A Capital Transit bus makes its way downtown in August. The City and Borough of Juneau is considering a public transit bus to use as a winter warming shelter as it has received no bids to host a shelter. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

City considers overnight warming bus for homeless during winter

Temporary option in discussion as city faces no prospects to host winter warming shelter.

A Capital Transit bus makes its way downtown in August. The City and Borough of Juneau is considering a public transit bus to use as a winter warming shelter as it has received no bids to host a shelter. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File
Rows of houses line Douglas Highway in late May. On Monday the Assembly approved a program that will offer $13,500 to the first 16 eligible Juneau residents who apply with the city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant Program to go toward constructing an accessory dwelling unit on their property.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File
Rows of houses line Douglas Highway in late May. On Monday the Assembly approved a program that will offer $13,500 to the first 16 eligible Juneau residents who apply with the city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant Program to go toward constructing an accessory dwelling unit on their property.
The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Ships in Port for the Week of Aug. 19

Here’s what to expect this week.

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This is a photo of the Juneau Police Department’s new armored security vehicle that arrived in March. (Courtesy / Krag Campbell)

Police department’s new $348K armored vehicle arrived in March

“At this time, we’re just not trying to show this vehicle off,” JPD spokesperson says.

This is a photo of the Juneau Police Department’s new armored security vehicle that arrived in March. (Courtesy / Krag Campbell)
A portion of fence at Juneau Montessori School is missing following a hit-and-run crash early Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Hit-and-run destroys portion of Montessori fence, knocks over stop sign

The incident on South Douglas is still under investigation, police say.

A portion of fence at Juneau Montessori School is missing following a hit-and-run crash early Thursday morning. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg listens as U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, talks with the press Wednesday afternoon at Juneau International Airport. The capital city was the final stop on Buttigieg’s three-day visit to Alaska. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg closes out Alaska tour in Juneau

6,500-mile northward extension of state’s marine highway announced during trip with Murkowski

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg listens as U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, talks with the press Wednesday afternoon at Juneau International Airport. The capital city was the final stop on Buttigieg’s three-day visit to Alaska. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo shared on the Save Juneau Facebook page. The group is running a campaign opposing the new City Hall proposal set to appear on this October’s municipal ballot, and intends to back Assembly candidates “who are most likely to give taxpayers some relief.” (Courtesy / Molly Duvall)

Campaign group forms to oppose new City Hall, criticizes Assembly’s ‘out-of-touch’ attitude

Save Juneau to support Assembly candidates “who are most likely to give taxpayers some relief.”

This is a photo shared on the Save Juneau Facebook page. The group is running a campaign opposing the new City Hall proposal set to appear on this October’s municipal ballot, and intends to back Assembly candidates “who are most likely to give taxpayers some relief.” (Courtesy / Molly Duvall)
Cherish Ann Blake, 33, a lifelong resident of Juneau, sits under her A-frame staked out between thin trees holding up blue tarps at the Mill Campground on Tuesday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Sheltering homeless people this summer is hard — it may get worse come fall

No bids to host winter warming shelter could leave more than 70 people without a place to sleep.

Cherish Ann Blake, 33, a lifelong resident of Juneau, sits under her A-frame staked out between thin trees holding up blue tarps at the Mill Campground on Tuesday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Photos by Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Robin Welling, a Juneau resident, sprints to the finish line to win the Nifty Fifty 50K race Saturday afternoon with a time of four hours, 56 minutes and 55 seconds.

Runners dominate slippery trails for annual Nifty Fifty races amid rain storm

The 50K, 25K and 10K races were a success despite weather, race director says.

Photos by Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
Robin Welling, a Juneau resident, sprints to the finish line to win the Nifty Fifty 50K race Saturday afternoon with a time of four hours, 56 minutes and 55 seconds.
Students enter a bus stopped on Douglas Highway Tuesday morning for the first day of the 2023-2024 school year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

New school year starts for students in Juneau

District welcomes a new superintendent, principals and early release policy for elementary students.

