Lawmakers prepare for fast action on eve of ’24-Hour Rule’

If it were a game show, it’d be the Lightning Round.On Tuesday, members of the Alaska House of Representatives voted 39-0 to declare irreconcilable differences… Continue reading

Jodi Mitchell, Sealaska board member and CEO of Inside Passage Electric Cooperative, center, takes a selfie with U.S. Rep. Don Young and his wife, Anne, before his speech at the Native Issues Forum at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday.

Young talks Trump, drugs and gas taxes during visit

Alaska’s lone delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives wrapped up a visit to Juneau on Tuesday, telling an audience at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall that… Continue reading

Jodi Mitchell, Sealaska board member and CEO of Inside Passage Electric Cooperative, center, takes a selfie with U.S. Rep. Don Young and his wife, Anne, before his speech at the Native Issues Forum at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday.

Assembly takes first swing at pot ordinance

The Juneau Assembly took its first crack at an ordinance that will give the city more control over marijuana businesses at a work session Monday… Continue reading

Alleged car thief, attacker pleads not guilty

The 38-year-old man who was at the center of a police search in Switzer Village Mobile Park last month pleaded not guilty to three felony… Continue reading

Japan climber rescued from Alaska peak amid avalanche risk

TALKEETNA — A helicopter rescued an experienced Japanese climber from an Alaska mountain where spring storms had created significant avalanche risks.Masatoshi Kuriaki, a 42-year-old climber… Continue reading

Kristy Dillingham has been named principal of Mendenhall River Community School.

Mendenhall River principal announced

Mendenhall River Community School has a new principal.The Juneau School District announced Saturday that Kristy Dillingham will fill the school’s top position beginning in August.… Continue reading

Kristy Dillingham has been named principal of Mendenhall River Community School.
Sound engineer Rick Miller of Anchorage untangles microphone cords in front of the Alaska Folk Festival stage at Centennial Hall on Monday. The week-long free music festival includes nightly performances, dances starting Thursday night and weekend workshops.

Folk Fest calendar for Tuesday, April 5

Folk Fest Juneau 2016Tuesday, April 5Juneau String Ensembles Aurora Strings, 7 p.m.Jack Cannon, 7:15 p.m.Daughter & Dad, 7:30 p.m. Callie Conerton and Jeff Brown play… Continue reading

Sound engineer Rick Miller of Anchorage untangles microphone cords in front of the Alaska Folk Festival stage at Centennial Hall on Monday. The week-long free music festival includes nightly performances, dances starting Thursday night and weekend workshops.
Kyleigh Hurt takes in the view of Juneau's downtown harbor with the help of the high-power binoculars aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau during a public tour on Monday. The Morgenthau, a 378-foot Hamilton-class high endurance cutter homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii, has a crew of 160, including 20 officers and 140 enlisted personnel. The crew patrols from South America to the Bering Sea, conducting counter-narcotics missions, alien migrant interdiction operations, foreign and domestic fisheries enforcement, and search and rescue.

Photo: View from U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau

Kyleigh Hurt takes in the view of Juneau’s downtown harbor with the help of the high-power binoculars aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau during… Continue reading

Kyleigh Hurt takes in the view of Juneau's downtown harbor with the help of the high-power binoculars aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau during a public tour on Monday. The Morgenthau, a 378-foot Hamilton-class high endurance cutter homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii, has a crew of 160, including 20 officers and 140 enlisted personnel. The crew patrols from South America to the Bering Sea, conducting counter-narcotics missions, alien migrant interdiction operations, foreign and domestic fisheries enforcement, and search and rescue.

Timber bill advances

A state timber bill envisioned as a helping hand for embattled Viking Lumber is advancing toward a final vote.On Monday afternoon, the House Resources Committee… Continue reading

Lawmakers tweak Alaska’s criminal justice overhaul bill

JUNEAU — A state Senate committee has made changes to a sweeping criminal justice bill, including capping the amount of time that could be taken… Continue reading

Around Town

Introduction to Using Computers, 9-11 a.m., The Learning Connection, 210 Ferry Way. Free. Details: 586-5718.Parks and Recreation Wednesday hike, 9:30 a.m., call for location. Details:… Continue reading

Correction

The Empire incorrectly reported that the Denison University’s Swim & Dive team placed third in the NCAA Division III national championship on Sunday. It was… Continue reading

Emerald 100 cashews recalled

The Alaska Department of Environment Conservation’s Food Safety and Sanitation Program has confirmed the recall of Emerald 100 Calorie Pack Roasted & Salted Cashew Halves… Continue reading

Sealaska announces spring distribution amount

Sealaska’s board of directors approved a spring distribution to shareholders totaling $16 million. The regional Native corporation reported a second-consecutive year of positive net income.… Continue reading

North Pole woman dies in avalanche near Summit Lake

DELTA JUNCTION — A 25-year old Alaska woman died Sunday when she was buried by an avalanche.Alaska State Troopers say Claire Sundgren of North Pole… Continue reading

Searchers find snowmobile belonging to missing man

ANCHORAGE — Searchers using dragging hooks from sea ice in Norton Bay have recovered a snowmobile belonging to a 22-year-old western Alaska man who disappeared… Continue reading

Car leaves road, crashes after troopers deploy spike strips

ANCHORAGE — A car sought by Alaska State Troopers left the Sterling Highway and rolled Sunday after its tires were punctured by spike strips.Two Anchorage… Continue reading

Police calls for Tuesday, April 5, 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

Dividend tax proposed as stopgap measure, legislator says

JUNEAU — Alaskans who receive an Alaska Permanent Fund dividend would pay a 35 percent tax on it under legislation proposed in the state House.Rep.… Continue reading

Supreme Court bolsters political influence of Latinos

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court unanimously endorsed election maps that bolster the growing political influence of America’s Latinos on Monday, ruling that states can count… Continue reading