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Lawmakers will return next week to the Alaska State Capitol building, seen here on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, for the next session of the Alaska State Legislature, but local leaders were cautious about what could be accomplished in an election year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Local leaders expect old issues to shape new session

Familiar issues to dominate session.

Lawmakers will return next week to the Alaska State Capitol building, seen here on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, for the next session of the Alaska State Legislature, but local leaders were cautious about what could be accomplished in an election year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Bartlett Regional Hospital’s Chief Financial Officer has resigned, according to hospital officials. Benson is the third executive to resign from BRH in the last four months. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Hospital CFO resigns

Departure marks third exec to leave

Bartlett Regional Hospital’s Chief Financial Officer has resigned, according to hospital officials. Benson is the third executive to resign from BRH in the last four months. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Steven Duke shovels snow from the top of the roof at Don Abel Tool and Equipment Rental on Jan. 7. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Update: Heavy snow prompts closings

Schools, a street and a store.

Steven Duke shovels snow from the top of the roof at Don Abel Tool and Equipment Rental on Jan. 7. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Siblings Lea Skaggs, left, and Drake Skaggs, right, show off work by their brother Avery Skaggs at the opening night of a show at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum featuring a selection of work Avery Skaggs created during the pandemic lockdown. The exhibition is titled “Home: Disability Creativity in a Pandemic Lockdown.” (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Creating without community

‘Capitvating’ new exhibit contains artist’s lockdown work

Siblings Lea Skaggs, left, and Drake Skaggs, right, show off work by their brother Avery Skaggs at the opening night of a show at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum featuring a selection of work Avery Skaggs created during the pandemic lockdown. The exhibition is titled “Home: Disability Creativity in a Pandemic Lockdown.” (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
The Supreme Court shown Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Washington. The Supreme Court is taking up two major Biden administration efforts to bump up the nation's vaccination rate against COVID-19 at a time of spiking coronavirus cases because of the omicron variant. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Supreme Court skeptical of Biden’s workplace vaccine rule

The court seemed more open to a separate vaccine mandate for most health care workers.

The Supreme Court shown Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Washington. The Supreme Court is taking up two major Biden administration efforts to bump up the nation's vaccination rate against COVID-19 at a time of spiking coronavirus cases because of the omicron variant. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022

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

It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML

COVID at a Glance for Friday, Jan. 7

Numbers come from reports from the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, as well… Continue reading

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML
The Petersburg Police Department is conducting an investigation into a report that a person identified as an officer of that department made fascist remarks on a social media page. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Man no longer employed by Petersburg police after social media post investigation

The comment was made by a profile that listed employer as Petersburg Police Department.

The Petersburg Police Department is conducting an investigation into a report that a person identified as an officer of that department made fascist remarks on a social media page. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a porcupine near Valdez. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: The porcupine’s winter in slow-motion

How do porcupines survive winter? A lengthy study provides insights.

This photo shows a porcupine near Valdez. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
A collection of signs advising patrons about various COVID-related issues sits atop the front desk at the Douglas Branch of the Juneau Public Library on Jan. 6. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

City Assembly poised to consider COVID mitigations

Quick-moving omicron variant forces meeting to Zoom

A collection of signs advising patrons about various COVID-related issues sits atop the front desk at the Douglas Branch of the Juneau Public Library on Jan. 6. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Line crews from Alaska Electric Light & Power work to restore power to Thane following an avalanche on Jan. 3, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Evan Bixby)

2021 saw far fewer power outages than record year 2020

Last year was in the average range for outages here in Juneau.

