Lisa Phu, KTOO - Juneau
Lisa Phu is a reporter at KTOO in Juneau.
Aging Southeast: Assisted living comes up short
Due to a shortage of assisted living homes, some of Southeast Alaska’s aging residents can’t stay in their home communities. Facilities in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Petersburg provide assistance to seniors needing help with daily activities, such as cooking, dressing and medication management. As part of the CoastAlaska series Aging Southeast, KTOO’s Lisa Phu reports on how the region isn’t keeping up with the demand for assisted living, and that demand is only expected to grow. Download Audio
Governor orders reorganization of commercial fisheries commission
Gov. Bill Walker issued an administrative order Tuesday that transfers many functions of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission into the Department of Fish and Game. The reorganization will save the state more than $1.3 million a year, according to the governor’s office. The CFEC, an autonomous state agency, is responsible for deciding what commercial fisheries to limit, who gets to participate in them and adjudicating appeal cases. It also issues permits and licenses, which bring in the majority of the agency’s revenue. Download Audio
Governor orders reorganization of commercial fisheries commission
Gov. Bill Walker issued an administrative order Tuesday that transfers many functions of the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) into the Department of Fish and Game. The reorganization will save the state more than $1.3 million a year, according to the governor’s office.
Humane society addresses uproar over Coco’s last day
Gastineau Humane Society called the dog aggressive and not a viable candidate for adoption. The Juneau couple wishes they’d been notified before the dog was put down. Download Audio
Instead of budget cuts, Juneau school district asks ‘What can we add?’
The Juneau School District is facing a sixth year of budget cuts, and it’s handling the budget process a little differently than in recent years. Superintendent Mark Miller laid out the challenge at a public forum on the school budget last week. “If we rolled our current budget over into next year with nothing different, just rolled this year’s budget into next year and did exactly what we’re doing now, we’d be about $1.2 million short,” Miller said. In the past, the question was, what should we cut?
New TV series goes inside the yellow tape with Alaska’s plane crash investigators
A new documentary-style series by the Smithsonian Channel goes behind the scenes with investigators trying to figure out why planes crashed near Juneau, Knik Arm and other Alaska locations. A producer of “Alaska Aircrash Investigations” says it’s not another reality show. The TV crew had unprecedented access to information that’s not yet public. Download Audio
Another Juneau restaurant empire growing
Another Juneau restaurant empire is taking form with the opening of an Italian restaurant next month in the space recently known as the Silverbow Bakery. In Bocca Al Lupo will be the newest restaurant venture by the people who run The Rookery Café, Panhandle Provisions and The Taqueria. Download Audio
Former Juneau mayor Jamie Parsons dies at 74
Former Juneau mayor Jamie Parsons died Saturday in Washington state after more than a decade battling cancer. He was 74. Friends and former colleagues remember his sense of humor, his love of sports and his unfailing commitment to the capital city.
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Counting Santas: Jeff Campbell’s house lights up Juneau
Juneau resident Jeff Campbell bought two truckloads of Christmas lights and decorations at a garage sale more than 20 years ago. Ever since then, he’s been decorating his house in a big way, making his downtown neighborhood a more festive and bright place. People joke that you can see his house from space. Download Audio
Fundraiser nets $32k for Juneau shelter, soup kitchen
Five Juneau Native dance groups organized a fundraiser Monday night, which raised about $32,000 for the capital city’s shelter and soup kitchen. About 400 people attended, contributing money to the Glory Hole through donations, silent auction, fry bread sales, dancing, raffle and a $9,500 matching donation by the Rasmuson Foundation.
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Juneau to hold March special election for new mayor
Juneau voters will elect a new mayor during a special election on March 15, the assembly decided Monday night during its regular meeting.
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Family looks for answers as Juneau stabbing case grows cold
A suspect has been identified and charged in a recent stabbing death in the capital city. But another stabbing death remains unsolved. It's been more than a year since Juneau man Christopher Kenney died from a knife wound. The 50-year-old was found in his home two days after Thanksgiving last year and police still aren't sure if it was a murder or suicide.
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With understanding comes forgiveness: Turning ‘Yuuyaraq’ into film
Juneau filmmaker Lisle Hebert is making a film based on Harold Napoleon’s essay “Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being.” Napoleon gave Hebert his blessing to do the adaptation, but he says it’ll be a challenge to translate the message to film.
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Leaving a legacy: Family, friends remember Greg Fisk
Hundreds in Juneau attended the celebration of life for Juneau Mayor Greg Fisk on Sunday. Fisk died of natural causes on Nov. 30, less than two months after being elected mayor. He was 70 years old.
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With understanding comes forgiveness: Turning ‘Yuuyaraq’ into film
Juneau filmmaker Lisle Hebert is making a film based on Harold Napoleon’s essay “Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being.” Napoleon gave Hebert his blessing to do the adaptation, but he says it’ll be a challenge to translate the message to film.
Download Audio
Tlingit elders write boarding school history for future generations
By talking about boarding school experiences, Tlingit elders in Juneau are turning painful memories into sources of healing – healing for themselves and generations still living with the consequences.
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Missing money at Public Market turns into kindness and kisses
The Juneau-Douglas High School art club is sending 10 students to Art Fest in Skagway, despite a fundraising setback last month. Some money went missing from the club’s booth during Public Market.
In Juneau, unexpectedly filling a mayor’s shoes
As Juneau’s mayor, Mary Becker is establishing regular office hours at city hall, attending meetings scheduled by the late mayor and educating herself on her new role. At the same time, she plans to follow through with some of Greg Fisk’s initiatives.
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Mayor Becker, staff keep Juneau moving forward after mayor’s death
As Juneau’s mayor, Mary Becker is establishing regular office hours at city hall, attending meetings scheduled by the late mayor and educating herself on her new role. At the same time, she wants to follow through with some of Greg Fisk’s initiatives.
No foul play suspected in Juneau mayor’s death
The state medical examiner’s office says mayor Greg Fisk died of natural causes. An autopsy was performed today and suggests that external injuries sustained by Fisk were consistent with an “injury due to falling or stumbling onto objects.”
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