FILE - In this July 21, 2010 file photo, a polar bear has a bucket on his head, while cub polar bear swims nearby in the cooling waters of  Moscow Zoo. Climate science has progressed so much that experts can accurately detect global warming's fingerprints on certain extreme weather events, such as a heat wave, concluded a high-level scientific advisory panel. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze, File)

Panel: Finding climate fingerprints in wild weather is valid

WASHINGTON — Climate science has progressed so much that experts can accurately detect global warming’s fingerprints on certain extreme weather events, such as a heat… Continue reading

FILE - In this July 21, 2010 file photo, a polar bear has a bucket on his head, while cub polar bear swims nearby in the cooling waters of  Moscow Zoo. Climate science has progressed so much that experts can accurately detect global warming's fingerprints on certain extreme weather events, such as a heat wave, concluded a high-level scientific advisory panel. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze, File)
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2016 file photo, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito speaks in Washington. A hallmark in the search for a new Supreme Court justice is the secretive process for making sure the choice is kept under wraps until the president is ready to reveal it. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

Secrecy a stamp of vetting process

WASHINGTON — Clandestine meetings. Soundproofed rooms. Top-secret instructions.It sounds like the elements for a spy movie, but it’s become a hallmark of the undercover process… Continue reading

FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2016 file photo, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito speaks in Washington. A hallmark in the search for a new Supreme Court justice is the secretive process for making sure the choice is kept under wraps until the president is ready to reveal it. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

Torture is illegal, but there’s the issue of Appendix M

WASHINGTON — A little-known appendix to the Army Field Manual, the government rulebook for interrogations that bans the harsh practices used after the Sept. 11… Continue reading

Hollywood learns a new storytelling language for VR

LOS ANGELES — What happens to a film’s story when blades of grass are more interesting than the plot? When you can lean in so… Continue reading

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2016 file photo, a researcher holds a container with female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in the Sao Paulo's University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The spread of the Zika virus in Latin America is giving a boost to a British biotech firm's proposal to try reducing the threat by deploying a genetically modified version of the mosquito that transmits the disease.  (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

FDA: No significant impact from test of modified mosquitoes

MIAMI — A field trial releasing genetically modified mosquitoes in the Florida Keys would not harm humans or the environment, according to documents released Friday… Continue reading

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2016 file photo, a researcher holds a container with female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes at the Biomedical Sciences Institute in the Sao Paulo's University in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The spread of the Zika virus in Latin America is giving a boost to a British biotech firm's proposal to try reducing the threat by deploying a genetically modified version of the mosquito that transmits the disease.  (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Kyler Romme spoke out against Senate Bill 191 during public testimony Thursday.

Public weighs in almost 7:1 against Planned Parenthood ban in public schools

The public spoke out overwhelmingly against a bill that would restrict abortion providers like Planned Parenthood from teaching or providing resources in Juneau schools.By the… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School senior Kyler Romme spoke out against Senate Bill 191 during public testimony Thursday.

Pro-pot petition heads to Assembly

Late last month a small group of North Douglas residents started circulating a petition requesting the Juneau Assembly reverse its Nov. 9 decision to allow… Continue reading

R.D. Robinson

Ownership issues surface over sunken tugboat

R.D. Robinson is a man with big plans. A mosaic artist who works in granite, he envisions and creates projects that last more than a… Continue reading

R.D. Robinson
Flowers and a note are left outside the main entrance to the Dimond Courthouse on Tuesday. Miranda Ellen Davison, 34, shot and killed herself at the location on Monday.

Family: Woman who died at courthouse battled mental health, drug issues

The mother of the 34-year-old woman who shot and killed herself outside the Dimond Courthouse in downtown Juneau earlier this week said she believes her… Continue reading

Flowers and a note are left outside the main entrance to the Dimond Courthouse on Tuesday. Miranda Ellen Davison, 34, shot and killed herself at the location on Monday.

Bethel officials consider vote-by-mail

BETHEL — The city of Bethel is looking into replacing going to the polls with voting by mail as a way to increase voter turnout,… Continue reading

Gold mill proposed for eastern Kenai Peninsula

KENAI — The private-owned Diamond Gold Corporation is proposing a gold extraction mill on the eastern Kenai Peninsula expected to add a boost to the… Continue reading

Senate passes bill to curb, contain Medicaid costs

JUNEAU — Legislation aimed at curbing and containing costs within the state Medicaid program has passed the Alaska Senate.Friday’s 19-0 vote sends the bill to… Continue reading

House Majority denies attempt to defund Medicaid lawsuit

The Republican-led Alaska House Majority has defeated an attempt by the Democratic-led minority to cut off funding for a legislative lawsuit to block the expansion… Continue reading

Police & fire for Sunday, March 13, 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

Eaglecrest to stay open extra weekend

Eaglecrest Ski Area will not be closing quite as early as expected. The ski area, previously slated to halt operations Sunday, will stay open an… Continue reading

Correction: Symphony Showcase second show today at Aldersgate

The Juneau Symphony second show of the Symphony Showcase will take place today at Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 3 p.m. In the recent Capital… Continue reading

Fred Hiltner exits a voting booth in the Assembly Chambers after taking advantage of early voting on Friday. Monday is the last day of early voting at both the Assembly Chambers and the Mendenhall Mall. Election day is Tuesday.

Photo: Early voting

Fred Hiltner exits a voting booth in the Assembly chambers after taking advantage of early voting on Friday. Monday is the last day of early… Continue reading

Fred Hiltner exits a voting booth in the Assembly Chambers after taking advantage of early voting on Friday. Monday is the last day of early voting at both the Assembly Chambers and the Mendenhall Mall. Election day is Tuesday.

Nestle recalls pizza, pasta products delivered to Alaska that may contain glass

Due to the potential presence of glass pieces, Nestlé USA is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited number of DiGiorno®, Lean Cuisine®, and Stouffer’s®… Continue reading

US rig count drops 9 this week to all-time low of 480

HOUSTON — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped 9 this week to 480, a record low and… Continue reading

Kito named whip, Spohnholz gets committee assignments

JUNEAU — State Rep. Sam Kito III has been named House minority whip, succeeding the late Rep. Max Gruenberg in that role.Duties of the leadership… Continue reading