Jasz Garrett

Bob Girt works with the Alaska Youth Stewards on Prince of Wales Island in 2022. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Goodrich / Sustainable Southeast Partnership)

Threads of the Tongass: Building a sustainable future

“These students can look back and say, ‘I helped build that. I was a contributor.’”

 

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Megan Dean shakes hands with the new Arctic District commander Rear Admiral Bob Little on Friday. Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, commander of the Pacific Area, smiles. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

US Coast Guard receives new commander, new name for Alaska

The Arctic District’s new icebreaker will visit Juneau next month

 

Danial Roberts, an employee at Viking Lumber Company, looks out at lumber from a forklift in Klawock, Alaska. (Courtesy of Viking Lumber Company)

Threads of the Tongass: The future of pianos and the timber industry

Timber operators say they are in crisis and unique knowledge, products will be lost

 

Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, delivers his keynote address to approximately 40 people, most of whom are from out of state, at the end of the Bitcoin Alaska conference on Sunday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Begich and Bitcoin fly to Juneau after passage of ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Protesters seek town hall with representative; he delivers keynote address at ticketed conference

Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, delivers his keynote address to approximately 40 people, most of whom are from out of state, at the end of the Bitcoin Alaska conference on Sunday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Two-foot-high kick, Traditional Games, 2023. (Photo by Stacy Unzicker, courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute)

Eighth annual Traditional Games kicks off this weekend, expanding Indigenous representation

Native Youth Olympics carry on Indigenous values with athletes reaching for their personal bests.

Two-foot-high kick, Traditional Games, 2023. (Photo by Stacy Unzicker, courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute)
Shannon Crossley, who helped build the Treadwell disc golf course, wears the Douglas grand marshal’s sash as she rides in the parade on Friday, July 4, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

History of Douglas continues through Independence Day celebrations

Juneau Disc Golf Club honored as Douglas Fourth of July grand marshal

Shannon Crossley, who helped build the Treadwell disc golf course, wears the Douglas grand marshal’s sash as she rides in the parade on Friday, July 4, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau resident Benjamin Stepetin is seen in downtown Juneau. He is currently missing and was last seen by family on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy of family)
Juneau resident Benjamin Stepetin is seen in downtown Juneau. He is currently missing and was last seen by family on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy of family)
Faith Rogers’ loved ones, from left to right, James Rogers (father), Michelle Rogers (sister), Harmony Wentz (daughter), Maria Rogers (mother) and Mindy Voigt (friend) sit with Faith’s three dogs in their family home. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau court orders release of man accused of Faith Rogers’ murder

JPD stands by its investigation; public defender says it cut corners

Faith Rogers’ loved ones, from left to right, James Rogers (father), Michelle Rogers (sister), Harmony Wentz (daughter), Maria Rogers (mother) and Mindy Voigt (friend) sit with Faith’s three dogs in their family home. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Skylar Taug, 6, holds up a snow globe following a crafts project Tuesday afternoon during RALLY. “We try for a ‘Wow!’ every day,” said Christina Ackmann, RALLY site manager for Sít Eetí Shaanáx-Glacier Valley Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau School District decides to close the RALLY program

The summer RALLY program will continue through the district’s advertised end date of Aug. 8

Skylar Taug, 6, holds up a snow globe following a crafts project Tuesday afternoon during RALLY. “We try for a ‘Wow!’ every day,” said Christina Ackmann, RALLY site manager for Sít Eetí Shaanáx-Glacier Valley Elementary School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Juneau Board of Education meets and discusses a resolution in response to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s draft regulation on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Public comment period opens for proposal limiting local governments’ contributions to schools

JSD’s potential loss from limiting non-instructional funding becomes more significant after review

The Juneau Board of Education meets and discusses a resolution in response to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s draft regulation on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
HESCO barriers wind through the forest near Thunder Mountain Middle School on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Neighbors come together in preparation for seasonal glacial lake outburst flood

Flood victims plan for worst-case scenario, seek update on long-term flood mitigation

HESCO barriers wind through the forest near Thunder Mountain Middle School on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Mackenzie Lam, one of three grand marshals of Juneau’s Fourth of July 2024 parade, passes out candy from the back of a truck on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau’s downtown 4th of July parade foregoes grand marshals this year

Parades still planned for both downtown and Douglas

Mackenzie Lam, one of three grand marshals of Juneau’s Fourth of July 2024 parade, passes out candy from the back of a truck on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The M/V Hubbard leaves Juneau on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

AMHS ferry engineers secure wage increase to address workforce shortage

Contract aims to attract and retain marine engineers in Alaska

The M/V Hubbard leaves Juneau on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Circus performers rise against “evil ringmaster” Kelsey Bryce Riker in the opening of GLITZ’s Act Two during a tech rehearsal on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Perseverance Theatre. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Circus performers rise against “evil ringmaster” Kelsey Bryce Riker in the opening of GLITZ’s Act Two during a tech rehearsal on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Perseverance Theatre. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Circus performers rise against “evil ringmaster” Kelsey Bryce Riker in the opening of GLITZ’s Act Two during a tech rehearsal on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Perseverance Theatre. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Circus performers rise against “evil ringmaster” Kelsey Bryce Riker in the opening of GLITZ’s Act Two during a tech rehearsal on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Perseverance Theatre. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Those whose naturalization applications were approved on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, take the naturalization oath of allegiance that evening in the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

A ‘momentous event’ for newly minted citizens

On the first of five evenings of naturalization ceremonies, seven new citizens celebrate with family

Those whose naturalization applications were approved on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, take the naturalization oath of allegiance that evening in the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The Salmon Creek Dam on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

A hiker near Salmon Creek Dam dies after 150-foot fall

This story has been updated with additional information. A man died from injuries after falling more than 100 feet off the Salmon Creek Trail on… Continue reading

The Salmon Creek Dam on Saturday, March 29, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The U.S., Alaska state flag, and Canada flag wave in the wind in Skagway on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The U.S., Alaska state flag, and Canada flag wave in the wind in Skagway on Monday, June 16, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Paul Myers takes a business phone call while stopped in Haines on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Staying connected on the Columbia

The fastest and largest vessel in the fleet is testing public Wi-Fi

Paul Myers takes a business phone call while stopped in Haines on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser watches Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, discuss the federal disparity test for education funding provided by states during a Senate Education Committee meeting Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

State education board delays decision limiting local funding for schools

DEED blames local contributions for failure of disparity test — testimonies point the finger back.

Juneau School District Superintendent Frank Hauser watches Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, discuss the federal disparity test for education funding provided by states during a Senate Education Committee meeting Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
People dance in celebration of the Fisherman’s Honor Totem Pole in Hoonah on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Hoonah’s rich fishing history remembered through totem pole

The story of fishermen carved — “all of us in the past, all of us in the future, and all of us now.”

People dance in celebration of the Fisherman’s Honor Totem Pole in Hoonah on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)