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A black bear saunters across a busy street downtown in 2018. A larger than normal number of young bears and dwindling natural food supply for them are forcing the animals to head for Juneau’s garbage with unusual frequency, a wildlife official said. KTOO Public Media reports that a poor berry crop and lackluster salmon runs mean more bears are looking for food among the city’s trash. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

News

More young bears, less food send them to Juneau’s garbage

A poor berry crop and lackluster salmon runs contribute.

Ana Corcoran, left, receives a plaque from Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer naming her his choice for JPD’s Civilian of the Year, Sept. 18, 2020. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Police Department)

News

JPD announces annual officer and civilian awards

The regular, formal ceremony was put paid to by pandemic.

A 17-year-old boy is being charged with driving under the influence and other charges after an early-morning crash on Sept. 19 damaged two houses in the Mendenhall Valley.

News

Teenager arrested after vehicle rams houses

The boy suffered a small cut, the only injury of the crash.

Courtesy photo / Tom Dawson From left to right, Kirk Thorsteinson, Tom Dawson, Howard Colbert, and Tim Armstrong gather for Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day at the American Legion Post in Juneau. The holiday us held on the third Friday of every September to remember the more than 81,900 missing American service members.

Neighbors

American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars gather for POW/MIA Recognition Day

More than 81,900 Americans never returned from our many wars.

Jensen-Olson Arboretum’s long term manager, Merrill Jensen, is retiring after 13 years guiding and shaping the space. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

News

Growing from the ground up: Longtime arboretum manager retiring

He’s going to miss the view.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessel Rainier pulls into port Wednesday at Coast Guard Station Juneau for rest and replenishment of stores.

News

NOAA survey vessel takes break from updating charts in Juneau

It will not be open to public tours due to pandemic concerns, unfortunately.

Candidates for the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly participate in a virtual candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, KTOO and the Juneau Empire on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. (Screen capture / Juneau Empire)

News

Candidates share visions for Juneau in virtual forum

Similar goals, different approaches.

Nifty 50: Juneau resident puts in the miles for rescue nonprofit

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Nifty 50: Juneau resident puts in the miles for rescue nonprofit

If you’re running 50 miles, consider not letting other people choose your music.

Firefighters spray the inside of a moving truck with water at the scene of a short vehicle fire on Sept. 17, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

Firefighters extinguish fire in box truck

Workers attempting to remove a lift gate open accidently started the fire.

A sign seen near Twin Lakes on Sept. 17 encourages residents to wear cloth face coverings while in public. A social gathering tied to a recent cluster of cases of COVID-19 is unlikely to lead to punishment, but city officials are hopeful it may encourage people to be more cautious. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

Event tied to case cluster unlikely to lead to punishments

Here’s why.

WATCH: 2020 virtual candidate forum

News

WATCH: 2020 virtual candidate forum

See candidates for school board and Assembly answer questions.

The Juneau Mountain Bike Alliance and City and Borough of Juneau are collaborating to finish a new pump track for bicycle riders in Cope Park, due to be finished within weeks, Sept. 16, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Outdoors pump track work is ramping up

Cope Park is about to have a new way to keep entertained.

Pitney wants to bring certainty back to UA

News

Pitney wants to bring certainty back to UA

‘A merger is not being considered.’

City votes to create spending plan with federal deadline looming

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City votes to create spending plan with federal deadline looming

Still plenty of need.

A sign in downtown Juneau encourages residents who have symptoms or otherwise believe they are at risk of having contracted the coronavirus to get tested. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

Community spread of the coronavirus hits new high

City officials remind people to stay ‘COVID conscious’ during weekly update

WATCH: City talks warming shelter purchase, CARES act spending and more

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WATCH: City talks warming shelter purchase, CARES act spending and more

It’s a loaded Committee of the Whole agenda.

Several Coast Guard Station Juneau 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew members speak with the owner of a disabled 22-foot sailing vessel after towing it from Marmion Island to Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor in Juneau, Sept. 13, 2020. (Courtesy Photo/Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony DeLorenzo)

News

Coast Guard assists family aboard stricken vessel

The sailing vessel was low on fuel with a damaged rudder

City awaits results from hundreds of COVID-19 tests

News

City awaits results from hundreds of COVID-19 tests

‘An all-hands-on-deck situation.’

A 32-year-old woman was arrested for the stabbing of a 26-year-old man near Safeway early Sunday morning, a Juneau Police Department spokesperson said on Sept. 14, 2020. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

News

Man hospitalized, woman arrested after early morning stabbing

A suspect is being held in custody after being arrested without incident.

These sample show candidates in the races for Assembly and school board and the ballot propositions that will be before voters in City and Borough of Juneau’s upcoming vote-by-mail election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

A 1-stop spot for municipal election information

Find out more about the races, candidates and issues shaping this year’s election.