Police calls for Friday, Oct. 27, 2017

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

Upcoming Wildlife Wednesday to discuss the riparian zone

At the next Wildlife Wednesday talk on Nov. 1, restoration biologist John Hudson will answer the question, “What’s so Special About the Riparian Zone?” The… Continue reading

  • Oct 27, 2017
The brass section of Taku Winds rehearses. (Photo courtesy Katy Giorgio | Juneau Empire)

Taku Winds to evoke Rome in concert

A symphonic tribute to the City of Rome takes center stage at Taku Winds’ upcoming concert this Sunday, Oct. 29, at 3 p.m., in the… Continue reading

The brass section of Taku Winds rehearses. (Photo courtesy Katy Giorgio | Juneau Empire)
In this file photo from October 2014, a black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. The pair had just finished eating a freshly caught coho salmon from Steep Creek and moved into the forest in search of ground cones. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Bear activity expected to spike as hibernation approaches

Before bears head into hibernation for the winter, they’re looking for high-calorie foods. According to the Juneau Police Department, residents cannot put out trash before… Continue reading

In this file photo from October 2014, a black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. The pair had just finished eating a freshly caught coho salmon from Steep Creek and moved into the forest in search of ground cones. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Bladesmith David Mirabile shows an axe he made from Damascus steel and a walrus oosik in his Juneau shop on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau bladesmith wins History Channel sword-making competition

Prior to competing on History Channel’s “Forged in Fire,” a show that pits expert bladesmiths against each other in a sword-making competition, David Mirabile had… Continue reading

Bladesmith David Mirabile shows an axe he made from Damascus steel and a walrus oosik in his Juneau shop on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Man shot dead at logging camp

A logging camp employee shot dead a fellow worker at a Prince of Wales Island camp on Wednesday, Alaska State Troopers say. Ketchikan resident Timothy… Continue reading

Vehicles send up a spray of water along Egan Drive on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Weather Service issues flood watch

The remnants of an Asian typhoon will pour up to six inches of rain onto Juneau by the end of Friday and cause some flooding,… Continue reading

Vehicles send up a spray of water along Egan Drive on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Haunted House at the Training Center

The Juneau Chapter of the Alaska State Firefighters Association will host a haunted house this Friday and Saturday from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at Hagevig Regional Fire… Continue reading

Juneau Teens for Change pose inside Thunder Mountain High School. Back row, left to right: Audrey Welling, Mary Landes, Erin Wallace, Miguel Cordero, Summer Smith, Azure Briggs, and Ezra Geselle. Front row, left to right: Bridget Gehring, Anna Rivest, Kayla Simpson, Mikayla May, Core Gehring, and Sally Thompson. (Clara Miller | Capital City Weekly)

Community garage sale raises money for volunteer trip

Helping fund a volunteer trip to Nepal could be as easy as buying somebody’s old family heirlooms. Juneau Teens For Change, an organization that aims… Continue reading

Juneau Teens for Change pose inside Thunder Mountain High School. Back row, left to right: Audrey Welling, Mary Landes, Erin Wallace, Miguel Cordero, Summer Smith, Azure Briggs, and Ezra Geselle. Front row, left to right: Bridget Gehring, Anna Rivest, Kayla Simpson, Mikayla May, Core Gehring, and Sally Thompson. (Clara Miller | Capital City Weekly)
Rep. Daniel Ortiz, NA-Ketchikan, left, Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, center, and Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, greet each other on the first day of the fourth Special Session of the 30th Alaska Legisture on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017.

From across Alaska, residents try to sway Legislature on SB 54

The calls came from Bethel, Nome and Fairbanks. There were plenty from Anchorage and the Mat-Su, and some from Southeast. On Tuesday night, members of… Continue reading

Rep. Daniel Ortiz, NA-Ketchikan, left, Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, center, and Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, greet each other on the first day of the fourth Special Session of the 30th Alaska Legisture on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017.

