News

Police & Fire for Monday, Feb. 8, 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 Jan. 28 photo, Allison Bartlett, left, coach for the Far North Jumpers, practices a jump roping routine with Olivia Berg, 13, at North Pole Elementary School in North Pole.

Far North Jumpers strike a high profile in Interior Alaska

FAIRBANKS — Allison Bartlett is the woman who brought competitive jump roping back to Interior Alaska.She’s a 30-year-old part-time fourth grade teacher at North Pole… Continue reading

In this Jan. 28 photo, Allison Bartlett, left, coach for the Far North Jumpers, practices a jump roping routine with Olivia Berg, 13, at North Pole Elementary School in North Pole.

Health official: Alaskans at low risk for Zika virus

JUNEAU — An official with the state Division of Public Health says Alaskans are not likely to contract the Zika virus unless they have contact… Continue reading

US rig count drops 48 this week to 571; Texas down 19

HOUSTON — Oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. says the number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. declined by 48… Continue reading

Auke Bay Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Amy Jo Meiners records the floating time of a student's parachute during an class engineering project on Friday. Micah Brown, left, and Kelsey Barker take notes as the students learn the effects of canopy size, materials and suspension line length in making the best parachutes.

Photos: Parachutes away

Auke Bay Elementary School fifth-graders Alex Filkov, right, and Kean Buss take turns releasing their parachutes during an class engineering project on Friday. The students… Continue reading

Auke Bay Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Amy Jo Meiners records the floating time of a student's parachute during an class engineering project on Friday. Micah Brown, left, and Kelsey Barker take notes as the students learn the effects of canopy size, materials and suspension line length in making the best parachutes.
ADVANCE FOR USE SATURDAY, FEB. 6, 2016 AT 8 A.M. EST AND THEREAFTER; THIS STORY MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST OR POSTED ONLINE BEFORE SATURDAY, FEB. 6, 2016 AT 8 A.M. EST - Hollie Ayers poses with a photograph of her late son, Michael, 2, at her home in Bedford, Pa., on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. Michael, was shot and killed in front of her by her abusive ex-husband in 2013. Ayers was shot in the face and the leg, and her ex-husband killed himself after the rampage. More than a dozen states over the past two years have strengthened laws meant to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers, a rare area of consensus in the nation's highly polarized debate over guns. (AP Photo/ John Beale)

Keeping guns out of abusers’ hands

IOWA CITY, Iowa — More than a dozen states have strengthened laws over the past two years to keep firearms out of the hands of… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR USE SATURDAY, FEB. 6, 2016 AT 8 A.M. EST AND THEREAFTER; THIS STORY MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST OR POSTED ONLINE BEFORE SATURDAY, FEB. 6, 2016 AT 8 A.M. EST - Hollie Ayers poses with a photograph of her late son, Michael, 2, at her home in Bedford, Pa., on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. Michael, was shot and killed in front of her by her abusive ex-husband in 2013. Ayers was shot in the face and the leg, and her ex-husband killed himself after the rampage. More than a dozen states over the past two years have strengthened laws meant to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers, a rare area of consensus in the nation's highly polarized debate over guns. (AP Photo/ John Beale)

Quieter, smaller Gitmo as debate rages on prison’s fate

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — Empty cells outnumber occupied ones. There are fewer prisoners than the assorted medical personnel to care for them. The… Continue reading

A couple kisses during the "Carmelitas" block party, during Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Top Brazilian Health officials said this Friday that the active Zika virus has been found in urine and saliva samples, cautioning that further study is needed to determine whether the mosquito-borne virus in those body fluids is capable of infecting people. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In Brazil, pregnant women urged to be cautious with a kiss

RIO DE JANEIRO — In a sign of mounting global concern over the Zika virus, health officials on Friday warned pregnant women to think twice… Continue reading

A couple kisses during the "Carmelitas" block party, during Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Top Brazilian Health officials said this Friday that the active Zika virus has been found in urine and saliva samples, cautioning that further study is needed to determine whether the mosquito-borne virus in those body fluids is capable of infecting people. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

During ‘fly-in’ season, group makes its message plane

This time of year, the Alaska Legislature receives plenty of guests on “fly-in” receptions. Groups like the Alaska Chamber of Commerce and the Bristol Bay… Continue reading

Alaskans urge lawmakers to not sink the Permanent Fund

In the three and a half hours it took to hear all the Alaskans offering public comments to the Alaska Legislature Thursday night, you could… Continue reading

Coogan Construction employees work on a new building in the Island Hills Apartments complex located in West Juneau on Cordova Street on Friday. The complex will hold a total of 72 two-bedroom units when completed in June 2017.

