Assembly passes pot rules at Monday meeting

The final outstanding marijuana ordinance cleared the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly on Monday night with overwhelming support, finalizing the city’s marijuana regulations for… Continue reading

House begins digging into crime bill; debates to continue today

Rarely has a discussion about bar fights been so soberly pursued.On Monday, the Alaska House began floor debates on Senate Bill 91, a sweeping reform… Continue reading

Heroin in Homer Part two: Addicts face barriers to help

For people addicted to opiates — or any other substance — there are many barriers to successful recovery, despite the quality of resources that may… Continue reading

Architect Paul Voelkers, of MRV Architects, talks about a proposal for a Juneau Ocean Center that would sit between the U.S. Coast Guard's Station Juneau and Gold Creek on Juneau's downtown waterfront.

Proposed ocean center moves beyond the bronze whale

The minds behind the Juneau Ocean Center are moving forward with the project — with or without the whale sculpture they sought to relocate last… Continue reading

Architect Paul Voelkers, of MRV Architects, talks about a proposal for a Juneau Ocean Center that would sit between the U.S. Coast Guard's Station Juneau and Gold Creek on Juneau's downtown waterfront.
Nicole Flake, left, of Taku Smokeries, competes against Saul De La Mora, of Alaska Glacier Seafoods, in the professional fish filleting contest during the 2015 Juneau Maritime Festival at Marine Park in May 2015. Three people from each seafood processer competed to fillet two coho salmon and were judged for time and accuracy.

Juneau Maritime Festival to feature 300 lbs. of fish and so much more

The Juneau Maritime Festival is a free, family event and a celebration of all things maritime, said coordinator Dana Herndon with the Juneau Economic Development… Continue reading

Nicole Flake, left, of Taku Smokeries, competes against Saul De La Mora, of Alaska Glacier Seafoods, in the professional fish filleting contest during the 2015 Juneau Maritime Festival at Marine Park in May 2015. Three people from each seafood processer competed to fillet two coho salmon and were judged for time and accuracy.

‘Scorching’ weather continues across Southeast Alaska

Well, it was scorching by Southeast standards.April 2016 was the warmest ever recorded in Juneau and Sitka, according to measurements taken by the National Weather… Continue reading

Police & Fire for Tuesday, May 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

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

Gun Runner, Mor Spirit and Creator get in final Derby work

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A day after storms drenched Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby horses Mor Spirit, Gun Runner and stablemate Creator enjoyed sunny skies and solid… Continue reading

  • May 3, 2016
  • By GARY B. GRAVES
University of  Alaska Southeast Chancellor Richard A. Caulfield poses for a selfie with a recent graduate during the 2016 UAS commencement ceremony held Sunday.

UAS ceremony honors 670 grads

The number of University of Alaska Southeast degrees, certificates and licenses handed out during a ceremony on Sunday were among the most ever, according to… Continue reading

University of  Alaska Southeast Chancellor Richard A. Caulfield poses for a selfie with a recent graduate during the 2016 UAS commencement ceremony held Sunday.

Council pursues new $12.5M office for Anchorage lawmakers

After a veto threat from Gov. Bill Walker, lawmakers have changed their plans for a new office building in Anchorage.On Monday evening, members of the… Continue reading

Alaxander Oliphant, right, speaks with his court-appointed attorney Tom Wagner during his arraignment in Juneau District Court on Monday. Oliphant is alleged to have crashed his truck into the Governor's Mansion garage door Thursday night while under the influence of alcohol.

Mansion crasher appears in court

A Juneau man said he was just trying to find a spot to park his truck after a long day of traveling. Ramming into Gov.… Continue reading

Alaxander Oliphant, right, speaks with his court-appointed attorney Tom Wagner during his arraignment in Juneau District Court on Monday. Oliphant is alleged to have crashed his truck into the Governor's Mansion garage door Thursday night while under the influence of alcohol.

Moda out of Alaska in 2017

JUNEAU — One of the two companies offering individual health insurance policies for Alaskans announced Monday that it will not be participating in that market… Continue reading

Coghill says he’s recommending lawmakers drop Medicaid suit

JUNEAU — Alaska Senate Majority Leader John Coghill said Monday that he has recommended that lawmakers drop their lawsuit challenging Gov. Bill Walker’s authority to… Continue reading

Mallott: Less confrontation on timber

KETCHIKAN — Alaska should rethink its relationship with environmentalists and its approach to long-term timber policy, said Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott on Wednesday.Mallott, Gov. Bill… Continue reading

Undefeated Nyquist headlines race

A year after American Pharoah thrilled the sports world by winning horse racing’s first Triple Crown in 37 years, here comes Nyquist.The colt named for… Continue reading

  • May 2, 2016
  • By BETH HARRIS

Around Town

Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., SEARHC Juneau WIC Clinic, 3245 Hospital Drive, first floor. Free nutrition services for income-eligible women who… Continue reading

Iditarod bans musher from ’17 race

ANCHORAGE — A musher who has been charged in a domestic violence case has been banned from next year’s Iditarod, race officials announced Friday in… Continue reading

In this photo taken Wednesday, April 20, 2016, Laurie Hart poses with a painting of her brother Mark Coulthurst's fishing vessel the Investor  painted by local artist James Williamson, at her home in Blaine, Wash. home. Almost 34 years ago, Mark Coulthurst, 28, the Investor's skipper; his pregnant wife, Irene Coulthurst, also 28; their two children, Kimberly, 5, and John, 4; and Michael Stewart, 19, of Bellingham, a cousin of Mark Coulthurst, were killed aboard the Investor, a purse seiner found ablaze Sept. 7, 1982, near Craig, a fishing village in Southeast Alaska. (Philip A. Dwyer/The Bellingham Herald via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

8 killed in 1982 Investor murders remembered

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Does the time ever come when a community stops remembering a murdered group of its own? In the case of Blaine, possibly… Continue reading

In this photo taken Wednesday, April 20, 2016, Laurie Hart poses with a painting of her brother Mark Coulthurst's fishing vessel the Investor  painted by local artist James Williamson, at her home in Blaine, Wash. home. Almost 34 years ago, Mark Coulthurst, 28, the Investor's skipper; his pregnant wife, Irene Coulthurst, also 28; their two children, Kimberly, 5, and John, 4; and Michael Stewart, 19, of Bellingham, a cousin of Mark Coulthurst, were killed aboard the Investor, a purse seiner found ablaze Sept. 7, 1982, near Craig, a fishing village in Southeast Alaska. (Philip A. Dwyer/The Bellingham Herald via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Syringe needles, a knife and a used bottle of insulin found on the beach by The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies during an October 2014 beach clean-up with middle school students at Bishop's Beach in Homer. Ginny Espinshade keeps the bottle containing the needles as an educational visual aid.

Heroin addiction hooks Homer

Homer has a heroin problem, and it is growing. Similar to the fable of the blind men each touching different parts of an elephant and… Continue reading

Syringe needles, a knife and a used bottle of insulin found on the beach by The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies during an October 2014 beach clean-up with middle school students at Bishop's Beach in Homer. Ginny Espinshade keeps the bottle containing the needles as an educational visual aid.