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Investigation closed after human remains discovered in freezer

NOTN- A man whose remains were found inside a chest freezer this summer died of natural causes, according to Juneau police.

Below is the full statement released by JPD on Friday;

The Juneau Police Department has completed its investigation into human remains discovered inside a freezer at a residence in Switzer Village. The deceased was positively identified as Ross Anthony Pasquan, a Juneau resident who would have been 74 years old at the time of the discovery of his remains.

The State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Pasquan died of natural causes related to severe cardiovascular disease. Investigators did not establish an exact date of his death or how long his remains had been inside the freezer.

The investigation found that Pasquan’s wife, Sheryl Ann McDonald-Pasquan, concealed his death and continued applying for and receiving benefits in his name. McDonald-Pasquan died from natural causes on July 14, 2025, approximately one year before her husband’s remains were discovered.

Discovery and Investigation

On July 19, 2026, at approximately 7:59 p.m., an individual came to JPD to report a possible body inside a chest freezer at McDonald-Pasquan’s property in the 6500 block of Glacier Highway.

The individual had been cleaning out the property following McDonald-Pasquan’s death. Inside a storage shed, they discovered a locked freezer. After locating a key and opening it, they observed a tarp-wrapped object that appeared to contain human remains. They closed the freezer and went directly to JPD.

Responding officers and investigators confirmed the presence of human remains, which were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage. On July 25, 2026, the remains were positively identified as Pasquan.

Witness interviews indicated that Pasquan had a history of significant health problems and that McDonald-Pasquan served as his primary caregiver. Witnesses said she explained his absence by telling them he had been moved to a care facility outside Juneau.

Based on the freezer being manufactured in 2018 and McDonald-Pasquan’s death in July 2025, investigators believe Pasquan’s remains were placed in the freezer between those dates. Investigators were not able to establish a reliable timeline and could not determine when Pasquan died or precisely when his remains were placed in the freezer.

Pasquan had not been reported missing before the discovery of his remains.

Benefits and Investigation Findings

Witness interviews and a review of benefit records supported the conclusion that McDonald-Pasquan concealed her husband’s death while continuing to apply for and receive benefits in his name, including Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends, Social Security benefits, and retirement benefits. Investigators also learned that a retirement benefit provider had not been notified of his death and was still depositing monthly payments into Pasquan’s account up until July 2026.

Investigators found no evidence that another person caused Pasquan’s death or assisted McDonald-Pasquan in concealing his remains or collecting his benefits.

The death investigation is closed following the medical examiner’s determination that Pasquan died of natural causes. The investigation into McDonald-Pasquan’s collection of benefits after his death is also closed because she is deceased.

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NAMI Juneau hosts suicide prevention night for parents and trusted adults

Community outreach, photo courtesy of NAMI Juneau

This story mentions suicide, if you or someone you know is struggling, please call Alaska’s crisis and suicide prevention lifeline at 988, help is available today.

NOTN- NAMI Juneau is inviting parents, caregivers and other trusted adults to a community event next week aimed at helping them recognize and respond to youth struggling with suicidal thoughts and ideations.

Charity Anderson with the National Alliance on Mental Illness said many young people hide their distress, even as their behavior changes.

“It’s really easy for people to mask how they’re feeling. You know, they’ll put on a smile, pretend everything is fine. In the background, maybe they are isolating a lot more, maybe they aren’t reaching out to friends as much, if somebody is sleeping a lot less or sleeping a lot more, if they are withholding food or eating too much, those could all be warning signs that somebody might be struggling.” Anderson said.

Anderson said warning signs of depression are showing up in younger and younger children, noting recent Alaska data on youth mental health is especially troubling.

As mentioned in a story by the Alaska Beacon, ‘The suicide-death rate for young Alaskans hit a 10-year high last year and the rate of suicide attempts has increased over the past decade.’

The free presentation, “Signs of Suicide,” will be held Sept. 17 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Floyd Dryden. Anderson said it is geared toward parents, caregivers, coaches and any adults who regularly interact with youth.

