News

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., administers the House oath of office to Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Authorities say the plane flown by Alaska U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s husband, Eugene Peltola Jr., was carrying a load of moose meat from a remote hunting camp when it crashed, killing him earlier this week. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Peltola’s husband was flying moose meat from hunting camp when crash occurred, authorities say

ANCHORAGE — The plane flown by the husband of Alaska U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola was carrying a load of moose meat from a remote hunting… Continue reading

  • Sep 15, 2023
  • Associated Press
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., administers the House oath of office to Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Authorities say the plane flown by Alaska U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s husband, Eugene Peltola Jr., was carrying a load of moose meat from a remote hunting camp when it crashed, killing him earlier this week. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Juneau resident David Ignell, seen via video link, and departing City Manager Rorie Watt discuss a ballot measure asking voters to approve $27 million toward a new City Hall during a forum Wednesday night at the KTOO studio. (Screenshot from official video of forum)
Video

School board candidates agree on much, foes on City Hall ballot measure agree on little during forum

Funding and curriculum dominate education discussion, city’s actions and needs focus of ballot issue.

Juneau resident David Ignell, seen via video link, and departing City Manager Rorie Watt discuss a ballot measure asking voters to approve $27 million toward a new City Hall during a forum Wednesday night at the KTOO studio. (Screenshot from official video of forum)
Video
Artists with the inaugural Áak’w Rock Festival gather beneath the mural of Elizabeth Peratrovich on the Juneau waterfront on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. That festival was virtual that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but organizers wanted to open the event in person. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Capital City Weekly

Áak’w Rock expanding to three stages

The Indigenous music festival is back and bringing 24 acts to Juneau

Artists with the inaugural Áak’w Rock Festival gather beneath the mural of Elizabeth Peratrovich on the Juneau waterfront on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. That festival was virtual that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but organizers wanted to open the event in person. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Rainwater surrounds a sewer maintenance hole in the Mendenhall Valley area Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Reported smell of diesel in downtown sewer system subsides, potential source identified

“There’s a high probability that the problem is solved.”

Rainwater surrounds a sewer maintenance hole in the Mendenhall Valley area Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Author Tele Aadsen performing at her first FisherPoets Gathering in 2012. Her book, “What Water Holds,” is a collection of essays she wrote for the annual festival over the next 12 years. (Photo courtesy Pat Dixon)
Capital City Weekly

A commercial fisherman who knows her way around salmon and essays

Author Tele Aadsen signing book of essays at Hearthside downtown

Author Tele Aadsen performing at her first FisherPoets Gathering in 2012. Her book, “What Water Holds,” is a collection of essays she wrote for the annual festival over the next 12 years. (Photo courtesy Pat Dixon)
Sandi Hughes, right, and Sam Messerschmidt watch the raging Mendenhall River from the Mendenhall River Bridge on their way to Mendenhall River Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 11, 1995. (Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Sept. 17

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Sandi Hughes, right, and Sam Messerschmidt watch the raging Mendenhall River from the Mendenhall River Bridge on their way to Mendenhall River Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 11, 1995. (Brian Wallace / Juneau Empire Archives)
This is a photo of a rockslide that occurred Thursday morning along Glacier Highway just beyond Tee Harbor. (Courtesy / Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Multiday heavy rainstorms forecast in Juneau, flood warning issued

A rockfall along Glacier Highway was reported Thursday morning.

This is a photo of a rockslide that occurred Thursday morning along Glacier Highway just beyond Tee Harbor. (Courtesy / Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, administers the House oath of office to Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, standing next to her husband Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr., center, during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Peltola’s husband Eugene has died in an airplane crash in Alaska, her office said Wednesday. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s husband dies in plane crash

Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr. was piloting plane that crashed shortly after takeoff in western Alaska.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, administers the House oath of office to Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, standing next to her husband Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr., center, during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Peltola’s husband Eugene has died in an airplane crash in Alaska, her office said Wednesday. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
An inmate stands near a bunk at Lemon Creek Correctional Center on Monday. The prison is at about 45% capacity as it is currently undergoing structural repairs and renovations following “extreme wet weather” last fall that caused instability at certain locations and prompted emergency repairs. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau prison at 45% inmate capacity as structural repairs continue

Transferred inmates expected to return upon project completion slated November 2024, officials say.

