FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2013, file photo, a tour bus kicks up dust during a sunny day at Denali National Park in Alaska as Mount Denali appears in the background. Activists protested outside a state office building in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Aug.10, 2016, to demand Alaska Gov. Bill Walker to end wolf hunting near the park in light of its declining wolf population (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes, File)

Fairbanks to take sides on wolf hunting

FAIRBANKS — Fairbanks officials plan to weigh in on a statewide dispute about wolf hunting rules near Denali National Park.A resolution from Fairbanks North Star… Continue reading

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2013, file photo, a tour bus kicks up dust during a sunny day at Denali National Park in Alaska as Mount Denali appears in the background. Activists protested outside a state office building in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Aug.10, 2016, to demand Alaska Gov. Bill Walker to end wolf hunting near the park in light of its declining wolf population (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes, File)
Sara Boesser, left, celebrates with Assembly member Maria Gladziszewski, right, as Mo Longworth greets Mayor Ken Koelsch after the Assembly voted to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance during their Monday meeting.

Assembly passes equal rights ordinance

Discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or national origin has no place in Juneau,… Continue reading

Sara Boesser, left, celebrates with Assembly member Maria Gladziszewski, right, as Mo Longworth greets Mayor Ken Koelsch after the Assembly voted to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance during their Monday meeting.
Sculpture artist R.T. "Skip" Wallen, left, and Bruce Botelho, president of the Board of Directors for The Whale Project, watch the installation of the life-sized bronze whale on Sunday.

Video: Sculptor Skip Wallen talks about his whale’s journey to Juneau

Sculpture artist R.T. "Skip" Wallen talks about his whale's journey in an interview with Empire photographer Michael Penn on Sunday. The six-and-a-half ton bronze whale… Continue reading

Sculpture artist R.T. "Skip" Wallen, left, and Bruce Botelho, president of the Board of Directors for The Whale Project, watch the installation of the life-sized bronze whale on Sunday.

JPD busts burglar in the act

On Sunday morning, Juneau Police Department officers arrested a man they caught burglarizing a business in the 5100 block of Glacier highway, according to JPD.… Continue reading

Around Town

Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., SEARHC Juneau WIC Clinic, 3245 Hospital Drive, first floor. Free nutrition services for income-eligible women who… Continue reading

Police and fire dispatches for Aug. 22, 2016

This report contains information provided to the Empire from law enforcement agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone listed in… Continue reading

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 22, 1986

This Day in Juneau History: Aug. 22, 1986

On Aug. 22, 1986, incumbent Gov. Bill Sheffield defended himself against three other gubernatorial candidates including Fairbanks attorney Steve Cowper during the Democratic party’s debate.… Continue reading

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 22, 1986

Ex-corrections officer to take plea deal in drug case

ANCHORAGE — A former corrections officer suspected of smuggling drugs into prison is expected to take a plea deal.KTUU-TV reported Adam Jason Spindler was arrested… Continue reading

Bench debate spurs talks to help homeless, inebriated people

KETCHIKAN — Complaints about behavior at benches in Ketchikan have spurred a discussion about how the city can help homeless and inebriated residents.The Ketchikan Daily… Continue reading

In this Aug. 12 photo, Jack Binder, a trainer, mentor and longtime truck driver, stands by trucks at Alaska West Express in Fairbanks. Driving trucks on the Dalton Highway is an adventure, which is why Binder has braved the famed highway since it opened in 1974.

Truck driver recalls 50-year career on Dalton Highway

FAIRBANKS — Driving trucks on the Dalton Highway is an adventure, which is why Jack Binder has braved the famed highway since it opened in… Continue reading

In this Aug. 12 photo, Jack Binder, a trainer, mentor and longtime truck driver, stands by trucks at Alaska West Express in Fairbanks. Driving trucks on the Dalton Highway is an adventure, which is why Binder has braved the famed highway since it opened in 1974.

Satanic prayer sparks protest, possible changes to invocation

SOLDOTNA — Rain began to fall just before a huddled group of Catholic Church members began praying on a sidewalk in Soldotna.Some held rosaries or… Continue reading

Juneau Food Tours owner Midgi Moore talks to two of her customers at Tracy's King Crab Shack, the first tasting of the day.

Sharing Juneau’s food with visitors, one belly at a time

Midgi Moore loves food, and she loves Juneau. Less than two years ago, she started a business that allowed her to focus on both —… Continue reading

Juneau Food Tours owner Midgi Moore talks to two of her customers at Tracy's King Crab Shack, the first tasting of the day.
Welder Craig Starmer, left, passes his cellphone to sculptor R.T. "Skip" Wallen for a quick photo as Starmer welds the fins on the towering sculpture of a humpback whale that will soon be mounted on Juneau's waterfront. Starmer was joined by crane operator Buck Churchill and assistant Bart Latta for welding work that started Thursday and continued at 7 a.m. Friday.

Photos: Whale of a welding job

Welder Craig Starmer, left, passes his cellphone to sculptor R.T. “Skip” Wallen for a quick photo as Starmer welds the fins on the towering sculpture… Continue reading

Welder Craig Starmer, left, passes his cellphone to sculptor R.T. "Skip" Wallen for a quick photo as Starmer welds the fins on the towering sculpture of a humpback whale that will soon be mounted on Juneau's waterfront. Starmer was joined by crane operator Buck Churchill and assistant Bart Latta for welding work that started Thursday and continued at 7 a.m. Friday.
James Barrett of Rainforest Farms staples his business's new license to a wooden board in at the cannabis farm's entry. Rainforest Farms is the first cannabis farm in Juneau to receive a state license and begin growing.

OK to grow, OK to go: Rainforest Farms puts pot in pots at Juneau’s first cannabis farm

Each plant is only a few inches high, but the 262 sprigs of green in one Lemon Creek building are a sign that something big… Continue reading

James Barrett of Rainforest Farms staples his business's new license to a wooden board in at the cannabis farm's entry. Rainforest Farms is the first cannabis farm in Juneau to receive a state license and begin growing.

Juneau nonprofit works to build a $25 million assisted living community for seniors

Within the next 16 years, Juneau’s population of senior citizens is projected to double. A local nonprofit is working to make sure this quickly growing… Continue reading

Photo: Juneau’s harvest

Juneau residents line up for fresh carrots and other produce at the Juneau Community Gardens harvest fair on Saturday.… Continue reading

This Aug. 12 photo shows U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, campaigning at a busy street corner in Anchorage.

Stock picks up endorsement in battle against Murkowski

ANCHORAGE — Jeff King, a four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, is changing political teams when it comes to Alaska’s U.S. Senate… Continue reading

This Aug. 12 photo shows U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, campaigning at a busy street corner in Anchorage.

US rig count up 10 this week to 491, Texas up 8

HOUSTON — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by 10 this week to 491.A year ago, 885… Continue reading

Alaska unemployment rate stays at 6.7 percent for July

ANCHORAGE — Alaska’s unemployment rate stayed at 6.7 percent last month, unchanged from June.Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July was 4.9 percent, which… Continue reading

This Day in Juneau History: Aug. 21, 1986

On Aug. 21, 1986, eight of Alaska’s gubernatorial GOP candidates in the upcoming election fought hard in a televised debate regarding a proposed state natural… Continue reading