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Peter Segall | Juneau Empire                                Juneau Police Chief Ed Mercer was among the attendees at the “I Can’t Breathe” vigil held Saturday, May 30 at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park.

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JPD Chief talks department strengths, struggles amid nationwide protests

The department is adapting to deal with community demands.

A plan is being refined to use CARES Act funds to help feed Juneau’s food-insecure residents, such as the patrons of the Glory Hall. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

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Proposal would ‘set the table’ to address community hunger

The plan would give business to local restaurants.

Juneau a testing hub? Assembly to consider buying testing machine

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Juneau a testing hub? Assembly to consider buying testing machine

It would mean more local testing control.

Chief Ed Mercer of the Juneau Police Department answered questions from the Assembly of the City and Borough of Juneau on the department’s use of force policy, oversight, and other topics during an Assembly webinar on June 9, 2020. (Stock photo | Juneau Empire)

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Assembly asks for use of force policy specifics

Police department’s top brass says no for now, citing legal concerns.

Assembly votes for no tax hike and a reduced budget

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Assembly votes for no tax hike and a reduced budget

Flat taxes, flat budget.

City and Borough of Juneau Beth Weldon delivers opening remarks during the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds’ annual meeting at Centennial Hall, Sept. 12, 2019. After recovering from COVID-19, Weldon encourages people to get tested for the illness, if they have new symptoms, even if the symptoms are mild. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

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Mayor recovers from COVID-19, emphasizes importance of testing

She was case No. 32, city says.

Ketchikan residents turn out to show support to the LGBTQ community after a florist refused service to a gay couple on June 5, 2020. (Courtesy photo | Tommy Varela)

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Ketchikan man says 2 grooms were a deal breaker for local florist

More than 100 people showed up to show their support.

Morgan Fawcett of Woosh.ji.een of Juneau dances in the Grand Entrance for Celebration 2018 along Willoughby Avenue on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

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Sealaska’s Celebration is virtually ready to begin

Celebration is scheduled to resume in-person next year.

Leah Haskell-Cummins speaks during a rally for human rights and the sanctity of black lives in Marine Park on June 6, 2020, following the death of George Floyd in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

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Hundreds gather in Juneau for physical and virtual human rights rallies

The rally went from Marine Park to the Douglas Bridge.

Peter Segall | Juneau Empire                                 This Front Street space used to be home to Trickster Company, which had to close its physical location in Juneau due to COVID-19 related loss off revenue. However, business co-owner Crystal Worl said online sales have allowed the business to maintain its Anchorage operations and wait to find a new Juneau space. Other business operators said online sales have been a boon when in-person business has been slow or impossible.

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Online sales have helped local businesses continue to exist

While brick and mortar shuttered, digital sales surged.

University of Alaska regents cut 39 programs across the system

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University of Alaska regents cut 39 programs across the system

Cuts, mergers and reductions.

Sherry Patterson, president of the Black Awareness Association, Juneau, speaks during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day community celebration held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church on Jan. 20, 2020. Patterson is one of many who raised their voice following the death of George Floyd in police custody. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

News

‘Scars don’t heal if the scabs keep getting picked’: Nation’s hurt is felt at home, say black and indigenous leaders

Black and Alaska Native voices speak in concert against systemic racism.

Members of Top Hat Cannabis pose with members of the Southeast Alaska Food Bank as they make a $10,000 donation to the food bank on Friday, May 29, 2020. (Courtesy photo | John Nemeth)

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Local cannabis company donates $10,000 to food bank

Cannabis industry donations are usually clandestine, but not this one.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly will decide Wednesday evening whether to extend a mandate that requires out-of-state visitors, such as the ones that come in through Juneau International Airport, to self-quarantine for two weeks. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)

News

City says new visitor regulations are difficult to apply

Assembly also considering a local extension of state’s quarantine mandate

A member of Capital City Fire/Rescue’s Airport Screening Task Force greets passengers disembarking from a flight arriving at the Juneau International Airport on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. All passengers are handed fliers with health and safety information as they leave the plane. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)

News

City votes against local quarantine measure, citing state mandate

Governor’s mandate seems like enough for Assembly.

City opposes University of Alaska Southeast absorption

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City opposes University of Alaska Southeast absorption

Assembly votes to oppose possible merger.

Dzantiki Heeni Middle School principal Molly Yerkes was named Region 5 Principal of the Year by the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals for 2020. (Courtesy photo | Molly Yerkes)

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Look who was named region’s principal of the year

She’s been at the middle school for 16 years now.

New AMHS rule denied some Hoonah residents their trip home

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New AMHS rule denied some Hoonah residents their trip home

They got home, but it was pricey.

Gabe Donohoe, lead sewer, works on creating face shields for people with hearing loss. Rapid Response PPE, founded at the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, is creating specialized PPE, allowing people with hearing loss or dead people to easily see the speaker’s face, May 29, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

News

Local mask-making company continues to grow

In two weeks, they’ve produced and shipped more than 6,000 of the specialized face masks.

State announces another new COVID-19 case

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State announces another new COVID-19 case

That’s back-to-back days.