News

Chum salmon (Photo by Bjorn Dihle)

Reflection from a salmon stream

Dozens of decomposing pink and chum salmon, their eyes plucked by birds, lay strewn in the shallows of a stream in southern Southeast Alaska. A… Continue reading

  • Aug 31, 2018
  • By Bjorn Dihle For the Juneau Empire
  • salmon
Chum salmon (Photo by Bjorn Dihle)
The author can’t tell a cheap suit from an expensive one, but knows a good rod and reel combo when he sees one. (Jeff Lund | For the Juneau Empire)

The mark of a man?

On Monday, I had just scrambled up what may have been the most ridiculously steep and brushy slope I’d ever hunted, to pick my way… Continue reading

  • Aug 31, 2018
  • By Jeff Lund For the Juneau Empire
The author can’t tell a cheap suit from an expensive one, but knows a good rod and reel combo when he sees one. (Jeff Lund | For the Juneau Empire)
Jennifer Thompson with her students at Harborview Elementary School. (Courtesy Photo)

Appreciating Juneau’s Educators

This summer, the Juneau School District said goodbye to Jennifer Thompson, a 25-year veteran primary teacher and founding member of the Juneau STEM Coalition. As… Continue reading

  • Aug 31, 2018
  • By Rebecca Soza and Brenda Taylor
Jennifer Thompson with her students at Harborview Elementary School. (Courtesy Photo)
Mayor Ken Koelsch speaks about his first year as mayor from his city hall office on Thursday, March 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

‘An unexpected honor:’ Koelsch reflects on time as Juneau mayor

During his speech at Thursday’s Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly luncheon, Mayor Ken Koelsch quoted Mark Twain more than a dozen times. Koelsch, who is… Continue reading

Mayor Ken Koelsch speaks about his first year as mayor from his city hall office on Thursday, March 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
A panel of experts on Arctic issues convened in Juneau on Thursday at a meeting of the Hyrdographic Services Review Panel. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Ocean minds tackle Arctic marine traffic bump

Sea ice in the Arctic is melting earlier in the spring and forming later in the fall, allowing ships more time to navigate ice-free waterways.… Continue reading

A panel of experts on Arctic issues convened in Juneau on Thursday at a meeting of the Hyrdographic Services Review Panel. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Metro Creative Connection stock image

Property taxes due Oct. 1

Property taxes are due Oct. 1, and there’s a new option for Juneau property owners to pay those taxes this year. People can set up… Continue reading

Metro Creative Connection stock image
Abandoned cars sit in the parking lot of the Nugget Mall on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. The Juneau Police Department is evaluating approaches to getting abandoned vehicles off private property faster. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

City may take new approach to impounding abandoned cars

The number of abandoned vehicles is rising in Juneau.

Abandoned cars sit in the parking lot of the Nugget Mall on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. The Juneau Police Department is evaluating approaches to getting abandoned vehicles off private property faster. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Alaska roadless rule opens for public comment

Alaska roadless rule opens for public comment

More timber may soon be harvested on the Tongass National Forest and the U.S. Forest Service wants to know what the public thinks about that.… Continue reading

Alaska roadless rule opens for public comment
Coast Guard crews compete in annual skills competition
Video

Coast Guard crews compete in annual skills competition

The event brings Coast Guard vessels and their crews from all over the state together in Juneau.

Coast Guard crews compete in annual skills competition
Video
Art in Unusual Places

Art in Unusual Places

The Capital City Weekly welcomes reader-submitted photos of art in unusual or unexpected places. To submit, email your photos and captions to editor@capweek.com.… Continue reading

Art in Unusual Places
Young readers review their summer reads

Young readers review their summer reads

Winning reviews for the final week of 2018.

