News

Lambs Sienna Mueca, Minuet Cryderman, Ari Bay rehearse for "The Nutcracker" ahead of Juneau Dance Theatre's annual production of the ballet. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Dance Theatre is ready to get cracking

“The Nutcracker” is set to run Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Lambs Sienna Mueca, Minuet Cryderman, Ari Bay rehearse for "The Nutcracker" ahead of Juneau Dance Theatre's annual production of the ballet. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Even the Grinch got into the holiday spirit at Juneau's Gallery Walk 2022 on Friday, Dec. 2. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

‘It’s just a good time and a special thing’: Grins and the Grinch greet Gallery Walk

Dozens of business joined in for the holiday themed event

Even the Grinch got into the holiday spirit at Juneau's Gallery Walk 2022 on Friday, Dec. 2. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
An array of stickers awaits voters on Election Day 2022. With votes tallied and certified, the Empire reviewed how Juneau and nearby communities voted precinct by precinct. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

With the ballots counted, here’s how our districts voted

A post-certification precinct-by-precinct breakdown of statewide race results.

An array of stickers awaits voters on Election Day 2022. With votes tallied and certified, the Empire reviewed how Juneau and nearby communities voted precinct by precinct. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire People walk the docks as the sun sets in downtown Juneau on Monday night. The City and Borough of Juneau recently signed a memorandum of agreement with member companies of Cruise Lines International Association to come to an agreement on a number of tourism management issue in Juneau.

City accepting proposals for marine passenger fee projects

Residents and local business have until Jan. 2 to submit ideas to the city.

Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire People walk the docks as the sun sets in downtown Juneau on Monday night. The City and Borough of Juneau recently signed a memorandum of agreement with member companies of Cruise Lines International Association to come to an agreement on a number of tourism management issue in Juneau.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire At Wednesday evening’s special Assembly meeting, the Assembly appropriated nearly $4 million toward funding a 5.5% wage increase for all CBJ employees along with a 5% increase to the employer health contribution. According to City Manager Rorie Watt, it doesn’t necessarily fix a nearly two decade-long issue of employee retention concerns for the city.

City funds wage increase amid worker shortage

City Manager says raise doesn’t fix nearly two decade-long issue of employee retainment

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire At Wednesday evening’s special Assembly meeting, the Assembly appropriated nearly $4 million toward funding a 5.5% wage increase for all CBJ employees along with a 5% increase to the employer health contribution. According to City Manager Rorie Watt, it doesn’t necessarily fix a nearly two decade-long issue of employee retention concerns for the city.
Police vehicles converge near Kaxdigoowu Héen Dei, also known as Brotherhood Bridge Trail on Sept. 21, 2022, the day police say Faith Rogers, 55, of Juneau was killed. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Suspect in killing of Faith Rogers indicted on additional charges

This follows an first-degree murder charge late last week.

Police vehicles converge near Kaxdigoowu Héen Dei, also known as Brotherhood Bridge Trail on Sept. 21, 2022, the day police say Faith Rogers, 55, of Juneau was killed. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, left, gives a legislative proclamation to former longtime Juneau Assembly member Loren Jones, following Kiehl’s speech at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center.

Cloudy economy, but sunnier political outlook lie ahead for lawmakers, Kiehl says

Juneau’s state senator tells Chamber of Commerce bipartisan majority a key to meaningful action

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, left, gives a legislative proclamation to former longtime Juneau Assembly member Loren Jones, following Kiehl’s speech at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center.
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Maddie Kombrink poses in the lobby of Coppa Cafe where she is now the new owner after working as an employee on and off for the last five years.

Former employee now calling the shots for popular cafe

New ownership takes over at Coppa.

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire Maddie Kombrink poses in the lobby of Coppa Cafe where she is now the new owner after working as an employee on and off for the last five years.
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Hunter credits community members for Thanksgiving rescue

KENAI — On Thanksgiving, Alaska Wildlife Troopers released a dispatch about a collaboration with Central Emergency Services to rescue a missing hunter, Michael Glover of… Continue reading

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Juneau in Auke Bay is the preferred home port for a private icebreaker that may be purchased by the federal government to help patrol Alaska’s Arctic waters, according to U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan. Among the reasons Juneau is preferred over other state ports is the harbor is currently capable of accommodating the vessel and is adjacent to land where necessary supporting infrastructure could be built.

Juneau may be home to only Coast Guard icebreaker stationed in Alaska

Effort to buy private ship for Arctic use may bring 190 enlistees, Sen. Sullivan says.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Juneau in Auke Bay is the preferred home port for a private icebreaker that may be purchased by the federal government to help patrol Alaska’s Arctic waters, according to U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan. Among the reasons Juneau is preferred over other state ports is the harbor is currently capable of accommodating the vessel and is adjacent to land where necessary supporting infrastructure could be built.
Aires Kelley, 1, holds a Pride flag Saturday during Drag Storytime at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library, one of many LGBTQ+ friendly events held in Alaska’s capital city. For the second year in a row, the City and Borough of Juneau received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2022 Municipality Equality Index scorecard. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau receives perfect score for LGBTQ+ inclusivity

Meanwhile, state and federal protections are lacking, advocates say.

