Search Results for: climate

Rafters navigate the Mendenhall River in July of 2021. (Photo by John Harley)

Sustainable Alaska: Adventures in a changing climate

It’s difficult to quantify and rank the threats of climate change — how do you weigh the complete collapse of a Yukon salmon run against… Continue reading

Rafters navigate the Mendenhall River in July of 2021. (Photo by John Harley)
A red king crab is seen in the water at Kodiak in 2005. Surveys this year indicated that stocks in the Bering Sea are strong enough to allow a small Bristol Bay red king crab fishery after two years of closures. (Photo by David Csepp/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

As the once-lucrative Bering Sea crab harvest resumes, Alaska’s fishers face challenges

In the short term, Alaska crab fishers and the communities that depend on them will get a slight reprieve from the disastrous conditions they have… Continue reading

A red king crab is seen in the water at Kodiak in 2005. Surveys this year indicated that stocks in the Bering Sea are strong enough to allow a small Bristol Bay red king crab fishery after two years of closures. (Photo by David Csepp/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
An exercise station at Anchorage’s Westchester Lagoon is seen on Monday. The “Fitness Cluster” offers opportunities for strength and cardiovacular training, and signage gives fitness information and advice. Two-thirds of Alaska adults are overweight or obese, and about a fifth of them engage in no physical activity, according to an annual report released by the state Department of Health. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska syphilis case numbers drop a bit after years of increases, but concerning signs remain

Alaska last year had a slight decrease in its number of reported syphilis cases, marking the first year without an increase since an outbreak was… Continue reading

An exercise station at Anchorage’s Westchester Lagoon is seen on Monday. The “Fitness Cluster” offers opportunities for strength and cardiovacular training, and signage gives fitness information and advice. Two-thirds of Alaska adults are overweight or obese, and about a fifth of them engage in no physical activity, according to an annual report released by the state Department of Health. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Strips of dried salmon are seen on June 25, 2009. Chum salmon runs on the Yukon River improved enough this year to allow some subsistence harvesting in Alaska, but Chinook returns did not show a similar improvement. Returns of Canada-origin fish were particularly weak. (Photo by A.R.Nanouk/U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service)

Yukon River salmon runs remain low, but chum improvements allow for some fishing

Far too few fish are reaching Canada to meet goals set in a treaty with the U.S.

Strips of dried salmon are seen on June 25, 2009. Chum salmon runs on the Yukon River improved enough this year to allow some subsistence harvesting in Alaska, but Chinook returns did not show a similar improvement. Returns of Canada-origin fish were particularly weak. (Photo by A.R.Nanouk/U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service)
Muskeg Collective members Erin Heist, Annie Bartholomew, Taylor Vidic and Josh Fortenbery, plus special guest Andrew Heist, perform at The Golden Saloon in McCarthy in early August. The group will be featured at the Cowboy Ball on Saturday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Photo by Cam Jimmo)

Cowboy up for an Alaska-style country music hoedown

Local musicians with eclectic styles come together as Muskeg Collective at Cowboy Ball on Saturday.

Muskeg Collective members Erin Heist, Annie Bartholomew, Taylor Vidic and Josh Fortenbery, plus special guest Andrew Heist, perform at The Golden Saloon in McCarthy in early August. The group will be featured at the Cowboy Ball on Saturday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Photo by Cam Jimmo)
A person walks across the dock at St. Paul Harbor, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Kodiak. Alaska fishermen will be able to harvest red king crab, the largest and most lucrative of all the Bering Sea crab species, for the first time in two years, offering a slight reprieve to the beleaguered fishery beset by low numbers likely exacerbated by climate change. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)

Alaska fishermen will be allowed to harvest lucrative red king crab in the Bering Sea

Catch allowed after two canceled seasons; snow crab fishery to remain closed for second year.

A person walks across the dock at St. Paul Harbor, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Kodiak. Alaska fishermen will be able to harvest red king crab, the largest and most lucrative of all the Bering Sea crab species, for the first time in two years, offering a slight reprieve to the beleaguered fishery beset by low numbers likely exacerbated by climate change. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)
An exercise station at Anchorage’s Westchester Lagoon is seen on Monday. The “Fitness Cluster” offers opportunities for strength and cardiovacular training, and signage gives fitness information and advice. Two-thirds of Alaska adults are overweight or obese, and about a fifth of them engage in no physical activity, according to an annual report released by the state Department of Health. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Report: Alaskans dogged by chronic diseases

Many residents lack healthy lifestyles or regular screenings.

