News

Police & Fire for Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015

This report contains information provided to the Empire from law enforcement agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone listed in… Continue reading

Montana Creek Road closes for the season today

The City and Borough of Juneau announced Monday that Montana Creek Road will be closed beyond the Hank Harmon Rifle Range starting today.The road closes… Continue reading

Search called off for Ketchikan hiker

The search for a 22-year-old hiker who was last spotted Wednesday trying to climb down a mountain has been called off, according to Alaska State… Continue reading

Kubiak benches Manning for Bears game

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — On his 25th birthday, Brock Osweiler will make his first NFL start, replacing an injured Peyton Manning in the Broncos’ much-anticipated game… Continue reading

  • Nov 17, 2015
  • By ARNIE STAPLETON
Special intervention forces climb on top of a roof as they prepare to enter a house in Brussels on Monday amid a manhunt for a suspect of the Paris terror attacks.

France IDs top Paris attacks figure

PARIS — France identified a 27-year-old Belgian who once boasted about killing “infidels” and fought for the Islamic State group in Syria as the mastermind… Continue reading

Special intervention forces climb on top of a roof as they prepare to enter a house in Brussels on Monday amid a manhunt for a suspect of the Paris terror attacks.
In this photo taken on Sunday, Khaled Saadi, 27, left and Abdullah Saadi, 38, listen during an interview with the Associated Press.

Diverse Paris mourns together after indiscriminate violence

PARIS — Halima Saadi Ndiaye was celebrating her 36th birthday in a cafe where her brother worked when terror took over. Within a minute, she… Continue reading

In this photo taken on Sunday, Khaled Saadi, 27, left and Abdullah Saadi, 38, listen during an interview with the Associated Press.
In this Nov. 13 photo, Adraa Taleb holds the hand of her maternal cousin Haidar Mustafa, three, who was wounded in Thursday's twin suicide bombings, as he sleeps on a bed at the Rasoul Aazam Hospital in Burj al-Barajneh, southern Beirut, Lebanon. Haidar's parents Hussein and Leila were killed in the blast as they were parking their car when one of two suicide attackers blew himself up in a southern Beirut suburb near their vehicle. Within hours of the Paris attacks last week that left 129 dead, outrage and sympathy flooded social media feeds and filled the airwaves.

As world mourns Paris, many in Mideast see double-standard

BAGHDAD — Within hours of last week’s Paris attacks, as outrage and sympathy flooded his social media feeds and filled the airwaves, Baghdad resident Ali… Continue reading

In this Nov. 13 photo, Adraa Taleb holds the hand of her maternal cousin Haidar Mustafa, three, who was wounded in Thursday's twin suicide bombings, as he sleeps on a bed at the Rasoul Aazam Hospital in Burj al-Barajneh, southern Beirut, Lebanon. Haidar's parents Hussein and Leila were killed in the blast as they were parking their car when one of two suicide attackers blew himself up in a southern Beirut suburb near their vehicle. Within hours of the Paris attacks last week that left 129 dead, outrage and sympathy flooded social media feeds and filled the airwaves.

Vast forest fires in Indonesia spawn ecological disaster

KAMPAR, Indonesia — For farmer Achmad Rusli, it was a season of smoke: Ten weeks without sunlight for his oranges, guavas and durians, thanks to… Continue reading

Western US hit with blast of winter weather

LOS ANGELES — A wintry blast of air brought blizzard-like conditions Monday to parts of the West after whipping up a damaging tornado in Central… Continue reading

Syria refugee Nedal Al-Hayk works as a fabricator Monday in Warren, Michigan. Several U.S. governors are threatening to halt efforts to allow Syrian refugees into their states in the aftermath of the coordinated attacks in Paris, though an immigration expert says they have no legal authority to do so.

Refugee quandary: Immigrant legacy versus 9/11-era fears

WASHINGTON — The Paris attacks are rapidly weakening U.S. support for bringing in thousands more Syrian refugees, as pressure grows in Congress and the Republican… Continue reading

Syria refugee Nedal Al-Hayk works as a fabricator Monday in Warren, Michigan. Several U.S. governors are threatening to halt efforts to allow Syrian refugees into their states in the aftermath of the coordinated attacks in Paris, though an immigration expert says they have no legal authority to do so.

