News

Joy Lyon, Executive Director of Association for the Education of Young Children of Southeast Alaska speaks to the City Finance Committee about Best Starts for Juneau’s Kids during the meeting at Assembly Chambers Thursday. (Greg Philson | Juneau Empire)

Best Starts Juneau asks city for pre-K pilot program funding

Hoping to address early education issues, Best Starts for Juneau’s Kids, is requesting $2.18 million from the city for a pre-kindergarten program. Best Starts for… Continue reading

Joy Lyon, Executive Director of Association for the Education of Young Children of Southeast Alaska speaks to the City Finance Committee about Best Starts for Juneau’s Kids during the meeting at Assembly Chambers Thursday. (Greg Philson | Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Thursday, May 3, 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

  • May 3, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Joe Torrillo, retired from the New York City Fire Department, speaks during the Pillars of America speaker series at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Torrillo tells his story of being buried twice during the collapse of the Twin Tower buildings in the Sept. 11, 2001. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Former New York City firefighter tries to ‘Re-Unite’ the US

Joe Torrillo never had aspirations to be a firefighter. He went to school for engineering and wanted to be an architect. After being convinced to… Continue reading

Joe Torrillo, retired from the New York City Fire Department, speaks during the Pillars of America speaker series at Centennial Hall on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Torrillo tells his story of being buried twice during the collapse of the Twin Tower buildings in the Sept. 11, 2001. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislature’s new plan protects Permanent Fund, but not dividend

House and Senate negotiators agreed Wednesday on a proposal to put limits on the Legislature’s ability to spend from the Alaska Permanent Fund, but the… Continue reading

Team Juneau’s Derrick Roberts competes in the Eskimo Stick Pull against Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s Haley Osborne on Friday at the 2018 Native Youth Olympics at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. Osborne placed first while Roberts came in third. (Courtesy Photo | Kyle Worl)

Juneau welcomed back to Native Youth Olympics

Kyle Worl, 27, was fresh off his first coaching stint at the statewide Native Youth Olympics when he moved to Juneau one year ago. He… Continue reading

Team Juneau’s Derrick Roberts competes in the Eskimo Stick Pull against Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s Haley Osborne on Friday at the 2018 Native Youth Olympics at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. Osborne placed first while Roberts came in third. (Courtesy Photo | Kyle Worl)
Anthony Mallott president and CEO of Sealaska Corp., speaks about the positive earnings of the Southeast Alaska Native corporation during an interview at the Juneau headquarters on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Sealaska Corp. completes huge financial turnaround

Sealaska CEO Anthony Mallott was feeling a little under the weather on Wednesday, but even then, he didn’t keep himself from smiling. For the first… Continue reading

Anthony Mallott president and CEO of Sealaska Corp., speaks about the positive earnings of the Southeast Alaska Native corporation during an interview at the Juneau headquarters on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Vince Bengston, a member of a 2016 hunting party, testifies in the trial of Mark De Simone in Juneau Superior Court on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. De Simone is accused of killing Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales during a hunting trip in Excursion Inlet in 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gun taking center stage in murder trial

Correction: An earlier version of this article erroneously referred to the gun as a Ruger .44 Magnum Blackhawk. The gun is a Ruger .41 Magnum… Continue reading

Vince Bengston, a member of a 2016 hunting party, testifies in the trial of Mark De Simone in Juneau Superior Court on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. De Simone is accused of killing Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales during a hunting trip in Excursion Inlet in 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Angie and Eric Larsen’s dog Daisy, an 11-year-old mixed breed, was one of three dogs killed by a brown bear recently in Hoonah. (Courtesy photo)

Bear mauls four dogs in Hoonah, gets killed

Update: This article has been updated to include a comment from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. A brown bear killed at least three… Continue reading

Angie and Eric Larsen’s dog Daisy, an 11-year-old mixed breed, was one of three dogs killed by a brown bear recently in Hoonah. (Courtesy photo)

Juneau homelessness continues to rise

Juneau is seeing an increase in homelessness. That was part of the a report giving by CBJ Chief Housing Officer Scott Ciambor during the COW… Continue reading

Four humpback whales dive in front of a Allen Marine whale watching boat in August 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Fundraising season: Whale watch for a good cause, fill an empty bowl, or support Polaris House’s inaugural fundraiser

