News

A jack-o'-lantern carved to depict an alien from "Toy Story" rests outside a Mendenhall Valley residence. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Drop off your pumpkins at Juneau RecycleWorks

Drop off begins Saturday, Nov. 5

A jack-o'-lantern carved to depict an alien from "Toy Story" rests outside a Mendenhall Valley residence. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to a structure fire in the 3000 block of Wood Duck Avenue Sunday morning, Oct 30. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

No injuries reported in Sunday morning fire

Firefighters say Wood Duck Avenue blaze was unintentional

Capital City Fire/Rescue responded to a structure fire in the 3000 block of Wood Duck Avenue Sunday morning, Oct 30. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Mari Fester holds up a carved spaghetti squash that filled in for a pumpkin during an underwater carving event held Sunday at Auke Rec. With more standard fare in short supply locally, acorn pumpkins, warty pumpkins and even a pumpkin sourced from Anchorage thanks to a traveler passing through served as canvases for the aquatic artists. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Splashing pumpkins: Underwater carving puts a twist on Halloween tradition

Alternative headline: The knife aquatic.

Mari Fester holds up a carved spaghetti squash that filled in for a pumpkin during an underwater carving event held Sunday at Auke Rec. With more standard fare in short supply locally, acorn pumpkins, warty pumpkins and even a pumpkin sourced from Anchorage thanks to a traveler passing through served as canvases for the aquatic artists. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
TMHS senior Kylie Morris helping attendees paint hands to leave their mark at the school’s first annual Fall Carnival on Saturday, Oct. 29. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Juneau high schools fall into the Halloween spirit

TMHS and JDHS host fall carnival fundraisers

TMHS senior Kylie Morris helping attendees paint hands to leave their mark at the school’s first annual Fall Carnival on Saturday, Oct. 29. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
This May photo shows Mount Edgecumbe on a relatively clear day. New research has shed new light on magma activity underneath the “historically active” volcano. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

New research finds magma rising under Mount Edgecumbe

No signs of imminent eruption

This May photo shows Mount Edgecumbe on a relatively clear day. New research has shed new light on magma activity underneath the “historically active” volcano. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire A Capital Transit bus drives near the site of the new Mendenhall Valley transit center on Mall Road. The center is set to open Nov. 7.

Transit center set to open, bus routes to change

Bus’ a move.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire A Capital Transit bus drives near the site of the new Mendenhall Valley transit center on Mall Road. The center is set to open Nov. 7.
From left, onstage on Wednesday in Anchorage for a debate in Alaska’s U.S. House race: former Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Mary Peltola, Nick Begich III and Chris Bye. (Mark Thiessen/Associated Press)

Here’s what was said during the House debate — guess who said it

Democratic incumbent, two Republicans and a Libertarian often overlap in statewide TV forum

From left, onstage on Wednesday in Anchorage for a debate in Alaska’s U.S. House race: former Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Mary Peltola, Nick Begich III and Chris Bye. (Mark Thiessen/Associated Press)
The former Glory Hall homeless shelter downtown, founded in 1982, is slated to be converted into seven low-income apartments after the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the project Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Glory Hall’s apartment project finally prevails

Planning Commission OKs turning former homeless shelter into low-income housing after one-year fight

The former Glory Hall homeless shelter downtown, founded in 1982, is slated to be converted into seven low-income apartments after the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the project Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Alaska Seaplanes co-owner and president Kent Craford seen in this photo at the Golden Shovel ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 26 to break ground on Alaska Seaplanes’ new cargo facility adjacent to the North Terminal at the Juneau International Airport. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Cargo-ing the distance: Seaplanes breaks ground on new building

New facility could be up and running by this summer.

Alaska Seaplanes co-owner and president Kent Craford seen in this photo at the Golden Shovel ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 26 to break ground on Alaska Seaplanes’ new cargo facility adjacent to the North Terminal at the Juneau International Airport. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Officials at Catholic Community Service in Juneau, which operated a hospice and home care program for 20 years before discharging all patients as of Oct. 19, are now working with Bartlett Regional Hospital administrators and attorneys on a transition plan. Hospital leaders said it may take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years before a full hospice and home care program is implemented there. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Transition underway for hospice, elderly care

BRH hopes to provide hospice and home care within months; new grant boosts other elderly services

Officials at Catholic Community Service in Juneau, which operated a hospice and home care program for 20 years before discharging all patients as of Oct. 19, are now working with Bartlett Regional Hospital administrators and attorneys on a transition plan. Hospital leaders said it may take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years before a full hospice and home care program is implemented there. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
In this Sept. 27 2021, photo Bridget Weiss, superintendent of Juneau Public Schools, stands outside the classroom of former math teacher and basketball coach Bill Szepanski, who inspired her to pursue a degree in education and a teaching and coaching career. Weiss recently informed district staff she will be stepping away from her position at the end of June. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)

Weiss departing as Juneau School District superintendent

Announcement comes after intense few years, and she is stepping away at the end of June.