An exercise station at Anchorage’s Westchester Lagoon is seen on Monday. The “Fitness Cluster” offers opportunities for strength and cardiovacular training, and signage gives fitness information and advice. Two-thirds of Alaska adults are overweight or obese, and about a fifth of them engage in no physical activity, according to an annual report released by the state Department of Health. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
An Earth Day message posted on Facebook this spring by the University of Alaska Southeast refers to environmental stewardship and climate change activities, including these kayaks used for an oceanography course during the summer of 2019. (Courtesy of the University of Alaska Southeast)

Sustainable Alaska: Connecting to nature is vital to sustainable well-being and behavior

I have spent my career studying the aesthetic experience in an art-viewing context. My work has shown that art viewing, even when viewing abstract art,… Continue reading

An Earth Day message posted on Facebook this spring by the University of Alaska Southeast refers to environmental stewardship and climate change activities, including these kayaks used for an oceanography course during the summer of 2019. (Courtesy of the University of Alaska Southeast)
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat who became the first Alaska Native in Congress a year ago, discusses issues and adjusting to the national political scene on Sept. 8 as part of a three-day visit to Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A year after surprising victory, Peltola a popular target in Congress

Spending 9/11 with Biden, being top target of GOP now part of job while dealing with family matters.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat who became the first Alaska Native in Congress a year ago, discusses issues and adjusting to the national political scene on Sept. 8 as part of a three-day visit to Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Deckhands stack nets on a boat before heading out to sea to fish salmon, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Kodiak, Alaska. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

As climate change and high costs plague Alaska’s fisheries, fewer young people take up the trade

KODIAK — Lane Bolich first came to work in Alaska for the freedom and excitement that comes with being a fisher. A self-described adrenaline junkie,… Continue reading

  • Sep 26, 2023
  • By Joshua A. Bickel Associated Press
  • Fishing
Deckhands stack nets on a boat before heading out to sea to fish salmon, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Kodiak, Alaska. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
A rainbow appears over downtown as residents check out rows of electric vehicles at Juneau’s EV E-bike Roundup Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Capital city celebrates 10th annual Juneau EV and E-bike Roundup

Juneau’s electric vehicle growth among fastest in the country, organizers say.

A rainbow appears over downtown as residents check out rows of electric vehicles at Juneau’s EV E-bike Roundup Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gives a live speech via video from Washington, D.C., to attendees at the annual Southeast Conference meeting in Sitka on Thursday. (Screenshot from video by Southeast Conference)

Murkowski, Sullivan warn of domestic, foreign threats to Southeast Alaska’s economy

Issues from Russian seafood imports to ferry funding cited by senators during Southeast Conference.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gives a live speech via video from Washington, D.C., to attendees at the annual Southeast Conference meeting in Sitka on Thursday. (Screenshot from video by Southeast Conference)
Participants in the 38th Annual International Coastal Cleanup carry a fishnet to a boat on a coast near Sitka in August. (Ryan Morse / Sitka Conservation Society)

Resilient Peoples and Place: Coastal cleanup removes 1,400 lbs. of trash from Sitka’s beaches

Effort by wide range of groups part of global project that has collected 350 million lbs. of waste.

Participants in the 38th Annual International Coastal Cleanup carry a fishnet to a boat on a coast near Sitka in August. (Ryan Morse / Sitka Conservation Society)
Birch and aspen glow orange in September in the Chena River State Recreation Area east of Fairbanks. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: The varying colors of fall equinox

We are at fall equinox, a day of great equality: All the residents of the entire world — from Tierra Del Fuego to Rome to… Continue reading

Birch and aspen glow orange in September in the Chena River State Recreation Area east of Fairbanks. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
A chart shows the change in employment by community between 2021 and 2022. (Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)

Southeast Alaska gets first ‘A’ in annual economic report

Study finds strong rebound in region’s jobs and wages continuing into 2023

A chart shows the change in employment by community between 2021 and 2022. (Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
Juneau resident David Ignell, seen via video link, and departing City Manager Rorie Watt discuss a ballot measure asking voters to approve $27 million toward a new City Hall during a forum Wednesday night at the KTOO studio. (Screenshot from official video of forum)
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School board candidates agree on much, foes on City Hall ballot measure agree on little during forum

Funding and curriculum dominate education discussion, city’s actions and needs focus of ballot issue.

Juneau resident David Ignell, seen via video link, and departing City Manager Rorie Watt discuss a ballot measure asking voters to approve $27 million toward a new City Hall during a forum Wednesday night at the KTOO studio. (Screenshot from official video of forum)
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Author Tele Aadsen performing at her first FisherPoets Gathering in 2012. Her book, “What Water Holds,” is a collection of essays she wrote for the annual festival over the next 12 years. (Photo courtesy Pat Dixon)
Author Tele Aadsen performing at her first FisherPoets Gathering in 2012. Her book, “What Water Holds,” is a collection of essays she wrote for the annual festival over the next 12 years. (Photo courtesy Pat Dixon)
A crowd gathers on the Photo Point Trail footbridge near Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to witness flooded Mendenhall Lake during the first jökulhlaup on July 20, 2011. Sloshing debris beside the bridge floats atop the flooding lake. The lake reached 10.92 feet that year. (Photo by Laurie Craig)

Local jökulhlaups: when the ice melts

Suicide Basin’s history reveals Juneau’s unique position to study impacts of glacier lake outbursts.

A crowd gathers on the Photo Point Trail footbridge near Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to witness flooded Mendenhall Lake during the first jökulhlaup on July 20, 2011. Sloshing debris beside the bridge floats atop the flooding lake. The lake reached 10.92 feet that year. (Photo by Laurie Craig)
Michele Stuart-Morgan, pictured, is running as an Assembly Areawide candidate in the 2023 City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Michele Stuart-Morgan

Assembly Areawide candidate in the 2023 Juneau municipal election.

Michele Stuart-Morgan, pictured, is running as an Assembly Areawide candidate in the 2023 City and Borough of Juneau municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
(Juneau Empire File)
(Juneau Empire File)