Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, smiles as he has his picture taken for his ski pass ID at the grand opening of the Porcupine Lodge on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 at Eaglecrest Ski Area.

Photo: Porcupine Lodge ribbon cutting

City and Borough of Juneau Assembly members (from left) Jesse Kiehl, Jerry Nankervis, Karen Crane and Kate Troll cut the ceremonial ribbon at the Porcupine… Continue reading

Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, smiles as he has his picture taken for his ski pass ID at the grand opening of the Porcupine Lodge on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 at Eaglecrest Ski Area.

Changes on horizon for aurora tourism in Fairbanks

ANCHORAGE — Each winter, signs go up around the city of Fairbanks welcoming visitors in Japanese. But the local tourism and visitors bureau, in anticipation… Continue reading

This Sept. 4 photo, shows University of Alaska Anchorage civil engineering professor Aaron Dotson at the university in Anchorage. Dotson is part of a team participating in an Alaska state competition to develop more affordable options for delivering water and sewer systems in rural communities that still lack indoor plumbing in the state.

In 2015, nearly 3 dozen Alaska villages lack basic plumbing

ANCHORAGE — Flush toilets and running water are elusive dreams for Paul Dock and other residents of impoverished Alaska villages where indoor plumbing has historically… Continue reading

This Sept. 4 photo, shows University of Alaska Anchorage civil engineering professor Aaron Dotson at the university in Anchorage. Dotson is part of a team participating in an Alaska state competition to develop more affordable options for delivering water and sewer systems in rural communities that still lack indoor plumbing in the state.
A protester holds a poster with portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin during an opposition rally Sunday in Moscow, Russia.

Russian opposition protest draws thousands

MOSCOW — Russia’s beleaguered opposition drew several thousand people on Sunday to a protest rally in an outlying Moscow neighborhood to decry the 15-year rule… Continue reading

A protester holds a poster with portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin during an opposition rally Sunday in Moscow, Russia.

Pope meets Fidel Castro after warning against ideology

HAVANA — Pope Francis met with Fidel Castro on Sunday after urging thousands of Cubans to serve one another and not an ideology, delivering a… Continue reading

  • Sep 21, 2015
  • By NICOLE WINFIELD and MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN
  • Nation-World

Left-wing Syriza wins Greek vote

ATHENS, Greece — A jubilant Alexis Tsipras vowed to continue fighting for his country’s pride and to quickly form a coalition government after his left-wing… Continue reading

  • Sep 21, 2015
  • By ELENA BECATOROS and DEREK GATOPOULOS
  • Nation-World
Alaska jazz composer and trumpet player Yngvil Vatn Guttu performs with keyboardist Rob Cohen for students at the Juneau Community Charter School on Friday.

Photo: Trumpeting jazz

Alaska jazz composer and trumpet player Yngvil Vatn Guttu performs with keyboardist Rob Cohen for students at the Juneau Community Charter School on Friday. … Continue reading

Alaska jazz composer and trumpet player Yngvil Vatn Guttu performs with keyboardist Rob Cohen for students at the Juneau Community Charter School on Friday.
At 10 a.m. Monday, Gov. Bill Walker will announce the amount of this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend. If you’re like most Alaskans, you’re more than a little interested about what amount will come out of Walker’s little white envelope. My estimate is published below, but if you vary my  gures, your guess may differ. Here’s how I reached my guess.

Win your pool: How to guess the PFD

At 10 a.m. Monday, Gov. Bill Walker will announce the amount of this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend. If you’re like most Alaskans, you’re more than… Continue reading

At 10 a.m. Monday, Gov. Bill Walker will announce the amount of this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend. If you’re like most Alaskans, you’re more than a little interested about what amount will come out of Walker’s little white envelope. My estimate is published below, but if you vary my  gures, your guess may differ. Here’s how I reached my guess.

Around town for Sunday, Sept. 20

Knights of Columbus Bishop Kenny Council brunch, 10 a.m.-noon, St. Paul’s Catholic Church. $10 for a family and $4 for an individual.Open trap shooting, 10… Continue reading

3 passers-by, officer stop woman from jumping off overpass

ANCHORAGE — The Anchorage Police Department says a police officer and three passers-by stopped an apparently suicidal woman from jumping off a pedestrian overpass Saturday… Continue reading

Alaska sees unemployment rise in August Jobless rates fall in 29 states in August

WASHINGTON — Unemployment rates fell in 29 states in August and held steady in 11 as hiring remained solid nationwide. Falling oil and coal prices… Continue reading

Feds pay for Southeast kids to visit park

The National Park Service has announced that students from five Southeast schools will be transported free to Glacier Bay National Park this spring as part… Continue reading

Petersburg beach tainted with sewage

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation reports that it has found high levels of fecal coliform bacteria at Petersburg’s Sandy Beach.The beach is a popular… Continue reading

Correction

• In the police blotter published in the Empire on Thursday, Sept. 17, the Juneau Empire erroneously stated that two people were arrested on Egan… Continue reading

Anchorage man arrested for stabbing sleeping girlfriend

ANCHORAGE — A 22-year-old Anchorage man has been charged with assault for stabbing his girlfriend in the head as she slept.Court records say the man… Continue reading

Agency probes deaths of 25 walrus on coast

ANCHORAGE — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Friday it is investigating the deaths of 25 Pacific walrus found on an isolated northwest Alaska… Continue reading

UA researchers use game to show state budget woes

ANCHORAGE — Researchers at the University of Alaska Anchorage are using a game to demonstrate the state’s growing financial issues.The Alaska Dispatch News reported that… Continue reading

Kris Chhabria, owner of Jewels by Kris, works with employee Joyce Warner on making a sale at his South Franklin Street jewelery store in August.

Industry, private jewelers at odds over marketing

By the end of the week, the cruise tourism season will be over. Most of the ships will make their way south to the warmer… Continue reading

Kris Chhabria, owner of Jewels by Kris, works with employee Joyce Warner on making a sale at his South Franklin Street jewelery store in August.

No. 15 Ole Miss stuns No. 2 Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Chad Kelly completed a deflected 66-yard touchdown pass and added two more long ones in the fourth quarter to help No. 15… Continue reading

  • Sep 20, 2015

Cardinals first team to clinch playoff berth

CHICAGO — Kris Bryant got another Chicago Cubs rookie record.Meanwhile, it looks like the Cubs and Cardinals might just want to just get at each… Continue reading

  • Sep 20, 2015