Analysis: Fewer Juneau homes built in 2015

Just off of Mendenhall Loop Road — nestled between the Juneau School District Parking bus storage lot, Auke Bay Elementary School and the Squires Rest… Continue reading

Coogan Construction employees work on a new building in the Island Hills Apartments complex located in West Juneau on Cordova Street on Friday. The complex will hold a total of 72 two-bedroom units when completed in June 2017.

Person dies in single-vehicle Anchorage traffic crash

ANCHORAGE — A fatal car crash early Friday morning closed a busy Anchorage intersection.Police took a call on the single-vehicle crash at 3:30 a.m. and… Continue reading

Report: Police acted properly in incident with autistic man

KODIAK — An independent investigation into a physical encounter between Kodiak police officers and an autistic man has determined that the three officers responded professionally.The… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, Alaska Attorney General Craig Richards and John Skidmore, director of the Law Department criminal division, speak at a news conference announcing the state will pursue prosecution of Anchorage businessman Bill Allen on Friday in Anchorage. Allen was a key witness in the trial of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. Richards says revised federal law requires the U.S. Department of Justice, if requested, to either allow state prosecution of Allen on allegations of sexual abuse or reveal a reason why it can't, such as a plea deal made with federal prosecutors.

State moves to prosecute witness in Stevens trial

ANCHORAGE — Alaska’s attorney general is again seeking an explanation from the U.S. Department of Justice on why it did not file child exploitation charges… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, Alaska Attorney General Craig Richards and John Skidmore, director of the Law Department criminal division, speak at a news conference announcing the state will pursue prosecution of Anchorage businessman Bill Allen on Friday in Anchorage. Allen was a key witness in the trial of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. Richards says revised federal law requires the U.S. Department of Justice, if requested, to either allow state prosecution of Allen on allegations of sexual abuse or reveal a reason why it can't, such as a plea deal made with federal prosecutors.

Troopers: No plans to intervene in village dispute

ANCHORAGE — Alaska State Troopers said they don’t know who the rightful tribal leaders are in a western Alaska village involved in a power struggle,… Continue reading

Hanley: No ‘sour grapes’ over resigning as education chief

JUNEAU — Outgoing state education commissioner Mike Hanley said Friday that he had some professional disagreements with the state board of education. But he said… Continue reading

The ConocoPhillips building is shown Monday, Feb. 14, 2011, reflecting off a mirrored building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, as seen from the third floor of the Dena'ina Convention Center. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

ConocoPhillips absorbs $4.4B loss in 2015

ConocoPhillips’ fiscal situation looks a lot like the state of Alaska’s after the company posted a 2015 net loss of $4.4 billion in its year-end… Continue reading

The ConocoPhillips building is shown Monday, Feb. 14, 2011, reflecting off a mirrored building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, as seen from the third floor of the Dena'ina Convention Center. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Around Town

Juneau Skating Club 11th annual Basic Skills Competition, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Treadwell Ice Arena. Figure skaters and skaters will compete in a variety of ice… Continue reading

SUV strikes parked patrol car; trooper suffers leg injury

PALMER — An Alaska State Trooper responding to a vehicle in a ditch in Palmer was injured when a sport utility vehicle crashed into his… Continue reading

Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau, center, speaks during a press conference at the Capitol on Friday by House Majority members as they announce an Idea Line that the public can call to leave a message with ideas to solve the state's budget problem.

House majority opens anonymous phone tip line

The Alaska House Majority has unveiled a new way for Alaskans to offer their advice to the Legislature. On Friday, members of the House’s Republican-led… Continue reading

Rep. Cathy Muñoz, R-Juneau, center, speaks during a press conference at the Capitol on Friday by House Majority members as they announce an Idea Line that the public can call to leave a message with ideas to solve the state's budget problem.