News

Water rushes down Gold Creek on Aug. 13, 2021. Juneau residents can expect heavy rain and strong winds beginning Friday. Forecasters expect the strongest winds late Friday night. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

A hard rain’s a-gonna fall: National Weather Service predicts heavy rain and wind

Forecasters suggest securing lawn furniture, loose items

Water rushes down Gold Creek on Aug. 13, 2021. Juneau residents can expect heavy rain and strong winds beginning Friday. Forecasters expect the strongest winds late Friday night. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Jamiann Hasselquist, vice president of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2, speaks to an invited crowd at the Juneau Montessori School about Orange Shirt Day, a day of remembrance for the victims of residential school systems for Indigenous people in Canada and the United States on Sept. 28, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Local groups recognize and remember victims of residential schools

Sept. 30 is an annual day of remembrance for the victims of that system.

Jamiann Hasselquist, vice president of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2, speaks to an invited crowd at the Juneau Montessori School about Orange Shirt Day, a day of remembrance for the victims of residential school systems for Indigenous people in Canada and the United States on Sept. 28, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Norwegian Encore sails past Douglas Island on Sept. 8, 2021. The Encore was visiting Juneau as part of an abbreviated cruise season this summer after COVID-19 canceled the 2020 season. The City and Borough of Juneau is currently offering an online survey for residents to share their views on the tourism industry. One of the survey questions addresses the proposal from Norwegian Cruise Lines to build a cruise ship dock on its waterfront property on Egan Drive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

CBJ surveys residents about tourism

Residents can weigh in until Oct. 15

The Norwegian Encore sails past Douglas Island on Sept. 8, 2021. The Encore was visiting Juneau as part of an abbreviated cruise season this summer after COVID-19 canceled the 2020 season. The City and Borough of Juneau is currently offering an online survey for residents to share their views on the tourism industry. One of the survey questions addresses the proposal from Norwegian Cruise Lines to build a cruise ship dock on its waterfront property on Egan Drive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A bear feasts on the salmon run at Katmai National Park and Preserve on July 13, 2021. (Courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)

Bears show off full bellies at Katmai for Fat Bear Week

KENAI — The bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve are preparing to show the world their beefy bodies starting today for this year’s Fat… Continue reading

A bear feasts on the salmon run at Katmai National Park and Preserve on July 13, 2021. (Courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)
Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire On Sept. 27, Bridget Weiss, superintendent of Juneau Public Schools, stood outside the classroom of former math teacher and basketball coach Bill Szepanski, who inspired her to pursue a degree in education and a teaching and coaching career. Later this week, Weiss will accept the 2022 Alaska Superintendent of the year award in Anchorage.

Words from the Weiss: Catching up with Alaska’s superintendent of the year

She’s had one heck of a year.

Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire On Sept. 27, Bridget Weiss, superintendent of Juneau Public Schools, stood outside the classroom of former math teacher and basketball coach Bill Szepanski, who inspired her to pursue a degree in education and a teaching and coaching career. Later this week, Weiss will accept the 2022 Alaska Superintendent of the year award in Anchorage.
A bill aimed at helping Alaska’s hospitals died Monday after provisions were added by lawmakers barring vaccine mandates. In this file photo, a nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

Boosters are now available. Here’s who’s eligible and how to get one

COVID-19 booster vaccinations are available in Juneau, the City and Borough of Juneau announced. The booster shots are available to certain people who received the… Continue reading

A bill aimed at helping Alaska’s hospitals died Monday after provisions were added by lawmakers barring vaccine mandates. In this file photo, a nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)
James Connally, a senior, makes his way toward the end zone to open the scoring for the Juneau Huskies. Connally also caught a pair of touchdowns in a 42-7 win against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

7 points: The Huskies are conference champs

Takeways from the Week 7 win and a look ahead to the playoffs.

