News

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire A Capital Towing company employee pulls a vehicle up the embankment at Twin Lakes on Tuesday. The driver suffered minor injuries in the one vehicle accident.

Car slides off road, takes a tumble near Twin Lakes

As a driver came around a curve on Douglas Highway on Tuesday evening, he saw the flashing lights of a school bus and tried to… Continue reading

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire A Capital Towing company employee pulls a vehicle up the embankment at Twin Lakes on Tuesday. The driver suffered minor injuries in the one vehicle accident.
Juneau man Derick Nathaniel Skultka, 35, is wanted for a parole violation with original charges of weapons misconduct and reckless driving. (Courtesy photo | Juneau Police Department)

Police search for man with history of criminal activity, running from authorities

A man with a history of running from authorities is again at large in Juneau. The Juneau Police Department is searching for Derick Nathaniel Skultka,… Continue reading

Juneau man Derick Nathaniel Skultka, 35, is wanted for a parole violation with original charges of weapons misconduct and reckless driving. (Courtesy photo | Juneau Police Department)
The Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly won 28 awards at this year’s Alaska Press Club. (Juneau Empire)

28 Press Club awards for Empire and CCW

We’re proud of the work we do at the Juneau Empire and our sister publication, the Capital City Weekly. So it comes with great pleasure… Continue reading

The Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly won 28 awards at this year’s Alaska Press Club. (Juneau Empire)
Smoke rises from a small fire on Douglas Island on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. The U.S. Forest Service extinguished the fire, as homes nearby were not in danger. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Fire by Lucky Me doesn’t put homes in danger

On Sunday afternoon, white smoke began to rise over the trees on Douglas Island near Lucky Me, a community about a mile from the end… Continue reading

Smoke rises from a small fire on Douglas Island on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. The U.S. Forest Service extinguished the fire, as homes nearby were not in danger. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
National Weather Service Meteorologist Jacob Byrd demonstrates the properties of air pressure and temperature to Harborview Elementary students Alijah Austin, left, Isabella Austin, middle, Jacob Olsen and his son Talin Branivyn Olsen at Science Night on Thursday. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Snakes and blowtorches at school? Must be Science Night

Sharon Sullivan lit a match over a fishbowl filled with a few inches of green liquid at Harborview Elementary School on Thursday. Trying to be… Continue reading

National Weather Service Meteorologist Jacob Byrd demonstrates the properties of air pressure and temperature to Harborview Elementary students Alijah Austin, left, Isabella Austin, middle, Jacob Olsen and his son Talin Branivyn Olsen at Science Night on Thursday. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Former Rep. Beth Kerttula, left, introduces former University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor John Pugh during a rally in support of state funding for the University of Alaska in front of the Capitol on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. University of Alaska Southeast Faculty Senate and Student Government hosted the event. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Education advocates gather at capitol to show support for University of Alaska system

Students, faculty and other supporters of the University of Alaska system had to hold tightly to their signs during a rally Friday on the steps… Continue reading

Former Rep. Beth Kerttula, left, introduces former University of Alaska Southeast Chancellor John Pugh during a rally in support of state funding for the University of Alaska in front of the Capitol on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. University of Alaska Southeast Faculty Senate and Student Government hosted the event. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
123rf.com stock photo

Domestic dispute ends in stabbing

Early Saturday morning, a domestic dispute on Gastineau Avenue turned bloody. According to a release from the Juneau Police Department, a neighbor called JPD at… Continue reading

123rf.com stock photo
123rf.com stock photo

JPD tracks down man after standoff

What could have been a simple warrant arrest turned into a standoff Thursday night. When Juneau Police Department officers approached James Urbanec outside a Tongass… Continue reading

123rf.com stock photo
Joseph Leong

Empire gets new publisher

The Juneau Empire has a new publisher. Joseph Leong has been named Senior Group Publisher for GateHouse Media Alaska Holdings, Inc. He will oversee operations… Continue reading

Joseph Leong

School Board seeks public input in advance of budget process

Prior to beginning their budget process, the members of the Board of Education are hoping to hear from the public. There will be two public… Continue reading

Grants Administrator Linda Landvik, right, and Chief Integrated Services Officer Doug Harris, talk about the recent merging of JAMHI and NCADD (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) Juneau to make access to both organizations’ services more convenient for the community. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Nonprofits merge to combine mental health, addiction treatments

The timing was just right. Those at the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) Juneau had been looking to partner with another agency… Continue reading

Grants Administrator Linda Landvik, right, and Chief Integrated Services Officer Doug Harris, talk about the recent merging of JAMHI and NCADD (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) Juneau to make access to both organizations’ services more convenient for the community. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

