News

Alaskans speak up about bill to smother smoking

The Alaska Senate is again considering a bill to prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants and public places across Alaska.Senate Bill 1 was the first piece… Continue reading

One less option for Juneau children

Despite efforts to maintain an unmatched service in Alaska’s capital, Catholic Community Service will close its behavioral health program in less than four months.“It’s a… Continue reading

Capital city racks up records amid clear skies

High-temperature records fell as the sun rose over Juneau this past weekend, according to the National Weather Service.The thermometer measured 49 degrees on Sunday and… Continue reading

Police & Fire for Monday, March 14, 2016

This report contains information provided to the Empire from law enforcement agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone listed in… Continue reading

Anchorage police investigate Eagle River death as homicide

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage police are investigating the death of a man found in Eagle River as a homicide.Police say the man was found outside a… Continue reading

Troopers seek help in finding ‘dangerous’ Wasilla suspect

ANCHORAGE — Alaska State Troopers say they’re seeking a “dangerous” 23-year-old Wasilla man who left his court-appointed custodian.Troopers are seeking Jordan King, who has a… Continue reading

Around Town

Using iPads and other mobile device tips and tricks, 9-11 a.m., The Learning Connection, 210 Ferry Way. Improves skills for work, school or testing. Free.… Continue reading

An alder tree blooms along the Mendenhall River on Friday.

Photo: Alder catkins

An alder tree blooms along the Mendenhall River on Friday.… Continue reading

An alder tree blooms along the Mendenhall River on Friday.

Legislature to take public testimony on oil tax credits

The Alaska House will take public testimony Monday on a proposal from Gov. Bill Walker to reform the credit system that rewards oil companies for… Continue reading

Earthquakes rock south-central Alaska, western Aleutians

ANCHORAGE — A magnitude 4.5 earthquake rocked south-central Alaska on Saturday and was felt in the state’s largest city, Anchorage.The National Tsunami Warning Center says… Continue reading

In this Feb. 16 photo, from right, Willow and Cabo, belonging to Lorraine Temple, demonstrate the rigging of an Alaskan dog sled while Amity Middle School's Mindy Wallace stands on the sled modeling a musher's protective clothing during Temple's presentation in Amity, Oregon.

Mush on, read on

AMITY, Ore. — Lorraine Temple pulled her van into the parking lot at Amity Middle School in Oregon. The Homer resident was greeted by Principal… Continue reading

In this Feb. 16 photo, from right, Willow and Cabo, belonging to Lorraine Temple, demonstrate the rigging of an Alaskan dog sled while Amity Middle School's Mindy Wallace stands on the sled modeling a musher's protective clothing during Temple's presentation in Amity, Oregon.
Liam Lotter poses with a piece of debris thought to be part of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, in Wartburg, 37km (22 miles) out of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, March 11, 2016. South African teenager Liam Lotter vacationing with his family in Mozambique on Dec. 30, may have found part of a wing from the missing plane, while he was strolling on the beach. Liam struggled to lift the debris from the beach and carried it back home to South Africa before discovering it might be from the lost plane, but now aviation experts plan to examine the plane fragment. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 jet vanished with 239 people on board while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. (Candace Lotter via AP)

S. African teen finds possible plane debris

JOHANNESBURG — A South African teenager vacationing in Mozambique may have found part of a wing from missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which his family… Continue reading

Liam Lotter poses with a piece of debris thought to be part of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, in Wartburg, 37km (22 miles) out of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Friday, March 11, 2016. South African teenager Liam Lotter vacationing with his family in Mozambique on Dec. 30, may have found part of a wing from the missing plane, while he was strolling on the beach. Liam struggled to lift the debris from the beach and carried it back home to South Africa before discovering it might be from the lost plane, but now aviation experts plan to examine the plane fragment. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 jet vanished with 239 people on board while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. (Candace Lotter via AP)

Germanwings victim’s father: We’re still waiting for apology

MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany — Families of the Germanwings crash victims say they are still waiting for an apology from those they believe failed to prevent the… Continue reading

26-year-old man arrested in Iditarod crashes

ANCHORAGE — A man suspected of intentionally driving a snowmobile into teams of two mushers near the front of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race… Continue reading

Former LCCC inmate Brandon Johnson, right, speaks with two inmates during a break at the ninth annual Success Inside and Out conference in the prison. During the event, Johnson spoke as a panelist, offering advice to his former peers.

Success Inside and Out

Juneau District Court Judge Keith Levy didn’t pull any punches while speaking to about 50 inmates in the Lemon Creek Correctional Center Saturday morning.“When you… Continue reading

Former LCCC inmate Brandon Johnson, right, speaks with two inmates during a break at the ninth annual Success Inside and Out conference in the prison. During the event, Johnson spoke as a panelist, offering advice to his former peers.

Policy lets legislators decide on records releases

JUNEAU — Legislative policy leaves Alaska state lawmakers the discretion to decide whether they want to release information from their own records. That stands in… Continue reading

Researchers with the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Science check a pop-up satellite tag on a chinook salmon. The University of Alaska system cuts proposed in the Legislature would largely come out of research funding, which could create a ripple effect that damages state and federal fisheries management.

University cuts could damage fisheries, Arctic research

ANCHORAGE — A state fiscal crisis looms, and some of the Legislature’s budget cuts could send ripples into Alaska’s largest private employer and international political… Continue reading

Researchers with the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Science check a pop-up satellite tag on a chinook salmon. The University of Alaska system cuts proposed in the Legislature would largely come out of research funding, which could create a ripple effect that damages state and federal fisheries management.
Four-year-old Kiana Twitchell gets to run a backhoe with an IUOE Local 302 Operators Union as her copilot.

Photos: Home expo

Six-year-old Occy Rubbo loads gravel with the assistance of volunteer union worker Jarrett Thomas. Tyler Rental donated the heavy equipment.… Continue reading

Four-year-old Kiana Twitchell gets to run a backhoe with an IUOE Local 302 Operators Union as her copilot.

GCI cell customers struggle with outages

BETHEL — Customers with Alaska telecommunications company General Communication, Inc. say they have experienced frequent outages all winter.Cellular service was spotty over the winter months… Continue reading

Wildlife biologists Rob Kaler of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Sarah Schoen of the U.S. Geological Survey examine body parts of a common murre during a necropsy on Friday in Anchorage.

Scientists researching seabird death mystery

ANCHORAGE — The common murre on Sarah Schoen’s examination table lived a short, hungry life.Measurements of its beak and leg indicated it hatched in June.… Continue reading

Wildlife biologists Rob Kaler of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Sarah Schoen of the U.S. Geological Survey examine body parts of a common murre during a necropsy on Friday in Anchorage.