Aires Kelley, 1, holds a Pride flag Saturday during Drag Storytime at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library, one of many LGBTQ+ friendly events held in Alaska’s capital city. For the second year in a row, the City and Borough of Juneau received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2022 Municipality Equality Index scorecard. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows cabins for Eaglecrest Ski Area’s recently acquired gondola which overall shipping cost came in $262,000 over budget. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File)

Eaglecrest Gondola shipping cost comes in $262,000 over budget

City talks funding of gondola project and a possible new partnership

This photo shows cabins for Eaglecrest Ski Area’s recently acquired gondola which overall shipping cost came in $262,000 over budget. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore berths at in the Juneau Harbor in late October. Findings from this year’s Juneau Tourism Survey showed nearly 75% supported limiting the number of large cruise ships per day in Juneau’s harbor to five.

Survey shows preference for daily limit on ships visiting Juneau

Respondents generally report positive impact, but shine light on some challenges.

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore berths at in the Juneau Harbor in late October. Findings from this year’s Juneau Tourism Survey showed nearly 75% supported limiting the number of large cruise ships per day in Juneau’s harbor to five.
CCFR crews work to extinguish a house fire in the 2200 block of Radcliffe Road early Monday morning. All occupants of the home were able to escape safely without injury. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR)

Recent fires underscore importance of smoke detectors, fire marshal says

Residences safely evacuated in two separate blazes.

CCFR crews work to extinguish a house fire in the 2200 block of Radcliffe Road early Monday morning. All occupants of the home were able to escape safely without injury. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR)
Brittney Fuhr digs through remaining canned goods offered at Helping Hands Food Bank during the pantry’s closing day on Friday, Nov. 25. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Helping Hands Food Bank closes after 39 years

“We just want to give a big heartfelt thank you to everyone for their support.”

Brittney Fuhr digs through remaining canned goods offered at Helping Hands Food Bank during the pantry’s closing day on Friday, Nov. 25. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Rebecca Hsieh, left, knits small gifts as a first-time vendor at the Juneau Public Market as her friend, MK MacNaughton, a longtime vendor sells hand-painted items near the entrance of Centennial Hall on Saturday. The market, celebrating its 40th year, is scheduled to continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Something sold, something sinew…

Shopping spirits soar for new and longtime vendors from near and far at 40th Juneau Public Market

Rebecca Hsieh, left, knits small gifts as a first-time vendor at the Juneau Public Market as her friend, MK MacNaughton, a longtime vendor sells hand-painted items near the entrance of Centennial Hall on Saturday. The market, celebrating its 40th year, is scheduled to continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Anthony Whiteman, left, thanks volunteer Frank Balogh for blending the traditional Thanksgiving foods served during The Salvation Army’s annual communal meal at midday Thursday so they could be consumed through a straw. Whiteman said his jaw was broken three weeks ago by three assailants with brass knuckles and the Thanksgiving meal was his first food other than liquid nutrition since the attack. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Thankful for a smooth holiday feast

Resumption of in-person communal Thanksgiving meal offers many blessings for diners and volunteers

Anthony Whiteman, left, thanks volunteer Frank Balogh for blending the traditional Thanksgiving foods served during The Salvation Army’s annual communal meal at midday Thursday so they could be consumed through a straw. Whiteman said his jaw was broken three weeks ago by three assailants with brass knuckles and the Thanksgiving meal was his first food other than liquid nutrition since the attack. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sugar Bear Alaskan Treasures, seen here, was one of many artist vendors featured at the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Indigenous Artists & Vendors Holiday Market from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday through Sunday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Indigenous Holiday Market features local artists

Market’s first return since 2018.

Sugar Bear Alaskan Treasures, seen here, was one of many artist vendors featured at the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Indigenous Artists & Vendors Holiday Market from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday through Sunday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
During a hearing at the Juneau Courthouse, 34-year-old Anthony Michael Migliaccio, 34, pleaded not guilty after he was arrested on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of a 55-year-old Juneau woman. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Man arrested in killing of Faith Rogers pleads not guilty

News follows a two-month investigation.

During a hearing at the Juneau Courthouse, 34-year-old Anthony Michael Migliaccio, 34, pleaded not guilty after he was arrested on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of a 55-year-old Juneau woman. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Kirby Day shakes hands with City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon at the Monday night Assembly meeting. Day was awarded a special recognition for his work administrating the city’s Tourism Best Management Practices program. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Assembly honors Kirby Day, Gastineau landslide geologists

Day steps down from his positions with Tourism Best Management Practices after 25 years

Kirby Day shakes hands with City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon at the Monday night Assembly meeting. Day was awarded a special recognition for his work administrating the city’s Tourism Best Management Practices program. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)