Line crews from Alaska Electric Light & Power work to restore power to Thane following an avalanche on Jan. 3, 2022. (Courtesy photo / Evan Bixby)
State Sen. Peter Micciche fields questions from constituents during a joint chamber luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State Senate president lays out vision for upcoming session

Micciche seeks path forward on budget, looks to pass legislation on fishing permits, alcohol regulations

State Sen. Peter Micciche fields questions from constituents during a joint chamber luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
This image available under the Creative Commons license shows the outline of the state of Alaska filled with the pattern of the state flag. The state on Thursday reported a modest population growth between April 2020 and July 2021. It’s the first time since 2016 the state has reported a population increase. (

State reports small population growth

Net migration still negative, but not as negative.

This image available under the Creative Commons license shows the outline of the state of Alaska filled with the pattern of the state flag. The state on Thursday reported a modest population growth between April 2020 and July 2021. It’s the first time since 2016 the state has reported a population increase. (
Alaska Airlines planes are parked at gates with Mount Rainier in the background at sunrise, March 1, 2021, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle. Alaska Airlines said Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, it will trim its schedule by about 10% for the rest of January at it deals with “unprecedented” numbers of employees calling in sick during the current COVID-19 surge. (AP Photo / Ted S. Warren, File)

Alaska Air trims January flights to cope with virus outbreak

Alaska Airlines said Thursday it will trim its schedule by about 10% for the rest of January.

Alaska Airlines planes are parked at gates with Mount Rainier in the background at sunrise, March 1, 2021, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle. Alaska Airlines said Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, it will trim its schedule by about 10% for the rest of January at it deals with “unprecedented” numbers of employees calling in sick during the current COVID-19 surge. (AP Photo / Ted S. Warren, File)
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Sustainable Alaska: Humans vs. Volcanoes

We are warming the world tens of times faster than did the ancient volcanoes.

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It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022

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

It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

COVID at a Glance for Wednesday, Jan. 5

Numbers come from reports from the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center and the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, as well… Continue reading

Snow blows off Mount Roberts high above the Thane avalanche chute, where an avalanche blew across the road during a major snowstorm last weekend. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Mercurial weather may increase avalanche risk

Snow becoming rain during a storm system is generally bad news.

Snow blows off Mount Roberts high above the Thane avalanche chute, where an avalanche blew across the road during a major snowstorm last weekend. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This photo provided by the U.S. Air Force/Alaska National Guard photo shows the William Miller Memorial School, larger structure top right, which is being severely eroded by the nearby Kuskokwim River in the village of Napakiak, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2019. The school is just 64 feet (19.51 meters) from the Kuskokwim River, and it's getting closer every year. Just two years ago, the school was less than 200 feet (60.96 meters) from the river. Climate change is a contributing factor in the erosion caused by the Kuskokwim, a river that becomes an ice highway for travelers in the winter. (Airman 1st Class Emily Farnsworth, U.S. Air Force/ Alaska National Guard)

Southwest Alaska school in race with climate change for new building

BETHEL — A school that is in danger of being lost to erosion because of climate change is at the top of the state’s list… Continue reading

This photo provided by the U.S. Air Force/Alaska National Guard photo shows the William Miller Memorial School, larger structure top right, which is being severely eroded by the nearby Kuskokwim River in the village of Napakiak, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2019. The school is just 64 feet (19.51 meters) from the Kuskokwim River, and it's getting closer every year. Just two years ago, the school was less than 200 feet (60.96 meters) from the river. Climate change is a contributing factor in the erosion caused by the Kuskokwim, a river that becomes an ice highway for travelers in the winter. (Airman 1st Class Emily Farnsworth, U.S. Air Force/ Alaska National Guard)
City and Borough of Juneau ordinances require that all dogs over six months old and residing in Juneau for more than 30 days must be registered with Juneau Animal Rescue by Jan. 1 each year. This picture shows the 2022 tag issued to registered dogs. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

Don’t get tagged: It’s time to register your dog

Local dog registration supports animal welfare

City and Borough of Juneau ordinances require that all dogs over six months old and residing in Juneau for more than 30 days must be registered with Juneau Animal Rescue by Jan. 1 each year. This picture shows the 2022 tag issued to registered dogs. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)