James Brooks

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Senator Egan

Juneau man files to run for state senate

A Juneau man is seeking to run for the Alaska Senate seat held by Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau. Larry Cotter of Thane Road filed a… Continue reading

Senator Egan

Anchorage Daily News will get new publisher, Binkley says

Alaska’s largest newspaper will have a new publisher “in the next few weeks,” current co-publisher Ryan Binkley announced Thursday in the keynote address at the… Continue reading

New poll finds Gov. Walker among America’s least-popular governors

Gov. Bill Walker is the most unpopular state governor seeking re-election this year, the results of a new poll indicate. The poll, conducted by Morning… Continue reading

In this May 1, 2017 photo, passengers walk off Holland Amerca Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

State offers, then withdraws, help to CBJ on cruise ship lawsuit

The State of Alaska offered, then abruptly revoked, help to the City and Borough of Juneau in an ongoing lawsuit. On Wednesday afternoon, the State… Continue reading

In this May 1, 2017 photo, passengers walk off Holland Amerca Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, right, walks out of the Senate chambers on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, with Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Report says Alaska senator retaliated against staffer

Sen. David Wilson committed a “very serious case of retaliation,” according to a report compiled by the Alaska Legislature’s HR director and released Wednesday by… Continue reading

Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, right, walks out of the Senate chambers on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, with Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire) Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Troubled Rep. Zach Fansler has not told House Majority if he will resign or not

A battery of cameras surrounded Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon on Tuesday morning, but they and the reporters behind them failed to reveal any… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire) Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this April 3, 2017 photo, Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, right, listens to David Teal, fiscal analyst for the Alaska Legislature, during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy wins Juneau Republicans’ straw poll

Former state Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, has won a straw poll of Republican candidates for governor. The straw poll was conducted across two gubernatorial forums… Continue reading

In this April 3, 2017 photo, Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, right, listens to David Teal, fiscal analyst for the Alaska Legislature, during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Senators take a moment of silence at the Capitol on Monday, Jan, 29, 2018, in memory of three Alaskan servicemen killed in action. The senate voted in favor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 to award the Alaska Decoration of Honor to David T. Brabander, Hansen B. Kirkpatrick and Jacob M. Sims. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senate votes to award medals to three slain Alaska soldiers

The families of two men from Wasilla and one man from Skagway will receive medals awarded by the State of Alaska for military service. In… Continue reading

Senators take a moment of silence at the Capitol on Monday, Jan, 29, 2018, in memory of three Alaskan servicemen killed in action. The senate voted in favor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 to award the Alaska Decoration of Honor to David T. Brabander, Hansen B. Kirkpatrick and Jacob M. Sims. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, attends a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Capitol on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

After assault allegation, Fansler says he won’t resign. Will the legislators expel him anyway?

On Monday, the Capitol office of Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, was firmly locked. The legislator was absent from Monday morning’s House floor session, and his… Continue reading

Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, attends a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Capitol on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this Sept. 14, 2017 photo, Brandon Howard, a cofounder of Amalga Distillery, left, serves mixed drinks to Nick Thein and Terra Veler at the distillery’s tasting room at Franklin and Second Streets. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Legislature to take public testimony on distillery cocktails

The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee will hear public testimony at 10 a.m. Saturday about a proposal to allow distilleries to serve cocktails as… Continue reading

In this Sept. 14, 2017 photo, Brandon Howard, a cofounder of Amalga Distillery, left, serves mixed drinks to Nick Thein and Terra Veler at the distillery’s tasting room at Franklin and Second Streets. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska Legislature considers bills to create electronic hunting, fishing licenses

Each day, in airports across Alaska, thousands of people swipe their cellphones across a scanner and board an airplane. Instead of a paper boarding pass,… Continue reading

The office of Alaska state Rep. Zach Fansler is shown in the Alaska Capitol on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Juneau. The door to the office was locked Monday morning. State House leaders have asked for Fansler’s resignation following a report in the Juneau Empire in which a woman alleged that Fansler hit her during a night of drinking. (Becky Bohrer | The Associated Press)

