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MICHAEL PENN | Juneau empire A gull and harbor seal share a feeding site at Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in Auke Bay on Monday.

Photo: Feeding buddies in Auke Bay

Fishing buddies… Continue reading

MICHAEL PENN | Juneau empire A gull and harbor seal share a feeding site at Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in Auke Bay on Monday.
Race rookie Ryan Anderson of Minnesota drives his team onto the Chena River during the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in front of Pike’s Waterfront Lodge, Monday, March 6, 2017 in Fairbanks. It’s the third time the starting location of the 1,000-mile trek to Nome, Alaska has been moved from Anchorage to Fairbanks due to low snow and poor trail conditions south of and through the Alaska Range. (Eric Engman | Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Iditarod mushers begin nearly 1,000-mile race across Alaska

ANCHORAGE — Mushers pumped their fists and high-fived fans Monday as they set out one-by-one on the world’s most famous sled dog race, a nearly… Continue reading

Race rookie Ryan Anderson of Minnesota drives his team onto the Chena River during the restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in front of Pike’s Waterfront Lodge, Monday, March 6, 2017 in Fairbanks. It’s the third time the starting location of the 1,000-mile trek to Nome, Alaska has been moved from Anchorage to Fairbanks due to low snow and poor trail conditions south of and through the Alaska Range. (Eric Engman | Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Midway through session, Alaska lawmakers looking for fiscal fix

JUNEAU — Alaska legislative leaders say they are committed to taking major steps to address the state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit this year, even if that… Continue reading

Bethel-based airline discontinues service in western Alaska

BETHEL — A western Alaska-based airline that provided passenger and freight service to more than 20 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta has shut down its… Continue reading

Fishermen call for early meeting about Kuskokwim salmon

BETHEL — Residents of the Bethel area hope to work out a Kuskokwim River salmon management plan with state biologists as soon as possible, as… Continue reading

Alaska man crawls through doggie door to assault woman

UPDATE (6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28): APD said Jereme Perino was taken into custody Tuesday after police received a tip from the public about his… Continue reading

In this May 23, 2015 photo, the welcome sign is displayed on the outskirts of Homer. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press file)

Homer rejects inclusivity measure

HOMER — The Club Bar incident. Removing the Veterans Memorial from WKFL Park. Nuclear Free Homer. Annexation. Banning commercial cannabis. In the 53-year history of the… Continue reading

In this May 23, 2015 photo, the welcome sign is displayed on the outskirts of Homer. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press file)
The Tulsequah Chief Mine is seen on Sept. 26, 2016. The yellow water is Acidic Mine Drainage from shuttered mine adits. It drains into an “exfiltration pond,” pictured, which overflows into the Tulsequah River. (Courtesy Photo)

Toxic water leaches into prime Alaska, Canada salmon habitat

The year the Tulsequah Chief Mine began polluting Alaska waters, a gallon of gas cost 31 cents, baseball great Jackie Robinson announced his retirement and… Continue reading

The Tulsequah Chief Mine is seen on Sept. 26, 2016. The yellow water is Acidic Mine Drainage from shuttered mine adits. It drains into an “exfiltration pond,” pictured, which overflows into the Tulsequah River. (Courtesy Photo)

Photo: Blowing snow

Blowing snow… Continue reading

Fighting for those who ‘don’t always have a voice’

A string of individuals lined up at Centennial Hall on Thursday night, prepared to address a packed house. One by one, the speakers shared individual… Continue reading

Mia Berzanske, right, speaks to the Senate Judiciary Committee with Kara Nelson, executive director of Haven House, against SB 54 on crime and sentencing at the Capitol on Friday. Berzanske is currently a resident of Haven House, a halfway house for women coming out of prison. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Rolling back criminal justice reform draws outcry, praise

Advocates of criminal justice reform pleaded Friday with legislators to stay the course, arguing that programs still being implemented need a chance to prove they… Continue reading

  • Mar 5, 2017
  • By LIZ KELLAR
Mia Berzanske, right, speaks to the Senate Judiciary Committee with Kara Nelson, executive director of Haven House, against SB 54 on crime and sentencing at the Capitol on Friday. Berzanske is currently a resident of Haven House, a halfway house for women coming out of prison. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Police & Fire for Sunday, March 5, 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

