News

Capital City Fire/Rescue responded after a personal aircraft was destroyed by high winds while taxiing at Juneau International Airport Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 2, 2020. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)

Aircraft wrecked by strong wind while taxiing at airport

The plane was not in flight, and no injuries occured.

Capital City Fire/Rescue responded after a personal aircraft was destroyed by high winds while taxiing at Juneau International Airport Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 2, 2020. (Courtesy photo / CCFR)
Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, speaks during the House Finance Committee meeting as they work on SB 128, the Permanent Fund spending bill, in the Bill Ray Center in 2016. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Razor-thin state House race gets a recount

Recount starts Friday morning.

Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, speaks during the House Finance Committee meeting as they work on SB 128, the Permanent Fund spending bill, in the Bill Ray Center in 2016. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)

COVID at a glance for Wednesday, Dec. 2

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)
A mudslide at the top of Wire Street near Twin Lakes Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, sent rocks and other debris down the road. City and Borough of Juneau staff were on-site to assess the damage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Heavy rain and mudslides strike buildings, wash out roads

Tuesday set a record for rainfall for the Dec. 1 of any year.

A mudslide at the top of Wire Street near Twin Lakes Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, sent rocks and other debris down the road. City and Borough of Juneau staff were on-site to assess the damage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau School District building and Harborview Elementary School on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. The district's funding is stable for this year according to the Board of Education, but next year's budget depends on the Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State provision means JSD’s funding formula remains steady

Classes are still online.

The Juneau School District building and Harborview Elementary School on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. The district's funding is stable for this year according to the Board of Education, but next year's budget depends on the Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Tucker Reece, a laborer with the City and Borough Department of Parks and Recreation heads to clear a blockage near Cope Park caused by heavy rains on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Heavy rain brings avalanche, flood warnings

Drive safe.

Tucker Reece, a laborer with the City and Borough Department of Parks and Recreation heads to clear a blockage near Cope Park caused by heavy rains on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)

COVID at a glance for Tuesday, Dec. 1

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Students from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé honor society are holding a clothing drive for patrons of the Glory Hall from the high school every Wednesday.

Passing the hat: Students hold clothing drive for Glory Hall

The group came up with the idea to help out during the bitter winter.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Students from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé honor society are holding a clothing drive for patrons of the Glory Hall from the high school every Wednesday.
Juneau is expected to receive between five and ten inches of rain between Monday, Nov. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, possibly leading to avalanches, mudslides, and high water levels and flooding, like Gold Creek, shown here July 26, 2020 after heavy rains. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City warns against mudslides, avalanches as heavy rains predicted

Juneau may get as much as 10 inches of rain by Wednesday evening.

Juneau is expected to receive between five and ten inches of rain between Monday, Nov. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, possibly leading to avalanches, mudslides, and high water levels and flooding, like Gold Creek, shown here July 26, 2020 after heavy rains. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)

COVID at a glance for Monday, Nov. 30

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. On Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, the top U.S. public health agency said that coronavirus can spread greater distances through the air than 6 feet, particularly in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces. But agency officials continued to say such spread is uncommon, and current social distancing guidelines still make sense. (NIAID-RML via AP)
Health care workers help distribute flu vaccines to thousands of Juneau residents at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Local health authorities said the drive-thru clinic was a practice run for an eventual mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Health officials want Alaskans ready for vaccine

“They are coming.”

Health care workers help distribute flu vaccines to thousands of Juneau residents at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Local health authorities said the drive-thru clinic was a practice run for an eventual mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows Juneau City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The City and Borough of Juneau passed an ordinance requiring the confidential disclosure to the city assessor’s office of the sales price of real estate transactions in the borough which went into effect Monday, Nov. 30. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Real estate disclosure law takes effect

Only for new sales.

This photo shows Juneau City Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The City and Borough of Juneau passed an ordinance requiring the confidential disclosure to the city assessor’s office of the sales price of real estate transactions in the borough which went into effect Monday, Nov. 30. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Charles Fawcett Jr. looks at backpacks provided by Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska in the Marine Parking Garage on Saturday, Nov. 28. The parking garage was the site of Juneau Street Warming event meant to provide on-the-spot assistance to people experiencing homelessness. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Over 100 attend street warming event

Refreshments and cold weather gear given to people experiencing homelessnes

Charles Fawcett Jr. looks at backpacks provided by Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska in the Marine Parking Garage on Saturday, Nov. 28. The parking garage was the site of Juneau Street Warming event meant to provide on-the-spot assistance to people experiencing homelessness. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A bus landed on the roof of a house out the road after driving off the road on Nov. 26, 2020. The bus and house were empty, and the driver of the bus was uninjured. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Update: No one injured in bus wreck

The driver, the only human present, was uninjured.

A bus landed on the roof of a house out the road after driving off the road on Nov. 26, 2020. The bus and house were empty, and the driver of the bus was uninjured. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Forest Service suggests areas off of Fish Creek Road leading to the Eaglecrest Ski Area, seen here on Friday, Nov. 27, as an area suitable for Christmas tree harvest. Households are allowed to harvest one tree a year, but there are certain guidelines to be followed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Cutting your own Christmas Tree? Here’s what you need to know

Tips for timber.

The U.S. Forest Service suggests areas off of Fish Creek Road leading to the Eaglecrest Ski Area, seen here on Friday, Nov. 27, as an area suitable for Christmas tree harvest. Households are allowed to harvest one tree a year, but there are certain guidelines to be followed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
People mill outside the Glory Hall on South Franklin Street on Wednesday, Oct. 7. The Glory Hall was one of four organizations in Juneau to jointly receive nearly $1 million in grant funding from the Alaska Housing Financial Corporation. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Four Juneau nonprofits receive grant aimed at curbing homelessness

The four organizations received nearly $1 million in grant funding.

People mill outside the Glory Hall on South Franklin Street on Wednesday, Oct. 7. The Glory Hall was one of four organizations in Juneau to jointly receive nearly $1 million in grant funding from the Alaska Housing Financial Corporation. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Volunteer Linnell Bush helps Jeremy Schlosser load up the trunk of a vehicle with meals in downtown Juneau on Thursday, Nov. 26. Schlosser then distributed those meals to Fireweed Place, the St. Vincent de Paul Society shelter and Trillium Landing. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

‘It’s a good cause’: Hundreds of meals distributed on Thanksgiving

It stopped raining just in time.

Volunteer Linnell Bush helps Jeremy Schlosser load up the trunk of a vehicle with meals in downtown Juneau on Thursday, Nov. 26. Schlosser then distributed those meals to Fireweed Place, the St. Vincent de Paul Society shelter and Trillium Landing. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Meals slated for children in Juneau over Thanksgiving weekend are arrayed on tables at Thunder Mountain High School on Nov. 25, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Luke Adams)

Font of plenty: JSD readies meals for Thanksgiving holiday

Nearly three tons of food got distributed for the long weekend.

Meals slated for children in Juneau over Thanksgiving weekend are arrayed on tables at Thunder Mountain High School on Nov. 25, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Luke Adams)
Amy Balanga photographs her daughter Clara, 4, alongside a live turkey at a fundraiser photoshoot for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s vocational programs on Wednesday.

A different kind of turkey shoot

The bird will be eaten.

Amy Balanga photographs her daughter Clara, 4, alongside a live turkey at a fundraiser photoshoot for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s vocational programs on Wednesday.
Travelers arrive at the Juneau International Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, made up only about half of what the airport normally sees in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Air travel down by more than half, airport officials say

It’s up from April, but still low.

Travelers arrive at the Juneau International Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, made up only about half of what the airport normally sees in the days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)