News

Hunter, the barred owl, from inside his enclosure. Photo by Clara Miller.

For the birds: Fundraising for improvements to raptor center

HAINES — Inside the American Bald Eagle Foundation aviary in Haines, Education and Outreach Coordinator Sidney Campbell moved slowly, calling Sarah, a great horned owl,… Continue reading

Hunter, the barred owl, from inside his enclosure. Photo by Clara Miller.
Fifty Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian groups dressed in traditional regalia take part in the Grand Entrance Processional down Willoughby Street from Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to Centennial Hall to kickoff the four days of Celebration in June 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Lawmakers ask Christopher Columbus to share calendar

Christopher Columbus didn’t meet an empty continent. The state of Alaska will now recognize that fact. On Sunday, the Alaska Senate voted 18-1 to approve… Continue reading

Fifty Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian groups dressed in traditional regalia take part in the Grand Entrance Processional down Willoughby Street from Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to Centennial Hall to kickoff the four days of Celebration in June 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

House approves income tax

It was tax day. On April 15, the Alaska House of Representatives voted 22-17 to impose Alaska’s first income tax in 37 years. Juneau’s two… Continue reading

Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A resident of the home for four years, Woodman was being visited by Carol Schriver, left. After outcry from the community, state senators are now asking Gov. Bill Walker to save the Pioneer Homes. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senators ask governor to save Pioneer Homes

The Alaska Senate is calling on Gov. Bill Walker to save the Pioneer Homes in Juneau and Palmer from the Senate’s own cuts. In a… Continue reading

Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A resident of the home for four years, Woodman was being visited by Carol Schriver, left. After outcry from the community, state senators are now asking Gov. Bill Walker to save the Pioneer Homes. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senators ready to negotiate fiscal fix

When it comes to fixing Alaska’s $2.8 billion deficit, nothing is written in stone. Not even a bill that both the Alaska House and Senate… Continue reading

Former Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski is traveling the state at the request of current Gov. Bill Walker to promote a railway connecting Alaska to Canadian rails. Murkowski is holding a Rails to Resources informational packet his office produced in June 2000 when he was a U.S. Senator for Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Frank Murkowski tries to revive dream of rail link to Canada

Frank Murkowski has never lost his railroad dream. Now, he has another chance to make it reality. In March, the former governor and U.S. Senator… Continue reading

Former Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski is traveling the state at the request of current Gov. Bill Walker to promote a railway connecting Alaska to Canadian rails. Murkowski is holding a Rails to Resources informational packet his office produced in June 2000 when he was a U.S. Senator for Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Luann McVey, left, and Laura Stats sit in the mostly vacant public seating area after giving their public testimony on SB 26 to the House Finance Committee at the Capitol on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Income tax, Permanent Fund spending plan advance toward vote

The Alaska House of Representatives will soon vote on the 49th state’s first income tax since 1980 and a plan to use the earnings of… Continue reading

Luann McVey, left, and Laura Stats sit in the mostly vacant public seating area after giving their public testimony on SB 26 to the House Finance Committee at the Capitol on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers won’t change how they disclose conflicts of interest

Downtown Juneau’s delegate to the Legislature has helped defeat a proposal for greater transparency in the Alaska Legislature. Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, joined 18… Continue reading

Senate votes to rollback justice reform

Many of Alaska’s first-time criminals may face tougher sentences under a bill approved Friday by the Alaska Senate. In a 19-1 vote, lawmakers approved Senate… Continue reading

House wavers on income tax

House wavers on income tax

Does the Alaska House of Representatives have the votes to approve Alaska’s first income tax since 1980? “We’re working on it,” Speaker of the House… Continue reading

House wavers on income tax
Customers pass the GCI store at the Dimond Center Mall in Anchorage in August 2016. In a deal announced April 4, GCI will sell a controlling interest to Colorado-based Liberty Interactive Corp. for $1.12 billion. No changes in company structure or management are planned; the deal benefits Liberty by allowing it to spin off an asset-backed subsidiary in a tax-free transaction. GCI shareholders will receive a 58 percent premium on their shares, or $32.50. (Photo/Andrew Jensen/AJOC)

