Governor signs order with plans to fight opioid abuse

Governor signs order with plans to fight opioid abuse

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker signed an administrative order Thursday directing state agencies to pursue grant funding to help combat opioid abuse in Alaska. The… Continue reading

Governor signs order with plans to fight opioid abuse
University of Alaska president Jim Johnsen delivers his State of the University address to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday in the Hangar Ballroom. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

As Senate prepares to ax university budget, its president tries to stay upbeat

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen presented an upbeat, optimistic State of the University address to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, but a… Continue reading

University of Alaska president Jim Johnsen delivers his State of the University address to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday in the Hangar Ballroom. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Cash didn’t matter: New financials show magnitude of Parish’s win over Muñoz

Juneau apparently likes a winner. According to records released Wednesday by the Alaska Public Offices commission, Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, raised $44,403.60 in his campaign… Continue reading

The burned remains of the Royal Suite Lodge in Anchorage are shown Wednesday after an early morning fire. Officials said several were injured in the deadly fire. The fire’s cause is under investigation. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press)

Federal team to help probe Anchorage apartment complex fire

ANCHORAGE — Fire officials in Alaska’s largest city say a federal team will assist in the investigation of an apartment complex fire that left two… Continue reading

The burned remains of the Royal Suite Lodge in Anchorage are shown Wednesday after an early morning fire. Officials said several were injured in the deadly fire. The fire’s cause is under investigation. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press)

Natural gas leaks from pipeline in Alaska’s Cook Inlet

ANCHORAGE — Natural gas for at least 10 days has leaked from an underwater natural gas pipeline in Alaska’s Cook Inlet and floating ice has… Continue reading

Alaska fishing group flags concerns with income tax proposal

JUNEAU — A trade group for Alaska commercial fishermen is flagging concerns with a state House proposal that would reinstitute a personal income tax. United… Continue reading

Report: Pebble shares are ‘worthless’

A New York investment firm tore apart claims by the owners of the Pebble mine project that developing the prospect is economically viable in a… Continue reading

U.S. Rep. Don Young (Juneau Empire File)

Cannabis caucus insists it’s serious

WASHINGTON — Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young says he never smoked marijuana, but he’s a member of the newest caucus on Capitol Hill — the… Continue reading

U.S. Rep. Don Young (Juneau Empire File)

2016 ends with $911M profit for Alaska Air

Alaska Air Group Inc. turned a $911 million profit in 2016, extending its streak of record annual earnings to seven years while also closing the… Continue reading

Officials work to get Fairbanks ready to host Iditarod start

FAIRBANKS — Preparations for the world’s most famous sled dog race are underway in Fairbanks now that the race’s official start has been moved from… Continue reading

Alaska House fixes last year’s mistakes, approves annual revisor’s bill

The Alaska House has voted to correct itself. In a 36-0 vote Wednesday morning, lawmakers approved House Bill 77, the annual revisor’s bill that corrects… Continue reading

Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, speaks against a resolution to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge during a House floor sesison on Wednesday. The House voted in favor of the resolution. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska House votes to ask Congress to open ANWR to drilling, but ‘no’ votes are most since 2005

It was only four votes, but it represented the Alaska Legislature’s biggest opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in 12 years. On… Continue reading

Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, speaks against a resolution to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge during a House floor sesison on Wednesday. The House voted in favor of the resolution. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gov. Walker declares opioid abuse public health disaster

JUNEAU — Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has issued a public health disaster declaration stemming from the abuse of opioids such as heroin and prescription painkillers,… Continue reading

Man charged with assaulting woman with stock of shotgun

UPPER KALSKAG — A 48-year-old man suspected of assaulting a woman relative in a southwest Alaska village has been charged with two counts of felony… Continue reading

State moving forward with major Fairbanks road project

FAIRBANKS — State transportation officials say construction on a $20 million road project in Fairbanks could begin as soon as this summer thanks to federal… Continue reading

Brian Fechter, policy analyst for the Office of Management and Budget, speaks to House Transportation Committee members Tuesday about HB 60, the motor fuel tax bill. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Tax hike idea gets a turbulent reception from big airlines

Gov. Bill Walker’s proposal to triple the state’s jet fuel and aviation gasoline taxes by 2018 is causing turbulence within the state’s flying community. If… Continue reading

Brian Fechter, policy analyst for the Office of Management and Budget, speaks to House Transportation Committee members Tuesday about HB 60, the motor fuel tax bill. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Emperor Goose up for hunt after decades of conservation

BETHEL — Federal wildlife officials are looking to open up a subsistence hunt this year for a goose that’s been off-limits to hunting for the… Continue reading

Head of gas line group pledges more openness with lawmakers

JUNEAU — The president of a state-sponsored gas pipeline corporation is pledging greater openness with Alaska lawmakers, many of whom have grown increasingly skeptical about… Continue reading

State outlines costs for income tax implementation

JUNEAU — State revenue officials estimate it would cost $14 million to develop software and otherwise build a system that would allow the state to… Continue reading

3 charged with theft of ATM from rural Fairbanks store

FAIRBANKS — Alaska State Troopers have arrested three men suspected of stealing an ATM from a rural Fairbanks store. Troopers say 35-year-old Joshua Ritter, 55-year-old… Continue reading