  • Aug 30, 2018
  • Capital City Weekly
  • books
Young readers review their summer reads
Police calls for Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018

Police calls for Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement and public safety agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction… Continue reading

Police calls for Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018
A burnt 1990 Ford Bronco 2 sits in a parking lot near Twin Lakes on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. The fire started when the front right brake caliper got stuck and overheated, Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief Ed Quinto said. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Car catches fire near Twin Lakes after brake overheats

Two friends were able to escape a car unharmed before it caught on fire near Twin Lakes on Wednesday night, Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief… Continue reading

A burnt 1990 Ford Bronco 2 sits in a parking lot near Twin Lakes on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. The fire started when the front right brake caliper got stuck and overheated, Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant Chief Ed Quinto said. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
City Attorney Robert Palmer (left) shakes hands with Mayor Ken Koelsch moments after being named the City and Borough of Juneau’s municipal attorney. Palmer replaces Amy Mead, who was selected to be a Superior Court judge this summer. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Robert Palmer selected as head municipal attorney

With a unanimous vote Wednesday, the members of the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly selected Robert Palmer to be the new municipal attorney. Palmer,… Continue reading

City Attorney Robert Palmer (left) shakes hands with Mayor Ken Koelsch moments after being named the City and Borough of Juneau’s municipal attorney. Palmer replaces Amy Mead, who was selected to be a Superior Court judge this summer. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Hayes picked to deliver keynote speech for state arts conference

Hayes picked to deliver keynote speech for state arts conference

The Alaska celebration of artists and art is in Fairbanks for the first time, but it will have a big Juneau connection. Ernestine Hayes, Alaska… Continue reading

Hayes picked to deliver keynote speech for state arts conference
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s planned new electronic charts will be larger scale, allowing mariners to zoom in to get more detail in narrow waterways. (Courtesy Photo | NOAA)

Paper is past: Digital charts on the horizon for NOAA

The tan and blue paper nautical charts that line wheelhouses and galleys on Alaska ships will soon be a relic of the past. In an… Continue reading

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s planned new electronic charts will be larger scale, allowing mariners to zoom in to get more detail in narrow waterways. (Courtesy Photo | NOAA)
NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Review Panel meets this week at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

As sea levels rise, more data needed, experts say

Alaska’s ability to measure coastal sea levels suffers from a lack of resources, experts say, at a time when many coastal communities face imminent threats… Continue reading

NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Review Panel meets this week at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Laraine Derr, of the Regional Accu-Vote Board, center, waits for her machine to print out a tally as she, David Clover, left, and Mary Foster count questioned and absentee ballots at the State of Alaska election office at the Mendenhall Mall on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

New vote tallies aid challenged Alaska legislative incumbents

Incumbent Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux has taken a significant lead in a Republican primary race marred by possible voter fraud. On Tuesday, the Alaska Division of… Continue reading

Laraine Derr, of the Regional Accu-Vote Board, center, waits for her machine to print out a tally as she, David Clover, left, and Mary Foster count questioned and absentee ballots at the State of Alaska election office at the Mendenhall Mall on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
New Hoonah Police Chief Rick Groshong is seen in an undated photo he provided to the Empire. (Courtesy photo)

Hoonah hires Wrangell policeman as new chief

Hoonah’s small police department has a new leader. On Aug. 23, Rick Groshong of Wrangell became the new chief of the Hoonah Police Department after… Continue reading

New Hoonah Police Chief Rick Groshong is seen in an undated photo he provided to the Empire. (Courtesy photo)
An electric motor coach provided by BYD Auto Co., Ltd., a Chinese automobile manufacturer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, and Alaska Coach Tours stops at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center to showcase the potential for electric vehicle bus transportation as part of the tourism industry in Alaska on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

City gets funding for another electric bus

For the second year in a row, the City and Borough of Juneau is getting a federal grant to help bring an electric bus to the city.

An electric motor coach provided by BYD Auto Co., Ltd., a Chinese automobile manufacturer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, and Alaska Coach Tours stops at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center to showcase the potential for electric vehicle bus transportation as part of the tourism industry in Alaska on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)