6.2-magnitude earthquake hits Alaska Peninsula

PORT HEIDEN — A 6.2-magnitude earthquake has struck the Alaska Peninsula.The Alaska Earthquake Center released a statement saying the tremor hit at 9:50 p.m. and… Continue reading

Sen. Murkowski says she hasn’t decided on endorsement for GOP candidate

KODIAK — Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she hasn't settled on which Republican presidential candidate she will support. But Steve Wackowski, the GOP senator's campaign manager, says… Continue reading

Fishing officials work to get young people fishing permits

KODIAK — People in the fishing industry are looking for ways to help young fishermen join the workforce.The Kodiak Daily Mirror reported during the ComFish… Continue reading

Police calls for Monday, April 4, 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

In this March 11 photo, Dr. Michael Victoroff, a physician in the Denver area whose leisure-time passion is competitive shooting, practices at a range in Centennial, Colorado.

In West, region of guns and suicide, outreach to curb deaths

MONTROSE, Colorado — Keith Carey is a gunsmith in Montrose, a town with a frontier flavor set amid the mesas of western Colorado. He’s a… Continue reading

In this March 11 photo, Dr. Michael Victoroff, a physician in the Denver area whose leisure-time passion is competitive shooting, practices at a range in Centennial, Colorado.
In this March 24 photo, Christopher Orman, the new assistant district attorney for Sitka, stands in his Lake Street office in Sitka.

Sitka’s new DA experienced in court, kitchen

SITKA — The new assistant district attorney for Sitka couldn’t say exactly that his life was naturally leading to his current post.But Christopher Orman says… Continue reading

In this March 24 photo, Christopher Orman, the new assistant district attorney for Sitka, stands in his Lake Street office in Sitka.
Kenaitze Indian Tribe members, students and Kenai Peninsula College faculty make their way through the woods to the site of Kalifornsky Village on  March 24.

Sacred space in a quiet place

The contrast of white cemetery crosses against the greens and browns of the surrounding forest in the distance is the first sign one has entered… Continue reading

Kenaitze Indian Tribe members, students and Kenai Peninsula College faculty make their way through the woods to the site of Kalifornsky Village on  March 24.

Fewer Alaskans sign up online for Permanent Fund dividend

ANCHORAGE — Fewer people signed up online for this year’s Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, and fewer residents have chosen to donate a portion of their… Continue reading

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR MATTEL, UNO - Jess Brown, left, picks up a deck of UNO cards and an UNO postcard as Juneau Deputy City Manager Mila Cosgrove, right, and her daughter, Natalie, look on in the city's Assembly Chambers on Friday, April 1, 2016. As part of an April Fools' promotion, the city of Juneau and Mattel announced a renaming of Juneau to UNO. (Michael Penn/AP Images for Mattel, UNO)

City renamed ‘UNO’ in April Fools’ prank

How much do the naming rights for the City and Borough of Juneau cost? No less than $15,000 dollars, apparently, but that’s only good for… Continue reading

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR MATTEL, UNO - Jess Brown, left, picks up a deck of UNO cards and an UNO postcard as Juneau Deputy City Manager Mila Cosgrove, right, and her daughter, Natalie, look on in the city's Assembly Chambers on Friday, April 1, 2016. As part of an April Fools' promotion, the city of Juneau and Mattel announced a renaming of Juneau to UNO. (Michael Penn/AP Images for Mattel, UNO)

House OKs foster care reform bill

Calling it a first step to larger reform, the Alaska House of Representatives voted 37-0 to approve House Bill 27 on Friday afternoon.The bill, begun… Continue reading

Alaska Folk Festival by the numbers

• 1,000: Number of seats at Centennial Hall, the main stage venue for the Alaska Folk Festival• 145: Number of different acts scheduled to perform… Continue reading

FILE - In this April 22, 2015 file photo, Ralph Logan, general manager of Microtrain, left, speaks with James Smith who is seeking employment during a National Career Fairs job fair in Chicago. U.S. employers notched another solid month of hiring in March by adding 215,000 jobs, driven by large gains in the construction, retail and health care industries. Despite the jump, the Labor Department said Friday, April 1, 2016 that the unemployment rate ticked up to 5 percent from 4.9 percent. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

Steady hiring spurs more job hunts, rate rises to 5 pct.

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers shrugged off signs of weak growth and extended their long stretch of steady hiring in March, adding 215,000 jobs.The unemployment rate… Continue reading

FILE - In this April 22, 2015 file photo, Ralph Logan, general manager of Microtrain, left, speaks with James Smith who is seeking employment during a National Career Fairs job fair in Chicago. U.S. employers notched another solid month of hiring in March by adding 215,000 jobs, driven by large gains in the construction, retail and health care industries. Despite the jump, the Labor Department said Friday, April 1, 2016 that the unemployment rate ticked up to 5 percent from 4.9 percent. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

California, New York poised to raise minimum wage to $15

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California and New York are poised to become the highest-paid minimum-wage states in the nation after their governors each reached deals with… Continue reading

  • Apr 3, 2016
  • By ALISON NOON and JONATHAN J. COOPER
  • Nation-World
Julia Garrity works on her concept for the stage decoration for the Alaska Folk Festival at a friend's North Douglas shop on Thursday. Monday is the first day of a week of live music at Centennial Hall.

Alaska Folk Fest kicks off Monday night

Under a northern lights show in downtown Juneau during the 40th annual Alaska Folk Fest in 2014, mixed media artist Julia Garrity fell in love… Continue reading

Julia Garrity works on her concept for the stage decoration for the Alaska Folk Festival at a friend's North Douglas shop on Thursday. Monday is the first day of a week of live music at Centennial Hall.
Independent film maker Sara Betcher has completed a twenty-minute film of Helen Watkins.

Leaving a legacy, one video at a time

Eight years before she died, Tlingit elder Helen Watkins began making videos about traditional ways to harvest and process food and medicine. She narrated, directed… Continue reading

Independent film maker Sara Betcher has completed a twenty-minute film of Helen Watkins.

Jury convicts Juneau mother of child endangerment

A Juneau jury on Tuesday convicted a 33-year-old local mother of child endangerment for knowingly leaving her children in the care of her boyfriend —… Continue reading

Mining tax legislation follows path of oil tax

The Alaska House Resources Committee has approved a small increase in the state’s mining tax, sending the bill to the House Finance Committee for further… Continue reading

FILE - In this April 24, 1984, file photo, Steve Jobs, left, chairman of Apple Computers, John Sculley, center, president and CEO, and Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, unveil the new Apple IIc computer in San Francisco. Apple has turned 40, and it's a very different company from the audacious startup that Jobs and Wozniak launched in a Silicon Valley garage in 1976. (AP Photo/Sal Veder, File)

Apple strong at 40, but are best years behind it?

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple turned 40 on Friday, and it’s a very different company from the audacious startup that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak launched… Continue reading

FILE - In this April 24, 1984, file photo, Steve Jobs, left, chairman of Apple Computers, John Sculley, center, president and CEO, and Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, unveil the new Apple IIc computer in San Francisco. Apple has turned 40, and it's a very different company from the audacious startup that Jobs and Wozniak launched in a Silicon Valley garage in 1976. (AP Photo/Sal Veder, File)

Law Dept. clears trooper in fatal shooting

ANCHORAGE — An Alaska State Trooper was justified in using deadly force during a struggle with an intoxicated driver who had turned the officer’s stun… Continue reading

Police & fire for Sunday, April 3, 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