Site Logo
JDHS players and fans recognized seniors Tias Carney, Sam Marnon, Callan Smith, Zayden Schijvens, Samuel Holst, Andre Peirovi, Owen Costello, Ahmed Mezel, Solomon Alper, Will Rehfeldt and Ben Goldstein during senior night on May 22, 2022. They’ll play their final high school games together this week at the state tournament in Anchorage. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Juneau soccer teams celebrate their seniors

For many, their final high school games come this week at the state tournament.

Porter Nelson, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, signed his letter of intent to play baseball for Citrus College, a community college located in Glendora, California, on May 24, 2022. “I was pretty stoked. I didn’t think they were going to answer my email,” said Nelson about the college extending the offer. “They’re the dream for me.” Nelson plays center fielder, and intends to study kinesiology, he said. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS baseball player signs for California college

Porter Nelson, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, signed his letter of intent to play baseball…

Larry Atkinson, left, receives a meal from Erin Youngstrom for the Meals on Wheels program on Monday, May 23, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

They have the meals, they need the wheels

Volunteer shortage.

Anchorage’s City Hall is seen as something of a "pilot project" for a new City Hall in Juneau, according architects designing the proposed facility – but primarily in terms of practical features since they say green space is also a key part of the design. ( Ken Graham Photography)

News

Clear skies and a cleared out virtual meeting

Few attendees and no public input at online presentation of proposed $41.2m facility.

Shawen Bueckers, left, meets the girl who she donated bone marrow to, Amelia Bellmore, at a Be the Match event at Brigham Young University in 2022. (Screenshot)

News

Child cancer survivor meets woman who saved her life

A bone marrow transplant from a woman hundreds of miles away helped this Juneau child survive.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
The future of the old Glory Hall building on South Franklin Street is in a state of uncertainty, with permitting to refit the interior to affordable housing denied by the City and Borough of Juneau. An appeals process is ongoing, with a public meeting set for Tuesday.

News

Struggle to repurpose Glory Hall as affordable housing continues

The Glory Hall plans to continue the fight to get permitted.

A sign marks the location of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

News

Tourist dies near Mendenhall Glacier

The death is not considered suspicious.

Juneau City Finance Director Jeff Rogers, second from right, updates next year’s city budget to reflect changes made Wednesday night by the Assembly’s Finance Committee during a break in the meeting. The committee approved a $172.3 million general fund spending plan that on paper shows a $10.3 million surplus, but that extra amount is subject to considerable unpredictability – including a potential loss of $16 million in state funds – before a final budget is approved by the full Assembly by June 15. Assisting Rogers with the budget presentation to Assembly members are, from left, Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, City Manager Rorie Watt and Budget Analyst Adrien Speegle. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

City budget: More last-minute spending, no new taxes

City budget approved by Finance Committee rejects mill rate increase, adds funds for social programs.

Public defender Nicolas Ambrose gestures during a trial centered around a 2019 stabbing May 19, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

News

Prosecution reconstructs events leading to fatal stabbing

Jurors watched multiple angles of the events leading and following the stabbing.

An online do-it-yourself budget simulator allows users to submit their proposals for Juneau’s budget next year to city officials resulted in 73 spending plans during its first budget cycle, according to officials. (Screenshot)

News

DIY city budget simulator yields ’educational’ results

More taxes for thee, not me; more community projects for me, not thee among ’unsurprising’ results

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire 
Volunteers clear deadwood and undergrowth as part of the cleanup of the cemetery near Lawson Creek on May 14, 2022.

News

Clearing and healing: Lawson Creek Cemetery restoration continues

Volunteers are bringing what was neglected back to light.

Assistant U.S. Commerce Secretary Alejandra Castillo, second from left, meets Southeast Alaska Native leaders at the Sealaska Heritage Plaza on Wednesday to discuss the Spruce Roots project, which is among 60 finalists seeking a share of a $1 billion federal development grant. Spruce Roots is hoping to be among the 20-30 winners who will each receive up to $100 million, with the project seeking to create 250 new jobs, $22 million in new annual economic activity and $20 million in new infrastructure. Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire

News

Spruce Root among 60 finalists for $1B in development grants

Assist. U.S. Commerce Secretary Alejandra Castillo visits SE Native coalition seeking up to $100M

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Left to right, investigator Emily Chapel, defendant Fenton Jacobs and defense attorney Nicolas Ambrose stand as the jury in Jacobs’ trial enters the courtroom on May 18, 2022.

News

Fatal stabbing trial begins with statements, witnesses

The prosecution and defense paint different contexts for the events which ended in a death.

Zuill Bailey performs a cello concert during a music cruise in Auke Bay on Saturday afternoon. (Courtesy Photo)

News

All that jazz returns to Juneau

Another ‘Classics’ in the books.

Coast Guard Sector Juneau deployed a number of assets including an MH-60 Jayhawk to search for a woman reported fallen overboard from a cruise ship near the Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal on May 17, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

News

Search for cruise passenger reported overboard suspended

Multiple Coast Guard assets were deployed but no sign of the woman was found

This screenshot of Google Earth shows the area of a proposed “green corridor” from Seattle to Southeast Alaska. (Screenshot)

News

Juneau joins first effort at ‘green corridor’ for cruise ships

Government, industry officials in Seattle, Canda and Juneau set goal of net-zero emmisions by 2050.

The jury section stands empty between rounds of the jury selection process in the trial for a man charged in a stabbing in downtown Juneau in 2019 on May 16, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

News

Jury selection begins for 2019 stabbing trial

The process, which can take several days, precedes the opening statements by the defense and prosecution.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Law enforcement personnel salute as officer lay a ceremonial wreath on the grave of a dead officer at Evergreen Cemetery for Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 13, 2022.

News

‘The ultimate sacrifice’: Law enforcement personnel gather for Peace Officers Memorial Day

The ceremony was held for Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss, right, and other district leaders present a request for extra funding for middle school wrestling mats to the Juneau Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday. The request was first requested Monday by a wrestling coach who stating student safety is endangered by the aging and damaged mats currently in use, but the committee rejected the request due to concerns about a deficit in next year’s budget and worries about motivating others to make similar last-minute requests. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

City confronts spending today, paying tomorrow

Assembly considers items on its “decision list” as budget process moves along.

Of the more than 460 stoOf the more than 460 stocks managed by NOAA, 322 have a known overfishing status (296 not subject to overfishing and 26 subject to overfishing) and 252 have a known overfished status (201 not overfished and 51 overfished). (Courtesy Image / NOAA)

News

Southeast fisheries hoping for less turbulent waters

Regions and species see wildly variably conditions due to climate and COVID-19, according to two new NOAA reports.