New members join Hospital Board, Planning Commission

Both the Bartlett Regional Hospital Board and the Planning Commission gained new members this week. At a special meeting Tuesday, the City and Borough of… Continue reading

Steve Behnke, the chair of the Juneau Commission on Sustainability’s Energy Committee, speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. The committee voted to forward the Renewable Energy Plan to the full Assembly, which will then vote on whether to adopt the goal of using 80 percent renewable energy by 2045. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

City moves closer to adopting ambitious energy use goal

City officials are one step closer to officially setting the goal to have Juneau be 80 percent renewable by 2045. By a unanimous vote Monday,… Continue reading

Steve Behnke, the chair of the Juneau Commission on Sustainability’s Energy Committee, speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. The committee voted to forward the Renewable Energy Plan to the full Assembly, which will then vote on whether to adopt the goal of using 80 percent renewable energy by 2045. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Thomas Jack Jr. appears in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg ruled to send sentencing of Jack Jr. to a three-judge panel review during the hearing. That panel referred the case back to Pallenberg on Jan. 29, 2018. Jack, 40 in this photo, was convicted by a Juneau jury during a 2010 trial on six felony counts of sexually assaulting a minor — his then 11-year-old foster daughter. The child and her younger sister had begun living with the Jack family in Hoonah in summer 2007. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Panel of judges refers sexual assault case back to Juneau court

Almost a decade after his original arrest, Thomas Jack Jr.’s court case still isn’t finished. In 2016, Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg sentenced Jack… Continue reading

Thomas Jack Jr. appears in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg ruled to send sentencing of Jack Jr. to a three-judge panel review during the hearing. That panel referred the case back to Pallenberg on Jan. 29, 2018. Jack, 40 in this photo, was convicted by a Juneau jury during a 2010 trial on six felony counts of sexually assaulting a minor — his then 11-year-old foster daughter. The child and her younger sister had begun living with the Jack family in Hoonah in summer 2007. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Capital City Fire and Rescue schools Juneau on ice safety

Capital City Fire and Rescue schools Juneau on ice safety

Capital City Fire and Rescue says relax. It could save your life. It’s good advice if you fall into the frigid waters of Mendenhall Lake… Continue reading

Capital City Fire and Rescue schools Juneau on ice safety
The city-owned property at 9290 Hurlock Avenue went up for sale at the beginning of the month, and six local organizations have applied to take over the location. (Courtesy photo | City and Borough of Juneau)

Could the Glory Hole move to the Valley? The shelter’s board is considering it

The Glory Hole Homeless Shelter is considering a move to the Mendenhall Valley in order to turn its downtown location into a vehicle for a… Continue reading

The city-owned property at 9290 Hurlock Avenue went up for sale at the beginning of the month, and six local organizations have applied to take over the location. (Courtesy photo | City and Borough of Juneau)

Mining Committee seeks to make ordinance easier to understand

The City and Borough of Juneau Mining Committee voted Thursday to pursue changes to the city’s current mining ordinance — very minor ones, that is.… Continue reading

Interim Director of the Glory Hole Kyle Hargrave, center, thanks second grade students from Harborview Elementary School after their donation of fresh vegetables on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Second-grade students bring vegetables, cheer to homeless shelter

Lately, Harborview second-grade teacher Diane Antaya has been finding vegetables in her mailbox at school. Throughout January, her second-grade class has been collecting onions, carrots,… Continue reading

Interim Director of the Glory Hole Kyle Hargrave, center, thanks second grade students from Harborview Elementary School after their donation of fresh vegetables on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Riverbend Elementary School fifth-grader Sofia Lindoff gets a closeup view of Stephen Young’s tuba as Juneau School District fifth-graders attend a program by the Juneau Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Troy Quinn titled “The Orchestra Sings!” in the Juneau-Douglas High School Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. The Symphony Excursion for 5th Grade is part of Juneau’s ANY GIVEN CHILD programming. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Students listen, participate as they get special show from Juneau Symphony

Miles Shriver, a fifth grader at Gastineau Community School, had never seen anything like he saw Friday morning. Shriver, along with more than 400 other… Continue reading

Riverbend Elementary School fifth-grader Sofia Lindoff gets a closeup view of Stephen Young’s tuba as Juneau School District fifth-graders attend a program by the Juneau Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Troy Quinn titled “The Orchestra Sings!” in the Juneau-Douglas High School Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. The Symphony Excursion for 5th Grade is part of Juneau’s ANY GIVEN CHILD programming. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Spring king derby canceled, again

For the second year in a row, the Annual Spring King Salmon Derby has been canceled, Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of… Continue reading