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People walk past City Hall downtown on Monday evening. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly passed an ordinance Monday night to allow the city to advocate for a new City Hall ahead of the upcoming municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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City funds $50K advocacy initiative for new City Hall

Residents in opposition argue the “project should stand on its own merits.”

Mayor Beth Weldon flips through an Assembly meeting agenda to give a glimpse at the workload potential candidates for the upcoming election can expect if elected into local office. Weldon was joined by Kristin Bartlett, chief of staff for the Juneau School District (left), Juneau School Board President Deedie Sorenson (middle right) and Mila Cosgrove, former deputy city manager (right), at the City and Borough of Juneau’s annual “How To Run For Local Office” workshop Saturday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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City holds workshop to help residents learn the ropes of running for local office

Assembly and school board members offer advice as filing period for local races nears.

Cans of smoked sockeye salmon line the shelves at the Alaska Seafood Company facility in Lemon Creek. The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska recently purchased the company and will begin operations by beginning of July, the tribe’s president told the Empire. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Tlingit and Haida purchases Alaska Seafood Company

The tribe’s president said the acquisition supports mission of economic sovereignty.

Mandy Cole, executive director of AWARE, speaks to the crowd at the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon at the Moose Lodge alongside Amy Skilbred, executive director of the Juneau Community Foundation. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Community leaders share new nonprofit housing council’s goals to address crisis

“This problem cannot be solved by the free market alone.”

The F/V Tommy L II, co-owned by longtime Juneau resident Joe Emerson, sits berthed in Aurora Harbor in late May. On Wednesday a federal court decision allowed for the king salmon troll fishery in Southeast Alaska to begin July 1, a reversal of a lower court ruling in May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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Fishing is a go for Southeast Alaska troll fishery this summer

Ninth U.S. Court of Appeals reverses lower court ruling, allows season to begin July 1.

Planned Parenthood’s location in Juneau is now offering vasectomy services as of Wednesday and a procedure day will take place every two months, officials say. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Planned Parenthood now offers vasectomy services in Juneau

The procedure service will be provided on a bimonthly basis.

A U.S. Coast Guard vessel sits docked at Auke Bay in November 2022. On Saturday the Coast Guard suspended its search for a 70-year-old man who was last seen departing for a fishing trip near Kake on Friday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Coast Guard suspends search for missing Kake boater

The decision was made following a 16-hour search effort covering more than 375 nautical miles.

Bartlett Regional Hospital Board President Kenny Solomon-Gross cuts a ribbon in front of the doors to the hospital’s new Aurora Behavioral Health Center unveiled Wednesday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Hospital unveils $18M behavioral health and crisis stabilization center

Services scheduled to open this fall, interim executive director says.

Chloey Cavanaugh, owner of Black and White Raven Co., folds a shirt at her downtown studio Monday morning. Cavanaugh’s company is an LGBTQ+ and Indigenous small business based in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Faces of Pride: Chloey Cavanaugh

“I feel really lucky to be so supported by the community.”

Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park is set to get new artificial turf despite its link to PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), according to city officials. The project will be designed over the winter, with construction likely beginning in the summer of 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

City moves forward with Adair-Kennedy artificial turf despite PFAS concerns

The project will be designed over the winter, with construction likely beginning in summer of 2024.

On Monday the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly moved an ordinance back to the Committee of the Whole that would require all short-term rentals to be registered with the city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

City stalls registration requirement for short-term rentals after public opposition

Nearly 20 residents gave testimony on the topic, many advocating for more industry input.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Crew members of the <strong>Moananuiākea</strong> voyage from the <strong>Hōkūle‘a</strong> canoe paddle to the shore of Auke Bay as they are welcomed Saturday afternoon by Juneau residents and tribal leaders.

News

‘You lift our spirits by coming to our land’: Welcoming ceremony held for Polynesian canoe voyage

The ceremony kicks off celebrations for the grand send-off of a four-year-long global expedition.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Greg Smith smiles Thursday afternoon while walking across the rainbow crosswalk recently repainted in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Faces of Pride: Assembly member Greg Smith

“For me it’s about acceptance, respect and understanding where people are in their lives.”

Capital City Fire/Rescue officials respond to a trailer fire that was reported at the Switzer Village Mobile Home Park in the Lemon Creek area Wednesday afternoon. No one was in the trailer at the time of the fire, and no injuries have been reported, officials say. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

CCFR: Wiring failure causes trailer fire in Lemon Creek area

Damages are estimated to be around $10,000 and the owner did not have insurance, officials say.

Capital City Fire/ Rescue respond to a structure fire Tuesday morning in the Fritz Cove area near Fox Farm Trail. No injuries were reported. (CCFR)

News

‘It’s like a bombshell’: Cigarette causes substantial damage to house in Fritz Cove area

“I’m just getting what’s salvageable out of there.”

Water and wastewater rates in the City and Borough of Juneau will increase 2% starting July 1. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire File)

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Water, wastewater rates to increase starting July 1

The 2% increase is to match inflationary costs, city says.

Courtesy Photo / Chris Blake The <strong>Hōkūleʻa</strong>, a double-hulled and wind-powered traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe, navigates throughout Southeast Alaska in May. On Saturday the canoe and crew members will be welcomed to Juneau in preparation for the canoes launch days later for its four-year-long global canoe voyage called the <strong>Moananuiākea</strong>.

News

Celebration of four-year Polynesian canoe voyage to kick off Saturday at Auke Bay

Voyage set to circumnavigate 43,000 nautical miles of the Pacific Ocean beginning in Juneau.

Cars and people move past the City and Borough of Juneau current City Hall downtown on Monday. The Assembly Committee of the Whole unanimously OK’d an ordinance Monday night that, if passed by the full Assembly, would again ask Juneau voters during the upcoming municipal election whether to approve $27 million in bond debt to fund the construction of a new City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Voters could see proposal for a new City Hall back on the ballot this fall

City signals support for $27 million initiative, after $35M bond last year fails.

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Ships in Port for the Week of June 4

Here’s what to expect this week.

Michele Elfers, deputy director of CBJ Parks and Recreation, speaks to about 15 residents who attended a public meeting discussing the final version of the Montana Creek master plan at the Trail Mix Inc. shop Wednesday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

The Montana Creek master plan is finalized — now what?

Management officials emphasize openness to future ideas not included in plan.