News

Tara Bass, left, and budtender Reba Radey, right, hold the new retail marijuana license awarded Skagway's The Remedy Shoppe on Oct. 4, 2016. The store is the first in Alaska to receive its retail license.

Skagway business is first in the state to get permission to sell weed – once it arrives

Tara Bass is ready to sell you marijuana — once she gets some to sell.On Tuesday, Bass’ business, The Remedy Shoppe, became the first retail… Continue reading

Tara Bass, left, and budtender Reba Radey, right, hold the new retail marijuana license awarded Skagway's The Remedy Shoppe on Oct. 4, 2016. The store is the first in Alaska to receive its retail license.

Texting scam targets First National Bank customers again

For the second time this year, MasterCard customers banking with First National Bank Alaska are reporting receiving text messages asking for private information.In a press… Continue reading

Indigenous rights focus of Grand Camp meeting in Juneau

A dinner tonight at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall will launch the 2016 Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood Grand Camp gathering to deliberate indigenous persons’ civil… Continue reading

Assembly candidate Arnold Liebelt waves his sign to commuters on their way home at the corner of 10th Street and Egan Drive on the Municipal Election eve on Monday.

After disappointing primary, will Juneau voters show up?

When polls opened Tuesday, Juneau voters had plenty of options on the ballot — and plenty of things on their minds.Asked about their top issues,… Continue reading

Assembly candidate Arnold Liebelt waves his sign to commuters on their way home at the corner of 10th Street and Egan Drive on the Municipal Election eve on Monday.
Andrea Pitz holds up some of the bicycles that a bear chewed up over the weekend. A bear apparently tore the seats and punctured all the tires on the four bicycles that were parked at the Medvejie trail.

Problem bear poses a threat to public in Sitka

SITKA — Authorities are warning Sitka residents to be on alert after numerous bear encounters around the city, including one involving a bicyclist who was… Continue reading

Andrea Pitz holds up some of the bicycles that a bear chewed up over the weekend. A bear apparently tore the seats and punctured all the tires on the four bicycles that were parked at the Medvejie trail.
State gets $1.1 million to process backlogged rape kits

State gets $1.1 million to process backlogged rape kits

The state of Alaska has been awarded $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Justice to process a backlog of rape kits held by the… Continue reading

State gets $1.1 million to process backlogged rape kits
Members of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and Walker River Paiute Tribe talk in the background outside the federal courthouse as their lawyer, Rendal Miller of Winnemucca, Nev., discusses the lawsuit they filed under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016 in Reno, Nev. The suit seeks a temporary injunction ordering the state and Washoe and Mineral counties to establish satellite polling places on reservations where they say Native Americans are being denied an equal opportunity to vote in the November elections.

The Latest: Hearing on Nevada tribes voting access continues

RENO, Nev. — The Latest on a federal court hearing in Nevada about access to voting on two Indian reservations (all times local):1:35 p.m.A hearing… Continue reading

Members of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and Walker River Paiute Tribe talk in the background outside the federal courthouse as their lawyer, Rendal Miller of Winnemucca, Nev., discusses the lawsuit they filed under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016 in Reno, Nev. The suit seeks a temporary injunction ordering the state and Washoe and Mineral counties to establish satellite polling places on reservations where they say Native Americans are being denied an equal opportunity to vote in the November elections.

Ex-Alaska official, son of legendary broadcaster, dies at 92

JUNEAU — Lowell Thomas Jr., a former Alaska lieutenant governor, author, adventurer, glacier pilot and son of the legendary broadcaster, has died.His daughter, Anne Donaghy,… Continue reading

Texas oil company announces offshore Alaska discovery

ANCHORAGE — A Texas petroleum drilling company announced Tuesday it has made a large-scale oil discovery off Alaska's North Slope.Dallas-based Caelus Energy Alaska LLC announced… Continue reading

Arguments scheduled in lawsuit over Alaska dividend

JUNEAU — Arguments have been scheduled for next month in lawsuit challenging Gov. Bill Walker’s cut to this year’s Alaska Permanent Fund dividend.State court Judge… Continue reading

North Slope Legislative election lawsuit goes to judge

The election for Alaska House District 40 is now in the hands of Anchorage Superior Court Judge Andrew Guidi.On Monday, lawyers for the state of… Continue reading

Woman dies after reportedly injuring self cutting moose meat

ANCHORAGE — Alaska State Troopers are investigating the death of a woman after she reportedly was injured while butchering moose meat.Troopers said 60-year-old Vicky Mable… Continue reading

Officials: No survivors found after plane crashes in Alaska

ANCHORAGE — Authorities said rescuers did not find any survivors after a small plane carrying three people crashed in a remote area of western Alaska.Alaska… Continue reading

Troopers suspect moose attacked, killed woman in Alaska

WASILLA — Authorities in Alaska suspect a 74-year-old woman was killed by a moose.Alaska State Troopers said the body of Pattie Cucinello was found Sunday… Continue reading

Parties seek quick resolution in dividend lawsuit

JUNEAU — The two sides in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Bill Walker’s cut to the dividend that Alaskans receive from the state’s oil wealth nest-egg… Continue reading

Four-wheeler fatally injures woman in village of Akiachak

AKIACHAK — A 76-year-old woman died over the weekend of injuries suffered when she was struck by a four-wheeler in her southwest Alaska village.Alaska State… Continue reading

Cruise ship passengers walk in the rain back to their ship in early September.

Judge denies request to dismiss cruise lawsuit

A U.S. District Court judge has denied the City and Borough of Juneau’s request to dismiss the complaint Cruise Lines International Association Alaska filed in… Continue reading

Cruise ship passengers walk in the rain back to their ship in early September.

Around Town

Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., SEARHC Juneau WIC Clinic, 3245 Hospital Drive, first floor. Free nutrition services for income-eligible women who… Continue reading

Police & fire for Tuesday, Oct. 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

Leadership dispute to continue at Native meeting

ANCHORAGE — A leadership dispute is expected to be continued at a conference of the Association of Village Council Presidents kicking off in Bethel on… Continue reading