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The Mendenhall River roars more than 13 feet above normal levels in August 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Suicide Basin predicted to fill by Aug. 8

The change in the prediction of when the basin will fill was based on heavy rain last week

City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)

News

Municipal election candidate filing period opens July 18

The filing period runs from July 18 at 8 a.m. to July 28 at 4:30 p.m.

Jensen-Olson Arboretum is seen in this undated photo. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Neighbors

Free art lessons for children to be hosted at arboretum July 26

Registration opens July 16 at noon and is limited to 20 students.

Alaska Seaplane pilot Vance Tilley stands in front of the Piatus PC-12 in Klawock on June 23 during the inaugural trip of the new service between Juneau, Ketchikan and Klawock. (Photos by Gemini Waltz Media/courtesy Alaska Seaplane)

News

New Juneau-Ketchikan nonstop flight service launches

The flight leaves Juneau at 3:45 p.m., and the trip lasts 1 hour 25 minutes

Kahyl Dybdahl, left, and Bronze Chevis eat an egg sandwich breakfast before school at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

School board allocates extra state funds

More state funds available, but funding issues and federal uncertainty abound

Max Webster stands with Lemon Creek Correctional Center staff in front of new control tower on Tuesday, July 9, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)

News

A towering accomplishment for new Eagle Scout

Max Webster honored at Firearms Training Center Control Tower ribbon-cutting ceremony

Brad Hogarth, one of four finalists to be the new music director of the Juneau Symphony, guides the ensemble through a rehearsal at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Juneau Symphony announces new music director

Brad Hogarth begins new role

Faith Rogers’ loved ones, from left to right, James Rogers (father), Michelle Rogers (sister), Harmony Wentz (daughter), Maria Rogers (mother) and Mindy Voigt (friend) sit with Faith’s three dogs in their family home. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Juneau court orders release of man accused of Faith Rogers’ murder

JPD stands by its investigation; public defender says it cut corners

2024 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Amit Elor, 21, right, demonstrates a counter tie on Wasilla High School junior Taryn Wright, 16, during the Juneau Girls Wrestling Clinic on Tuesday at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Alaska wrestlers take on Olympic and world champion at Juneau camp

Gold medalist Amit Elor shows girls path to success

Marites “Tess” Buenafe. (Screenshot) One of the two 60-passenger cars on the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway descends Mount Roberts. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

News

Missing cruise ship passenger found dead on Mount Roberts

This story has been updated.

Juneau resident Benjamin Stepetin is seen in downtown Juneau. He is currently missing and was last seen by family on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy of family)

News

Juneau police and family seek assistance in finding Benjamin Stepetin

Stepetin has been missing since June 22

Erin Thompson (courtesy)

News

Erin Thompson to serve as regional editor for Alaska community publications

Erin Thompson is expanding her leadership as she takes on editorial oversight of the Juneau Empire in addition…

Jennifer Skinner and Dave Ringle stand by the St. Vincent de Paul logo on Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)

News

St. Vincent de Paul St. Therese Conference announces new leadership

Jennifer Skinner replaces Dave Ringle as the executive director of the organization with his continued involvement

Cancer survivors and supporters make their way towards Overstreet Park during the Cancer Survivors Day walk on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Ellie Ruel / Juneau Empire)

News

Annual Celebration of Life Walk honors cancer survivors

About 20 people brave rain, wind for National Cancer Survivors Day event.

Kayla Hunt, owner of Salon 2211, holds a recent hair donation from customer Terry Kramarz that will be sent to the nonprofit organization Wigs for Kids. The two ponytails measure 20 and 22 inches each. (Laurie Craig / for the Juneau Empire)

News

The kindest cut of all: A gift of hair

Salon owner donates locals’ locks to charity for children suffering hair loss.

A group of fourth-grade Harborview Elementary School students share the digging and planting task at Juneau’s newest accredited arboretum on Arbor Day, celebrated Monday, May 19, 2025. (Laurie Craig / For the Juneau Empire)

News

Planting of new trees at Evergreen Cemetery celebrate its new status as an arboretum

More than 100 donated trees of 42 varieties planted during past decades.

Tina Martin, left and her daughter, Isabelle, 17, clean trash from a stream along Back Loop Road on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Carcasses, recliners and butts all part of a bustling annual Juneau spring cleaning

Cleanups throughout town include newcomers and those participating for decades.

Screenshots of the three most-read stories at the Juneau Empire’s website in 2024.

News

The 10 most-read news stories at the Juneau Empire’s website in 2024

A rather fishy list as world’s oldest humpback whale, limit on king salmon fishing get the most clicks.

At left, homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley are swamped by record flooding from the Mendenhall River on Aug. 6. At center, students crowd into the commons area of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé before classes start on the first day of school Aug. 15. At right, Jasmine Chavez, a crew member aboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship, waves to her family during a cell phone conversation at Marine Park on May 10. (Left photo by Rich Ross/ City and Borough of Juneau; middle and right photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau’s 10 biggest news stories of 2024

Record flooding proves costly, while record financial crises result in a deluge of drastic changes.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and President-elect Donald Trump (left) will be working as chief executives at opposite ends of the U.S. next year, a face constructed of rocks on Sandy Beach is seen among snow in November (center), and KINY’s prize patrol van (right) flashes its colors outside the station this summer. (Photos, from left to right, from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office, Elliot Welch via Juneau Parks and Recreation, and Mark Sabbatini via the Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau’s 10 strangest news stories of 2024

Governor’s captivating journey to nowhere, woman who won’t leave the beach among those making waves.