News

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File A cruise ship passenger photographs a ship in Juneau’s downtown harbor in August 2017.

Seattle cruise operations postponed indefinitely

This follows the closing of Vancouver to cruise ships.

 

The Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Homer News file photo)

Homer announces first case of COVID-19

The person reported symptoms in Anchorage after traveling and remains in isolation in Anchorage.

 

Brenna McCarron, a Homer High School graduate stuck in Peru after the country closed its borders to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, stands at Machu Picchu, Peru. She is one of about 19 Alaskans stranded in the country. (Photo courtesy Brenna McCarron)

Playing the waiting game in Peru

Homer High grad one of 19 Alaskans stranded when Peru closed its borders due to coronavirus

 

No cruises till July at the earliest mean these tourist-targeted shops downtown will likely remain shuttered for months longer, March 20, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Juneau asked to hunker down as second case confirmed

Juneau is steeling itself against a coming storm.

No cruises till July at the earliest mean these tourist-targeted shops downtown will likely remain shuttered for months longer, March 20, 2020. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

SBA offers loans for struggling businesses in wake of COVID-19

Business owners encouraged to take peninsula-wide survey

The Homer Courthouse. (Homer News file photo)

Homer man accused of attempted murder and assault

The man allegedly attacked a family member following an argument.

The Homer Courthouse. (Homer News file photo)
Photo courtesy of Christina Whiting Tins with blue ribbons were placed on Feb. 26, 2020, around Homer, Alaska, for people to wear as part of an awareness campaign for a missing Homer woman, Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019.

Blue ribbons put out for missing Homer woman

Anesha “Duffy” Murnane has been missing since Oct. 17.

Photo courtesy of Christina Whiting Tins with blue ribbons were placed on Feb. 26, 2020, around Homer, Alaska, for people to wear as part of an awareness campaign for a missing Homer woman, Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019.
Ed Berg, the step-father of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, speaks at a community conversation about the missing Homer woman Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News) Ed Berg, the step-father of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, speaks at a community conversation about the missing Homer woman Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Family holds community conversation on missing daughter

Anesha “Duffy” Murnane has been missing since Oct. 17.

Ed Berg, the step-father of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, speaks at a community conversation about the missing Homer woman Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News) Ed Berg, the step-father of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, speaks at a community conversation about the missing Homer woman Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Teresa Jacobson Gregory presents a visual illustration of the proposed gravel pit extension and the impacts it may have on residents and the surrounding state recreation area at the Anchor Point Advisory Planning Commission Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at the Anchor Point Senior Center in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman)

Anchor Point advisory group recommends gravel pit expansion

The recommendation is being forwarded to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission.

Teresa Jacobson Gregory presents a visual illustration of the proposed gravel pit extension and the impacts it may have on residents and the surrounding state recreation area at the Anchor Point Advisory Planning Commission Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, at the Anchor Point Senior Center in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman)

Hundreds gather to honor Alaska civil rights icon Elizabeth Peratrovich

Her face will appear on the U.S. $1 coin this year.

Ninilchik Fire Chief David Bear moves the fire truck out of the new Ninilchik Emergency Services building on Aug. 9, 2014, to make room for visitors to the open house of the new NES building. (Homer News file photo)

Ninilchik Emergency Services chief, assistant chief reinstated

Former board has resigned and been replaced, and department is back to normal staffing

Ninilchik Fire Chief David Bear moves the fire truck out of the new Ninilchik Emergency Services building on Aug. 9, 2014, to make room for visitors to the open house of the new NES building. (Homer News file photo)

Community talk to be held on missing Homer woman

Anesha “Duffy” Murnane has been missing since Oct. 17.

Photo by Delcenia Cosman Friends of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane and members of the community supporting the campaign to bring her home pose with signs during a candlelight vigil held at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska on Feb. 1.

Vigil held for woman missing since October

Homer hasn’t given up hope. Community members and family friends gathered at noon for a candlelight vigil at WKFL Park on Saturday, Feb. 1 for… Continue reading

Photo by Delcenia Cosman Friends of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane and members of the community supporting the campaign to bring her home pose with signs during a candlelight vigil held at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska on Feb. 1.
People wearing masks, attend a vigil for Chinese doctor Li Wenliang, in Hong Kong, Friday, Feb. 7. The death of a young doctor who was reprimanded for warning about China’s new virus triggered an outpouring Friday of praise for him and fury that communist authorities put politics above public safety. (AP Photo | Kin Cheung)

Going viral: Coronavirus means cruise line changes, but it’s not yet in Alaska

Here’s what you need to know about novel coronavirus.

People wearing masks, attend a vigil for Chinese doctor Li Wenliang, in Hong Kong, Friday, Feb. 7. The death of a young doctor who was reprimanded for warning about China’s new virus triggered an outpouring Friday of praise for him and fury that communist authorities put politics above public safety. (AP Photo | Kin Cheung)
U.S. Navy | Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony J. Rivera The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt transits the Gulf of Alaska on May 24.

Experts, military officers testify about rising importance, threat in Arctic

The Great Game will be played in the Arctic, expert says.

U.S. Navy | Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony J. Rivera The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt transits the Gulf of Alaska on May 24.
David A. Powell, 54, appears in court Monday after being charged with property damage for nailing a sign to the door of the governor’s mansion on Dr. Martin Luther King Day as a form of protest. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)

Man charged for nailing sign to governor’s mansion pleads no contest

He was fined and got a suspended three-day jail sentence.

David A. Powell, 54, appears in court Monday after being charged with property damage for nailing a sign to the door of the governor’s mansion on Dr. Martin Luther King Day as a form of protest. (Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire)
Members of the community give public testimony about a Homer City Council resolution dealing with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s proposal to repeal the ban on personal watercraft in critical habitat areas of Kachemak Bay during the Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 council meeting at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Council weighs in on proposed jet ski ban repeal, again

The council originally passed a resolution asking Fish and Game to extend its comment period.

Members of the community give public testimony about a Homer City Council resolution dealing with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s proposal to repeal the ban on personal watercraft in critical habitat areas of Kachemak Bay during the Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 council meeting at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
A sign for Set Free Alaska hangs in the faith-based addiction treatment nonprofit’s new outpatient servies location on Ocean Drive on Monday, Jan. 16, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. The organization held an open house to celebrate the outpatient services building opening. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Outpatient addiction treatment services open in Homer

Run by faith-based Mat-Su organization, services have been long time coming

A sign for Set Free Alaska hangs in the faith-based addiction treatment nonprofit’s new outpatient servies location on Ocean Drive on Monday, Jan. 16, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. The organization held an open house to celebrate the outpatient services building opening. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
A student fixes her hood as she walks across the campus at the University of Alaska Southeast on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)

UAS proposes undergrad tuition hikes for next academic year

The increases would begin in Fall 2020.

A student fixes her hood as she walks across the campus at the University of Alaska Southeast on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)
Gary Thomas in a January 2002 photo after he was promoted to Homer News editor and publisher. (Homer News file photo)

Former Homer News publisher found dead after explosion

Thomas worked at the Homer News from the late 1990s until 2005.

Gary Thomas in a January 2002 photo after he was promoted to Homer News editor and publisher. (Homer News file photo)