The program is built around the message ‘ACT’ acknowledge that something is wrong, show the person you care, and tell a trusted adult or help them connect with support.

Anderson said it is important for adults to share their own experiences with mental health struggles when appropriate, to normalize those feelings and show youth they are not alone. She also encouraged people to ask directly if they are worried someone may be suicidal, calling the common fear that the question might “put the idea in their head” a myth.

“Let that person know that you are a safe place to talk to. Sometimes people just need to know that they have somebody there.” She said.

The event will include food, youth activities and supervised childcare so adults can focus on the presentation.

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Suicide deaths and attempts among Alaska youth continue at high rates, report shows

By: Yereth Rosen, Alaska Beacon

A flier seen Wednesday on a bulletin board at the University of Alaska Anchorage campus publicizes the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline established in 2022. The 988 hotline is one of many programs aimed at preventing suicide. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

The suicide-death rate for young Alaskans hit a 10-year high last year and the rate of suicide attempts has increased over the past decade, state health officials reported.

From 2016 to 2025, there were 174 suicide deaths among Alaska youths under the age of 18 and 4,101 documented suicide attempts, according to a bulletin released by the Alaska Department of Health’s epidemiology section. The median age of those who died was 16, the bulletin said. The fatality rate, 19.2 per 100,000 children aged 10 to 18, was the highest rate since 2016.

Overall, Alaska’s youth suicide rate is nearly six times the nation average, the bulletin said.

Boys were victims in the vast majority of youth suicides over the 10-year period, accounting for 81% of the deaths, and most used firearms. Girls accounted for about three-quarters of the documented suicide attempts, according to the bulletin.

Those statistics point to “the need to prioritize timely follow-up and intervention following attempts among females and efforts to reduce access to highly lethal means (particularly firearms) among males during periods of crisis,” the bulletin siad..

For Alaska Native youths, the statistics are especially grim. Over the decade-long period, the suicide fatality rate among Alaska Natives aged 10 to 18 was 47 per 100,000 children, more than twice the state rate. The rate of documented suicide attempts was 1,098 per 100,000 children, also more than twice the state rate, according to the bulletin.

Special care should be used to address the problem among Indigenous youth, the bulletin said.

“The disproportionate burden of suicide among Alaska Native youth underscores the need for prevention strategies that are culturally responsive and community informed,” the bulletin said.

Statistics cited in the bulletin come from the Alaska Violent Death Reporting System and the Alaska Health Facilities Data Reporting system. The bulletin noted that statistics on suicide attempts likely understate the numbers because some attempts do not result in encounters with the healthcare system and therefore probably go unreported.

Suicide is also a major threat for adults in Alaska, state records show.

A graph shows suicide fatality and attempt rates per 100,000 people in Alaska from 2016 to 2025. (Graph provided by Alaska Division of Public Health epidemiology section)
A graph shows suicide fatality and attempt rates per 100,000 people in Alaska from 2016 to 2025. (Graph provided by Alaska Division of Public Health epidemiology section)

It was the sixth leading cause of death in the state across all age groups, according to the most recent Department of Health status report in the Healthy Alaskans program. In comparison, suicide ranks 11th among causes of death nationally, according to the report.

There are some prevention programs in place in the state.

One is the national 988 crisis line, which in 2025 alone received nearly 44,000 calls from Alaskans.

Other programs are tailored to Alaska Native communities. One of those was designed for the rural Yukon-Kuskokwim region in Western Alaska by the Center for Alaska Native Health Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. And the Indian Health Service has a national program called the Zero Suicide Initative.

While suicides have been inching up over time, that “doesn’t necessarily mean that prevention strategies haven’t been successful,” Ashley Hannigan, a state epidemiologist who helped write the bulletin, said by email.