Students enter a bus stopped on Douglas Highway Tuesday morning for the first day of the 2023-2024 school year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Players collide during the second quarter of the Juneau Huskies’ season opener against East Anchorage Saturday afternoon at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Players collide during the second quarter of the Juneau Huskies’ season opener against East Anchorage Saturday afternoon at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
New University of Alaska Chancellor Aparna Palmer speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
New University of Alaska Chancellor Aparna Palmer speaks to the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon Thursday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
People attend a candlelit vigil that was held at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to honor Paul Rodriguez Jr., pictured, who drowned while kayaking on Mendenhall Lake in July. The search for his body has been called off following the record flooding from Suicide Basin during the weekend, officials say. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Search for body of missing kayaker will not resume following flood

It will remain suspended unless new leads are discovered, trooper says.

People attend a candlelit vigil that was held at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center to honor Paul Rodriguez Jr., pictured, who drowned while kayaking on Mendenhall Lake in July. The search for his body has been called off following the record flooding from Suicide Basin during the weekend, officials say. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
This photo taken in Juneau on Monday is of the Ghaanka Yéil S’áaxhw (Raven of the Roof, Hat) from the L’uknaxh.ádi clan in Sitka. The item from repatriated from the University of Pennsylvania. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Tlingit and Haida to receive $143K in grants toward repatriation projects

The funding was awarded under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

This photo taken in Juneau on Monday is of the Ghaanka Yéil S’áaxhw (Raven of the Roof, Hat) from the L’uknaxh.ádi clan in Sitka. The item from repatriated from the University of Pennsylvania. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new downtown development project that was approved for a conditional permit by the City and Borough of Juneau Planning Commission Tuesday night. (City and Borough of Juneau)

Major $150 million downtown waterfront development project passes another hurdle

Nearly three-acre Huna Totem Aak’w Landing Project approved by planning commission.

This rendering depicts Huna Totem Corp.’s proposed new downtown development project that was approved for a conditional permit by the City and Borough of Juneau Planning Commission Tuesday night. (City and Borough of Juneau)
A statue of William Henry Seward stands outside the Dimond Courthouse in downtown Juneau. The family of a Juneau man who died after suffering a blunt-force neck injury filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Carver Construction LLC, arguing it breached its duty to ensure the family’s residence was reasonably safe amid ongoing renovations. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Family files wrongful death suit against Juneau construction company

Fatal fall in 2021 the result of company’s breach of duty, lawsuit states.

A statue of William Henry Seward stands outside the Dimond Courthouse in downtown Juneau. The family of a Juneau man who died after suffering a blunt-force neck injury filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Carver Construction LLC, arguing it breached its duty to ensure the family’s residence was reasonably safe amid ongoing renovations. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg gives a speech in Washington in early May. Buttigieg is expected to arrive in Juneau next Wednesday a part of a three-day tour traveling to several communities in Alaska. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to arrive in Juneau next week

This visit is a part of a three-day tour of Alaska communities and infrastructure.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg gives a speech in Washington in early May. Buttigieg is expected to arrive in Juneau next Wednesday a part of a three-day tour traveling to several communities in Alaska. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Rows of houses line roads near Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

City considers funding boost to accessory dwelling grant program

Assembly move forward in committee to extend the program, increase grant amount.

Rows of houses line roads near Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in late May. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon (far left), Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski (middle) and Assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale listen during a special Assembly meeting Monday night where members OK’d a resolution to seek state and federal funding following record flooding over the weekend. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon (far left), Deputy Mayor Maria Gladziszewski (middle) and Assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale listen during a special Assembly meeting Monday night where members OK’d a resolution to seek state and federal funding following record flooding over the weekend. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
April Rezendes (left) and Jenna Wiersma (right) embrace at the finish line after completing the Aukeman Triathlon at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Sunday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

The race must go on: Athletes compete in Aukeman Triathlon despite flood disruptions

A quick change of course meant a successful and safe race Sunday morning, officials say.

April Rezendes (left) and Jenna Wiersma (right) embrace at the finish line after completing the Aukeman Triathlon at the University of Alaska Southeast campus on Sunday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)