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The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Artic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)

Coast Guard issues contract for major icebreaker port expansion in Seattle

The budget package also included $300 million for port construction in Juneau to support the newly commissioned Coast Guard icebreaker Storis

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Artic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)
Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire From left, Assembly candidates Wade Bryson, Nano Brooks, Greg Smith and Ella Adkison participate in a forum moderated by the Juneau Downtown Business Association on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Candidates discuss visions for Juneau at election forum

Juneau Downtown Business Association hosts Board of Education and Assembly candidate forum

Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire From left, Assembly candidates Wade Bryson, Nano Brooks, Greg Smith and Ella Adkison participate in a forum moderated by the Juneau Downtown Business Association on Thursday, Sept. 4.
A view of visitors exploring the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area taken from the visitor center on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Researcher is feared dead after falling into hole on Mendenhall Glacier

Officials said that the man was a resident of Italy and that they were trying to notify his family there

A view of visitors exploring the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area taken from the visitor center on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Thomas Casey, missing since Aug. 30, 2025, is pictured in this undated photo. (Provided by Juneau Police Department)

Updated: Arizona man found dead near Mendenhall Glacier

The man was in Juneau for the summer

Thomas Casey, missing since Aug. 30, 2025, is pictured in this undated photo. (Provided by Juneau Police Department)
Former Juneau Police Department Officer Brandon LeBlanc is seen throwing a man to the sidewalk in dash-camera footage from another officer’s patrol car outside the Douglas Public Library in Douglas, Alaska, on July 30, 2025. (Provided by Juneau Police Department)

Juneau officer seen throwing man in July arrest resigns; department releases footage of incident

Brandon LeBlanc was identified by the department as the officer involved in a July 30 encounter that sent man to hospital

Former Juneau Police Department Officer Brandon LeBlanc is seen throwing a man to the sidewalk in dash-camera footage from another officer’s patrol car outside the Douglas Public Library in Douglas, Alaska, on July 30, 2025. (Provided by Juneau Police Department)
University of Alaska Board of Regents Chair Ralph Seekins speaks during a meeting at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Regents to meet on Juneau campus this week

Committee meetings will take place Wednesday and Thursday; a regular meeting will be held Friday and Saturday

University of Alaska Board of Regents Chair Ralph Seekins speaks during a meeting at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kukui, homeported in Washington, and cutter Elm (The Bar Tender) homeported in Oregon, are seen ported at Coast Guard Station Juneau in August 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Coast Guard awards contract for homeport improvements in Sitka

Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed in 2028.

U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kukui, homeported in Washington, and cutter Elm (The Bar Tender) homeported in Oregon, are seen ported at Coast Guard Station Juneau in August 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

USDA announces intent to rescind Roadless Rule protections

The deadline for public comment is Sept. 19

The Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Waterfalls in Taku Inlet are seen during a 2024 boat excursion by participants in the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference. (Jasz Garrett/ Juneau Empire)

EPA announces $1.7M in transboundary watershed grants, including over $600K for Southeast projects

Recipients of the grant funding include Tlingit & Haida, Ketchikan Indian Community, and ADF&G

Waterfalls in Taku Inlet are seen during a 2024 boat excursion by participants in the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference. (Jasz Garrett/ Juneau Empire)
The Sealaska Corporation building is photographed July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)

Sealaska names new president

Sealaska is an Alaska Native corporation serving Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people

The Sealaska Corporation building is photographed July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)
An ultra-endurance long-range drone registered to Vanilla Unmanned crashed into a bluff near Ninilchik, Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Contributed photo)

Drone crashes on beach in Southcentral Alaska during military exercises

NTSB is investigating the crash, which occurred Wednesday

An ultra-endurance long-range drone registered to Vanilla Unmanned crashed into a bluff near Ninilchik, Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Contributed photo)
Protesters hold signs at the “No War Criminals” protest at The Whale in Bill Overstreet Park in Juneau, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Photo provided by Juneau For Democracy)

Juneau protesters speak out against Putin visit

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage on Friday

Protesters hold signs at the “No War Criminals” protest at The Whale in Bill Overstreet Park in Juneau, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Photo provided by Juneau For Democracy)
HESCO flood barriers installed near the banks of the Mendenhall River are photographed on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. Water levels rose by a record-breaking 16.65 feet on the morning of Aug. 13 during a glacial outburst from Suicide Basin. (Chloe Anderson/Juneau Empire)

‘What a difference a year makes’

Juneau flood recovery begins

HESCO flood barriers installed near the banks of the Mendenhall River are photographed on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. Water levels rose by a record-breaking 16.65 feet on the morning of Aug. 13 during a glacial outburst from Suicide Basin. (Chloe Anderson/Juneau Empire)
A Juneau Police Department vehicle. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Police Department names officer seen throwing man during arrest

The man was medevaced to a Seattle hospital following the incident

A Juneau Police Department vehicle. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
In this screengrab, City and Borough of Juneau project managers for the HESCO barrier project — Carleton Shorey, Nick Druyvestein and Jeffrey Thole — speak during a Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, press conference in the aftermath of the 2025 GLOF.

Unified Command switches from response to recovery in aftermath of flooding

The community will start to see preliminary damage assessment teams in affected neighborhoods

In this screengrab, City and Borough of Juneau project managers for the HESCO barrier project — Carleton Shorey, Nick Druyvestein and Jeffrey Thole — speak during a Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, press conference in the aftermath of the 2025 GLOF.
A map shows the location of Sunday's landslide. (Courtesy of Alaska Earthquake Center)

Alaska Earthquake Center says Sunday’s tsunami-causing slide was largest in decade

Sawyer Island sees a 100-foot wave; Harbor Island reports 20-foot waves

A map shows the location of Sunday's landslide. (Courtesy of Alaska Earthquake Center)
As of 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, the Mendenhall River height was 10.78 feet and falling. (National Weather Service)

UPDATE: Suicide Basin flood threat ends, water recedes

Evacuated areas have now been opened to residents only

As of 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, the Mendenhall River height was 10.78 feet and falling. (National Weather Service)
A flood inundation map shows areas in Juneau's Mendenhall Valley that are urged to evacuate during the 2025 annual glacial outburst flooding event, which is estimated to have begun Monday evening and expected to crest Wednesday afternoon.

Update: Mendenhall River crests, levels now falling

The release from Suicide Basin has come to an end

A flood inundation map shows areas in Juneau's Mendenhall Valley that are urged to evacuate during the 2025 annual glacial outburst flooding event, which is estimated to have begun Monday evening and expected to crest Wednesday afternoon.
The Mendenhall river is pictured from Botherhood Bridge on Aug. 11, 2025. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)

CBJ, CCFR and others share flood preparedness updates ahead of expected annual flood event

Due to an atmospheric river the Juneau area experienced this weekend, both lake and river levels have risen

The Mendenhall river is pictured from Botherhood Bridge on Aug. 11, 2025. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)
A screenshot from the USGS monitoring location of the basin shows the status of the area as of Aug. 11, 2025.

Suicide Basin reaches capacity; CBJ urges residents in inundation zone to prep for evacuation

In the past, it has taken up to six days for the outburst flooding event to begin after reaching this point

A screenshot from the USGS monitoring location of the basin shows the status of the area as of Aug. 11, 2025.