News

Walker debuts pay freeze bill: 5,000 workers would be affected

Gov. Bill Walker has officially proposed freezing the pay of approximately 5,000 nonunion state employees. Senate Bill 31 was announced Friday morning, two weeks after… Continue reading

This 2014 photo shows Darren Byler, the owner of the Wild Alaskan, a converted crabbing boat that had been used as a floating strip club, in Kodiak, Alaska. A sentencing hearing has been rescheduled for Byler, who was found guilty of illegally dumping human waste into a harbor from the boat. Byler had been scheduled for sentencing in Anchorage Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, but his attorney, John Cashion, said Byler’s flight from Kodiak Island was delayed and the sentencing is now set for Friday. (Kodiak Daily Mirror via AP)

Sentencing reset for Alaska strip club owner in dumping case

ANCHORAGE — A sentencing hearing has been canceled for a second day in a row in the case of an Alaska man who was convicted… Continue reading

This 2014 photo shows Darren Byler, the owner of the Wild Alaskan, a converted crabbing boat that had been used as a floating strip club, in Kodiak, Alaska. A sentencing hearing has been rescheduled for Byler, who was found guilty of illegally dumping human waste into a harbor from the boat. Byler had been scheduled for sentencing in Anchorage Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, but his attorney, John Cashion, said Byler’s flight from Kodiak Island was delayed and the sentencing is now set for Friday. (Kodiak Daily Mirror via AP)

Feds declare salmon disaster for Gulf of Alaska fisheries

ANCHORAGE — The federal government has issued a disaster declaration for Alaska’s pink salmon fishery and several other salmon and crab fisheries along the West… Continue reading

Man dies on snowmobile trip from Kotzebue to Fairbanks

ANCHORAGE — A man who tried to drive a snowmobile from Kotzebue to Fairbanks was found dead near Selawik Hot Springs. Alaska State Troopers say… Continue reading

EPA proposes OK of Fairbanks air plan, but more steps needed

ANCHORAGE — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday it is proposing to accept a state of Alaska plan for cleaning up polluted winter air… Continue reading

Ice crystals shower down on Courtney Moore Agnes after she flung a pot of boiling water into the air Wednesda in Tanana. The temperature Wednesday at the Tanana airport reached 54 below zero Fahrenheit, the coldest recorded in the state, and it was 5 degrees colder at -59 F along the river. (Cynthia Erickson |For the Associated Press)

In Alaska, minus 59 takes toll on cars, pipes, state of mind

ANCHORAGE — Cynthia Erickson woke up early, hoping her four furnaces were working. She owns a grocery store and the building that houses the post… Continue reading

Ice crystals shower down on Courtney Moore Agnes after she flung a pot of boiling water into the air Wednesda in Tanana. The temperature Wednesday at the Tanana airport reached 54 below zero Fahrenheit, the coldest recorded in the state, and it was 5 degrees colder at -59 F along the river. (Cynthia Erickson |For the Associated Press)
Mouhcine Guettabi, an assistant professor of cconomics at the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage, left, Ralph Townsend, Director of ISER, give an overview of Alaska economic health to the Senate Labor and Commerce Commttee at the Capitol on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska’s recession will last through 2019, economists tell Legislature

State, university and private economists warned lawmakers this week that Alaska’s recession will last through 2019 — and possibly longer, depending on the actions taken… Continue reading

Mouhcine Guettabi, an assistant professor of cconomics at the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage, left, Ralph Townsend, Director of ISER, give an overview of Alaska economic health to the Senate Labor and Commerce Commttee at the Capitol on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Bethel homeless shelter dealing with drunk residents

BETHEL — Operators of a homeless shelter in Bethel say they’re struggling to deal with intoxicated residents. Bethel Winter House Director Eva Malvich said she… Continue reading

2 charged with burglary at Public Safety Department building

ANCHORAGE — A former Department of Public Safety employee will be arraigned next month on a felony burglary charge and misdemeanor counts of theft and… Continue reading

Sentencing reset for Alaska strip club owner in dumping case

ANCHORAGE — A sentencing hearing has been rescheduled for an Alaska man who was found guilty of illegally dumping human waste into a harbor from… Continue reading

Alaska opens trade, pipeline office in Tokyo

JUNEAU — The state of Alaska has opened an office in Tokyo to help promote trade and advance a long hoped-for natural gas pipeline project.… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks during his State of the State address before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gov. Walker to attend Trump inauguration

JUNEAU — Alaska Gov. Bill Walker plans to attend Friday’s inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Walker is a Republican-turned-independent who did not publicly endorse a… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks during his State of the State address before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at her confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Carolyn Kaster | The Associated Press

In Wyoming, DeVos gun remark more about safety than politics

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — In grizzly country, comments by President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for education secretary that schools should have guns on campus to protect against… Continue reading

Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at her confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Carolyn Kaster | The Associated Press

Alaska volcano erupts again, sends ash cloud to 31,000 feet

ANCHORAGE — An Alaska volcano active since mid-December has erupted again. Bogoslof Volcano in the Aleutian lslands at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday sent up an ash… Continue reading

Officials close Eagle River post office after vandalism

ANCHORAGE — The U.S. Postal Service closed its Eagle River post office after a vandal damaged the main lobby. Anchorage television station KTVA reported employees… Continue reading

Anchorage red light camera proposal could go before voters

ANCHORAGE — A proposal that will go before the Anchorage Assembly would allow the municipality to install and use cameras to ticket drivers who run… Continue reading

AP FACT CHECK: Palin not blaming attack on ‘Mexican Muslims’

Sarah Palin isn’t blaming a recent fatal shooting at a Florida airport on “Mexican Muslims” despite the claims of a story being shared on social… Continue reading

Longtime Yukon Quest volunteer reflects on races

FAIRBANKS — After 20 years managing a checkpoint along the 1,600-kilometer Yukon Quest, Peter Kamper is looking forward to getting a different view of the… Continue reading

Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, left, Rep. Dan Ortiz, I-Ketchikan, Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, and Rep. Sam Kito, D-Juneau, are sworn-in by Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott on the first day of the first session of 30th Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Deficit is distant thunder as Legislature convenes

For one day, there were smiles.At times resembling students returning for the first day of a new high school year, the 30th Alaska Legislature convened… Continue reading

Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, left, Rep. Dan Ortiz, I-Ketchikan, Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, and Rep. Sam Kito, D-Juneau, are sworn-in by Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott on the first day of the first session of 30th Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Anchorage coalition gets $1.5M to help homeless teenagers

ANCHORAGE — The federal government has awarded $1.5 million to a coalition of Anchorage organizations that work to combat homelessness as part of a national… Continue reading