“It’s difficult or impossible to pin down the number of suicide attempts prevented by programming like the careline/988 or the Zero Suicide initiative,” Hannigan said. “The peak we see in 2025 for youth and adolescent suicide does emphasize the need to focus on youth-specific, and culturally tailored suicide prevention strategies, however.”

One idea for preventing youth suicide emerged this year in the Alaska State Legislature, but it was rejected by the governor.

Lawmakers passed a measure, Senate Bill 41, that would have established mental health guidelines for public schools. Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, the bill’s prime sponsor, described youth suicide as “a crisis that impacts every community in our state,” and said the bill would expand mental health services to children who need them but might otherwise lack access. 

Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed the bill on June 18. In his veto message, he said student mental health was important but that the bill would place the state “in the role of imposing upon school districts to mandate the development of mental health education at a time when districts are already working to meet existing requirements.”

Lawmakers attempted the next day to override the veto but fell short of votes to do so.

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CCFR and JPD launch app to aid residents experiencing cardiac arrest

Image courtesy of CBJ, CCFR and JPD

CBJ- Capital City Fire Rescue and the Juneau Police Department are launching a new app designed to connect CPR-trained residents with people experiencing cardiac arrest.

The Capital City Fire Rescue and Juneau Police Department Communications Center is launching PulsePoint Respond in Juneau on Tuesday, September 1. 

PulsePoint is a free mobile application designed to connect CPR-trained community members with people experiencing cardiac arrest before professional responders arrive on the scene.  

“Our firefighters and paramedics are trained and equipped to provide advanced care, but there is an unavoidable period between the 9-1-1 call and our arrival,” said Andrew Pantiskas, Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services for Capital City Fire Rescue. “While our crews are responding, a nearby citizen can make a tremendous difference.” 

Media and members of the public are invited to learn more about PulsePoint Respond at the launch event on Tuesday, September 1 at 9 a.m. in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. 

Implementation of PulsePoint Respond in Juneau is funded through Marine Passenger Fees. 

How PulsePoint Works 

PulsePoint Respond alerts registered CPR-trained users when a cardiac arrest is reported near the user’s location. Users who receive an alert can: 

  • Recognize that a cardiac arrest is occurring nearby. 
  • Respond to the location when it is safe to do so. 
  • Begin CPR until professional responders arrive. 
  • Locate and retrieve a nearby automated external defibrillator (AED). 
  • Provide potentially lifesaving assistance during the critical first minutes of a cardiac arrest. 

PulsePoint does not replace calling 9-1-1 or professional emergency medical services. Members of the public should still call 9-1-1 and follow the instructions of the public safety dispatcher.  

Why Bystander CPR Matters 

Nationally, hundreds of thousands of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year. While less than 50% of cardiac arrest victims get help before emergency responders arrive, immediate bystander CPR can significantly improve a person’s chance of survival. 

Pantiskas advises that the most important thing that can be done during a cardiac arrest is to start CPR and get a defibrillator to the patient as quickly as possible. 

For Juneau, PulsePoint is another tool to help close the gap between the moment a cardiac arrest occurs and the arrival of professional responders.  

How to Participate 

Residents who are CPR-trained and willing to assist can download PulsePoint Respond through the Apple App Store or Google Play, follow their local emergency response agency (“Capital City FR” in Juneau), and indicate that they are CPR-trained and willing to respond to nearby cardiac arrest alerts. 

Community members can also use the PulsePoint Foundation AED NEAR Registry to help identify AEDs throughout Juneau. 

Learn more about PulsePoint Respond at the PulsePoint website.  

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125 passengers and crew hit with highly contagious stomach virus on cruise from San Francisco to Alaska and Canada

FILE - The Ruby Princess is docked in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
FILE – The Ruby Princess is docked in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

AP- More than 120 passengers and crew members on a Princess Cruises ship that docked in San Francisco on Thursday were infected with a stomach virus while on their voyage, federal health officials said.

