News

The Allen Marine whale watching boat St. Maria, right, was grounded on a rock Wednesday morning and received help from another Allen Marine boat and the U.S. Coast Guard. (Photo courtesy USCG Station Juneau)

Whale watching boat runs aground with 113 passengers

A whale watching boat ran aground Wednesday morning with 113 customers aboard, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Nobody was injured and the vessel made… Continue reading

The Allen Marine whale watching boat St. Maria, right, was grounded on a rock Wednesday morning and received help from another Allen Marine boat and the U.S. Coast Guard. (Photo courtesy USCG Station Juneau)

Police make four DWI arrests on Memorial Day weekend

Juneau police say more people were arrested this Memorial Day weekend than last year. Four people were for driving while intoxicated, which is up from… Continue reading

Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy Program teacher Rocky Eddy displays a copper Tin&

‘Lifelong learner’ and Juneau teacher Robert Eddy pursuing a new adventure

Walking through his classroom, Harborview Elementary School teacher Robert “Rocky” Eddy had a hard time weaving in and out of the crowd of students. There… Continue reading

Tlingit Culture, Language and Literacy Program teacher Rocky Eddy displays a copper Tin&
Defense attorney Julie Willoughby is pictured in the photo from her application to the Alaska Judicial Council. (Alaska Judicial Council | Courtesy photo)

Two Juneau attorneys nominated for judge position

The task of choosing Juneau’s next Superior Court judge is now in the hands of the governor. Members of the Alaska Judicial Council nominated two… Continue reading

Defense attorney Julie Willoughby is pictured in the photo from her application to the Alaska Judicial Council. (Alaska Judicial Council | Courtesy photo)
Mendenhall Auto co-owners Steve Allwine, center, and Mark Troupin, left, congratulate Doug Scudder, president of the Board of Directors for Trail Mix Inc., after they presented $8,585 to Trail Mix at Mendenhall Auto on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. The donation is part of Subaru’s “Share the Love” promotion. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mendenhall Auto Center makes donation to trail improvement club

Local trails are feeling the love. Trail Mix, Inc. was given an $8,585 donation from Subaru of America and Mendenhall Auto Center as part of… Continue reading

Mendenhall Auto co-owners Steve Allwine, center, and Mark Troupin, left, congratulate Doug Scudder, president of the Board of Directors for Trail Mix Inc., after they presented $8,585 to Trail Mix at Mendenhall Auto on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. The donation is part of Subaru’s “Share the Love” promotion. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Laron Carlton Graham appears in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, for an arraignment on two counts of first-degree murder for the Nov. 15, 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Preparation for double murder trial moving slowly

Progress continues to be slow as attorneys prepare for the murder trial of Laron Carlton Graham, who is accused of a 2015 double murder. A… Continue reading

Laron Carlton Graham appears in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, for an arraignment on two counts of first-degree murder for the Nov. 15, 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighters enter a home at the corner of Fifth and Franklin Streets on Monday to put out smaller fires after knocking down the flames. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Fire marshal: Downtown house fire likely caused either by smoking materials, electrical wiring

An investigation into Monday’s fire at a downtown home did not uncover a certain cause, fire marshals say, but they identified a couple possibilities. According… Continue reading

Capital City Fire/Rescue firefighters enter a home at the corner of Fifth and Franklin Streets on Monday to put out smaller fires after knocking down the flames. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Post office bust leads to charges for bringing heroin to town

A Juneau grand jury indicted a man last week on second-degree drug misconduct for allegedly engaging in shipping heroin through the mail to Juneau, prosecutors… Continue reading

Flames come from windows on the third floor of a house at 505 N. Franklin Street on Monday. The two occupants of the house, along with their dog, escaped unharmed. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Two escape unharmed from fire at downtown home

When Joshua Stephenson opened the door to his downtown Juneau home Monday morning, the smell of smoke wafted in. Moments later, Stephenson recalled, he and… Continue reading

Flames come from windows on the third floor of a house at 505 N. Franklin Street on Monday. The two occupants of the house, along with their dog, escaped unharmed. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Children arrange flowers and a flag around their great-uncle’s grave following a Memorial Day service at Evergreen Cemetery on Memorial Day 2014. (Matt Woolbright | Juneau Empire File)

Three Memorial Day ceremonies planned for Juneau on Monday

There will be multiple opportunities for people to pay their respects to fallen soldiers this Memorial Day, with three local organizations hosting events at Juneau… Continue reading

