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Rorie Watt, manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce about the new City Hall project on Thursday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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City manager: A new City Hall ‘just makes financial sense’

Rorie Watt advocates for the project set to be proposed to voters on the ballot this fall

A “vote here” sign hangs duct taped outside of City Hall in October 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Final day to register to vote in upcoming city election is fast approaching

City officials share info and tips for this coming Oct. 3 municipal election.

A Capital Transit bus makes its way downtown in August. The City and Borough of Juneau is considering a public transit bus to use as a winter warming shelter as it has received no bids to host a shelter. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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City considers overnight warming bus for homeless during winter

Temporary option in discussion as city faces no prospects to host winter warming shelter.

This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new cruise ship dock downtown that was approved for a conditional-use permit by the City and Borough of Juneau Planning Commission in early July. The project has since been appealed and following Assembly action Monday night will now be assigned to a hearing officer. (City and Borough of Juneau)

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Assembly accepts appeal of new cruise ship dock permit, assigns hearing officer

Appeal process can take anywhere from six to nine months before a decision is made, attorney says.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File Rows of houses line Douglas Highway in late May. On Monday the Assembly approved a program that will offer $13,500 to the first 16 eligible Juneau residents who apply with the city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant Program to go toward constructing an accessory dwelling unit on their property.

News

City OKs program to give 16 residents $13.5K grants to build accessory dwelling unit

City to begin accepting applications later this week, manager says

This is a photo of the Juneau Police Department’s new armored security vehicle that arrived in March. (Courtesy / Krag Campbell)

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Police department’s new $348K armored vehicle arrived in March

“At this time, we’re just not trying to show this vehicle off,” JPD spokesperson says.

This is a photo shared on the Save Juneau Facebook page. The group is running a campaign opposing the new City Hall proposal set to appear on this October’s municipal ballot, and intends to back Assembly candidates “who are most likely to give taxpayers some relief.” (Courtesy / Molly Duvall)

News

Campaign group forms to oppose new City Hall, criticizes Assembly’s ‘out-of-touch’ attitude

Save Juneau to support Assembly candidates “who are most likely to give taxpayers some relief.”

Students enter a bus stopped on Douglas Highway Tuesday morning for the first day of the 2023-2024 school year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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New school year starts for students in Juneau

District welcomes a new superintendent, principals and early release policy for elementary students.

This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new downtown development project that was approved for a conditional permit by the City and Borough of Juneau Planning Commission Tuesday night. (City and Borough of Juneau)

News

Major $150 million downtown waterfront development project passes another hurdle

Nearly three-acre Huna Totem Aak’w Landing Project approved by planning commission.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg gives a speech in Washington in early May. Buttigieg is expected to arrive in Juneau next Wednesday a part of a three-day tour traveling to several communities in Alaska. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to arrive in Juneau next week

This visit is a part of a three-day tour of Alaska communities and infrastructure.

City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon (far left), Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski (middle) and Assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale listen during a special Assembly meeting Monday night where members OK’d a resolution to seek state and federal funding following record flooding over the weekend. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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City seeks state, federal assistance in aftermath of record Suicide Basin flooding

Assembly votes in special meeting to OK resolution requesting state action.

Rows of houses line roads near Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

City considers funding boost to accessory dwelling grant program

Assembly move forward in committee to extend the program, increase grant amount.

Debris from one partially destroyed house lies on the bank of the Mendenhall River while a large portion of an adjacent house hangs over the riverbank at midday Sunday following record flooding Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Cleanup begins as city declares Suicide Basin flooding a local emergency

Salvage efforts are underway Sunday as water rapidly recedes.

City Public Works and Engineering Director Katie Koester smiles for a photo downtown Wednesday evening. Koester was selected by the Assembly to serve as the next city manager following the retirement of Rorie Watt in September. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

City selects familiar face to serve as next manager

Public Works and Engineering’s Katie Koester will take over the role from outgoing Rorie Watt.

Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO David Keith listens during a city Assembly meeting in February. On Tuesday hospital officials announced his resignation after less than a year in the position. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Bartlett Regional Hospital CEO, CFO resign after less than a year in positions

The departure of David Keith and Sam Muse comes in wake of alleged behavioral health care crisis.

Longtime Juneau Board of Education member Brian Holst listens during a board meeting in May. Holst rescinded his run for candidacy for a fourth term on the board late last week. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Longtime school board member rescinds candidacy

Brian Holst pulls from race days after submitting, set to step away after nine years.

Retiring Juneau Chief of Police Ed Mercer (left) and City Manager Rorie Watt (right) smile for a photo during Mercer’s retirement ceremony Friday afternoon at the Juneau Police Department station. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

‘He is the rock that this department rests on:’ Ceremony honors police chief’s retirement

Ed Mercer, JPD chief for six years, starting new job as head of anti-drug trafficking program.

The Juneau School District is responding to a letter from the Alaska Department of Education Early Development, which could endanger $2.28 million in “outside the cap” funding in the district’s budget for the current year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

State broadens challenge of ‘outside the cap’ funding to all school districts in Alaska

The years-long practice of extra funding may be halted across the state; Juneau board defends stance

Roald Simonson, a longtime resident of Juneau’s Telephone Hill, walks down Dixon Street in the Telephone Hill area on Wednesday evening. He said he plans to attend the upcoming city hosted meeting to discuss possible redevelopment plans for the area. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

City to hold open house to discuss future fate of Telephone Hill

The meeting next Wednesday invites residents to share their ideas for the downtown land.

A cycle rickshaw and cars park outside the front of the Glory Hall’s former downtown homeless shelter Tuesday evening. The building is slated to begin its transformation into seven affordable housing units and additional commercial use space in mid-October. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Downtown Glory Hall apartment project to begin construction this fall

The former homeless shelter will be converted into seven affordable housing units