James Connally, a senior, makes his way toward the end zone to open the scoring for the Juneau Huskies. Connally also caught a pair of touchdowns in a 42-7 win against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Joy Lyon, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children since 1996, left the post on Sept. 1, — precisely 25 years after she first stepped into the role. At her retirement party last week, friends celebrated her love of Dolly Parton and her work to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to children in Juneau and other parts of Southeast Alaska. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

An ode to Joy

Longtime early childhood advocate retires

Joy Lyon, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Association for the Education of Young Children since 1996, left the post on Sept. 1, — precisely 25 years after she first stepped into the role. At her retirement party last week, friends celebrated her love of Dolly Parton and her work to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to children in Juneau and other parts of Southeast Alaska. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Amelia Conrad, 4, presents Zara Rutherford with a stuffed moose donning aviator goggles while Mclain Patterson, 7, holds a sign reading “Fly Zara Fly!” at Ward Air. Rutherford is flying her way around the world in pursuit of the Guinness world record for youngest woman solo pilot to circumnavigate the world. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Plane determination: Teen contends with weather, forest fires while flying around the world

Young pilot passes through Juneau on global journey.

Amelia Conrad, 4, presents Zara Rutherford with a stuffed moose donning aviator goggles while Mclain Patterson, 7, holds a sign reading “Fly Zara Fly!” at Ward Air. Rutherford is flying her way around the world in pursuit of the Guinness world record for youngest woman solo pilot to circumnavigate the world. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Within the City and Borough of Juneau, four museums collect objects to tell the tale of the area and its people. The Juneau Empire visited each museum to learn about some of the oldest human-made objects each has on hand. Objects include a Chilkat robe (upper left), a 5,450 year old spruce root basket (upper right), a fish trap (lower left), and a piece of moon rock (lower right). (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)

Turning the clock way, way back

A tour of the oldest objects on display in Juneau’s museums

Within the City and Borough of Juneau, four museums collect objects to tell the tale of the area and its people. The Juneau Empire visited each museum to learn about some of the oldest human-made objects each has on hand. Objects include a Chilkat robe (upper left), a 5,450 year old spruce root basket (upper right), a fish trap (lower left), and a piece of moon rock (lower right). (Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire)
Bartlett Regional Hospital is looking for an interim CEO after Rose Lawhorne resigned from the top job on Saturday, after six months in the position. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Bartlett to search for interim CEO

Board targets mid-October for new hire

Bartlett Regional Hospital is looking for an interim CEO after Rose Lawhorne resigned from the top job on Saturday, after six months in the position. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Zach Gordon Youth Center manager Jorden Nigro points out a quilt donated by a Monday night quilting group to Shéiyi X̱aat Hít, or Spruce Root House, Juneau’s new youth shelter, on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire) Zach Gordon Youth Center manager Jorden Nigro points out a quilt donated by a Monday night quilting group to Shéiyi X̱aat Hít, or Spruce Root House, Juneau’s new youth shelter, on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

New youth shelter spreads its branches wide

The city has been without a youth shelter for about two years.

Zach Gordon Youth Center manager Jorden Nigro points out a quilt donated by a Monday night quilting group to Shéiyi X̱aat Hít, or Spruce Root House, Juneau’s new youth shelter, on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire) Zach Gordon Youth Center manager Jorden Nigro points out a quilt donated by a Monday night quilting group to Shéiyi X̱aat Hít, or Spruce Root House, Juneau’s new youth shelter, on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A patrol vehicle driven by a Juneau Police Department officer struck a pedestrian on Thursday night, resulting in minor injuries. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Juneau police car strikes pedestrian

The teenager suffered minor injuries but didn’t require hospitalization.

