News

Sanders opens campaign office

The campaign of Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has opened a campaign office in Juneau.The office, which held its grand opening Saturday afternoon, is located… Continue reading

Car crash injures man

The Juneau Police Department has reported an unusual single-vehicle accident on Glacier Highway.According to police, about 1 a.m. Saturday, a car crashed near 20 Mile… Continue reading

Police and Fire dispatches for March 21, 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

Sex offender’s appeal is thrown out

A convicted sex offender’s attempt to declare himself a “sovereign citizen” immune from prosecution has been thrown out by the Alaska Court of Appeals.Eugene John… Continue reading

Delia Canales, left, originally from Mexico, receives instruction from Felicite Toney during an English as a Second Language class at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library last month. The Learning Connection provides ESL and immigration courses for free.

Free classes help Juneau’s immigrants learn English

When Ileyana Lopez immigrated from a small village in Mexico to the United States as a young woman, she didn’t speak a word of English.“At… Continue reading

Delia Canales, left, originally from Mexico, receives instruction from Felicite Toney during an English as a Second Language class at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library last month. The Learning Connection provides ESL and immigration courses for free.
Rep. Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, watches from afar as her teammate, Rep. Lynn Gattis, R-Wasilla, prepares to shoot a clay pigeon during the shotgun challenge portion of the 2016 Legislative Shoot, hosted by the Alaska Correctional Officers Association on Saturday at the Juneau Gun Club, Juneau Archery Club and the hunter training center on Montana Creek Road.

Photos: Legislative shoot

Rep. Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, watches from afar as her teammate, Rep. Lynn Gattis, R-Wasilla, prepares to shoot a clay pigeon during the shotgun challenge portion… Continue reading

Rep. Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, watches from afar as her teammate, Rep. Lynn Gattis, R-Wasilla, prepares to shoot a clay pigeon during the shotgun challenge portion of the 2016 Legislative Shoot, hosted by the Alaska Correctional Officers Association on Saturday at the Juneau Gun Club, Juneau Archery Club and the hunter training center on Montana Creek Road.
Gabe Kennedy at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada, shortly after coming out of a coma. The photo was taken in June 2014.

Hit-and-run victim: ‘I can’t believe I’m still alive’

Gabe Kennedy was in a great mood on a recent Monday. After almost a month of being on a liquid diet, his doctor had just… Continue reading

Gabe Kennedy at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada, shortly after coming out of a coma. The photo was taken in June 2014.

Around Town

Knights of Columbus Bishop Kenny Council brunch, 10 a.m.-noon, St. Paul’s Catholic Church. $10 for a family and $4 for an individual.Open trap shooting, 10… Continue reading

Lecture on injustices and inequities in Native education

Sealaska Heritage Institute and the University of Alaska Southeast’s Preparing Indigenous Teachers and Administrators for Alaska Schools program will sponsor a free lecture by Dr.… Continue reading

Ken Koelsch and his wife, Marian, watch election workers count the remaining absentee and questioned ballots from Tuesday's special mayoral election in Assembly Chambers on Friday. Koelsch maintained his lead over opponent Karen Crane. The Canvass Review Board meets Tuesday to verify the results from the precincts and to certify the election.

All ballots counted, Koelsch is new mayor

After all of the absentee and questioned ballots from Tuesday’s special mayoral election were counted Friday, candidate Ken Koelsch still came out ahead.Koelsch won about… Continue reading

Ken Koelsch and his wife, Marian, watch election workers count the remaining absentee and questioned ballots from Tuesday's special mayoral election in Assembly Chambers on Friday. Koelsch maintained his lead over opponent Karen Crane. The Canvass Review Board meets Tuesday to verify the results from the precincts and to certify the election.

Man sought in Switzer arrested

Police say they have arrested a 38-year-old man for allegedly assaulting a woman and stealing a car in the Lemon Creek area Thursday morning.While driving… Continue reading

Lemon Creek sees some love

Last March, the Juneau Assembly adopted the Auke Bay Area Plan, a blueprint of sorts to help guide future development in a manner appropriate for… Continue reading

Number of foster children in Alaska at a record high

As a foster care youth, 19-year-old Rachel Bedsworth has been placed in 47 different homes.“Part of it was my fault just because I didn’t listen… Continue reading

Rob Barnes, Head of State Legislative Affairs for Google, speaks to the Joint House Senate Transportation Committee about Google's Self-Driving Car Project at the Capitol on Thursday. Barnes told lawmakers that self-driving cars haven't yet been tested on ice and snow.

Photo: Google makes its case for self-driving cars in Alaska

Rob Barnes, Head of State Legislative Affairs for Google, speaks to the Joint House Senate Transportation Committee about Google’s Self-Driving Car Project at the Capitol… Continue reading

Rob Barnes, Head of State Legislative Affairs for Google, speaks to the Joint House Senate Transportation Committee about Google's Self-Driving Car Project at the Capitol on Thursday. Barnes told lawmakers that self-driving cars haven't yet been tested on ice and snow.

Police & Fire for Friday, March 16, 2016

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

Around Town

GED orientation class, 9 a.m., The Learning Connection, 210 Ferry Way. GED orientation is designed to improve the success rate of those taking the tests.… Continue reading

Don Quixote (Myron Welling) faces the Inquisitor (Kim Andree) as the Padre (Jay Query) and sidekick Sancho (Odin Brudie) look on.

Man of La Mancha’s final ride in town this weekend

This weekend, one man will joust with windmills on the stage of Juneau-Douglas High School during Juneau Lyric Opera’s production of “Man of La Mancha,”… Continue reading

Don Quixote (Myron Welling) faces the Inquisitor (Kim Andree) as the Padre (Jay Query) and sidekick Sancho (Odin Brudie) look on.
A screenshot of JPD's Facebook page Thursday afternoon, quelling rumors on social media that armed gunmen were at Switzer Village Mobile Park.

Social media spreads false alarm

Reports of armed gunmen in Switzer Village Mobile Park spread quickly on social media Thursday afternoon. The alleged gunmen were actually detectives with the Juneau… Continue reading

A screenshot of JPD's Facebook page Thursday afternoon, quelling rumors on social media that armed gunmen were at Switzer Village Mobile Park.
Sammy Becker and Mo Michels head up to Pittman's Ridge to take advantage of the fresh snow at Eaglecrest on Wednesday.

Photos: Winter at last

Sammy Becker, right, and Mo Michels head up to Pittman’s Ridge in wintery conditions to take advantage of the fresh snow after skinning up the… Continue reading

Sammy Becker and Mo Michels head up to Pittman's Ridge to take advantage of the fresh snow at Eaglecrest on Wednesday.
Freshmen Abby Locks, left, and Maya Garza play with a tobacco trivia game ball while manning an anti-tobacco information stand at the downtown Heritage Coffee shop on Wednesday. The students hung anti-tobacco graffiti on clothes lines in the cafe. The national Kick Butts Day is sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Photo: Kick Butts Day

Freshmen Abby Locks, left, and Maya Garza play with a tobacco trivia game ball while manning an anti-tobacco information stand at the downtown Heritage Coffee… Continue reading

Freshmen Abby Locks, left, and Maya Garza play with a tobacco trivia game ball while manning an anti-tobacco information stand at the downtown Heritage Coffee shop on Wednesday. The students hung anti-tobacco graffiti on clothes lines in the cafe. The national Kick Butts Day is sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.