The Ruby Princess was on a 20-day round trip journey from San Francisco to Canada and Alaska when 102 passengers and 23 crew members were stricken by norovirus, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Norovirus is highly contagious, often spread by food or on surfaces, particularly in crowded conditions. It is a short-lived illness for many people, but can be dangerous for people with underlying health conditions, young children and those aged 65 and older.

Symptoms include sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain that can last three days, according to the CDC.

The outbreak on the Ruby Princess, which set sail on June 12, was reported to the CDC on Saturday, officials said, adding that not all the infected people were sick at the same time or when the ship arrived or left port.

There were 3,032 passengers and 1,144 crew members on the Ruby Princess voyage, the CDC said.

Princess Cruises said in a statement that the ship’s crew responded promptly and implemented “enhanced sanitation protocols across the ship.”

The ship will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before departing on its next trip later Thursday, the company said.

So far this year, there have been seven illness outbreaks reported on cruise ships in the CDC’s jurisdiction, mostly from norovirus, health officials said.

Most norovirus outbreaks occur when people who are already infected spread the virus to others by direct means, such as through sharing food or utensils. Outbreaks can also be spread through food, water or contaminated surfaces.

Washing hands frequently is key to preventing a norovirus infection, especially after using the bathroom or before eating and drinking. It is best to use soap and water, scrubbing and washing for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer alone doesn’t work well against norovirus, the CDC said.

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CBJ looks to savings, tax shifts and bonds to avoid recreation service cuts

NOTN- Juneau’s city officials are still weighing cuts to city services, new debt for infrastructure and a major change to sales tax rules as they work to close a nearly $12 million dollar budget deficit.

After a nearly five-hour finance committee meeting last night, officials began prioritizing a list of possible reductions. The work will shape the budget the Assembly expects to pass by the deadline on June 15.

Still under consideration are cuts to destination marketing through Travel Juneau, economic development funding for the Juneau Economic Development Council, potential closure of Mount Jumbo Gym, reduced hours or closure of the City Museum, and cuts to arts and culture funding through the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council.

Some of the most controversial ideas have been taken off the table for this year, including closing one of the city’s pools, the field house and the Treadwell arena. Those facilities will instead be supported with city savings which will be a short-term solution.

“Those were the ones that we had heard lots of public feedback on.” Said Finance Director Christine Woll, “Closure of the ice rink is no longer in consideration. I will say, everyone on the assembly acknowledged we can get away with not making those cuts this year, but that’s because we have a lot of money in savings, and so using our savings to fund those facilities will not work much for longer than a year.”

The Assembly is also considering up to two bond proposals for the ballot, Woll said, one for improvements to aging school facilities and another for water and wastewater infrastructure. She said general obligation bonds are appropriate only for capital projects and must be approved by voters.

“With approval from the taxpayers, the city does have a good amount of debt capacity and one piece I’ll add to that is, we would only use debt for Capital Projects, right? So the idea is you would borrow money so you can improve something or build something, and then pay it back over time, as opposed to taking on debt to operate something into the future.” Woll said, “So the Assembly is looking at putting up to two bond proposals on the ballot. We haven’t decided yet, but basically we’re looking at taking on debt for some improvements to our aging school facilities, as well as our water and wastewater infrastructure. So those in my opinion, good projects for debt.”

The Assembly plans a public hearing June 8, the same day many budget decisions are expected, and is accepting email comments at boroughassembly@juneau.gov. Woll urged residents to weigh in on the tax cap and potential service cuts as soon as possible.

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Alaska Senate advances bill to ban certain food dyes in school meals

By: Haley Lehman, Alaska Beacon

 Children pick up their school lunches. (Photo by Amanda Mills/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

The Alaska Senate passed a bill Monday that would ban public schools in Alaska from serving certain food dyes in school breakfasts or lunches.

Lawmakers expressed concerns that certain petroleum-based food dyes in processed foods have unhealthy side effects on children.

Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, the sponsor of Senate Bill 187, said Monday, “We like to sell our petroleum to fuel our cars and generate our power plants, not to feed our kids.”

