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Pharmacist Kaitlin Harring, left, administers a Moderna COVID-19 vaccination to three year-old Fletcher Pack, while he sits on the lap of his mother, McKenzie Pack, at Walgreens pharmacy Monday, June 20, 2022, in Lexington, S.C. Today marked the first day COVID-19 vaccinations were made available to children under 5 in the United States. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)

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Clinics readying to vaccinate new age group of children

CDC clearance for the new age group went out Tuesday.

An array of “I voted” stickers awaits voters Juneau’s municipal election in October 2020. Residents interested in running for Assembly and Juneau Board of Education seats in this year’s election can start getting schooled with a “toolkit” and workshop scheduled this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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School’s in for aspiring candidates

Assembly and school board members offer wise words as toolkit and workshop for local races arrive

Sherry Patterson, president of the Black Awareness Association in Juneau, looks out as the group sold sweet potato pies as a fundraiser for a college scholarship fund during a Juneteenth celebration on June 19, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Juneteenth celebrated with food and friendship

The event was a celebration and a fundraiser for their college scholarship fund.

This 2018 photo shows downtown Juneau. Commercial property owners filed in 2021 a record number of appeals of a property assessments. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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Commercial property sees record appeals

The reason for the uproar is assessments for all commercial property were increased 50% for 2021.

Gigi Monroe, the event organizer, performs during Glitz, a major annual drag event celebrated every Pride Month, at Centennial Hall on June 18, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Packed houses, back to back: GLITZ a roaring success

Sold out sets and heavy-hitting headliners.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé graduates toss their caps during graduation last month. The Juneau School District Board of Education approved on Friday a policy formally allowing students to wear regalia during graduation. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Cultural regalia OK’d for big school events

School board OKs wearing of Native items, and those from other cultures, at public events

Hali Hall, 4, holds Heidi Hall's hand Saturday afternoon as they walk past a sign honoring to Dr. George Brown at Project Playground. Ben Brown, son of the longtime children's advocate, said during a short dedication ceremony that he was pleased to see the park being enjoyed by children. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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‘A wonderful, positive person’: Plaque dedication honors much-admired doctor

Impact extends well beyond Juneau.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Volunteers reset a gravel pile during the men’s hand mucking event of Juneau Gold Rush Days in Savikko Park on Saturday.

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Sun and fun greet return of Gold Rush Days

Good weather and good turnouts welcomed the first day of the event.

FILE - Dancer Prescylia Mae, of Houston, performs during a dedication ceremony for the mural "Absolute Equality" in downtown Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 2021. Recognition of Juneteenth, the effective end of slavery in the U.S., gained traction after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. But after an initial burst of action, the movement to have it recognized as an official holiday in the states has largely stalled. (Stuart Villanueva/The Galveston County Daily News via AP, File)

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Juneteenth event set for Twin Lakes

National holiday.

Chief Ed Mercer presents Robert Partin an award for bravery during the Juneau Police Department’s annual award ceremony on June 9, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

News

Man talks receiving Citizen’s Award for Bravery

Snowy streets and foul weather could have been a recipe for disaster.

Melissa McCormick, left, accepts a check from State Farm insurance agent Robin Lonas for the Find Your Fire nonprofit as part of a State Farm outreach program. (Courtesy photo / State Farm)

News

Insurance company donates $10,000 to local nonprofit

It was part of a program where 100 agents selected organizations to award grants to.

This June 14 photo shows Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary School. School district officials are considering procuring a third-party investigator to look into how a dozen children and two adults were served floor sealant instead of milk during a summer youth program. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

‘Sip before serve’ policy violated in milk mishap

Food company admits missteps; school board seeks 3rd-party investigator.

A petition booklet seeking to nullify a requirement Juneau property buyers disclose the sales price is exhibited before it was turned in to the city clerk’s office earlier this month. (Courtesy of Protect Juneau Homeowners’ Privacy)

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Petition to nix property sale disclosure price requirement needs more signatures

Group will have additional 10 days starting Friday to gather enough signatures for fall ballot

Jerry Harmon, president of Juneau Gold Rush Days and a miner for more than 40 years, shows some of the nearly 500,000 pounds of heavy equipment being brought to Savikko Field for this weekend’s events. The event has attracted more than 10,000 people at its peak, but was cancelled the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Gold Rush Days returns with strong prospects

Weekend mining and logging event at Savikko Field celebrates 30th year after missing past two years

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Pedestrians cross the newly repainted rainbow crosswalk downtown on Thursday, June 16, 2022. Painting of the crosswalk was delayed by supply chain issues.

News

No paint, no gain: Downtown crosswalk gets belated touch-up

The rainbow crosswalk bursts into full vibrancy again as Juneau celebrates Pride Month.

Divina Rotano, a cashier for the city, provides two COVID-19 rapid antigen self test kits at the entrance counter of City Hall on Thursday. The city is also making 24,000 tests arriving from the federal government this week available at public libraries, the Juneau Police Department and Juneau Public Health Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

More free COVID-19 self-tests arrive as local case spike lingers

24,000 rapid antigen tests available at City Hall, libraries, police station and city health center

A special meeting of the school board will begin with a “discussion with NANA Management Services regarding (the) food services incident,” according to an agenda published by the Juneau School District. Twelve kids and two adults ingested floor sealant when it was served Tuesday morning by the company during breakfast at the RALLY program Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx - Glacier Valley School, shown in this June 14 photo. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

Contractor faces public questioning Friday about ‘milk’ incident

Company that served chemical sealant to children to face Juneau’s school board at special meeting

Gigi Monroe emceed the 2020 GLITZ Drive-in Drag Show, held at the University of Alaska Southeast Juneau campus where viewers stayed in their cars arranged around a stage in the parking lot on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. This year, the event is returning to Centennial Hall and will be less of a “GLITZ-lite” than organizers worried it could be. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

News

Live and in color: GLITZ returns to full, glorious presence

Back from the pandemic, the performance heads to Centennial Hall once again.

This photo shows Sít' Eetí Shaanáx - Glacier Valley School the evening of Tuesday, June 14. The school is one of three sites of the Juneau School District's RALLY program. On Tuesday, children were served floor sealant instead of milk during breakfast at the school's RALLY site. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

Superintendent: Pouches of milk, chemicals delivered side-by-side

“That’s when the beginning of this mismatch began,” she said.

Learning bundles await pickup at what is now known as Kax̱digoowú Héen Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. The school’s name was officially changed Tuesday night after much debate. It was previously named Riverbend Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

News

Goodbye Riverbend, hello Kax̱digoowú Héen

Renaming elementary school approved by Juneau Board of Education after a long debate.