Experts don’t buy Rep. Fansler’s ‘BDSM kink’ defense in assault case

As the Juneau Police Department continues to investigate an alleged assault by Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, experts say Fansler’s text-message apology to the woman and… Continue reading

The office of Alaska state Rep. Zach Fansler is shown in the Alaska Capitol on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Juneau. The door to the office was locked Monday morning. State House leaders have asked for Fansler’s resignation following a report in the Juneau Empire in which a woman alleged that Fansler hit her during a night of drinking. (Becky Bohrer | The Associated Press)
The Alaska Marijuana Control Board meets in Juneau on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Sitting from far left are members Loren Jones, Brandon Emmett, Nicholas Miller, Travis Welch and Mark Springer. Springer was elected board chairman on Wednesday and Emmett was elected vice chair. (Becky Bohrer | Associated Press)

Marijuana board may examine pot taxes

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board may ask the Alaska Legislature to reconsider the state’s marijuana tax. In a decision Thursday, the five-person board asked the… Continue reading

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board meets in Juneau on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Sitting from far left are members Loren Jones, Brandon Emmett, Nicholas Miller, Travis Welch and Mark Springer. Springer was elected board chairman on Wednesday and Emmett was elected vice chair. (Becky Bohrer | Associated Press)
John Lincoln is seen in this undated file photo from NANA Regional Corp. (Courtesy photo)

Democrats confirm Lincoln as newest House member

Democrats in the Alaska House of Representatives have confirmed John Agnaqluk Lincoln as the newest member of House. In a closed-door caucus meeting of the… Continue reading

John Lincoln is seen in this undated file photo from NANA Regional Corp. (Courtesy photo)
Governor candidate Scott Hawkins delivers his introduction during a GOP candidate forum at the Prospector Hotel on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Three Mikes and a Scott’: Republican gubernatorial candidates gather in Juneau

Juneau Republicans got their first look at their options for governor and lieutenant this year as the Juneau Republican Women hosted an hourlong lunchtime forum… Continue reading

Governor candidate Scott Hawkins delivers his introduction during a GOP candidate forum at the Prospector Hotel on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Steaming chicken sizzler with noodles (123rf.com Stock Photo)

The first bill to pass the Legislature this year allows restaurants to donate leftovers to charity

A coalition of Democrats, independents and Republicans controls the Alaska House of Representatives, but the first bill passed by the Alaska Legislature in 2018 has… Continue reading

Steaming chicken sizzler with noodles (123rf.com Stock Photo)
Governor’s office unveils new pardon procedures that could give relief to convicts

Governor’s office unveils new pardon procedures that could give relief to convicts

The state of Alaska has unveiled new procedures for convicted criminals to apply for pardons and other forms of clemency, but the final decision will… Continue reading

Governor’s office unveils new pardon procedures that could give relief to convicts

Walker selects Kotzebue man for vacant Alaska House seat

Hours before the deadline set by state law, Gov. Bill Walker selected John Agnaqluk Lincoln for a vacant position in the Alaska House of Representatives.… Continue reading

This text message exchange, provided by a woman alleging an attack by Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, shows Fansler’s attempt to apologize on the morning after the incident. (Courtesy photo)

Beaten by a legislator: Juneau woman accuses lawmaker of violent attack

Local police and the Alaska Department of Law are investigating an Alaska state lawmaker for allegedly hitting a woman and rupturing her eardrum during a… Continue reading

This text message exchange, provided by a woman alleging an attack by Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, shows Fansler’s attempt to apologize on the morning after the incident. (Courtesy photo)
In this screengrab from Chinese state TV on Nov. 9, 2017, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker and others in Beijing sign a $43 billion development agreement for a trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline.

Gas pipeline work on track, leaders tell legislators

House lawmakers on Wednesday said they remain cautiously optimistic about the future of a trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline following a presentation by the leaders of… Continue reading

In this screengrab from Chinese state TV on Nov. 9, 2017, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker and others in Beijing sign a $43 billion development agreement for a trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline.