Gastineau Elementary teacher Ben Kriegmont speaks to a crowd at Tuesday’s Slam Dunk event that invited community members to discuss ways to improve Juneau’s early education programs. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Town hall meeting involves community in early childcare initiative

When Gastineau Elementary kindergarten teacher Ben Kriegmont sees students on the first day of school, he can usually divide them into two groups. “One group… Continue reading

Gastineau Elementary teacher Ben Kriegmont speaks to a crowd at Tuesday’s Slam Dunk event that invited community members to discuss ways to improve Juneau’s early education programs. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Mike Rose, senior pastor at the Juneau Christian Center, talks about the center’s 100th Anniversay celebration to be held his weekend. The center is located at the corner of Glacier Highway and Old Dairy Road, next to Fred Meyer. Rose has been a pastor at the center for 30 years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

For 100 years, a Juneau church has kept a family focus

In 1917, Charles C. and Florence Personeus, Christian missionaries from the then newly-formed Assembly of God, disembarked in Juneau on a rainy November day. “I… Continue reading

Mike Rose, senior pastor at the Juneau Christian Center, talks about the center’s 100th Anniversay celebration to be held his weekend. The center is located at the corner of Glacier Highway and Old Dairy Road, next to Fred Meyer. Rose has been a pastor at the center for 30 years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Coordinator Carmaleeda Estrada stands next to an eagle headdress by artist Duane Pasco at the Walter Soboleff Center on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. The artwork is one of more than 50 pieces featured in Sealaska Heritage Institute’s second Tin&

Top artists return to Juneau for Sealaska Heritage auction

Three years ago, Sealaska Heritage Institute organized an art auction to partially pay for construction of the Walter Soboleff Center in downtown Juneau. Today, that… Continue reading

Coordinator Carmaleeda Estrada stands next to an eagle headdress by artist Duane Pasco at the Walter Soboleff Center on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. The artwork is one of more than 50 pieces featured in Sealaska Heritage Institute’s second Tin&
In this April 26 photo, two breeding wood ducks swim in the lake at Riverside Rotary Park. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire)

Ducks Unlimited banquet returns to Centennial Hall

The annual Ducks Unlimited fall banquet is returning to Centennial Hall on Sept. 30. Ducks Unlimited is a waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization whose goal… Continue reading

In this April 26 photo, two breeding wood ducks swim in the lake at Riverside Rotary Park. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire)

Commission sets ambitious goal for future of renewable energy in Juneau

After two years of discussion and analysis, the Juneau Commission on Sustainability released an ambitious recommendation and challenge to the City and Borough of Juneau… Continue reading

Property taxes due Monday

Property taxes are due at the end of September, but because Sept. 30 falls on a weekend, Juneau residents have until Monday to postmark their… Continue reading

Cards displayed at McGivney’s Sports Bar & Grill in the Mendenhall Valley on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, show money given to a fundraising drive to sent the bodies of two brothers killed in a downtown fire last week back to their family in Mexico. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Former workplace of fire victim works to raise money for family

There was nothing out of the ordinary about Adrian de Jesus Olivarria Mora’s last night of work at McGivney’s Sports Bar and Grill in the… Continue reading

Cards displayed at McGivney’s Sports Bar & Grill in the Mendenhall Valley on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017, show money given to a fundraising drive to sent the bodies of two brothers killed in a downtown fire last week back to their family in Mexico. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Odette Edgar talks about the handmade quilts she helped make and organize for the Housing First residents at her house on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Locals produce personalized quilts for Housing First residents

On a frigid March night soon after the closure of the Bergmann Hotel displaced people onto the streets of Juneau, Odette Edgar saw something that… Continue reading

Odette Edgar talks about the handmade quilts she helped make and organize for the Housing First residents at her house on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Seawalk sculpture artist to present on work

The city is installing new artwork along the downtown waterfront this week, and the artist of the new sculptures is speaking about his work tonight.… Continue reading

Native scholar, writer laureate Nora Dauenhauer dies at 90

Former Alaska writer laureate and influential Tlingit scholar Nora Keixwnéi Dauenhauer died Monday at the age of 90. Dauenhauer, of the Haines-Yakutat Lukaaxádi (sockeye) clan,… Continue reading

Christian Center to celebrate centennial

Juneau Christian Center will celebrate its 100th anniversary this fall. The church, which is the oldest Assembly of God church in Alaska, will host a… Continue reading

Juneau man convicted of child pornography

This past Friday, a federal jury convicted a Juneau man of receipt of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of no less than 15… Continue reading

Juneau School Board candidates Jeff Short, right, Brian Holst, center, and Kevin Allen answer questions during the Juneau Votes! Candidate Forum sponsored by the Juneau Empire and KTOO at KTOO on Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

School Board candidates differ on whether high schools need to merge

For the most part, the three candidates for the Oct. 3 Board of Education election agreed on topics at the Juneau Votes! Candidate Forum on… Continue reading

Juneau School Board candidates Jeff Short, right, Brian Holst, center, and Kevin Allen answer questions during the Juneau Votes! Candidate Forum sponsored by the Juneau Empire and KTOO at KTOO on Monday, Sept. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this 2014 photo, visitors to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area walk to and from Nugget Falls in 2014. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Mendenhall Glacier area debuts ‘Discovery’ app

It’s now possible to get green time and screen time simultaneously thanks to a new application for smartphones and mobile devices. The Mendenhall Glacier Recreation… Continue reading

In this 2014 photo, visitors to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area walk to and from Nugget Falls in 2014. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

UAS named “hidden gem” by website

The University of Alaska Southeast is one of the country’s “hidden gems,” according to one website. College Raptor, a site that seeks out overlooked colleges… Continue reading

City holds public meeting about upcoming downtown street improvements

The next phase of the City and Borough’s downtown street project begins next spring, and residents can learn about what to expect at a meeting… Continue reading

Downtown fire chars Salvation Army dumpster

It was a good time for a training session. A Saturday morning dumpster fire at Juneau’s downtown Salvation Army thrift store was quickly extinguished as… Continue reading

Group of teachers promotes voter engagement, turnout for fall election

During Thursday’s Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, the three candidates for the Board of Education spoke of the importance of teachers. On Friday afternoon, one… Continue reading

Members of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4303 attend Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, Assembly meeting to speak to Assembly members about their concern in the number of career firefighters working in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Firefighters call for more help

Capital City firefighter Brody Fink was one of the first people to arrive on the scene of the fire that killed two brothers. “It’ll basically… Continue reading

Members of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4303 attend Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, Assembly meeting to speak to Assembly members about their concern in the number of career firefighters working in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Shawna Else welcoming those who enter Dandy Dog Daycare with some of her pack in tow. (Photo by Mackenzie Fisher)

New dog day care opens in Juneau

The doggy doors of a new business opened the first of September to welcome a pack of furry customers. Shawna Else is the owner of… Continue reading

Shawna Else welcoming those who enter Dandy Dog Daycare with some of her pack in tow. (Photo by Mackenzie Fisher)