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City crews remove snow near 4th and E Streets in Douglas on Monday, Dec. 20. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

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Snow many issues

Public works officials talk snow removal

This map, provided by Alaska Natives Without Land, shows possible federal land grants for the landless community of Tenakee Springs, one of five communities in Alaska not granted land by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. (Screenshot)

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50 years after ANCSA, some still fighting for land

The five landless communities and Vietnam veterans were left landless by the act.

”I’m full vaxxed from COVID,” read buttons at the Juneau Public Health Center in late November. Juneau’s relatively high vaccination rate plays a role in the local response to the ongoing pandemic. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City Assembly members agreed to move a step closer to “modest relaxations” to the city’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies and heard from state experts who praised Juneau’s performance in keeping the worst at bay so far. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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City inches toward relaxing some COVID mitigations

State public health experts weigh in

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File A number of complaints about issues at Lemon Creek Correctional Center as it dealt with COVID issues in 2020 were addressed in a recent news release from the state ombudsman’s office.

News

Prison investigated for medical treatment amid pandemic

Report stems from four complaints.

Clearing skies appeared over the Gastineau Channel late in the afternoon on Tuesday, Dec. 21, after a quick-moving snowstorm dumped up to 11 inches of snow across the City and Borough of Juneau. (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

News

Heavy snow means white Christmas in Juneau

Cold temperatures on the way

Alaska State Trooper Chris Umbs and Victoria Larson talk to Ethan and Wilbur during the annual Shop with a Cop Event at Fred Meyer on Dec. 18, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

News

Shopping aisle be home for Christmas

Shop with a Cop returns as in-person event.

The sun rises over Juneau on Dec. 16, 2021. The solstice on Dec. 21 will mark the shortest day of the year as the northern hemisphere is at its furthest away from the sun. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Dark night of the sol: Solstice means we’ll soon be gaining daylight

Solstice means we’ll soon be gaining daylight

This picture shows the City and Borough of Juneau City Hall on Dec. 20, 2021. City officials are eyeing options for a new or renovated city facility. On Monday, the Public Works and Facilities Committee narrowed the scope of possibilities to four potential options. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

News

City narrows field in search for new City Hall site

CBJ officials pick four potential city hall sites

Juneau's Imagination Station owner Alicia Smith highlights one of their best-selling items at the store this holiday, a robotic hedgehog. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Holiday helpers share top picks

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire Buses leave Auke Bay Elementary School at the end of the school day on Dec. 16. Auke Bay is one of the school buildings that was renovated using the state’s school bond debt reimbursement program that allows municipalities to renovate eligible schools by reimbursing about 70% of the cost of the project if it is approved by a referendum. This type of debt funding was also used to renovate Sayéik: Gastineau Community School and Harborview elementary schools. In recent years, the state had not provided the full reimbursement amount. However, Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed full funding for the program in the budget he unveiled Wednesday.

News

Local officials react to governor’s budget proposal

There’s support for school measure, concern about lack of long-term revenue.

The Juneau School District headquarters on March 17, 2021. On Thursday, school officials sent an email to parents warning of a TikTok-based nationwide threat against schools for Dec. 17. Local officials said parents may notice an increased police presence but said they did not believe the threat was credible. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Local school officials respond to TikTok threat

Schools across country cite same post

Santa Claus waves to Juneau residents who gathered—at a distance—to watch a holiday parade on Dec. 18, 2020. This year’s parades are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. ((Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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Santa parades set for Friday and Saturday

Event scheduled for Lemon Creek, too.

Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer received the President’s Award for Public Service at the 2021 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, recognizing his contributions to the community. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau police chief recognized at Alaska Federation of Natives convention

The award was for an Alaska Native person who made outstanding contributions to their community.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé varsity boys basketball players Orion Dybdahl, left and Jake Sleppy, right contest a jump ball from Coach Robert Caspersons during a practice on Dec. 14, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS boys basketball gets ready to hit the road

Their first games this year will be away —way, way away.

Kiara Kookesh (right) gets a hand on an attempted pass from Ashlyn Gates during a practice drill at Thunder Mountain High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Sports

The tough get going: TMHS girls season to start with early challenges

“We have great athleticism, we have size, we have speed.”

Technicians at the Alaska State Crime Lab recently identified the human remains found in a shoe that washed up near the Seawalk in 2020. (Courtesy photo / Department of Public Safety)

News

How it works: crime lab specialist talks ID’ing human remains

Deep muscle tissue is best for identifying workable DNA.

Ice on Mendenhall Lake is never completely safe to walk on, said a Capital City Fire/Rescue officer. That’s because of widely varying and hard-to-discern conditions under the surface., but common sense can mitigate some risk. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

Easy on the ice: CCFR recommends caution around icy lakes

The safest way to not fall through thin ice is to not go out onto it in the…

The city eased requirements for masks for vaccinated individuals indoors on Dec. 13, 2021. Masks will still be requireed in all City and Borough of Juneau facilities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

News

City lowers community risk level

Very little will change, save that the vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks indoors.

The Juneau headquarters of Alaska Light & Power on Dec. 9. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

News

Grant process leaves city high and dry, but electrification plans still on deck

When will their ship come in?

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

News

Cities hope to see full state budget, bolstered by federal funds

School bond debt.