Wary governors halt, question plan to accept Syrian refugees

DETROIT (AP) — Several U.S. governors are threatening to halt efforts to allow Syrian refugees into their states in the aftermath of the coordinated attacks… Continue reading

Juneau Police Department Officers Jim Esbenshade puts up police line tape at the Admiralty Condos at David and Rogers Streets in Douglas on Sunday. JPD confirmed two bodies were discovered after receiving a 911 call Sunday afternoon.

Searching for a murderer, motive

One day after a local couple was found murdered inside their home, Juneau police are sifting through dozens of tips from the public to try… Continue reading

Juneau Police Department Officers Jim Esbenshade puts up police line tape at the Admiralty Condos at David and Rogers Streets in Douglas on Sunday. JPD confirmed two bodies were discovered after receiving a 911 call Sunday afternoon.
This picture, provided by the Alaska State Troopers, shows the 38-foot Bayliner "Thalasa." Authorities are searching for the vessel and its owner, Kenneth Trammel, after Trammel's family reported Sunday he was overdue from a fishing trip.

Search on for Wrangell fisherman

Alaska State Troopers and the U.S. Coast Guard are searching for a Wrangell boater who embarked on a five-day fishing trip on Nov. 5 and… Continue reading

This picture, provided by the Alaska State Troopers, shows the 38-foot Bayliner "Thalasa." Authorities are searching for the vessel and its owner, Kenneth Trammel, after Trammel's family reported Sunday he was overdue from a fishing trip.

Bethel asks governor to declare emergency after school fire

BETHEL — Bethel council members are asking the state to help the city recover from a school fire.The Kilbuck building fire burned for 12 hours… Continue reading

  • Nov 16, 2015
An honor guard made up of U.S. Coast Guard and Navy personnel struggle to hold their flags during wind gusts during a service at the U.S.S. Juneau Memorial downtown on Friday.

Photos: USS Juneau

Veterans John Cooper, left, John Larson, center, and Chaplain Kirk Thorsteinson carry flower wreaths and their stands away after a service at the U.S.S. Juneau… Continue reading

An honor guard made up of U.S. Coast Guard and Navy personnel struggle to hold their flags during wind gusts during a service at the U.S.S. Juneau Memorial downtown on Friday.
In this photo taken Nov. 10, Michael Bair, of Lexington, Kentucky, holds an imported Dungeness crab from the Northwest at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.

Algae threatens Dungeness season

San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf typically bustles this time of year as workers prepare to haul millions of pounds of Dungeness crab that are a tradition… Continue reading

In this photo taken Nov. 10, Michael Bair, of Lexington, Kentucky, holds an imported Dungeness crab from the Northwest at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.
Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire, 34, was found shot dead in her Douglas Island home on Sunday along with 36-year-old Robert Meireis. Police are calling the deaths a double murder but say they do not have a suspect at this time.

Police: Double murder in Douglas

The shooting deaths of two people at a Douglas Island condominium is being investigated as a double murder, according to the Juneau Police Department.The bodies… Continue reading

Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire, 34, was found shot dead in her Douglas Island home on Sunday along with 36-year-old Robert Meireis. Police are calling the deaths a double murder but say they do not have a suspect at this time.

APOC considers giving a bigger break to first-time politicos’ mistakes

The state watchdog in charge of overseeing political fundraising is proposing changes to make things more forgiving to rookie politicians.On Thursday, the Alaska Public Offices… Continue reading

Most Alaska superdelegates silent on GOP choice

JUNEAU — Most of the Alaska delegates free to support whomever they want as the Democrats’ nominee for president aren’t saying who they think would… Continue reading

In this Nov. 4 photo, sea chanteyman Don Sineti talks to first-graders at Baranof Elementary School before a sing along during a visit to the school in Sitka. Sineti first came to Sitka in 1998 for the second year of WhaleFest, and has returned every year but one since then.

Sea chanteys add high note to WhaleFest

SITKA — “You’re in good voice today!”It may be one of the best compliments that chanteyman Don Sineti can give out after he invites audiences… Continue reading

In this Nov. 4 photo, sea chanteyman Don Sineti talks to first-graders at Baranof Elementary School before a sing along during a visit to the school in Sitka. Sineti first came to Sitka in 1998 for the second year of WhaleFest, and has returned every year but one since then.