state arrivals must now register both with the state's traveler website and a private lab's website. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City announces new requirements for out-of-state arrivals

Updated travel mandate changes process.

Hand sanitizer and declaration forms for out-of-state arrivals to the Juneau International Airport on Oct. 12, 2020. An update to the state's travel mandates and to the way tests from the airport are processed, out-of-state arrivals must now register both with the state's traveler website and a private lab's website. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
]This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases shows a Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 particle isolated from a patient, in a laboratory in Fort Detrick, Md. Coronaviruses, including the newest one, are named for the spikes that cover their outer surface like a crown, or corona in Latin. Using those club-shaped spikes, the virus latches on to the outer wall of a human cell, invades it and replicates, creating viruses to hijack more cells. (NIAID / NIH)

COVID-19 case numbers soar over the weekend

State broke its single-day record twice.

]This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases shows a Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 particle isolated from a patient, in a laboratory in Fort Detrick, Md. Coronaviruses, including the newest one, are named for the spikes that cover their outer surface like a crown, or corona in Latin. Using those club-shaped spikes, the virus latches on to the outer wall of a human cell, invades it and replicates, creating viruses to hijack more cells. (NIAID / NIH)
This is a police car. It has always been a police car.

Police calls for Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020

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

  • Oct 25, 2020
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
This is a police car. It has always been a police car.