Alex McCarthy

Amber Crotty from Window Rock, Ariz., left, a delegate of the Navajo Nation Council, and Patricia Alexander of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, right, exchange words of encouragement to each other before testifying as the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds a hearing to examine concerns about investigations into the deaths and disappearance of Native American women, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo | J. Scott Applewhite)

Sitka woman testifies in DC about missing, murdered Alaska Native women

Don’t forget these victims, she says.

Amber Crotty from Window Rock, Ariz., left, a delegate of the Navajo Nation Council, and Patricia Alexander of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, right, exchange words of encouragement to each other before testifying as the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds a hearing to examine concerns about investigations into the deaths and disappearance of Native American women, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. (AP Photo | J. Scott Applewhite)
Earthquake dominates Dunleavy’s talks with Trump, cabinet
Earthquake dominates Dunleavy’s talks with Trump, cabinet
Manni Guillen, whose family moved to Juneau from Mexico when he was a baby, speaks at the Love Knows No Borders rally in Juneau on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Guillen spoke about his experiences growing up in Juneau and working with the Border Angels nonprofit. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Manni Guillen, whose family moved to Juneau from Mexico when he was a baby, speaks at the Love Knows No Borders rally in Juneau on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Guillen spoke about his experiences growing up in Juneau and working with the Border Angels nonprofit. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to the crowd in Noorvik after being sworn in earlier on Dec. 3 in Kotzebue. (Photo/Stanley Wright/Office of the Governor)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to the crowd in Noorvik after being sworn in earlier on Dec. 3 in Kotzebue. (Photo/Stanley Wright/Office of the Governor)
Gov. Bill Walker talks about his four years as governor during an interview on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)                                 Gov. Bill Walker talks about his four years as governor during an interview on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Gov. Bill Walker talks about his four years as governor during an interview on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)                                 Gov. Bill Walker talks about his four years as governor during an interview on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this photo taken Nov. 23, 2018, Tlingit elder Paul Marks presents the Sayéik Sacred Site Memorial in Juneau, Alaska. The memorial, placed at Sayéik Gastineau Community School, is a tribute to the people who were buried in the Tlingit burial ground that was paved over for the road and school. (Alex McCarthy/The Juneau Empire via AP)

New monument pays respect to Tlingit burial ground

JUNEAU — Clarence Laiti stood in the cafeteria of Sayéik Gastineau Community School — which was built on a Tlingit burial ground — and reflected… Continue reading

In this photo taken Nov. 23, 2018, Tlingit elder Paul Marks presents the Sayéik Sacred Site Memorial in Juneau, Alaska. The memorial, placed at Sayéik Gastineau Community School, is a tribute to the people who were buried in the Tlingit burial ground that was paved over for the road and school. (Alex McCarthy/The Juneau Empire via AP)
Andy Jones, director for the Alaska Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention, speaks during a community meeting in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, on what Juneau needs to fight opioid misuse. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

State making progress in fight against opioid addiction

As statewide public safety officials unveiled crime statistics Wednesday, they expressed optimism in one main category: the state’s reaction to the opioid crisis. Since Gov.… Continue reading

Andy Jones, director for the Alaska Office of Substance Misuse and Addiction Prevention, speaks during a community meeting in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, on what Juneau needs to fight opioid misuse. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
SYDNEY JOHNSON<span class="IDappliedStyle" title="InDesign: Book">| Courtesy Photo</span>                                Sydney Johnson’s white Vans carry formline designs of a raven and a frog, representing her moiety and clan.<span class="IDappliedStyle" title="InDesign: Book"></span>

This young Juneau artist is doing her part to keep Native artwork alive

On her first day of preschool, Sydney Johnson had a decision to make. During drawing time, she and other students had a wide array of… Continue reading

SYDNEY JOHNSON<span class="IDappliedStyle" title="InDesign: Book">| Courtesy Photo</span>                                Sydney Johnson’s white Vans carry formline designs of a raven and a frog, representing her moiety and clan.<span class="IDappliedStyle" title="InDesign: Book"></span>
Carole Shay, right, and Gwen Helms participate in a protest outside U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office Monday, July 9, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. Protesters rallied to urge Murkowski to vote against President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. (AP Photo/Rachel D’Oro)

Health care campaign wants Alaskans to reach out to Sen. Murkowski about Supreme Court vote

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is in the spotlight in the ongoing national health care debate.

Carole Shay, right, and Gwen Helms participate in a protest outside U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office Monday, July 9, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. Protesters rallied to urge Murkowski to vote against President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. (AP Photo/Rachel D’Oro)
A Capital City Fire/Rescue fireman walks away after fighting a house fire at 8460 Kimberly Street on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Dog wakes residents, alerts them to house fire

In the case of a Friday afternoon house fire in the Mendenhall Valley, a small dog was the first responder.