Wielechowski pointed to studies that suggested that artificial dyes are linked to increased hyperactivity, inattentiveness and allergic reactions in children.

The bill would ban red dyes Nov. 3 and No. 40, yellow dyes No. 5 and No. 6, blue dyes No. 1 and No. 2 and green dye No. 3.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a campaign in April 2025 to eliminate synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply by the end of 2027 and to authorize natural color alternatives. Alaska proposes banning the same food dye in schools that HHS and the FDA are working with the food industry to eliminate.

The bill received strong support from Alaska Community Action on Toxics and opposition from the International Association of Color Manufacturers, which maintains that synthetic dyes are safe for consumers.

Carlee Johnson McIntosh, Petersburg School District food service director, wrote in a letter to legislators that the bill aligns with work the school district is already doing to remove synthetic dyes from school meal programs. She said the bill would not create a significant burden for the school district.

“Schools should be environments where students are set up for success, and access to nutritious meals plays an important role in that success,” Johnson McIntosh wrote. “Establishing these standards in state law would demonstrate Alaska’s ongoing commitment to student health, regardless of potential shifts at the federal level.”

The bill passed the Senate with 19 yes votes. Sen. Donny Olson, D-Golovin, was excused absent. 

If it passes the House and becomes law, it would go into effect in January 2028. Alaska would join states including Arizona, California, Delaware, Louisiana, Virginia and West Virginia in banning artificial food dyes in schools.

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Alaska Senate votes to require public schools to teach CPR

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, talks to a colleague on the floor of the Alaska Senate, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

By: James Brooks, Alaska Beacon

Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, talks to a colleague on the floor of the Alaska Senate, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska public school students would be required to learn hands-only CPR under a proposal advancing through the state legislature.

In a 19-0 vote on Wednesday, the Alaska Senate approved Senate Bill 20, which requires the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development to “adopt curricula to instruct public school students on hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation.”

Conventional CPR involves chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing, whereas hands-only CPR uses compressions alone.

Sen. Robert Yundt, R-Wasilla, was absent from the vote.

Existing state law says that each state school district is “encouraged” to teach CPR; the new bill, if approved by the House and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, would change CPR to a requirement.

The department said in a fiscal note that it will be able to implement the new requirement at no additional cost to the state.

“It’s time for Alaska to align with the growing national standard that ensures students learn these life-saving CPR techniques,” said Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage and the sponsor of the bill.

Heart diseases are the No. 2 cause of death in Alaska, according to the latest available state statistics. CPR can be used to keep someone’s blood flowing if they experience sudden cardiac arrest. That can triple a victim’s chances of survival, Gray-Jackson said, noting that CPR has even been used in the Capitol on occasion.

SB 20 advances to the House for further consideration. A companion measure, House Bill 92, is in the House Education Committee and has not yet been heard.

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Flu is rising rapidly, driven by a new variant. Here’s what to know

A certified medical assistant holds a syringe for a flu vaccine at a clinic in Seattle, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

AP-Flu is rising rapidly across the U.S., driven by a new variant of the virus — and cases are expected to keep growing with holiday travel.

That variant, known as “subclade K,” led to early outbreaks in the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. In the U.S., flu typically begins its winter march in December. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported high or very high levels of illness in more than half the states.

The CDC estimated there have been at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths from flu so far this season. That includes at least eight child deaths — and is based on data as of Dec. 20, before major holiday gatherings.

Some states are particularly hard-hit. New York’s health department said the week ending Dec. 20 marked the most flu cases the state had recorded in a single week since 2004: 71,000.

It’s far too soon to know if this flu season will be as severe as last winter’s.

But it’s not too late to get a flu shot, which health experts say can still prevent severe illness even if someone gets infected. While this year’s vaccine isn’t a perfect match to the subclade K strain, a preliminary analysis from the U.K. found it offered at least partial protection, lowering people’s risk of hospitalization.

