News

Police calls for Thursday, April 14, 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

Rescuers dug through 4 feet of snow to reach stranded skiers

ANCHORAGE — Helicopters trying to rescue two skiers trapped on an Alaska ice field for four days waited out whiteout conditions that one pilot said… Continue reading

Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines most likely to be on time, gov’t says

DALLAS — The government says more flights are arriving on time, airlines are canceling fewer flights, but passengers’ complaints are still rising.Meanwhile, a new survey… Continue reading

Report: Chicago police have ‘no regard’ for minority lives

CHICAGO — Police in Chicago have “no regard for the sanctity of life when it comes to people of color” and have alienated blacks and… Continue reading

CDC: Zika causes severe birth defects

NEW YORK — Confirming the worst fears of many pregnant women in the United States and Latin America, U.S. health officials said Wednesday there is… Continue reading

Syrian official rules out Assad departure ahead of talks

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A top Syrian official urged the opposition to let go of its dream of easing President Bashar Assad out of power… Continue reading

Benched Sandoval placed on DL with strained left shoulder

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox hope Pablo Sandoval can get in better shape while he’s on the disabled list.The club placed the benched… Continue reading

  • Apr 14, 2016
  • By KEN POWTAK

Parental rights bill stays alive, for now

While a bill that would have banned abortion providers in schools died in committee, the less controversial elements of the bill continue to live on.Almost… Continue reading

SLAM opening unaffected by dumpster fire

A dumpster fire outside the State Library, Archives, and Museum Tuesday night will not delay the building’s opening day, according to the SLAM deputy director.Bob… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker tells a story during Mudrooms at Northern Light United Church on Tuesday evening. Mudrooms is a monthly storytelling event that has seven community members tell a seven-minute story. The $7 entry fee for the audience goes to local nonprofit organizations. About $57,000 has been raised and given to Juneau charities over the past five years.

Video: Gov. Bill Walker at Mudrooms

Once just a teenager growing up in Valdez in the ‘60s, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker regaled a Juneau crowd at the monthly Mudrooms storytelling event… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker tells a story during Mudrooms at Northern Light United Church on Tuesday evening. Mudrooms is a monthly storytelling event that has seven community members tell a seven-minute story. The $7 entry fee for the audience goes to local nonprofit organizations. About $57,000 has been raised and given to Juneau charities over the past five years.
In this March 2016 photo, work begins on the new park near the Douglas Bridge that will become the home to the life-size bronze sculpture of a breaching humpback whale. Part of the project funding comes from head taxes. The Cruise Lines International Association and its Alaska affiliate filed a lawsuit against the city and borough of Juneau on Tuesday in federal court in Anchorage. They're challenging the legality of so-called head tax fees paid by cruise passengers who visit Alaska's picturesque capital.

Cruise ship group: Statue plans are misuse of fees

JUNEAU — A life-sized whale statue has Juneau in hot water after a cruise ship association alleged it’s a symbol of the Alaska city’s misuse… Continue reading

In this March 2016 photo, work begins on the new park near the Douglas Bridge that will become the home to the life-size bronze sculpture of a breaching humpback whale. Part of the project funding comes from head taxes. The Cruise Lines International Association and its Alaska affiliate filed a lawsuit against the city and borough of Juneau on Tuesday in federal court in Anchorage. They're challenging the legality of so-called head tax fees paid by cruise passengers who visit Alaska's picturesque capital.

Keeping Juneau clean for 100 years

In keeping with a tradition that now spans 100 years, Mayor Ken Koelsch on Monday proclaimed the month of April “Juneau Clean Sweep” and asked… Continue reading

Tuesday recap: House OKs novel energy improvement program

The Alaska House has approved a new program to assist business owners interested in making energy efficiency improvements to their buildings.House Bill 118, brought by… Continue reading

Walker not sure legislators can wrap fiscal work by Sunday

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker said Tuesday that as much of an optimist as he is, he doesn’t see state legislators wrapping up work on… Continue reading

Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, studies a chart during the introduction of a new Permanent Fund Dividend bill in the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday that aims to reduce Alaska's budget deficit.

Committee unveils Permanent Fund plan

The Alaska Senate Finance Committee has unveiled its plan to fill much of the state’s $4.1 billion annual deficit using the Alaska Permanent Fund.In a… Continue reading

Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, studies a chart during the introduction of a new Permanent Fund Dividend bill in the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday that aims to reduce Alaska's budget deficit.

Feds arrest Juneau man in child porn case

Police arrested a 39-year-old Juneau resident Monday for child pornography distribution after he evaded his warrant for nearly two months.Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt, who… Continue reading

Five former Juneau mayors, along with the city's current mayor, gather around City Manager Kim Kiefer during Monday night's Assembly meeting. Kiefer has worked in some capacity for the City and Borough of Juneau for 32 years and last night marked her last General Assembly meeting before retirement. The former mayors attended to surprise Kiefer with a few kind words and stories before her departure. From left to right: Ken Koelsch, Mary Becker, Sally Smith, Sen. Dennis Egan, Bruce Botelho and Merrill Sanford.

City bids adieu to city manager

She knew something was planned for her last regular Assembly meeting — it was in the meeting agenda after all — but Kim Kiefer had… Continue reading

Five former Juneau mayors, along with the city's current mayor, gather around City Manager Kim Kiefer during Monday night's Assembly meeting. Kiefer has worked in some capacity for the City and Borough of Juneau for 32 years and last night marked her last General Assembly meeting before retirement. The former mayors attended to surprise Kiefer with a few kind words and stories before her departure. From left to right: Ken Koelsch, Mary Becker, Sally Smith, Sen. Dennis Egan, Bruce Botelho and Merrill Sanford.

Civil case filed: Metlakatla election complaint

KETCHIKAN — Two Metlakatla residents who ran in that community’s 2015 general election are alleging that the Metlakatla Indian Community and multiple officials violated both… Continue reading

Two stuck on glacier for days rescued

ANCHORAGE — Rescuers on Tuesday picked up two skiers who were stranded on an Alaska glacier for four days.The experienced outdoor enthusiasts were in good… Continue reading

Woman dismembered in home, body parts dumped

SEATTLE — A man dismembered a nurse and mother of three in her suburban home then drove her head and other remains to Seattle, where… Continue reading

  • Apr 13, 2016
  • By WALKER ORENSTEIN and LISA BAUMANN
  • Nation-World