State panel slashes legislator pay

A state-appointed panel has acted to slash pay for Alaska’s legislators following years of budget deficits. Ironically, that panel, the State Officers Compensation, was created… Continue reading

  • Oct 25, 2017
  • By Pat Forgey
House Finance Committee members Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, left, Rep. David Guttenberg, D-Fairbanks, center, and Rep. Jason Grenn, NA-Anchorage, listen to Ed King, Legislative Liaison for the Department of Natural Resources, give the Preliminary 2017 Fall Production Forecast at the Capitol on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Analysis shows state will exhaust main savings account within two years

Unless legislators act, the state of Alaska will run out of money sometime in late 2018 or early 2019. In a pair of presentations Tuesday… Continue reading

House Finance Committee members Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, left, Rep. David Guttenberg, D-Fairbanks, center, and Rep. Jason Grenn, NA-Anchorage, listen to Ed King, Legislative Liaison for the Department of Natural Resources, give the Preliminary 2017 Fall Production Forecast at the Capitol on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Natalee Rothaus and Mike Stanley take in the view of Auke Bay during a hike on the Indian Point Trail on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City seeks input on possible Indian Point transfer

The City and Borough of Juneau owns about two-thirds of an area of land on Indian Point (also known as Auke Cape), and is considering… Continue reading

Natalee Rothaus and Mike Stanley take in the view of Auke Bay during a hike on the Indian Point Trail on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A bearded seal rests on the runway at Utqiagvik Airport. (Photo courtesy of Scott Babcock)

450-pound seal removed from northern Utqiagvik airport’s runway

ANCHORAGE — An airport at the northernmost point of Alaska had a surprise hurdle on its runway Monday. A seal estimated to weigh 450 pounds… Continue reading

  • Oct 25, 2017
  • By The Associated Press
A bearded seal rests on the runway at Utqiagvik Airport. (Photo courtesy of Scott Babcock)

Police calls for Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017

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

Alaska Electric Light and Power Company Lemon Creek operations center in Juneau on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Financial advisor offers insight into CBJ pursuit of AEL&P ownership

The City and Borough of Juneau has expressed interest in having Alaska Electric Light & Power locally owned, and a Seattle-based financial advisor offered advice… Continue reading

Alaska Electric Light and Power Company Lemon Creek operations center in Juneau on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Commissioner of the Department of Corrections Dean Williams, right, answers questions in Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

As Legislature debates criminal justice, post-prison employment program runs out of money

It was cruel irony. Days before the Alaska Legislature convened in Juneau to discuss ways to keep inmates from returning to prison for new crimes,… Continue reading

Commissioner of the Department of Corrections Dean Williams, right, answers questions in Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole, left, Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, center, and Sen. Click Bishop, Fairbanks, question Commissioner of the Department of Corrections Dean Williams in Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Analysis: Why there’s ‘0 percent’ chance the Legislature addresses deficit this year

On taxes, the gap between the coalition majority that runs the Alaska House of Representatives and the predominantly Republican Senate Majority can literally be measured… Continue reading

Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole, left, Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, center, and Sen. Click Bishop, Fairbanks, question Commissioner of the Department of Corrections Dean Williams in Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Breffni Registered Agent Maureen Barrett-Smith, watches as used furniture is loaded into a van while making the Bergmann Hotel ready for an open house on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017.

Bergmann Hotel is up for sale

Starting Tuesday, the Bergmann Hotel will be for sale. Breffni Place Properties, which owns the Bergmann and other properties in town, is selling the Bergmann… Continue reading

Breffni Registered Agent Maureen Barrett-Smith, watches as used furniture is loaded into a van while making the Bergmann Hotel ready for an open house on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017.
Parents, grandparents and friends have fun photographing their young ones on Seward Street for Halloween 2016. More than 50 businesses downtown welcomed trick-or-treaters last year. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Where to Trick-or-Treat this Halloween

Trick-or-treaters and their parents will find it a little easier to stay safe on the festive eve of All Saints’ Day. On Halloween day, designated… Continue reading

Parents, grandparents and friends have fun photographing their young ones on Seward Street for Halloween 2016. More than 50 businesses downtown welcomed trick-or-treaters last year. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)