According to the CDC, only about 42% of adults and children have gotten a flu vaccination so far this year.

What is subclade K flu?

The flu virus is a shape-shifter, constantly mutating, and it comes in multiple forms. There are two subtypes of Type A flu, and subclade K is a mutated version of one of them, named H3N2. That H3N2 strain is always harsh, especially for older adults.

Subclade K’s mutations aren’t enough of a change to be considered an entirely new kind of flu.

But they’re different enough to evade some of the protection from this year’s vaccine, said Andrew Pekosz, a virus expert at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Will subclade K make people sicker?

The CDC said it’s too soon to know how severe this season will be.

Flu seasons dominated by any version of H3N2 tend to be bad, with more infections overall and more people becoming seriously ill. But Hopkins’ Pekosz cautioned it will take time to tease apart whether this subclade K version simply spreads more easily or also is more dangerous.

That question aside, the CDC notes there are some prescription medicines to treat flu — usually recommended for people at high risk of complications. But they generally need to be started a day or two after symptoms begin.

Who needs a flu vaccine?

The CDC and major medical societies all recommend a flu vaccine for just about everyone age 6 months and older. Despite lots of recent misinformation and confusion about vaccines, the flu recommendations haven’t changed.

Flu is particularly dangerous for people 65 and older, pregnant women, young children and people of any age who have chronic health problems, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and weak immune systems.

The vaccines are brewed to protect against three influenza strains. Despite concern over that new H3N2 variant, they appear to be a good match against H1N1 and Type B flu that may also circulate this year, Pekosz said.

There are shots for all ages, as well as the nasal spray FluMist for ages 2 to 49. For the first time this year, some people may be eligible to vaccinate themselves with FluMist at home.

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Alaska could see up to $1.36 billion for rural health over the next 5 years

By: Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 1, 2025. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

Alaska was awarded more federal money than any state besides Texas for a federal rural health initiative, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced on Monday.

The money will come from the Rural Health Transformation Fund, a $50 billion program set up as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and intended to counteract the effects of its sweeping Medicaid cuts in rural areas.

Alaska’s congressional delegation and state officials lauded the federal investment, which will be upwards of $272 million in Alaska in 2026.

At a Wednesday news conference in Anchorage, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said the $1.36 billion the state is slated to receive over the next five years is the biggest investment from the federal government to Alaska’s health care system in state history.

“This is a generational opportunity for our state,” he said.

Heidi Hedberg, commissioner of the state’s health department said a major goal is to rework the state’s “fragmented” health system. 

She said the agency will release more information about its plan for the money in the coming days, but pointed to the state’s application to the program, which outlines six priorities: maternal and child health, access to services, preventative care, a strengthened workforce, financial sustainability and updated technology and data systems.

Emily Ricci, the agency’s deputy commissioner, said that core to the state’s application was the question of how to support services that already exist in the state.

“Part of our focus was making sure that the tribal communities could see some of the ways that they want to sustain their programs and evolve or build their programs out further into something that provides more access and sustainable costs,” she said. “So I would say that those opportunities are written in each one of the initiatives.”

She did not immediately supply specific examples.

The state’s application also commits to adherence to several policies favored by the Trump administration, including a pledge to join licensure compacts and prohibit the use of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds to buy soda pop by 2027.

Several of those commitments require the approval of the state’s legislature or medical board.

Hedberg said her agency will work with those decision makers to follow through on the commitments the state made in its application.

In a virtual meeting with reporters after the state’s news conference, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, challenged the state administration and legislators to take on the question of rebuilding the state’s health care system as a major issue.

In response to a reporter’s question, she said she was worried about the reliability of the funding because the state could fail to make the most of the opportunity or because the federal government could pause or cancel the funding.

“I know that we’re going into an election year next year. I know that the Permanent Fund always takes up space. I know we’re going to be talking about the gas line,” she said. “But we must, we must absolutely be talking about this health care opportunity that we have in front of us now.”

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