News

Leadership of the U.S. Coast Guard's 17th District stand in the Senate chambers gallery, including Commander Rear Admiral Daniel B. Abel, standing left, as Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, introduces them at the start of Friday's session.

Photo: Visiting Coast Guard brass

Leadership of the U.S. Coast Guard’s 17th District stand in the Senate chambers gallery, including Commander Rear Admiral Daniel B. Abel, standing left, as Sen.… Continue reading

Leadership of the U.S. Coast Guard's 17th District stand in the Senate chambers gallery, including Commander Rear Admiral Daniel B. Abel, standing left, as Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau, introduces them at the start of Friday's session.

Grand jury indicts four men tied to home invasion

A Juneau grand jury handed up four indictments on Friday in connection to a Feb. 14 home invasion with charges that included kidnapping and assault.Joshua… Continue reading

In this 1945 photo, members of the Tanaka family stand together at the Minidoka Japanese internment camp in Jerome, Idaho, where they were held in forced incarceration during World War II. Alice Tanaka Hikido, left, and her sister, Mary Tanaka Abo, the child in the foreground, participated in a Feb. 19 ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson that was held to remember the forced incarceration of more than 200 Alaskans, as well unveil the results of a study about a little-known Japanese internment camp that was erected there during World War II. Also pictured are Nobu Tanaka, back left, John Tanaka, in uniform second from right, standing next to Shonosuke Tanaka.

Study examines little-known WWII internment camp in Alaska

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON — Alice Tanaka Hikido clearly remembers the bewilderment and sense of violation she felt 74 years ago when FBI agents rifled through… Continue reading

In this 1945 photo, members of the Tanaka family stand together at the Minidoka Japanese internment camp in Jerome, Idaho, where they were held in forced incarceration during World War II. Alice Tanaka Hikido, left, and her sister, Mary Tanaka Abo, the child in the foreground, participated in a Feb. 19 ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson that was held to remember the forced incarceration of more than 200 Alaskans, as well unveil the results of a study about a little-known Japanese internment camp that was erected there during World War II. Also pictured are Nobu Tanaka, back left, John Tanaka, in uniform second from right, standing next to Shonosuke Tanaka.

State: Half of pot applications contain errors

Alaska’s new commercial marijuana program has gotten off to a roaring start, with more than 100 applicants since Wednesday.It’s unclear how many of those applicants… Continue reading

Prisons, Troopers go under budget knife

The Alaska House closed out the first stage of its budget work on Friday as the subcommittee in charge of the Alaska State Troopers recommended… Continue reading

Bethel allocates more money to project deemed fruitless

BETHEL— The Bethel City Council has approved spending an extra $5,000 for a multimillion-dollar road project, despite skepticism about the plans.Councilmember Leif Albertson told the… Continue reading

Fortress of the Bear in Sitka looks to expand facility

SITKA — A bear rescue operation in Sitka is planning to expand its facilities to accommodate an increasing number of visitors.The Fortress of the Bear,… Continue reading

Lawmakers near half-way point

JUNEAU — Legislators this coming week will reach the half-way point of the scheduled 90-day session, with the House working toward finalizing its version of… Continue reading

Feds release probable causes in 2 fatal crashes

ANCHORAGE — Pilot error and flawed safety procedures by an Alaska commuter air company contributed to a fatal plane crash in 2013 outside the village… Continue reading

Clarification

In the Feb. 24 article “Marijuana drama,” the Empire reported that the group of North Douglas residents testifying against allowing limited marijuana cultivation facilities in… Continue reading

Police calls for Monday, Feb. 29, 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

FBI to review Ketchikan missing persons investigations

KETCHIKAN — Ketchikan police are looking for three missing people and sending information to the FBI to determine whether any leads need further investigation.Family members… Continue reading

Around Town

Intermediate Microsoft Excel, 9-11 a.m., The Learning Connection, 210 Ferry Way. Learn to use Excel spreadsheets and other intermediate level skills. Free. Details: 586-5718. Writing… Continue reading

Former educator sentenced to prison time in child porn case

ANCHORAGE — A former educator at the University of Alaska Anchorage is going to prison for possessing and distributing child pornography.KTUU-TV reported Curtis Osterhoudt received… Continue reading

Insurer warnings cast doubt on exchange future

Political uncertainty isn’t the only threat to the Affordable Care Act’s future. Cracks also are spreading through a major pillar supporting the lawHealth insurance exchanges… Continue reading

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 file photo, cabins are set up inside Hanger 4 of the former airport Tempelhof to be used as a temporary emergency shelter for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Berlin. Across Europe, gay, lesbian and transgender migrants say they suffer from verbal, physical and sexual abuse in refugee shelters, and some have been forced to move out. The AP found out about scores of documented cases in The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, with the abuse usually coming from fellow refugees and sometimes security staff and translators. In Germany, the Lesbian and Gay Federation counted 106 cases of violence against homosexual and transgender refugees in the Berlin region from August through the end of January 2016. Most of the cases came from refugee centers, and 13 included sexual abuse. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, file)

Across Europe, gay migrants face abuse in asylum shelters

BERLIN — Alaa Ammar fled Syria to escape not just civil war but also the threat of persecution as a gay man. Yet when he… Continue reading

  • Feb 29, 2016
  • By KIRSTEN GRIESHABER and MIKE CORDER
  • Nation-World
FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 file photo, cabins are set up inside Hanger 4 of the former airport Tempelhof to be used as a temporary emergency shelter for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Berlin. Across Europe, gay, lesbian and transgender migrants say they suffer from verbal, physical and sexual abuse in refugee shelters, and some have been forced to move out. The AP found out about scores of documented cases in The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, with the abuse usually coming from fellow refugees and sometimes security staff and translators. In Germany, the Lesbian and Gay Federation counted 106 cases of violence against homosexual and transgender refugees in the Berlin region from August through the end of January 2016. Most of the cases came from refugee centers, and 13 included sexual abuse. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, file)
This Feb. 11, 2016, photo, shows the battery, bottom, of the LG G5 phone popped out, and a camera grip, top, with physical shutter buttons, in New York. The battery can be removed from the phone and inserted into a different module with extra features. LG is dipping its toes into a modular-design concept with its upcoming G5 smartphone. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Innovation and today’s economy: Why it’s lagging

WASHINGTON — It’s a dreary thought.America’s most innovative days are gone. A lack of truly groundbreaking inventions has imposed a long-term drag on economic growth… Continue reading

This Feb. 11, 2016, photo, shows the battery, bottom, of the LG G5 phone popped out, and a camera grip, top, with physical shutter buttons, in New York. The battery can be removed from the phone and inserted into a different module with extra features. LG is dipping its toes into a modular-design concept with its upcoming G5 smartphone. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

With Papelbon, Giles gone, Phillies’ closer job open

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Heading into the final week of July last summer, the Philadelphia Phillies had two formidable options to close out games: perennial All-Star… Continue reading

Sen. Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, right, and Senate Majority Leader John Coghill speak on the floor of the Senate during an at ease on Friday.

Alaska Senate OKs bill to bar Planned Parenthood in schools

JUNEAU — As members of a Juneau Girl Scout troop looked on, the Alaska Senate on Friday narrowly passed a bill that would ban abortion… Continue reading

Sen. Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, right, and Senate Majority Leader John Coghill speak on the floor of the Senate during an at ease on Friday.

Army chief: Troop reduction should wait

ANCHORAGE — U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley said he wants to delay proposed force reductions at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson at least a… Continue reading