Children arrange flowers and a flag around their great-uncle’s grave following a Memorial Day service at Evergreen Cemetery on Memorial Day 2014. (Matt Woolbright | Juneau Empire File)
Lea Skaggs and Colin Peacock ready orders at their Salt & Soil Marketplace on Thursday, May 17, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Online farmer’s market growing in second year

Thursdays are pickup and dropoff day for online farmers market Salt &Soil. They keep Colin Peacock busy. Into orange plastic containers, he sorts salad greens,… Continue reading

Lea Skaggs and Colin Peacock ready orders at their Salt & Soil Marketplace on Thursday, May 17, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Work begins on the demolition of Project Playground at Twin Lakes on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Project Playground rebuild begins next week

Thirteen months after it burned to the ground, Project Playground will return. Starting Tuesday, Carver Construction will begin work to rebuild the popular Twin Lakes… Continue reading

Work begins on the demolition of Project Playground at Twin Lakes on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School student Adrianna D’Cafango talks about receiving a $20,000 award from the Juneau Empire during a scholarship awards breakfast at TMHS on Thursday, May 24, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

In 2000, a Juneau baby won a $20,000 scholarship from the Juneau Empire. Now, 18 years later, she’s graduating high school.

Adrianna D’Cafango was only a 9-month-old baby in her mother’s arms in the Nugget Mall corridor when she won a college scholarship. Now, the Thunder… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School student Adrianna D’Cafango talks about receiving a $20,000 award from the Juneau Empire during a scholarship awards breakfast at TMHS on Thursday, May 24, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Collision on Glacier leads to broken leg

A motor vehicle collided with a 62-year-old man on Glacier Avenue on Tuesday, resulting in a possible broken leg for the pedestrian, according to a… Continue reading

Juneau Police Department deploying additional officers over holiday weekend

Memorial Day and high school graduation celebrations will be happening all weekend long. The Juneau Police Department is reminding people to be safe while having… Continue reading

Principal Michelle Byer gives fifth-graders Ethen Etheridge, and Jesse Langel high-fives as kindergartener Janesa Johnson-Ozell looks on during Riverbend Elementary School’s outing to the Dimond Park Fieldhouse on Monday, May 21, 2018. Byer is retiring after four years at the school. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Riverbend principal changed school, one hug at a time

Walking down the halls of Riverbend Elementary with Principal Michelle Byer at lunchtime is like walking down the street with a celebrity. Students stop her… Continue reading

Principal Michelle Byer gives fifth-graders Ethen Etheridge, and Jesse Langel high-fives as kindergartener Janesa Johnson-Ozell looks on during Riverbend Elementary School’s outing to the Dimond Park Fieldhouse on Monday, May 21, 2018. Byer is retiring after four years at the school. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Lemon Creek Wells Fargo bank branch is seen May 23, 2018. The branch is scheduled to close in mid-August. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Wells Fargo to close Lemon Creek branch

Wells Fargo is closing its Lemon Creek branch, the only full-service bank in the area, effective Aug. 15. On Wednesday morning, signs announcing the impending… Continue reading

The Lemon Creek Wells Fargo bank branch is seen May 23, 2018. The branch is scheduled to close in mid-August. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Suspected robber pulls knife on Home Depot employees

A suspected shoplifter pulled a knife on employees at Home Depot during a confrontation over a shopping cart full of unpaid merchandise Tuesday afternoon at… Continue reading

Lake Siner talks during an interview at Thunder Mountain High School on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Siner is graduating from TMHS this Sunday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘One of those super-kids’: Three high school graduates share their stories

It is time to celebrate. All three area high schools, Juneau-Douglas High School, Thunder Mountain High School and Yaakoosgé Daakahídi Alternative High School will be… Continue reading

Lake Siner talks during an interview at Thunder Mountain High School on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Siner is graduating from TMHS this Sunday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Treadwell Mine Salt Water Pump House on Sandy Beach in Douglas as seen from Mt. Roberts on September 25, 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

A year later, details still scarce on leg found in Gastineau Channel

A year ago this week, state workers discovered a human leg in Gastineau Channel near Sandy Beach. After a year of testing, authorities are no… Continue reading

The Treadwell Mine Salt Water Pump House on Sandy Beach in Douglas as seen from Mt. Roberts on September 25, 2013. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)