Passengers board an Alaska Airlines jet at the Juneau International Airport. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Fines for illegally parking in loading zones at airport will be rising

In an effort to make the loading/unloading zones safer and for security purposes, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly voted 6-1 to raise the… Continue reading

Passengers board an Alaska Airlines jet at the Juneau International Airport. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Inaugural Alaska Home & Lifestyle Fair happening this weekend

The Southeast Alaska Building Industry Association is inviting anyone planning on making home improvements or a lifestyle change to the inaugural Alaska Home &Lifestyle Fair… Continue reading

Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, chair of the Legislative Council Committee, asks for a cut to lawmaker per diem payments by 75 percent at the Capitol on Monday, April 23, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Outgoing Juneau lawmaker’s idea to cut lawmakers’ pay swiftly rejected

Members of the Alaska Legislature rejected a proposed pay cut late Monday, saying they didn’t have time to adequately consider the idea from Rep. Sam… Continue reading

Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, chair of the Legislative Council Committee, asks for a cut to lawmaker per diem payments by 75 percent at the Capitol on Monday, April 23, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska unemployment stays flat in March

Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was flat in March, according to new figures from the Alaska Department of Labor, but the state still has many… Continue reading

Alaska Airlines tightens emotional support animal policy

ANCHORAGE — Alaska Airlines has updated its policy on emotional support animals. Starting May 1, customers flying with psychiatric service animals must provide animal health… Continue reading

  • Apr 24, 2018
  • By The Associated Press
Metro Creative Connection stock image

Man sentenced for dealing meth in Juneau, Anchorage

A man who pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine throughout Alaska — including Juneau — was sentenced in Federal Court last week, according to a release… Continue reading

Metro Creative Connection stock image

For Alaska lawmakers, legislative session’s end may be decided by Permanent Fund (again)

Protections for the Alaska Permanent Fund are becoming the crux of negotiations to end this year’s legislative session. In a Monday interview, the lead House… Continue reading

Police calls for Tuesday, April 24, 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

  • Apr 23, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Judge Debra O’Gara works in the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Tribal Court on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

People of Juneau: Alaska Native judge runs Tribal Court with comforting, serious demeanor

Tribal Court Presiding Judge Debra O’Gara walked into the courtroom on a morning in early April and took a seat at the front of the… Continue reading

Judge Debra O’Gara works in the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Tribal Court on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Mark Anthony De Simone, 53 at the time, arrives in Juneau District Court for his arraignment in this May 2016 file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Murder trial pushed back

A trial two years in the works was supposed to start Monday, but a last-minute change will push it back at least a day or… Continue reading

Mark Anthony De Simone, 53 at the time, arrives in Juneau District Court for his arraignment in this May 2016 file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Kenny Smith talks about learning to carve at Lemon Creek Correctional Center on Monday, April 13, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Art behind bars: Lemon Creek art program benefits inmates, regional nonprofits

Editor’s note: Additional details have been added to clarify the collaboration between programs at the Sealaska Corporation and Sealaska Heritage Institute. At first, Kenny Smith… Continue reading

Kenny Smith talks about learning to carve at Lemon Creek Correctional Center on Monday, April 13, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

New internship program designed to make students job-ready

Gaining relevant job experience before actually being a member of the workforce is a goal of any internship. That is the idea behind the inaugural… Continue reading

Public hearing on City, Juneau School District budgets scheduled for Wednesday

The public will have a chance to voice any concerns or thoughts it has with the City and Borough of Juneau and the Juneau School… Continue reading

Police calls for Monday, April 23, 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

  • Apr 23, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
In this 2012 file photo, students from Raven Correspondence School pose at Sandy Beach after a litter cleanup on Earth Day. (Courtesy photo)

Volunteers needed to help clean up wetlands

Juneau residents will have two opportunities to help clean the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge the morning of Saturday, April 28. Juneau Community Wetlands City-wide… Continue reading

  • Apr 23, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
In this 2012 file photo, students from Raven Correspondence School pose at Sandy Beach after a litter cleanup on Earth Day. (Courtesy photo)

Front Street construction update

Construction on Front Street will continue this week with concrete pours. Two-inch rock has been placed on the roadway as the street starts to take… Continue reading

Two Lemon Creek lots to be sold by city

Starting May 1, two lots in Lemon Creek will be available in the an over-the-counter land sale program. These lots lie near Dzantik’i Heeni Middle… Continue reading

Tanya Rorem, pictured kissing her son in 2002. (Courtesy photo | Rorem family)

Services, funding dwindle for those living with FASD

Even as a baby, Tanya was different. Larry and Laura Rorem adopted Tanya when she was 8 months old in 1973, not knowing that Tanya’s… Continue reading

Tanya Rorem, pictured kissing her son in 2002. (Courtesy photo | Rorem family)
This file photo shows the finished Housing First Project on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. The Juneau Community Foundation announced $1.8 million in grants today, some of which will go to Housing First. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau Community Foundation awards $1.8 million in grants

The Juneau Community Foundation announced $1.8 million in funding for local social service providers today. Senior care, disability law, substance abuse and homelessness are several… Continue reading

This file photo shows the finished Housing First Project on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. The Juneau Community Foundation announced $1.8 million in grants today, some of which will go to Housing First. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Steve Wolf and his wife, Bev, left, talk with another couple after attending the Rock Steady Boxing Class at Pavitt Health & Fitness on Thursday, April 12, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Battling Parkinson’s together

Editor’s Note: This is the third of four profiles highlighting stories of local people with Parkinson’s disease, as part of Parkinson’s Awareness Month in April.… Continue reading

Steve Wolf and his wife, Bev, left, talk with another couple after attending the Rock Steady Boxing Class at Pavitt Health & Fitness on Thursday, April 12, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)