News

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Monday, Sept. 9, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Sep 12, 2024
Cops and Courts

Steven Kissack (left) is seen holding a knife in this July 15 bodycam footage from Juneau Police Department Officer Terry Allen a few seconds before Kissack runs toward Allen. Two other officers at the scene said they shot Kissack because Allen was holding a non-lethal bean bag launcher that had fired off all of its rounds. (Screenshot from JPD bodycam video)

State report: Officers who shot Steven Kissack say he ran at officer who was holding an unloaded weapon

24-page letter from attorney general includes interviews, autopsy and other tests, and legal findings.

Joe Wanner (center), chief financial officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital, fills in to give the CEO report to the hospital’s board of directors during an Aug. 27 meeting. The appointment of Wanner as Bartlett’s new permanent CEO was announced Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Joe Wanner, chief financial officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital, will be its new CEO

Unanimous board vote, effective Sept. 29, will make him first permanent CEO in more than a year.

Sep 11, 2024
by Mark Sabbatini
Hospitals

More than 100 local police, firefighters, military personnel and other people gather Wednesday morning at the September 11th Memorial at Riverside Rotary Park to observe the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed 2,996 people. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

An ‘invitation to remember’ on 9/11 for those who haven’t had a chance to ‘never forget’

More than 100 people attend Juneau anniversary ceremony where lessons for a new generation are shared.

Sep 11, 2024
by Mark Sabbatini
9-11

Steven Kissack, sitting in a covered entryway on Front Street, is approached by Juneau Police Department officer Lee Phelps at about 1:10 p.m. July 15. (Screenshot from Phelps’s bodycam video)

The bodycam of the first officer to approach Steven Kissack is 17 minutes long. Here’s what it shows.

A calm beginning, a sudden escalation and a friend trying to help is told “call my sister if they kill me.”

Steven Kissack is seen holding a knife seconds before he is fatally shot July 15 by officers in this screenshot from bodycam footage from Juneau Police Department officer Lee Phelps that was made public Tuesday. (Screenshot from JPD bodycam footage)

State: Officers ‘legally justified in their use of deadly force’ in shooting of Steven Kissack

Bodycam footage from four JPD officers, plus a rooftop cellphone video, released to public.

An early voting station is set up in the atrium of the State Office Building in Juneau, Alaska on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, the first day of early voting for the 2024 Alaska primary election. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Anchorage judge rules that imprisoned Democrat will remain on Alaska’s U.S. House ballot

The decision will be appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court.

Sep 11, 2024
By James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Elections

Juneau Empire’s voter guide for Oct. 1 municipal election

Mayor, Assembly, school board, municipal bond and cruise ship items on ballots being mailed Thursday.

Sep 10, 2024
by Mark Sabbatini
Elections

Cruise ships and passengers visit Marine Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. A proposition on the fall ballot would ban large cruise ships on Saturday and the Fourth of July in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ballot Propositions 2: Ship-Free Saturday

This story has been moved in front of the Empire’s paywall. The most high-profile and controversial vote of the 2024 Juneau municipal election is the… Continue reading

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (left) and Vice President Emil Mackey, holding his son Emil Mackey IV, listen to discussion about next year’s budget for the school district during a meeting March 14 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Recall votes for both board members are on the Oct. 1 municipal election ballot.

Recall petitions A and B: Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen and Vice President Emil Mackey

This story, originally published in the July 11 Juneau Empire, has been moved in front of the Empire’s paywall. Recall votes for the top two… Continue reading

Sep 10, 2024
by Mark Sabbatini
Elections

Get to know a candidate: Amber Frommherz

Board of Education candidate in the 2024 Juneau municipal election

Sep 10, 2024
by Jasz Garrett
Elections

City and Borough of Juneau photo
A Juneau Police Department officer talks on a radio in a patrol car. Officials said JPD’s communications system, which had an end-of-life date in 2014, needs to be replaced to provide improvements such as full radio coverage within the city and borough limits.

Ballot Propositions 1 and 3: Municipal bonds for public safety, wastewater treatment upgrades

This story, originally published in the Juneau Empire on July 2, has been moved in front of the Empire’s paywall. Juneau residents will be asked… Continue reading