Pablo Arauz Peña, KTOO

In this newscast:

• The filing period for Juneau residents interested in running for a local office closed today.
• The first large cruise ship in nearly two years arrived in Alaska last week.
• At least one passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in Southeast Alaska has tested positive for COVID-19.
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced plans to review whether a southeast Alaska wolf population merits Endangered Species Act protections.

The filing period for Juneau residents who are interested in running for a local office closes Monday at 4:30 p.m.

Applicants who meet all the qualifications will face off on Oct. 5 when voters will elect a mayor, two assembly members and three board of education members. The city has posted a list of certified candidates as of Monday.

Incumbent Beth Weldon is running for re-election as the only candidate for mayor.

Barbara Blake, Paul Kelly and Troy Wuyts-Smith are running for the District 1 Juneau Assembly seat now that longtime assembly member Loren Jones has reached his term limit.

Michelle Hale is running for re-election in District 2. Kelly Fishler has filed a letter of intent with the state to run for the seat but has not been certified by the city.

Four candidates have been certified for school board elections. They include Elizabeth Siddon, Wiljordon Sangster, Aaron Spratt and Thomas Buzärd.

In this newscast:

• Juneau city officials are urging unvaccinated travelers arriving from Alaska communities that are seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases to get tested when they return to town.
• Juneau coffee shop Sacred Grounds recently got a makeover from Tlingit artists Michaela Goade and Robert Mills.
• The Biden administration announced Thursday that it’s freezing any remaining old-growth timber sales in the Tongass National Forest and will pivot to investing in other sectors of Southeast Alaska’s economy.
• Canadian authorities say they’ll lift a pandemic-era ban on cruise ships in the country’s waters.

Juneau city officials are urging unvaccinated travelers arriving from Alaska communities that are seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases to get tested when they return to town. 

In a media release, city manager Mila Cosgrove said that while things are starting to feel back to normal in Juneau, other places like Anchorage, Sitka and the Kenai Peninsula are seeing a surge of new infections. 

As of Wednesday, officials in Sitka reported 86 active cases. The city’s risk level is high, with restrictions on gathering size, social distancing and capacity for bars and restaurants. Two Juneau residents who traveled to Sitka within the past week tested positive for the virus.

In Anchorage, the resident alert level is high with 450 resident cases reported in the past 2 weeks. 

The Kenai Peninsula’s alert level is intermediate, but the community has also seen an increase in case numbers similar to numbers reported last April.

Anyone who wants to get tested can set up a time to test or get vaccinated by calling 586-6000 or going online. 

In this newscast:

• Juneau residents interested in running for Mayor, School Board and two Assembly seats have the opportunity to do so starting this Friday at 8 a.m.
• An intense local debate ensues in Haines over non-traditional housing because of people living in yurts.
• The traditionally low-wage industry of child care is having an especially hard time competing for workers in a tight labor market in Alaska.
• The state announced plans to gauge the extent of contamination at and around the Gustavus Airport this week.

Juneau residents interested in running for mayor, school board or one of two open assembly seats have the opportunity to do so starting this Friday at 8 a.m.

Applicants who file and meet all the qualifications will face off in the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 5.

City Clerk Beth McEwen says this year’s filing period is earlier than usual because this election is vote-by-mail. 

She also says that anyone interested in becoming a candidate has to fill out some paperwork and needs at least 25 voter signatures to be verified. They also must complete three forms. That includes a declaration of candidacy, a nominating petition and a financial disclosure statement.

McEwen says the city recommends at least 10 more voter signatures than the required 25 in case voter signature information needs to be verified.

Assembly seats for District 1 and 2 are open. Three seats for the school board are also open.

So far, six people have filed letters of intent with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Four of them are campaigning for the Assembly seats. 

Long-time District 1 Assemblymember Loren Jones has reached his term limit and is barred from running for re-election.

Those who’ve filed for his seat include Barbara Blake, Paul Kelly and Troy Wuyts-Smith. Michelle Hale is running for re-election in District 2.

Beth Weldon is running for re-election as Mayor. Elizabeth Siddon is running for re-election to the school board. 

McEwen encourages interested parties to file early and not to wait until the last minute in case there are any problems with the paperwork. The filing period closes at 4:30 p.m. on July 26. More information can be found on the city’s website.