  • Mar 4, 2017
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime

Caught in an Avalanche

A beautiful, sunny day on the mountain turned into a mountain rescue emergency Saturday as an avalanche swept up and injured a snowboarder at Eaglecrest… Continue reading

The dock near the end of South Franklin Street where a body was found in the water Friday afternoon. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Body found floating in water near downtown Juneau

A man was found dead floating in the water by a dock near the end of South Franklin Street in downtown Juneau, police said. Police… Continue reading

The dock near the end of South Franklin Street where a body was found in the water Friday afternoon. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The view of Friday’s Thane Road avalanche, from Douglas Island across Gastineau Channel. (Lance Nesbitt | For the Juneau Empire)

Avalanche surprises downtown Juneau neighborhood

Shortly after a controlled avalanche was scheduled for Thane Road Friday, an avalanche above Behrends Avenue — a residential neighborhood in downtown Juneau — caught… Continue reading

  • Mar 3, 2017
  • By LIZ KELLAR
The view of Friday’s Thane Road avalanche, from Douglas Island across Gastineau Channel. (Lance Nesbitt | For the Juneau Empire)

Police & Fire for March 3, 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

  • Mar 2, 2017
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime

BLM opens 90-day public comment period on Ambler road

FAIRBANKS — A federal agency has begun a 90-day public comment period on a proposed 211-mile road in interior Alaska. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported… Continue reading

In this Feb. 2 photo, cousins from the Avila family search for discarded toys on the shores of Lake Titicaca, in Coata in the Puno region of Peru.The shores of South America’s largest lake are littered with dead frogs, discarded paint buckets and bags of soggy trash. Less visible threats lurk in the water itself: highly toxic levels of lead and mercury. (Rodrigo Abd | The Associated Press)

Lake worshipped by Incans now littered with trash

LAKE TITICACA, Peru — Tucked between snow-capped mountains, Lake Titicaca was once worshipped by the Incas, who proclaimed its deep blue waters the birthplace of… Continue reading

In this Feb. 2 photo, cousins from the Avila family search for discarded toys on the shores of Lake Titicaca, in Coata in the Puno region of Peru.The shores of South America’s largest lake are littered with dead frogs, discarded paint buckets and bags of soggy trash. Less visible threats lurk in the water itself: highly toxic levels of lead and mercury. (Rodrigo Abd | The Associated Press)
Kevin Ritchie, former Juneau city manager, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce on “Making Juneau More Family & Business Friendly with Youth Investment” at the Hangar Ballroom on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

How investing in early education is good for Alaska’s economy

Juneau serves as a symbol of the state in a number of ways, and presenters at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon believe that the city… Continue reading

Kevin Ritchie, former Juneau city manager, speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce on “Making Juneau More Family & Business Friendly with Youth Investment” at the Hangar Ballroom on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Public Safety Manager Jason Wilson, second from right, speaks about criminal justice reform during the Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday. As speaking at the forum are Sen. John Coghill (SB 91 Bill sponsor), left, Jordan Shilling, legislative staff member to Sen. Coghill, and Talia Eames, program coordinator for Central Council’s Second Chance Reentry program and chair to Juneau Reentry Coalition’s Alaska Native Community Working Group. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Tribal president: ‘We have to be compassionate in holding people accountable’

Hosting Native Issues Forums that are open to the public on topics such as criminal justice reform provides a great opportunity to hear presentations on… Continue reading

  • Mar 2, 2017
  • By LIZ KELLAR
Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Public Safety Manager Jason Wilson, second from right, speaks about criminal justice reform during the Native Issues Forum at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday. As speaking at the forum are Sen. John Coghill (SB 91 Bill sponsor), left, Jordan Shilling, legislative staff member to Sen. Coghill, and Talia Eames, program coordinator for Central Council’s Second Chance Reentry program and chair to Juneau Reentry Coalition’s Alaska Native Community Working Group. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)