A Capital City Fire/Rescue fireman walks away after fighting a house fire at 8460 Kimberly Street on Friday, July 20, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Former Miss Alaska USA Alyssa London displays designers Jason Brown and Donna Decontie-Brown’s work at the Native Fashion Show at Centennial Hall on Friday, June 8, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Light and love’: Native Fashion Show gets ‘electric’ response from full house

At early Celebrations in the 1980s, Dorothy Grant’s clothing designs were already a crowd favorite. Grant remembers women asking her about the clothes she was… Continue reading

Former Miss Alaska USA Alyssa London displays designers Jason Brown and Donna Decontie-Brown’s work at the Native Fashion Show at Centennial Hall on Friday, June 8, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Mindy Rowland performs with her Fishermen at the 44th Annual Alaska Folk Festival in Centennial Hall on Monday, April 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

A brain injury took away her speech. Music helped bring it back

Wearing a purple sweater, purple skirt, black leggings and purple nail polish to match, Mindy Rowland bounded onto the stage on the first night of… Continue reading

Mindy Rowland performs with her Fishermen at the 44th Annual Alaska Folk Festival in Centennial Hall on Monday, April 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council (JAHC) board listens to community member Catherine Hatch at its Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018 board meeting. More than 100 people showed up to speak about the issue of cultural appropriation. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

JAHC: We ‘let the entire community down’ at Wearable Arts Show

The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council Board issued an apology Thursday afternoon to all involved in the fallout from running a piece that some found… Continue reading

The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council (JAHC) board listens to community member Catherine Hatch at its Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018 board meeting. More than 100 people showed up to speak about the issue of cultural appropriation. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Alison Gaines is the nurse manager at the Juneau Public Health Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Mumps confirmed in Juneau for first time in 20 years

For the first time in 20 years, doctors have confirmed the presence of mumps in Juneau. As of Thursday, there has been one confirmed case… Continue reading

Alison Gaines is the nurse manager at the Juneau Public Health Center. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Patrick Sidmore, a health planner for the Alaska Mental Health Board, talks on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, about new studies in addressing emotional trauma in young students. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Program increases awareness of effects of childhood trauma

As Natalie Turner walked into a fourth-grade classroom at Glacier Valley Elementary on Friday, the fingers started wiggling. The fourth-graders greeted her silently, holding up… Continue reading

Patrick Sidmore, a health planner for the Alaska Mental Health Board, talks on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, about new studies in addressing emotional trauma in young students. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Attorney Tom Wagner is retiring from his position as a contract public defender for City and Borough of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City’s public defender retiring after working more than 11,000 cases in 17 years

The numbers from the past 17 years of Tom Wagner’s life are staggering. Wagner, who is retiring from being a public defender for the city… Continue reading

Attorney Tom Wagner is retiring from his position as a contract public defender for City and Borough of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Jury finds man guilty of running heroin, meth ring in Southeast Alaska

A Washington man is facing a minimum of five years in jail after a jury found him guilty of running a drug trafficking ring in… Continue reading

Juneau residents Hilary Rehfield-Green and her husband, Ryan Green, talk Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, about surviving the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas last weekend. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau couple survives Las Vegas shooting, recounts harrowing experience

Hiding in an abandoned area in the MGM Grand Las Vegas late Sunday night, Hilary Rehfield-Green and her husband Ryan Green faced an impossible question:… Continue reading

Juneau residents Hilary Rehfield-Green and her husband, Ryan Green, talk Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, about surviving the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas last weekend. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Survivalist Kellie Nightlinger lays out seaweed to dry during a walk in early June. Nightlinger has been voted the top female survival expert in the world, and has chosen Alaska as her home for the past five years. (Photo by Alex McCarthy/Juneau Empire)

‘Wild Woman’ finds home in Juneau

There’s a fine line between a plant causing a blood infection and a plant making a healthy snack, and Kellie Nightlinger knows the difference. As… Continue reading

Survivalist Kellie Nightlinger lays out seaweed to dry during a walk in early June. Nightlinger has been voted the top female survival expert in the world, and has chosen Alaska as her home for the past five years. (Photo by Alex McCarthy/Juneau Empire)
Tim Stifter, pharmacist for Juneau Drug, displays a generic form of Suboxone on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. The drug is used to stabilize brain chemistry in patients suffering from opioid dependency. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

Juneau doctors add new approach to opiate addiction treatment

Juneau and Alaska as a whole have not been able to escape the nationwide opiate epidemic, and opiates appear to only be increasing their hold… Continue reading

Tim Stifter, pharmacist for Juneau Drug, displays a generic form of Suboxone on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. The drug is used to stabilize brain chemistry in patients suffering from opioid dependency. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)