A patrol vehicle driven by a Juneau Police Department officer struck a pedestrian on Thursday night, resulting in minor injuries. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A voter casts his ballot in Juneau’s municipal election at the Douglas Library on Sept. 23. All ballots must be returned to the city by 8 p.m. on election day, Oct. 5. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Local election moves to high gear as ballots roll in

Voters are casting ballots

A voter casts his ballot in Juneau’s municipal election at the Douglas Library on Sept. 23. All ballots must be returned to the city by 8 p.m. on election day, Oct. 5. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
From left to right: Jackie Manning, curator of exhibits for the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum; Aaron Elmore, exhibit designer, and Ellen Carrlee, conservator for the museum unpack an ancient raven's tail robe on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. This robe is one of only about a dozen older robes in existence, according to SLAM collections curator Steven Kenrikson, and will only be on display at SLAM until next month. (Courtesy Photo/ Chelsea Kilgore, Alaska State Library Archives and Museum)

Book celebrates historic Ravenstail robe exhibit at state museum

Robes ancient and new are leaving Oct. 9

From left to right: Jackie Manning, curator of exhibits for the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum; Aaron Elmore, exhibit designer, and Ellen Carrlee, conservator for the museum unpack an ancient raven's tail robe on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. This robe is one of only about a dozen older robes in existence, according to SLAM collections curator Steven Kenrikson, and will only be on display at SLAM until next month. (Courtesy Photo/ Chelsea Kilgore, Alaska State Library Archives and Museum)
A ballot for the 2021 municipal election. On Wednesday, Will Muldoon entered the race for a seat on the Juneau Board of Public Education. He’s joining the field of candidates as a write-in option, eight days after city officials mailed ballots to voters and 13 days before ballots are due back. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

Second write-in candidate joins school board race

Muldoon cites concern over candidate stances on COVID mitigations and board scope drive candidacy

A ballot for the 2021 municipal election. On Wednesday, Will Muldoon entered the race for a seat on the Juneau Board of Public Education. He’s joining the field of candidates as a write-in option, eight days after city officials mailed ballots to voters and 13 days before ballots are due back. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the school board candidates that will appear on ballot's in next month's municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

School board candidate forum responses

Find out where local candidates stand

This photo shows the school board candidates that will appear on ballot's in next month's municipal election. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
James Varsos, also known as “Hobo Jim,” poses for a photo during the August 2016, Funny River Festival in Funny River, Alaska, in August 2016. (Peninsula Clarion file)

‘Hobo’ Jim opens up about recent terminal cancer diagnosis

Varsos was named Alaska’s official “state balladeer” in 1994.

James Varsos, also known as “Hobo Jim,” poses for a photo during the August 2016, Funny River Festival in Funny River, Alaska, in August 2016. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Health officials encouraged Juneau residents to be vigilant about COVID-19 mitigation and to get tested if they feel symptoms or have been exposed to the virus. The city has several testing cites open to the public including at Juneau International Airport, shown in this October 2020 photo, where emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Continued COVID caseload putting pressure on Juneau’s health care, officials say

Pandemic fatigue.

Health officials encouraged Juneau residents to be vigilant about COVID-19 mitigation and to get tested if they feel symptoms or have been exposed to the virus. The city has several testing cites open to the public including at Juneau International Airport, shown in this October 2020 photo, where emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
A proposal from the Alaska Redistricting Board would substantially change Juneau's legislative districts. One of the latest proposals, seen here, would put parts of Auke Bay and the Mendenhall Valley in the same district as downtown Juneau and Douglas Island. The Northern Lynn Canal communities of Haines, Skagway and Kluckwan would be placed in the same district as the Mendenhall Valley. (Courtesy image / Alaska Redistricting Board)

Hitting the road: Redistricting maps to be shown in local hearings

Redistricting roadshow.

A proposal from the Alaska Redistricting Board would substantially change Juneau's legislative districts. One of the latest proposals, seen here, would put parts of Auke Bay and the Mendenhall Valley in the same district as downtown Juneau and Douglas Island. The Northern Lynn Canal communities of Haines, Skagway and Kluckwan would be placed in the same district as the Mendenhall Valley. (Courtesy image / Alaska Redistricting Board)