An inmate stands near a bunk at Lemon Creek Correctional Center on Monday. The prison is at about 45% capacity as it is currently undergoing structural repairs and renovations following “extreme wet weather” last fall that caused instability at certain locations and prompted emergency repairs. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Britteny Cioni-Haywood and David Noon discuss local education issues during the Board of Education candidates portion of a forum Wednesday night at the KTOO studio. (Screenshot from shared video of forum)
Video

Watch the forum for Board of Education candidates and pro/con arguments of the City Hall ballot initiative

School board candidates discuss funding, curriculum; City Hall portion shows vastly different views.

Britteny Cioni-Haywood and David Noon discuss local education issues during the Board of Education candidates portion of a forum Wednesday night at the KTOO studio. (Screenshot from shared video of forum)
Video
A complaint filed in July with the Alaska Public Offices Commission alleges advocates of repealing the state’s open primary elections and ranked choice voting are violating numerous campaign disclosure laws. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Supporters of effort to repeal ranked voting in Alaska violated rules, report finds

Backers of an effort to repeal ranked voting in Alaska violated state campaign finance rules, including by channeling money through a church-affiliated organization in a… Continue reading

  • Sep 13, 2023
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • Elections
A complaint filed in July with the Alaska Public Offices Commission alleges advocates of repealing the state’s open primary elections and ranked choice voting are violating numerous campaign disclosure laws. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau Assembly candidates prepare to answer questions during a 90-minute forum on Tuesday night at the KTOO studios. The forum was hosted by the Juneau League of Women Voters, and moderated by media representatives from KTOO, KINY and the Juneau Empire. (Screenshot from shared video of forum)
Video

Assembly hopefuls find some areas of agreement and many differences at candidate forum

Cruise ship limits, homelessness, child care shortages and renewable energy among issues discussed.

Juneau Assembly candidates prepare to answer questions during a 90-minute forum on Tuesday night at the KTOO studios. The forum was hosted by the Juneau League of Women Voters, and moderated by media representatives from KTOO, KINY and the Juneau Empire. (Screenshot from shared video of forum)
Video
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Areawide Assembly candidates Paul Kelly, Laura Martinson McDonnell and Ella Adkison are the top three candidates so far this municipal election to raise the most funds, according to their campaign finance records with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Campaign cash: Assembly candidates Martinson McDonnell, Kelly and Adkison dominate municipal election fundraising

Donors include current and past mayors, Assembly members and legislators.

From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Areawide Assembly candidates Paul Kelly, Laura Martinson McDonnell and Ella Adkison are the top three candidates so far this municipal election to raise the most funds, according to their campaign finance records with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Monday, Sept. 11, 2023

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

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau Assembly candidates discuss a range of issues during a forum Tuesday night at the KTOO studio. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video

Watch the 2023 Juneau League of Women Voters forum for Assembly candidates

14 candidates discuss cruise tourism, homelessness, child care and proposed new City Hall.

Juneau Assembly candidates discuss a range of issues during a forum Tuesday night at the KTOO studio. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video
Fruit is displayed at an Anchorage grocery store. Overall consumer prices in Alaska’s largest city were up by an annual rate of 7.5% as of April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Food prices were up by 11.3%. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska’s Health Department works through one food stamp backlog only to confront another

Officials from Alaska’s Division of Public Assistance said its staff worked through the backlog of applications for food aid that stressed Alaska families for more… Continue reading

Fruit is displayed at an Anchorage grocery store. Overall consumer prices in Alaska’s largest city were up by an annual rate of 7.5% as of April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Food prices were up by 11.3%. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
This is a photo of Austin Brady, 28, a village public safety officer in Kake. Brady was arrested on Aug. 29 by Alaska State Troopers after he reportedly assaulted a woman and possessed a weapon while intoxicated. (Courtesy / Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)

Kake public safety officer fired following off-duty assault arrest

Austin Brady, 28, was arrested in late August by Alaska State Troopers.

This is a photo of Austin Brady, 28, a village public safety officer in Kake. Brady was arrested on Aug. 29 by Alaska State Troopers after he reportedly assaulted a woman and possessed a weapon while intoxicated. (Courtesy / Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)
Retiring City and Borough of Juneau Manager Rorie Watt smiles as he is honored during an Assembly meeting Monday night. Watt will be officially departing at the end of September after announcing his plan to retire in April. Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester was selected to take over the role. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly bids farewell to retiring City Manager Rorie Watt

He was honored Monday during an Assembly meeting ahead of his departure at the end of September.

Retiring City and Borough of Juneau Manager Rorie Watt smiles as he is honored during an Assembly meeting Monday night. Watt will be officially departing at the end of September after announcing his plan to retire in April. Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester was selected to take over the role. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)