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Friday night's basketball game was the second annual Take a Timeout to Talk - Suicide Prevention Awareness game. Coaches and players donned purple and Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss spoke at halftime about the importance of mental health and suicide awareness.

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JDHS hosts annual Suicide Prevention Awareness game

“The event is about encouraging teens to evaluate their lives…”

Courtesy Photo / Jonathon Turlove This 2019 photo shows Michael Orelove in Olympia, Washington, in 2019. On Jan. 3, Orelove died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 80.

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‘He really lived his life by a different set of rules’

Michael Orelove, a colorful character known for art installations, leaves lasting legacy.

At its Tuesday night meeting the Juneau Board of Education OK’d a series of budget revisions that will balance the district’s operating fund deficit of over $620,000 along with its $63,000 deficit in total governmental funds it owes to the city. Members say it does not fix the district’s structural issues. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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School Board addresses deficits, members say the fix is a ‘Band-Aid’

The board OKs plan to ask Assembly for $2.5M in additional out-of-cap funding

The only electric bus enters the City Borough of Juneau Capital Transit’s bus barn in late August. Capital Transit is preparing for the addition of seven electric buses which are slated to hit Juneau’s roads sometime in summer of 2024. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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Bus down: City preps for incoming electric bus fleet as its current electric bus remains out of commission

Capital Transit expects the new fleet to arrive during the summer of 2024

Bartlett Regional Hospital announced it is implementing a three-phase action plan to address its estimated $10 million deficit this fiscal year and its anticipated $2 million loss during the upcoming fiscal year. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

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‘We’re in unprecedented territory as a hospital’: Bartlett Regional Hospital announces cost-cutting plans

Measures are to address its estimated $10M deficit this fiscal year, $2 million in upcoming year.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Lisa X’unyéil Worl, a longtime advocate for education and other issues, asks Juneau’s legislative delegation about the prospects for public broadcasting funding from the state during a town hall meeting Wednesday evening at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School.

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Local lawmakers say there are ‘no simple answers’ ahead of session

However, Juneau’s delegation expresses optimism for progress on health, safety and education.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Lanie Downs with Cruise Lines International Association Alaska addresses the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce along with other members of the community on cruise line projections and economic impact expected for 2023.

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Cruise ships projected to be closer to capacity this season

Last year ships were about 74% full, industry official says 90% projected for 1st quarter 2023.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Amy Nye and her family await a ride after flying to Juneau from Seattle Wednesday morning. Juneau International Airport Manager Patty Wahto said no flights in or out of Juneau have been delayed due to the overnight outage to the Federal Administration Aviation Notice to Air Missions System caused more than 8,300 delayed flights and 1,200 cancellations across the U.S.

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Juneau flights spared worst of U.S. flight disruptions

Airport manager monitoring situation after FAA system outage causes

Seven months after a June 2022 incident in which a dozen students and two adults drank chemical floor sealant served as milk during a Juneau School District summer program, the District Board of Education on Tuesday night narrowly voted against moving forward with a third-party investigation of the district’s emergency notification and public communication. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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School board nixes plans for ‘milk’ incident investigation

In narrow vote, members cited past investigations, fiscal impact as reasons for not moving forward.

Safeway district manager Stephanie Kennedy and store director Mark Jones hand out a donation check to the Southeast Alaska Foodbank during a grand reopening ceremony on Wednesday. Foodbank manager Chris Schapp accepted the check on behalf of the foodbank. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

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Safeway celebrates grand reopening

Local foodbank receives donation at Wednesday ceremony.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Pieces of the gondola that the City and Borough of Juneau purchased from Galsterberg Ski Area in Austria sit scattered in the snow outside Eaglecrest Ski Area. At Monday night’s Assembly meeting the Assembly approved a deal in which Goldbelt Inc. would invest $10 million toward the installation and construction of the gondola project.

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Gondola project on track for $10M investment

It is expected to open in the spring of 2027

Cruise ships line the downtown docks during a dark evening in late August. On Monday the Assembly voted to delay adopting cruise ship tourism policy objectives recommended by the Visitor Industry Task Force’s final report to allow for further public input. ( Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

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City puts off adopting tourism task force recommendations, allows more public input

Move made to allow for additional public input.

A boat sinks at Andrews Marina inside Fisherman’s Bend on Tuesday. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

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Boat capsizes at Fisherman’s Bend

A 26-foot boat capsized while docked at Andrews Marina inside Fisherman’s Bend on Tuesday. Based on information received…

Skiers cross the frozen lake in front of the Mendenhall Glacier in December. A proposed expansion of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreational Area by the U.S. Forest Service envisions motorized tour boat access in most alternatives, but the three newest ones based on previous public feedback limit vessels to low-impact electronic access or none. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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New study released for Mendenhall Glacier area development, old concerns raised

Report features 3 alternatives based on earlier public input; 2 public meetings set for this month.

Reed Stoops bikes stationary with other athletes during a High Cadence Triathlon Team workout at the Dimond Park Field House Thursday evening. Many athletes are still deciding what to do after it was announced in mid-December the Ironman Group announced its decision to cancel the Ironman Alaska races for 2023 and 2024.

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Ironman Alaska aftermath: Looking back at the impact of the first and — for now — last Ironman race in Alaska

Economic ripple could be felt across the state.

The privately owned 107-foot tugboat named Tagish sits submerged in the water next to the National Guard dock south of the downtown cruise ship docks Tuesday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Sunken tugboat owner on tight deadline to recover vessel

According to the owner, the effort is expected to cost around $300,000.

Juneau residents register for COVID-19 vaccinations at Centennial Hall in April of 2021. Bartlett Regional Hospital and other city-owned institutions provided virus tests and vaccinations in a multitude of locations during the pandemic, as well as providing at-home tests and coordinating with other entities such as the Alaska Native-owned SEARHC. (Bartlett Regional Hospital)

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Study: Juneau’s COVID-19 response a role model for success

Control of hospital and airport, public communication, coordination with tribes cited as key assets

From left to right, City and Borough of Juneau Deputy City Manager Robert Barr, City Manager Rorie Watt and Finance Director Jeff Rogers discuss a package of proposals addressing recruiting and retaining city employees during the Wednesday evening Assembly Finance Committee meeting. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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City mulls package of perks to fill vacancies

It includes bigger sign-on bonus, retirement fund match and child care contribution.

A “sold” sign hangs outside the property that formerly housed Walmart in early December after it was announced it has been purchased by U-Haul. Company officials recently shared plans to unveil a temporary showroom at its new location by the end of January. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

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Moving fast: U-Haul plans to open doors at the end of the month for temporary showroom

The company is looking to hire around 15 people, according to U-Haul Company of Alaska president.

Courtesy Photo / Bartlett Regional Hospital Hannah and Adam Weed with their daughter and newborn son Ethan on Tuesday at Bartlett Regional Hospital.

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Rock-a-boat baby: Hospital welcomes 1st baby of 2023 with a special gift

Bartlett Hospital welcomes 1st baby of 2023 with special gift.