News

Nancy Barnes drums and sings a blessing with other members of the Yees Ku.oo Dance Group during the official groundbreaking ceremony of the Housing First Collaborative Project on Allen Court in Lemon Creek on Monday. The 32-unit facility is targeted to serve the most vulnerable homeless and provide on-site medical and mental health services.

Breaking ground, building homes

An estimated 40 people live on Juneau’s streets in a state of vulnerable homelessness, often the critical point before their untimely deaths. Construction on a… Continue reading

Nancy Barnes drums and sings a blessing with other members of the Yees Ku.oo Dance Group during the official groundbreaking ceremony of the Housing First Collaborative Project on Allen Court in Lemon Creek on Monday. The 32-unit facility is targeted to serve the most vulnerable homeless and provide on-site medical and mental health services.
Juneau residents attend a tree planting reenactment ceremony for Alaska’s 50th Arbor Day at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum on Monday.

Photos: Hawthorn tree planting

In honor of Alaska’s 50th Arbor Day, Gov. Bill Walker planted a hawthorn tree outside the Juneau-Douglas City Museum today. Learn more about the historic… Continue reading

Juneau residents attend a tree planting reenactment ceremony for Alaska’s 50th Arbor Day at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum on Monday.

Cloudy, wet weather breaks warmest mid-May in Southeast since World War II

Your sunburn can get some relief.After five days of some of the warmest mid-May weather Southeast Alaska has seen in 74 years, the National Weather… Continue reading

Delegation asks Kerry for review

Alaska’s congressional delegation responded Thursday to continued concerns from Southeast Alaskans about Canadian mine plans by asking Secretary of State John Kerry to look into… Continue reading

Juneau schools arts specialist Nancy Lehnhart, 51, talks with Delphine Hochstoeger, 6, about art as her father Peter looks on at the 14th annual UAS Community Day on Saturday.

Photos: 14th annual Community Day on Campus

Scenes from the 14th annual UAS Community Day on Saturday.… Continue reading

Juneau schools arts specialist Nancy Lehnhart, 51, talks with Delphine Hochstoeger, 6, about art as her father Peter looks on at the 14th annual UAS Community Day on Saturday.
A tree swallow flies from a nesting box after feeding chicks at the Juneau Community Garden on Friday.

Photo: Tree swallow takes off

A tree swallow flies from a nesting box after feeding chicks at the Juneau Community Gardens on Friday.--Related stories:Photos: Students have fun scouring for beach… Continue reading

A tree swallow flies from a nesting box after feeding chicks at the Juneau Community Garden on Friday.

Around Town

Tuesday, May 17Valley Toastmasters meeting, 6:15 a.m., St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Parish Hall. A safe, fun environment to learn public speaking skills. Details: Jim, 789-3074.Women,… Continue reading

Jason Bauer and Jeremy Clifton have bought the building at Glacier Avenue and 12 Street formerly the home of Blockbusters. The building is being converted into two retail units on the first floor and three upscale apartments on the second.

Rentals to rentals: Old Blockbuster building given new purpose

Juneau may no longer need a Blockbuster thanks to the advent of online movie-streaming services. But it does need housing, and that’s exactly what designers… Continue reading

Jason Bauer and Jeremy Clifton have bought the building at Glacier Avenue and 12 Street formerly the home of Blockbusters. The building is being converted into two retail units on the first floor and three upscale apartments on the second.
Samuel Wharton, 10, looks on as Gwen Baluss,a wildlife technician with the National Forest service, prepares to release a recently banded White-crowned Sparrow at the Juneau Community Garden Saturday morning. The bird banding was a part of the Tongass National Forest's celebration of International Migratory Bird Day.

Banding together: Forest Service celebrates Migratory Bird Day

Five or six kids ran, laughing and smiling, along the perimeter fencing of the Juneau Community Garden before they came to a stop next to… Continue reading

Samuel Wharton, 10, looks on as Gwen Baluss,a wildlife technician with the National Forest service, prepares to release a recently banded White-crowned Sparrow at the Juneau Community Garden Saturday morning. The bird banding was a part of the Tongass National Forest's celebration of International Migratory Bird Day.
Mount Juneau is shown on Friday.

Juneau hiker survives tumble down Mount Juneau, rescued

A 57-year-old Juneau hiker was rescued on Mount Juneau Friday after slipping on the snowpack near the top of the mountain and tumbling down some… Continue reading

Mount Juneau is shown on Friday.

Police calls for Sunday, May 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

Knights of Columbus Bishop Kenny Council brunch, 10 a.m.-noon, St. Paul’s Catholic Church. $10 for a family and $4 for an individual.Open trap shooting, 10… Continue reading

Tlingit and Haida schedules groundbreaking

The Central Council Tlingit-Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the new Housing First facility intended to combat homelessness in… Continue reading

Bottles of Alaskan Amber beer roll along the bottling line at the Alaskan Brewing Company on July 7, 2015.

Alaskan Brewing expands to Ohio

Alaska’s largest brewery announced Friday that it will expand its distribution to the Buckeye State this summer, making Ohio the 18th state to offer Alaskan… Continue reading

Bottles of Alaskan Amber beer roll along the bottling line at the Alaskan Brewing Company on July 7, 2015.
Juneau mayor Ken Koelsch offers his remarks during the Alaska Peace Officers Association police memorial Friday at Centennial Hall. Keolsch reflected on his time as an officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and on his personal connection to friends lost on the force.

Juneau ceremony honors officers killed in the line of duty

Forty-eight law enforcement officials have died while serving Alaska communities since 1908. Their deaths are called the end of watch.“They get to work to keep… Continue reading

Juneau mayor Ken Koelsch offers his remarks during the Alaska Peace Officers Association police memorial Friday at Centennial Hall. Keolsch reflected on his time as an officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and on his personal connection to friends lost on the force.

Two indicted for burglary, theft

A Juneau grand jury handed down a pair of indictments Friday to two men in separate felony burglary and theft cases.Anthony B. Kalk, 30, was… Continue reading

A note from Tlingit and Haida Central Council on John Borbridge Jr.'s passing, via their Facebook page

Prominent Alaska Native leader passes

John Borbridge Jr., the first full-time president of Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, died on Monday in Juneau. He… Continue reading

A note from Tlingit and Haida Central Council on John Borbridge Jr.'s passing, via their Facebook page
Aidan Key, executive director of Gender Diversity, leads a talk on "Transgender Children in Today's Society: A Conversation" at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Thursday.

Gender specialist: ‘Ground zero is bathrooms, locker rooms’

Aidan Key, a gender specialist and transgender man, has given talks and trainings at more than a hundred schools around the country on gender identity.… Continue reading

Aidan Key, executive director of Gender Diversity, leads a talk on "Transgender Children in Today's Society: A Conversation" at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Thursday.

Man found dead near Brotherhood Bridge identified by authorities

Juneau police are investigating the death of a 47-year-old man whose body was found Friday afternoon by Brotherhood Bridge.The Juneau Police Department received a 911… Continue reading

The scene immediately after a Sports Utility Vehicle struck a pedestrian near the entrance of the shopping center on West Willoughby Avenue at about 1:10 p.m. Friday.

Man hit by SUV dies

A 77-year-old Juneau man died after being struck by a vehicle in front of the Foodland IGA Shopping Center on West Willoughby Avenue Friday afternoon.After… Continue reading

The scene immediately after a Sports Utility Vehicle struck a pedestrian near the entrance of the shopping center on West Willoughby Avenue at about 1:10 p.m. Friday.