News

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.

SeaLife Center prepares for influx of sick sea otters

KENAI — Alaska SeaLife Center is preparing for another busy year of stranded otters.The Seward nonprofit has recorded 80 reports of dead, sick or unresponsive… 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.

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.
In this March 4 photo, Martinez Sutton wears a shirt commemorating his sister, Rekia Boyd, 22, who was shot and killed in 2012 by a Chicago police officer. Sutton has been pushing for the firing of officer Dante Servin, who, while off-duty, was driving in an alley when he argued with a group of people. Servin fired several shots over his shoulder, striking a Boyd with a fatal head wound.

How Chicago racked up a $662M police misconduct bill

CHICAGO — In this city’s troubled history of police misconduct, Eric Caine’s case may be unrivaled: It took more than 25 years and $10 million… Continue reading

In this March 4 photo, Martinez Sutton wears a shirt commemorating his sister, Rekia Boyd, 22, who was shot and killed in 2012 by a Chicago police officer. Sutton has been pushing for the firing of officer Dante Servin, who, while off-duty, was driving in an alley when he argued with a group of people. Servin fired several shots over his shoulder, striking a Boyd with a fatal head wound.

American IS fighter: I made a bad decision

IRBIL, Iraq — The American Islamic State group fighter who handed himself over to Kurdish forces in northern Iraq earlier this week said he made… 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.

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.

US rig count drops 4 this week to all-time low of 476

HOUSTON — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped 4 this week to 476, a record low and… Continue reading

Kenai Orthodox church plans fire system to protect artifacts

KENAI — A Russian Orthodox church in Kenai is looking to install a new fire-suppressing system to protect the religious art and historical artifacts that… Continue reading

Joint session set to consider Walker appointees

JUNEAU — The Alaska House and Senate plan to meet in joint session next month to consider appointments made by Gov. Bill Walker.Legislators have expressed… Continue reading

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

Fairbanks man charged with improperly ordering steroids

FAIRBANKS — A competitive body builder from Fairbanks suspected of ordering thousands of dollars’ worth of steroids from China has been arrested.Thirty-one-year-old Joshua Makkar was… Continue reading

Researcher: New species of butterfly has clues to geology, climate

FAIRBANKS — A new species of butterfly could provide clues about Alaska’s geological history and its changing climate, according to a University of Florida researcher.Research… Continue reading

Photo: Iditarod sunrise

The sun rises Thursday over the frozen tundra just outside Nome and lights up patches of ice covering the Nome River.… Continue reading

After death of teen daughter, Eagle River mom raises awareness of rare disease

Feb. 29 was a day of torn emotions for Cindy Just.The 44-year-old Eagle River mother reminisced about her recently deceased 14-year-old daughter, Lindsey, who contracted… Continue reading

CIRI sells tourism businesses to Alaska Denali Travel

Cook Inlet Region Inc. announced March 11 that it has sold its tour and resort subsidiary CIRI Alaska Tourism to Viad Corp., which also owns… 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.
Didemnum vexillum, commonly known as rock vomit, is shown encasing a rock in Sitka's Whiting Harbor. The Alaska House passed a bill to combat invasive species in Alaska's waters.

House approves bill fighting “rock vomit” and other invasive species

The Alaska House has voted 26-7 in favor of a bill that aims to fight invasive species in Alaska’s waters.House Bill 38, brought by Rep.… Continue reading

Didemnum vexillum, commonly known as rock vomit, is shown encasing a rock in Sitka's Whiting Harbor. The Alaska House passed a bill to combat invasive species in Alaska's waters.

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