Jeremy Hsieh, KTOO - Juneau
Jeremy Hsieh is the deputy managing editor of the KTOO newsroom in Juneau. He’s a podcast fiend who’s worked in journalism since high school as a reporter, editor and television producer. He ran Gavel Alaska for 360 North from 2011 to 2016, and is big on experimenting with novel tools and mediums (including the occasional animated gif) to tell stories and demystify the news. Jeremy’s an East Coast transplant who moved to Juneau in 2008.
Juneau’s cruise ship head tax spending pitches due next week
Proposals to spend Juneau’s cruise ship passenger fees are due January 2, and so far, the city hasn’t received many pitches. Listen Now
Alaska’s three electors vote for Trump with little incident
Alaska’s three Electoral College members have cast their ballots for Donald Trump and Mike Pence for president and vice president of United States of America. Listen Now
Walker abandons Juneau Access Road
On Thursday, Dec. 15, citing the state’s multi-billion dollar financial crisis, Gov. Bill Walker announced that the state is no longer backing construction of the Juneau Access Improvements Project. Listen Now
Juneau man falls through thin ice, saves himself and then a babushka
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center officials warn people winter after winter about the perils of walking across the lake ice. On Sunday, that warning hit home when one Juneau man fell into the frigid water looking out for an adventurous grandmother standing on thin ice. Listen Now
Juneau animal control officials seek mandatory microchips for dangerous pets
Juneau’s animal control officials want mandatory microchipping of pets they deem “potentially dangerous or dangerous,” and the Juneau Assembly is considering an ordinance with the microchipping requirement at the committee level on Monday. Listen Now
Bartlett Regional Hospital now recognizes broader gender identities
Bartlett Regional Hospital announced Thursday that at registration, its patients will now be asked for their gender identity. Patients will also be notified that they are protected against sex discrimination. Listen Now
Retail marijuana sales in Juneau could begin this month
Juneau’s first legal retail marijuana sales could begin by month’s end. Listen Now
Juneau Police Department to outfit 40 officers with body cameras
The Juneau Police Department plans to outfit 40 of its officers with body cameras to improve evidence gathering, transparency and accountability. Listen Now
JPD finds explosive device in impounded car being prepped for auction
Juneau police found an explosive inside an impounded car being prepared for auction. Listen Now
Guide in mauling near Angoon was storied Fish & Game researcher LaVern Beier
Alaska State Troopers have identified the hunting guide involved in Thursday’s Admiralty Island bear mauling as 63-year-old LaVern Beier of Juneau. Listen Now
Alaskans protest North Dakota pipeline construction
Authorities in North Dakota are sending officers from across the state to the site of a protest about an oil pipeline in anticipation of a court ruling on the issue.
Violence broke out at the protest site on Saturday. Democracy Now reports protesters were attacked by private security forces with dogs and pepper spray.
The Standing Rock Sioux asked a US District Court to temporarily stop construction on the Dakota Access pipeline. A ruling is expected on Friday.
Alaska Legislature shutters offices on Friday afternoons
As a cost-saving measure, 22 legislative information offices around the state are shuttered starting this Friday afternoon. Listen now
Suspected heroin in Quinhagak was mostly synthetic opioid fentanyl
Alaska State Troopers are reporting the presence of high levels of fentanyl in what was suspected heroin seized in Quinhagak.
What more kids showing up in schools says about Juneau’s economy
Juneau’s unexpectedly high student count for the new school year is a big deal for local education officials, but it’s also a good indicator for how the local economy is doing.
Q&A: Rep. Muñoz sought lenient sentences for convicted child abusers, Empire reports
The Juneau Empire is reporting that Rep. Cathy Muñoz, a Republican from Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley, has written judicial sentencing authorities seeking leniency for convicted offenders in a case of child sexual assault and a case of child endangerment related to sexual abuse of a child. Listen now
FiveThirtyEight podcaster rescued off Mount Roberts trail
Jody Avirgan, a podcast host for the political analysis website FiveThirtyEight, is vacationing in Juneau this week – but it went awry Wednesday night.
Trending: #FirstSevenJobs started with Juneau musician Marian Call
Juneau singer-songwriter Marian Call has gone internet-famous again, this time with the Twitter hashtag #FirstSevenJobs.
Kiehl proposes ordinance to outlaw LGBT discrimination in Juneau
As an openly gay man who doesn't identify with any religion, you’d think Matt Magnusson would have a minefield of identity politics to navigate working for Catholic Community Service. Download Audio
Woman dies in boating accident near Elfin Cove
An Elfin Cove woman is dead after a small boat struck a piling near the community late Wednesday night.
After seemingly random downtown violence, Juneau residents plead for action
Six people at Monday’s Juneau Assembly meeting pleaded for recognition and help with public safety problems downtown, including one of the latest victims of seemingly random street violence.