Colorado firm buys GCI for $1.12 billion

ANCHORAGE — It was a good day to be a shareholder in General Communication Inc. Shares of the Anchorage-based telecom leapt 62 percent, from $20.56… Continue reading

Customers pass the GCI store at the Dimond Center Mall in Anchorage in August 2016. In a deal announced April 4, GCI will sell a controlling interest to Colorado-based Liberty Interactive Corp. for $1.12 billion. No changes in company structure or management are planned; the deal benefits Liberty by allowing it to spin off an asset-backed subsidiary in a tax-free transaction. GCI shareholders will receive a 58 percent premium on their shares, or $32.50. (Photo/Andrew Jensen/AJOC)

Will Uber soon be allowed in Alaska?

A bill authorizing Uber, Lyft and similar companies to operate in Alaska is headed to a vote of the House of Representatives. The Alaska House… Continue reading

Lemon Creek Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. The Alaska Senate advanced a criminal justice reform rollback on Monday that could have untold costs for the prison system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Criminal justice reform rollback nears a vote in the Senate

A bill allowing judges to impose tougher sentences for many crimes is advancing toward a vote in the Alaska Senate. The Alaska Senate Finance Committee… Continue reading

Lemon Creek Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. The Alaska Senate advanced a criminal justice reform rollback on Monday that could have untold costs for the prison system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Alaska House is on pace for a record number of bills

The Alaska House of Representatives has been a factory for legislation this year. Through Thursday, the 73rd day of the legislative session, members of the… Continue reading

Brandy Sullivan (photo courtesy of Tina Novotney)

After fatal shooting, shining a light on domestic violence

ANCHORAGE — The plan was to meet up in California for a girls’ getaway near the end of April. Lindsey Collins said she looked forward… Continue reading

Brandy Sullivan (photo courtesy of Tina Novotney)
Col. Paul Larson, left, takes the colors from Maj. Gen. Bryan Owens, Commanding General of U.S. Army Alaska, during a change of command ceremony for the Army’s 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division on Friday, March 24, 2017 on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. During the ceremony, Col. Paul Larson took command from Col. Scott Green, who had led the brigade since 2014. (Star photo by Matt Tunseth)

Army’s ‘Spartan’ brigade gets a new leader

ANCHORAGE — Fit and ready for action, the Army’s only airborne brigade in the Pacific now has a new leader. Col. Paul Larson assumed command… Continue reading

Col. Paul Larson, left, takes the colors from Maj. Gen. Bryan Owens, Commanding General of U.S. Army Alaska, during a change of command ceremony for the Army’s 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division on Friday, March 24, 2017 on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. During the ceremony, Col. Paul Larson took command from Col. Scott Green, who had led the brigade since 2014. (Star photo by Matt Tunseth)

Senate to considers limits of criminal justice reform rollback

How much is too much of a rollback? On Monday, the Alaska Senate Finance Committee will debate a final amendment to Senate Bill 54, a… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, speaks at the Native Issues Forum in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The event is hosted by Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Cheers for first Alaska Native House Speaker, state income tax

There aren’t many crowds in Alaska that will cheer for an income tax. In a lunchtime address, the state’s first Alaska Native Speaker of the… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, speaks at the Native Issues Forum in the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 30, 2017. The event is hosted by Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions

Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions

Senate Bill 91, one of the biggest changes to Alaska’s criminal justice system in decades, was touted as using an evidence-based approach to emphasize treatment… Continue reading

Rolling back criminal justice reform would cost Alaska millions

State to close Eagle River Job Center

The state of Alaska is closing the Eagle River Job Center due to state budget cuts. The closure, which will take place May 19, was… Continue reading