It may be construction and it may be tourist season, but it’s also fundraising season. Lots of events are popping up around town in support… Continue reading

Four humpback whales dive in front of a Allen Marine whale watching boat in August 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Police calls for Wednesday, May 2, 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

  • May 2, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime

Alaska Senate considers ways to limit Medicaid access

As the Alaska Senate considers new regulations for Alaskans receiving government-funded health care, state officials are warning that the changes will not save money. In… Continue reading

Mark De Simone listens during his trial in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. De Simone is accused of killing Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales during a hunting trip in Excursion Inlet in 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Jurors get look at gruesome, important evidence in murder case

The first day of witness testimony in the murder trial of Mark De Simone focused on De Simone and his demeanor on the 2016 hunting… Continue reading

Mark De Simone listens during his trial in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. De Simone is accused of killing Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales during a hunting trip in Excursion Inlet in 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this Jan. 30, 2017 photo, Esteban Santiago is escorted from the Broward County jail for an arraignment in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Justice Department has decided not to seek the death penalty against Santiago accused of killing five people and wounding six in a Florida airport shooting. Officials said Santiago of Anchorage, Alaska, will agree to a life sentence. The announcement was made in Miami on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. (Lynne Sladky | The Associated Press File)

Anchorage man agrees to guilty plea in Florida airport shooting

MIAMI — An Alaska man will not face the death penalty on charges of killing five people and wounding six in a shooting rampage at… Continue reading

In this Jan. 30, 2017 photo, Esteban Santiago is escorted from the Broward County jail for an arraignment in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Justice Department has decided not to seek the death penalty against Santiago accused of killing five people and wounding six in a Florida airport shooting. Officials said Santiago of Anchorage, Alaska, will agree to a life sentence. The announcement was made in Miami on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. (Lynne Sladky | The Associated Press File)
A panel of professionals meet with teacher Jessica Cobley’s 7th-grade science class to hear about students work on understanding the Bering Sea ecosystem at Floyd Dryden Middle School on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

STEM in schools: Floyd Dryden students take on pollock policy

Fisheries managers and scientists gathered on Tuesday for a serious discussion about pollock quotas in the Bering Sea. The forum? Seventh-grade life science teacher Jessica… Continue reading

A panel of professionals meet with teacher Jessica Cobley’s 7th-grade science class to hear about students work on understanding the Bering Sea ecosystem at Floyd Dryden Middle School on Tuesday, May 1, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The first cruise ship of the season, the Ruby Princess, arrives in Juneau on Monday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gearing up for the season: Coast Guard runs security as first cruise ship arrives Monday

The Coast Guard 17th District stationed in Juneau wants a boring day. Luckily for them, tourists aboard the first cruise ship of the season and… Continue reading

The first cruise ship of the season, the Ruby Princess, arrives in Juneau on Monday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Wastewater rates on the rise

A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that there is also a price increase in the flat rate water. It should have said an… Continue reading

Police calls for Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Police calls for Tuesday, May 1, 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

  • May 1, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Police calls for Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Witness Seth Bradshaw points to where he found the body Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales at an Excursion Inlet cabin while Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg holds a map during the trial of Mark De Simone in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, April 30, 2018. De Simone is accused of killing Rosales during a hunting trip in Excursion Inlet in 2016. Bradshaw was the first person to find Rosales. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Witnesses give insight into circumstances around 2016 fatal shooting

The first day of witness testimony in the murder trial of Mark De Simone took jurors to the scene of the shooting death of Duilio… Continue reading

Witness Seth Bradshaw points to where he found the body Duilio Antonio “Tony” Rosales at an Excursion Inlet cabin while Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg holds a map during the trial of Mark De Simone in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, April 30, 2018. De Simone is accused of killing Rosales during a hunting trip in Excursion Inlet in 2016. Bradshaw was the first person to find Rosales. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A warning sign posted at Brotherhood Bridge by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on Monday, April 30, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Wolf kills dog near Brotherhood Bridge Trail

A morning walk on the Brotherhood Bridge Trail took an unfortunate turn for a person walking their dog Monday. Wildlife Regional Supervisor Ryan Scott of… Continue reading

A warning sign posted at Brotherhood Bridge by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on Monday, April 30, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)