In this Sept. 27 2021, photo Bridget Weiss, superintendent of Juneau Public Schools, stands outside the classroom of former math teacher and basketball coach Bill Szepanski, who inspired her to pursue a degree in education and a teaching and coaching career. Weiss recently informed district staff she will be stepping away from her position at the end of June. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File)
Dan Earl stands in front of his home which temporarily is transformed into Earl’s Haunted Garage around the time of Halloween in Juneau for nearly the last 20 years. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Haunted garage seeks to scare up donations

He’s putting the caring in scaring.

Dan Earl stands in front of his home which temporarily is transformed into Earl’s Haunted Garage around the time of Halloween in Juneau for nearly the last 20 years. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Darrell Harmon, left, is challenging state Rep. Sara Hannan for the newly drawn House District 4 seat in Juneau. The other two Juneau candidates, District 3 Rep. Andi Story and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, are unopposed.

Many differences in lone competitive local legislative race

Two-term Democratic state Rep. Sara Hannan faces low-profile challenger Darrell Harmon

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Darrell Harmon, left, is challenging state Rep. Sara Hannan for the newly drawn House District 4 seat in Juneau. The other two Juneau candidates, District 3 Rep. Andi Story and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, are unopposed.
Courtesy Photo / Stephany Day The Juneau Huskies cheer team poses for a photo on Saturday in Palmer after competing in this year’s Rally in the Valley Cheer competition. The team took first place in the game time and half time divisions, as well as earned the title of grand champion for garnering the highest score within the competition.

Juneau cheer team leads the way at Rally in the Valley

Team takes top spot among other honors.

Courtesy Photo / Stephany Day The Juneau Huskies cheer team poses for a photo on Saturday in Palmer after competing in this year’s Rally in the Valley Cheer competition. The team took first place in the game time and half time divisions, as well as earned the title of grand champion for garnering the highest score within the competition.
City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members unanimously agreed on a city ordinance which appropriates $700,000 — pulled from the Affordable Housing Fund — to fund a predevelopment loan for the proposed Gastineau Lodges project which, if developed, would create a 72-unit apartment building in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Downtown housing project takes step forward

Assembly agrees to predevelopment loan for 72-unit Gastineau Lodges project.

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members unanimously agreed on a city ordinance which appropriates $700,000 — pulled from the Affordable Housing Fund — to fund a predevelopment loan for the proposed Gastineau Lodges project which, if developed, would create a 72-unit apartment building in downtown Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
People walk past City Hall in downtown Juneau on a sunny evening in early September. On Monday, CBJ Assembly members OK’d an ordinance to offer a property tax break to new eligible housing developments of four or more units on one lot that will be in effect boroughwide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City OKs tax break for housing development

Boroughwide abatement ordinance gets the OK after whirlwind debate

People walk past City Hall in downtown Juneau on a sunny evening in early September. On Monday, CBJ Assembly members OK’d an ordinance to offer a property tax break to new eligible housing developments of four or more units on one lot that will be in effect boroughwide. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School wrestler Brandon Day pins down his competition Saturday afternoon during the Brandon Pilot Invitational Wrestling Tournament at THMS. The Falcons had seven of its wrestlers make it into the finals and five took first in their weight divisions. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Falcons hit the mats

Juneau high school wrestlers take top spots at weekend tournaments

Thunder Mountain High School wrestler Brandon Day pins down his competition Saturday afternoon during the Brandon Pilot Invitational Wrestling Tournament at THMS. The Falcons had seven of its wrestlers make it into the finals and five took first in their weight divisions. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Residents made their way through the more than 30 local vendor booths included at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center for the first-ever Pumpkin Spice Market, a fall-themed festival hosted by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council which celebrated local artists, businesses and organizations here in the capital city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

‘Pumpkin Spice’ and everything nice: Vendors and residents join up at the JACC for a fall festival

Art and apple cider

Residents made their way through the more than 30 local vendor booths included at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center for the first-ever Pumpkin Spice Market, a fall-themed festival hosted by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council which celebrated local artists, businesses and organizations here in the capital city. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Andrii Pomynalnyi, left, his wife Olena, son Yehor and daughter Irynka visit Nugget Falls on Sept. 28, the same day the Ukrainian family arrived in Juneau after a journey that began Feb. 24 with Russian attacks near their home in Kyiv. The father said he is hoping the family can remain in Juneau for at least two years and possible beyond due to the destruction and future uncertainty in his homeland. (Courtesy of Kate Troll)

Ukrainian family sees strong prospects in Juneau

Kyiv family sees past life disappear at start of Russian invasion, reaches Alaska seven months later

Andrii Pomynalnyi, left, his wife Olena, son Yehor and daughter Irynka visit Nugget Falls on Sept. 28, the same day the Ukrainian family arrived in Juneau after a journey that began Feb. 24 with Russian attacks near their home in Kyiv. The father said he is hoping the family can remain in Juneau for at least two years and possible beyond due to the destruction and future uncertainty in his homeland. (Courtesy of Kate Troll)
The Juneau Huskies offense prepares to kneel to end the half against the Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School Thunderbirds. Winning that game sent the unite Juneau high school football team to the

Live coverage from Division I title game: Huskies vs Knights

ASAA Division I First National Bowl championship

The Juneau Huskies offense prepares to kneel to end the half against the Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School Thunderbirds. Winning that game sent the unite Juneau high school football team to the