James Brooks

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is warning Alaskans that a security breach may have affected more than 500 people who used public assistance in the Interior and northern Alaska. (Luca Bravo | Unsplash)

Security breach: Hackers access Alaskans’ information from state computer

A security breach may have exposed the personal information of at least 500 northern Alaskans to unknown hackers, possibly in Russia, according to the Alaska… Continue reading

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is warning Alaskans that a security breach may have affected more than 500 people who used public assistance in the Interior and northern Alaska. (Luca Bravo | Unsplash)
This composite image, provided by Alaska Fur Gallery and taken by Guy Olson, shows the walrus-tusk plaque stolen from the Franklin Street gallery sometime last month. (Courtesy photo)

Juneau Crime Line seeks tips in case of missing walrus tusks

The Juneau Crime Line is seeking the public’s help finding two walrus tusks stolen from Alaska Fur Gallery on Franklin Street. In a Thursday morning… Continue reading

This composite image, provided by Alaska Fur Gallery and taken by Guy Olson, shows the walrus-tusk plaque stolen from the Franklin Street gallery sometime last month. (Courtesy photo)
In this Sept. 17, 2017 photo, Capital City Fire/Rescue cleans up after fighting a fire at 526 Seward Street, next to the Terry Miller Legislative Building. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

New future for burned-down B&B? Legislature may buy downtown building to expand Capitol complex

The Juneau Community Foundation and Alaska Legislature are considering a move to add more space to the Capitol complex downtown. According to a June 15… Continue reading

In this Sept. 17, 2017 photo, Capital City Fire/Rescue cleans up after fighting a fire at 526 Seward Street, next to the Terry Miller Legislative Building. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner gives a thumbs up outside the Supreme Court, Wednesday, June 27, 2018 in Washington. From left are, Liberty Justice Center’s Director of Litigation Jacob Huebert, plaintiff Mark Janus, Rauner, and Liberty Justice Center founder and chairman John Tillman. The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that government workers can’t be forced to contribute to labor unions that represent them in collective bargaining, dealing a serious financial blow to organized labor. (AP Photo | Andrew Harnik)

Alaska unions clobbered by Supreme Court decision

Alaska’s public-sector unions warned Wednesday that a new ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court will have significant effects across the state. The 5-4 ruling in… Continue reading

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner gives a thumbs up outside the Supreme Court, Wednesday, June 27, 2018 in Washington. From left are, Liberty Justice Center’s Director of Litigation Jacob Huebert, plaintiff Mark Janus, Rauner, and Liberty Justice Center founder and chairman John Tillman. The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that government workers can’t be forced to contribute to labor unions that represent them in collective bargaining, dealing a serious financial blow to organized labor. (AP Photo | Andrew Harnik)
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, June 1, 2017.

Alaska cities, boroughs see more cash from Department of the Interior

The Department of the Interior will send more than $32.3 million to local governments across Alaska as part of this year’s Payment in Lieu of… Continue reading

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon at the Moose Lodge on Thursday, June 1, 2017.
People gather outside the Millennium Biltmore Hotel to protest against U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Tuesday, June 26, 2018, in Los Angeles. Sessions gave a speech at the hotel. (Jae C. Hong | The Associated Press)

Pair of evening events will prelude weekend immigration rally

Andrea Dewees has worked as a translator at a pair of immigrant family detention centers in Texas. This week, she’ll appear at a series of… Continue reading

People gather outside the Millennium Biltmore Hotel to protest against U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Tuesday, June 26, 2018, in Los Angeles. Sessions gave a speech at the hotel. (Jae C. Hong | The Associated Press)
The Alaska Department of Labor has clarified the meaning of a new regulation against enforced tip-pooling. (Sam Truong Dan | Unsplash images)

Department of Labor clarifies change to tip regulations

The Alaska Department of Labor’s coming changes to tip pooling aren’t universal, the department cautioned Tuesday. Last week, the department announced a regulatory move that… Continue reading

The Alaska Department of Labor has clarified the meaning of a new regulation against enforced tip-pooling. (Sam Truong Dan | Unsplash images)
This image, taken by an aerial drone and provided to the Empire by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Juneau, shows Suicide Basin on the Mendenhall Glacier after a calving event triggered expectations of a flood along the Mendenhall River on June 25, 2018. (Courtesy photo)

‘Really, really impressive’ glacier calving prompted flood watch for Mendenhall Valley

