Alaska’s Congressional delegation supports new Native tourism bill

On Friday, President Barack Obama signed into law a piece of legislation that requires federal agencies to include tribes and Native organizations when those federal… Continue reading

Man charged with using dead puppy to deliver menacing note

ANCHORAGE — A rural Alaska man is charged with killing a puppy belonging to the husband of an ex-girlfriend and attached a threatening note to… Continue reading

Agency warns of solicitations for state trooper dog

ANCHORAGE — The Department of Public Safety says fundraising efforts have begun in the name of a state trooper dog killed Sunday but that the… Continue reading

Juneau SEADOGS canine Panzer rests at the Sitka Fire Hall after spending the morning in the Mt. Verstovia woods Friday, Sept. 23, looking for signs of missing hiker Michael Hansen. Four Southeast Alaska Dogs Organized for Ground Search (SEADOGS) including Panzer, from Juneau, were flown to Sitka to assist in the search. Pictured at left is Liam Higgins, Panzer's handler. The body of the hiker was discovered late afternoon Friday.

Rescue team finds hiker’s body after four-day search

SITKA — Four days of searching for a man missing after a day-hike on Mt. Verstovia ended Friday afternoon with the discovery of his body… Continue reading

Juneau SEADOGS canine Panzer rests at the Sitka Fire Hall after spending the morning in the Mt. Verstovia woods Friday, Sept. 23, looking for signs of missing hiker Michael Hansen. Four Southeast Alaska Dogs Organized for Ground Search (SEADOGS) including Panzer, from Juneau, were flown to Sitka to assist in the search. Pictured at left is Liam Higgins, Panzer's handler. The body of the hiker was discovered late afternoon Friday.

Hunting guide involved in bear mauling is well-known state bear researcher

The bear guide involved in Thursday’s bear mauling on Admiralty Island was LaVern Beier, a well-known bear researcher with the Alaska Department of Fish and… Continue reading

Police & fire for Tuesday, Sept. 27, 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

Children playing with fireworks start fire that burns home

TETLIN — A fire that burned down a home in an interior Alaska village is being blamed on children playing with fireworks.Alaska State Troopers just… Continue reading

Around Town

Recovery Coach Training, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Gruening Park Recreation Center.Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., SEARHC Juneau WIC Clinic, 3245 Hospital Drive,… Continue reading

Expert recommends consolidation for Southeast hospitals

SITKA — Two Alaska hospitals that are grappling with financial challenges will consider consolidation.The Sitka Community Hospital board plans to discuss possible courses of action… Continue reading

Four-time Iditarod champ Mackey out of 2017 race

ANCHORAGE— Four-time Iditarod champion and cancer survivor Lance Mackey has dropped out of next year's nearly 1,000-mile race for health reasons, organizers said Monday.Mackey said… Continue reading

Bethel schools get $1.5M language proficiency grant

BETHEL — A Bethel school district has received federal funds to improve the language proficiency of Alaska Native students in both English and their native… Continue reading

Passenger dies when car crashes into median, guardrail

ANCHORAGE — An Anchorage man in the back seat of a car died early Sunday when the car crashed into a median and guardrail.Anchorage police… Continue reading

Suspect in trooper dog shooting charged with four felonies

ANCHORAGE — A man suspected of fatally shooting an Alaska State Trooper dog was charged Monday with four felonies, including two counts of assault.The dog… Continue reading

A haul rope is returned to the Silver Arrow after a fiber optic cable was brought to shore in Haines for the Alaska Power and Telephone Company on Friday. The cable will bring more bandwidth to the upper Lynn Canal communities of Haines and Skagway.

‘Road’ connects Juneau and Haines with 28,800 lanes

HAINES — On a cloudy Friday morning, in a tent on a windblown beach near the ferry terminal here, Rick Chislett delicately fed a glass… Continue reading

A haul rope is returned to the Silver Arrow after a fiber optic cable was brought to shore in Haines for the Alaska Power and Telephone Company on Friday. The cable will bring more bandwidth to the upper Lynn Canal communities of Haines and Skagway.

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

Woman critically injured in shooting at Anchorage home

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage police are investigating a shooting that left a woman critically injured on the city’s east side.Police just before 11 p.m. Thursday took… Continue reading

US rig count up 5 this week to 511

HOUSTON — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by five this week to 511.A year ago, 838… Continue reading

Sitka group wants plastic bag fee

SITKA — A group is exploring a possible plastic and paper bag fee in Sitka.The Sitka Sentinel reported the first Bags for Change meeting brought… Continue reading

In this Sept. 22 photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Aston, Pennsylvania. The most telling moments in presidential debates often come out of the blue, an offhand remark or unrehearsed gesture that helps to reveal the essence of a candidate who's already been poked, prodded and inspected for years.

Viewers’ guide: Look for trust, temperament themes in debate

WASHINGTON — The most telling moments in presidential debates often come out of the blue — an offhand remark or unrehearsed gesture that helps to… Continue reading

In this Sept. 22 photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Aston, Pennsylvania. The most telling moments in presidential debates often come out of the blue, an offhand remark or unrehearsed gesture that helps to reveal the essence of a candidate who's already been poked, prodded and inspected for years.

Kenai postpones cat leash ordinance

KENAI — Kenai cats could join dogs on the list of animals that city code requires to be restrained either by a leash, fence or… Continue reading