James Brooks

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Courtesy Image | C-SPAN Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks about oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday during debates about the GOP tax cut on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

ANWR drilling approved

As the final votes were tallied and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, enthusiastically banged his gavel, U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, was smiling.… Continue reading

Courtesy Image | C-SPAN Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks about oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday during debates about the GOP tax cut on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
Gov. Walker calls for more spending on jobs, public safety and oil company tax credits

Gov. Walker calls for more spending on jobs, public safety and oil company tax credits

Gov. Bill Walker on Friday unveiled his plan for a $10.6 billion state budget that includes spending from the Alaska Permanent Fund’s earnings reserve to… Continue reading

Gov. Walker calls for more spending on jobs, public safety and oil company tax credits
Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kiana, speaks in favor of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in February 2017. After being accused of sexual harassment by many women, Westlake resigned Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Accused of sexual harassment, Rep. Westlake will resign from Legislature

Days after vowing to stay in office amid accusations of sexually harassing Capitol staffers, Rep. Dean Westlake says he will resign. In a statement sent… Continue reading

Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kiana, speaks in favor of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in February 2017. After being accused of sexual harassment by many women, Westlake resigned Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
The Flume trail, July 2014. (Juneau Empire File)

Flume trail reopens

Flume Trail along Gold Creek has reopened after an October landslide, the City and Borough of Juneau’s Parks and Recreation Department announced Friday. The popular… Continue reading

The Flume trail, July 2014. (Juneau Empire File)

Marijuana board orders Fairbanks manufacturer to close

The Alaska Marijuana Control Board has given the death penalty to one of Alaska’s largest manufacturers of edible marijuana products. On Friday morning, the board… Continue reading

New revenue forecast shrinks Alaska’s budget deficit a bit

Gov. Bill Walker will release his budget proposal for the fiscal year that starts July 1, and when he does, the state’s fiscal picture will… Continue reading

Proposal would add stair access to Mendenhall Wetlands

Southeast Alaska Land Trust is planning a way for Douglas Island residents to access the Mendenhall Wetlands more easily. According to a public notice posted… Continue reading

Frozen Budz, the company awarded the first retail marijuana license in Alaska, is accused of manufacturing almost 115,000 marijuana edibles that violated state regulations and may have been contaminated with mold. (Alaska Marijuana Control Office photo)

‘Edibles’ scandal hits Alaska’s marijuana board

Alaska’s one-year-old recreational marijuana industry faces a major test Friday morning as members of the Alaska Marijuana Control Board consider whether to revoke the license… Continue reading

Frozen Budz, the company awarded the first retail marijuana license in Alaska, is accused of manufacturing almost 115,000 marijuana edibles that violated state regulations and may have been contaminated with mold. (Alaska Marijuana Control Office photo)

Accused of sexual harassment, Rep. Dean Westlake refuses to resign

Rep. Dean Westlake will not resign. In a statement issued late Tuesday, the Democrat from the Northwest Arctic Borough said that despite seven accusations of… Continue reading

DOT plans to resurface Douglas’ 3rd Street in 2019

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has announced plans for road work in the heart of Douglas. In 2019, road crews will start… Continue reading

Alaska state Sen. David Wilson, a Republican from Wasilla, addresses reporters Dec. 7 in Anchorage. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)

Alaska will not prosecute state senator who slapped a reporter

The state of Alaska will not prosecute Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, for slapping an Anchorage Daily News reporter in May. In a Tuesday letter to… Continue reading

Alaska state Sen. David Wilson, a Republican from Wasilla, addresses reporters Dec. 7 in Anchorage. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)

Investigator says state senator did not ‘upskirt’ staffer

An internal legislative investigation has concluded that Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, did not sexually harass a legislative staffer in a June incident but did put… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker signs an Executive Order in his Capitol conference room on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, outlining his administration’s policy on climate change and creating the Climate Action for Alaska Leadership Team. Standing behind Gov. Walker are Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development Deputy Commissioner Fred Parady, left, Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth, Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Larry Hartig and Senior Advisor on Climate Change Dr. Nikoosh Carlo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Walker names members of climate change advisory panel

Gov. Bill Walker on Tuesday morning announced the members of his climate change advisory board. The board, established by an executive order on Halloween, has… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker signs an Executive Order in his Capitol conference room on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, outlining his administration’s policy on climate change and creating the Climate Action for Alaska Leadership Team. Standing behind Gov. Walker are Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development Deputy Commissioner Fred Parady, left, Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth, Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Larry Hartig and Senior Advisor on Climate Change Dr. Nikoosh Carlo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Rep. Don Young concerned by proposed sale of AEL&P to Canadian firm

Update: The full AEL&P response has now been published. Alaska’s lone delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives says he’s concerned about the proposed sale… Continue reading

Angela Rodell, executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, speaks to the Senate State Affairs Committee in 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Alaska Permanent Fund fails ‘stress test’ 48 percent of the time

A new analysis presented to the trustees of the Alaska Permanent Fund this week has determined that a proposed solution to Alaska’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit… Continue reading

Angela Rodell, executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, speaks to the Senate State Affairs Committee in 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Young says Arctic drilling is priority from tax bill; Murkowski wants quality

Young says Arctic drilling is priority from tax bill; Murkowski wants quality

Rep. Don Young is clear about what he wants from the Republican tax legislation being debated in Congress. “ANWR’s the No. 1 thing,” he told… Continue reading

Young says Arctic drilling is priority from tax bill; Murkowski wants quality
Assembly member and legislative candidate Jerry Nankervis chairs a public safety committee meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Deputy Mayor Nankervis seeks to leap from city hall to Capitol

Deputy Mayor Jerry Nankervis doesn’t let much get in the way of his fall deer hunt. That includes a run for the Alaska Legislature. Last… Continue reading

Assembly member and legislative candidate Jerry Nankervis chairs a public safety committee meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

December ‘heat wave’ is warmest in 73 years for Juneau

A heat wave unprecedented in the past 73 years has toppled weather records across Alaska, particularly in Southeast Alaska. On Friday, the National Weather Service… Continue reading

Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott laughs while sampling a cookie before the Governor’s Open House on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Cookies take the cake at governor’s open house

For Kristi Kraft, preparing for the governor’s annual holiday open house is no piece of cake. It’s a stack of cookies. Kraft is the baker… Continue reading

Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott laughs while sampling a cookie before the Governor’s Open House on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Keith Meyer, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, speaks to a meeting of the joint House-Senate resources committees in 2016. (Juneau Empire file)

Alaska gas pipeline may face 2018 funding crunch

The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation came back from China with a roadmap to build a trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline. The corporation now faces a critical… Continue reading

Keith Meyer, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, speaks to a meeting of the joint House-Senate resources committees in 2016. (Juneau Empire file)