The National Weather Service office in Juneau has canceled a flood watch for the Mendenhall River after the Mendenhall Glacier calved ice into Suicide Basin.… Continue reading

This image, taken by an aerial drone and provided to the Empire by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Juneau, shows Suicide Basin on the Mendenhall Glacier after a calving event triggered expectations of a flood along the Mendenhall River on June 25, 2018. (Courtesy photo)
A person identified as Ryan Jerome Bradshaw is seen in a photo provided by the Juneau Police Department. (Courtesy photo)

Juneau police arrest wanted man

The Juneau Police Department has captured a man wanted in several felony cases after getting a tip about a dangerous driver. JPD officers arrested Ryan… Continue reading

A person identified as Ryan Jerome Bradshaw is seen in a photo provided by the Juneau Police Department. (Courtesy photo)
Shaken System: Alaska’s disaster warning program has critical flaws, documents reveal

Shaken System: Alaska’s disaster warning program has critical flaws, documents reveal

On the night of Jan. 23, Alaskans across the Gulf Coast were awakened by one of the most significant earthquakes to hit Alaska since the… Continue reading

Shaken System: Alaska’s disaster warning program has critical flaws, documents reveal
Sealaska Corp. shared the results of its board elections about 3 p.m. at its annual meeting, which took place Saturday in Wrangell.

Independent candidate Nicole Hallingstad elected to Sealaska board

Sealaska Corp. shareholders have elected an independent candidate to the board of directors that controls Southeast Alaska’s regional Native Corporation. Nicole Hallingstad received 823,055 votes… Continue reading

Sealaska Corp. shared the results of its board elections about 3 p.m. at its annual meeting, which took place Saturday in Wrangell.

Instacart hires Alaska lobbyist

National internet grocery firm Instacart has hired an Alaska lobbyist, according to filings released June 20 by the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Instacart, which promises… Continue reading

Alaska will ban mandatory tip pooling

Correction: Alaska’s minimum wage is $9.84 per hour, not $9.80. It rose by four cents per hour on Jan. 1 in an automatic inflation adjustment.… Continue reading

In this file photo on March 20, 2014, Robert D. Kowalski appears in Juneau Superior Court for the murder of his girlfriend at a Yakutat lodge nearly 20 years ago. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Appeals court upholds Yakutat murder conviction

The Alaska Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of a Washington state man for a 1996 murder in Yakutat. Robert Kowalski, 57, was originally… Continue reading

In this file photo on March 20, 2014, Robert D. Kowalski appears in Juneau Superior Court for the murder of his girlfriend at a Yakutat lodge nearly 20 years ago. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaskans could face internet sales tax

A new ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court may put sales taxes on internet purchases across Alaska and bring millions of dollars to local coffers.… Continue reading

Juneau sees third-hottest day ever

Wednesday’s sunny weather resulted in the third-highest temperature ever recorded in the capital city and the warmest day in five years. According to the National… Continue reading

Liz Snyder, candidate for House District 27, is seen in a May photo from her campaign. (Courtesy photo)

Ruling may allow more professors to campaign for office

The Alaska Public Offices Commission may approve a legal opinion today that could encourage University of Alaska professors to run for state office. In March,… Continue reading

Liz Snyder, candidate for House District 27, is seen in a May photo from her campaign. (Courtesy photo)

Despite pending lawsuit, Gov. Bill Walker signs oil and gas borrowing bill

Despite a pending lawsuit, Gov. Bill Walker on Wednesday signed legislation allowing the state of Alaska to borrow up to $1 billion in order to… Continue reading

In this June 11, 2009 file photo, an Alaska Airlines airliner is pushed away from a gate at SeaTac Airport in SeaTac, Wash. (Associated Press file)

Alaska Airlines denounces child separation policy

Alaska Airlines joined several other national air carriers Wednesday by asking the Trump administration to not use their flights to carry migrant children who have… Continue reading

In this June 11, 2009 file photo, an Alaska Airlines airliner is pushed away from a gate at SeaTac Airport in SeaTac, Wash. (Associated Press file)
Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, talks during the announcement of a new northern internet fiber-optic link while in Whitehorse on June 20, 2018. (Crystal Schick | Yukon News)

Yukon rejects Alaska fiber link

This article has been updated to include comment from Alaska Power and Telephone. The Yukon government will not build a cross-border fiber-optic link connecting Alaska… Continue reading

Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, talks during the announcement of a new northern internet fiber-optic link while in Whitehorse on June 20, 2018. (Crystal Schick | Yukon News)