News

No, there wasn’t a shooting in the valley

A person, possibly suffering from mental health issues, made a false report to police Thursday that there was a shooter in the Mendenhall Valley, an… Continue reading

Tourists take shelter under the Marine Park canopy as a rare thunderstorm passes over Juneau in June 2013.

Why are thunderstorms so rare in Juneau?

The oddly muggy air and dark clouds on Wednesday night foreshadowed a weather phenomena rare to Juneau: thunderstorms.Thunderstorms only happen about once every other year… Continue reading

Tourists take shelter under the Marine Park canopy as a rare thunderstorm passes over Juneau in June 2013.
The site of a boating accident that claimed the life of a 44-year-old Elfin Cove woman

Woman dies in boating accident near Elfin Cove, 10-year-old in hospital

One woman is dead and a 10-year-old child remains hospitalized after a Wednesday night accident ejected several passengers from a boat into water near Elfin… Continue reading

The site of a boating accident that claimed the life of a 44-year-old Elfin Cove woman
Murray Walsh, of Walsh PLanning and Development Services, speaks on behalf of Miller Construction Ltd. during the Planning Commission's Tuesday night meeting. The commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit, allowing Miller Construction to operate a temporary asphalt plant near the DMV in the Mendenhall Valley.

Confronted by ‘NIMBYers’, Planning Commission OKs valley asphalt plant

Juneau is getting a new asphalt plant, at least temporarily.At its Tuesday night meeting, the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit allowing an… Continue reading

Murray Walsh, of Walsh PLanning and Development Services, speaks on behalf of Miller Construction Ltd. during the Planning Commission's Tuesday night meeting. The commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit, allowing Miller Construction to operate a temporary asphalt plant near the DMV in the Mendenhall Valley.
Mauricio Yadao looks at a shattered down at the Foodland Center on Wednesday morning. The building was broken into overnight.

Police chase, capture suspect in latest downtown burglary

A 40-year-old man visited a downtown gym early Wednesday morning, but instead of lifting weights, he allegedly stole almost $1,000 worth of merchandise and smashed… Continue reading

Mauricio Yadao looks at a shattered down at the Foodland Center on Wednesday morning. The building was broken into overnight.
Rear Admiral Michael McAllister, left, takes over as Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard 17th District from Rear Admiral Daniel Abel, right, during a Change of Command ceremony at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Wednesday. The ceremony was overseen by Vice Admiral Charles Ray, Commander of the Pacific Area and Defense Force West, center.

Coast Guard bids farewell to Alaska commander, ushers in another

Rear Adm. Daniel Abel got a standing ovation for his leadership of the U.S. Coast Guard 17th District over the past two years.“His perspective and… Continue reading

Rear Admiral Michael McAllister, left, takes over as Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard 17th District from Rear Admiral Daniel Abel, right, during a Change of Command ceremony at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Wednesday. The ceremony was overseen by Vice Admiral Charles Ray, Commander of the Pacific Area and Defense Force West, center.

Around Town

Juneau Gastineau Rotary Club meeting, 7 a.m., The Prospector Hotel.Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., SEARHC Juneau WIC Clinic, 3245 Hospital Drive,… Continue reading

Police & fire for Thursday, June 16, 2016

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone listed… Continue reading

Coast Guard to undergo machine gun training tactics Friday

Don’t mind the gunshots on Friday. That’s the sound of the Coast Guard training.Coast Guard Station Juneau warned the public in a prepared statement that… Continue reading

National Weather Service Juneau office to hold open house

The National Weather Service’s Juneau office is holding an open house for the public today.The theme is “Building Community Awareness to Reduce Hazardous Weather Impacts,”… Continue reading

Two members of the teacher contract negotiation team - Juneau School District Director of Human Resources Ted Van Bronkhorst and Juneau Education Association president-elect Laura Mulgrew - talk to the Juneau School Board at Tuesday night's regular meeting.

In tight fiscal times, Juneau teachers agree to slight salary increases

Salary increases for Juneau School District teachers over the next three years will likely will not keep up with rates of inflation, according to the… Continue reading

Two members of the teacher contract negotiation team - Juneau School District Director of Human Resources Ted Van Bronkhorst and Juneau Education Association president-elect Laura Mulgrew - talk to the Juneau School Board at Tuesday night's regular meeting.
Myrna Garner, Central Council's business and economic development manager, speaks to the Juneau Planning Commission about a plan to turn the old Thane Ore House into a Native cultural immersion park at Tuesday night's meeting. The commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for the project.

Planning Commission gives Native culture center the go ahead

The doors of the Thane Ore House, locked since the business closed in 2012, will soon be open again.The Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional… Continue reading

Myrna Garner, Central Council's business and economic development manager, speaks to the Juneau Planning Commission about a plan to turn the old Thane Ore House into a Native cultural immersion park at Tuesday night's meeting. The commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit for the project.

Senior sales tax hardship rebate apps due soon

Seniors looking to apply for the city’s senior citizen sales tax hardship have until the end of the month to do so. Rebate applications are… Continue reading

Police & fire for Wednesday, June 15, 2016

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone listed… Continue reading

Around Town

Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., SEARHC Juneau WIC Clinic, 3245 Hospital Drive, first floor. Free nutrition services for income-eligible women who… Continue reading

‘A love sonnet’ by a former city manager

Juneau is not the same place it was when former city manager Kim Kiefer began working for the city 32 years ago. It still looks… Continue reading

Police arrest two men tied to downtown group assault

Juneau police say they have arrested two of six people connected to a group attack on an Alaskan Hotel and Bar employee last week, and… Continue reading

Officials rule out foul play in AMHS employee’s death

Foul play has been ruled out in the death of a state ferry employee found dead Thursday, officials say.Alaska State Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said… Continue reading

Brandon Howard and Maura Selenak are starting up the Amalga Distillery located at Second and Franklin Streets in Juneau.

Hop Dreams: Five locals envision craft brewery, distillery in downtown’s future

The Devil’s Club is on fire in downtown Juneau. Last Wednesday, three “local boys with a dream” launched a campaign on the crowd funding website… Continue reading

Brandon Howard and Maura Selenak are starting up the Amalga Distillery located at Second and Franklin Streets in Juneau.

Empire, Capital City Weekly honored with 17 Morris Journalism Excellence awards

The Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly received 17 Morris Journalism Excellence awards, announced its parent company, Morris Communications.The awards include 11 first place finishes… Continue reading