James Brooks

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Sen. Mia Costello speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in 2012. (Juneau Empire file)

Former backer of SB 91 now seeks its repeal in Legislature

Sen. Mia Costello has heard enough. Seventeen months ago, the Anchorage Republican was among the co-sponsors of Senate Bill 91, a sweeping reform of Alaska’s… Continue reading

Sen. Mia Costello speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in 2012. (Juneau Empire file)
Alaska Electric Light and Power Company Lemon Creek operations center in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

AEL&P sale presses ahead

Canadian electrical firm Hydro One has officially filed a request with state regulators to take over Alaska Electric Light and Power. On Friday, the Regulatory… Continue reading

Alaska Electric Light and Power Company Lemon Creek operations center in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Garbage bear shot dead

A black bear believed to have a taste for garbage was found dead Sept. 18 behind Mendenhall Mall. News of the death was released Friday… Continue reading

Businessman and activist Scott Hawkins is running for the Republican nomination for governor in 2018. Scott Hawkins campaign

Businessman and activist Scott Hawkins files for governor

Anchorage businessman and political activist Scott Hawkins has joined the race for Alaska governor. According to the Alaska Public Offices Commission, Hawkins filed a letter… Continue reading

Businessman and activist Scott Hawkins is running for the Republican nomination for governor in 2018. Scott Hawkins campaign

Downtown fire chars Salvation Army dumpster

It was a good time for a training session. A Saturday morning dumpster fire at Juneau’s downtown Salvation Army thrift store was quickly extinguished as… Continue reading

Members of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4303 attend Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, Assembly meeting to speak to Assembly members about their concern in the number of career firefighters working in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Firefighters call for more help

Capital City firefighter Brody Fink was one of the first people to arrive on the scene of the fire that killed two brothers. “It’ll basically… Continue reading

Members of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4303 attend Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, Assembly meeting to speak to Assembly members about their concern in the number of career firefighters working in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this Dec. 2015 photo, Gov. Bill Walker speaks in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Walker proposes payroll tax to fix (part of) the state deficit

To help solve Alaska’s multibillion-dollar annual deficit, Gov. Bill Walker is calling for a 1.5 percent payroll tax on everyone working in Alaska. The proposal,… Continue reading

In this Dec. 2015 photo, Gov. Bill Walker speaks in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
State attorneys Elizabeth Bakalar, foreground left, and Margaret Paton-Walsh, foreground right, listen to arguments made by attorney Jon Choate on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 in Alaska Superior Court in Juneau. At background left is Judge Philip Pallenberg, who is expected to decide the Alaska Democratic Party’s lawsuit against the state next week. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Alaska Democrats fight in court to put independents on their primary ballot

For state attorney Margaret Paton-Walsh, it’s a Jenga tower waiting to collapse. For Alaska Democratic Party attorney Jon Choate, it’s the solemn decision of an… Continue reading

State attorneys Elizabeth Bakalar, foreground left, and Margaret Paton-Walsh, foreground right, listen to arguments made by attorney Jon Choate on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 in Alaska Superior Court in Juneau. At background left is Judge Philip Pallenberg, who is expected to decide the Alaska Democratic Party’s lawsuit against the state next week. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
John Waterhouse of Elliott Bay Design speaks about the Alaska Marine Highway Reform Project to Southeast Conference attendees on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017 in Haines, Alaska. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

To fix ferry system, Southeast Conference looks to railroad as a model

HAINES — Southeast Alaska leaders believe they have a solution to some of the problems plaguing the Alaska Marine Highway System: Run it like a… Continue reading

John Waterhouse of Elliott Bay Design speaks about the Alaska Marine Highway Reform Project to Southeast Conference attendees on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017 in Haines, Alaska. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
In this June 13 photo, an Alaska Marine Highway System terminal crewman closes the gate to board the ferry Kennicott as it leaves for Yakutat. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska Legislature’s mistake may shut down state ferry system

HAINES — A legislative mistake may mean a spring shutdown of the Alaska Marine Highway. Pat Pitney, director of the Alaska Office of Management and… Continue reading

In this June 13 photo, an Alaska Marine Highway System terminal crewman closes the gate to board the ferry Kennicott as it leaves for Yakutat. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Sealaska CEO Anthony Mallott speaks to attendees of the Southeast Conference annual meeting Sept. 19, 2017 in Haines, Alaska. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Southeast leaders gather in Haines to chart ferries’ fate

HAINES — They’ve come from Hoonah and Petersburg, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and more. On Tuesday, community, government and business leaders gathered at the fairgrounds here… Continue reading

Sealaska CEO Anthony Mallott speaks to attendees of the Southeast Conference annual meeting Sept. 19, 2017 in Haines, Alaska. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

State confirms sale of Taku

The state has confirmed it will sell the ferry Taku to a developer who intends to turn it into a floating hotel in Portland. Jonathan… Continue reading

JEDC finds economic silver lining in Juneau’s private sector

If you’re looking for optimism in Juneau’s economic picture, it helps to look at the private sector, a new report from the Juneau Economic Development… Continue reading

A large still is a centerpiece in the tasting room at the Amalga Distillery at Franklin and Second Streets on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska’s distillery trouble may have been caused by a regulatory blind spot

After almost three years serving cocktails across the counters of their tasting rooms, Alaska distilleries have been told to stop the practice. On Monday, state… Continue reading

A large still is a centerpiece in the tasting room at the Amalga Distillery at Franklin and Second Streets on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Taku. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Ferry Taku may be bound for Portland and become a hipster

The ferry Taku may soon become a Portland hotel. On Friday, Jonathan Cohen of Portland, Oregon was the high bidder when the Alaska Department of… Continue reading

The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Taku. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
A map provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the preliminary epicenter of the earthquake that rattled Juneau on Saturday afternoon. (U.S. Geological Survey)

Saturday afternoon earthquake rattles Juneau, northern Southeast and the Yukon

Juneau, much of northern Southeast Alaska, far northwestern British Columbia and the Yukon shook Saturday afternoon as a Magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit the region. No… Continue reading

A map provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the preliminary epicenter of the earthquake that rattled Juneau on Saturday afternoon. (U.S. Geological Survey)

Conference will consider future of Alaska Marine Highway System

Some of the top tribal, state and municipal and business leaders in Southeast will gather in Haines this week for a conference that may decide… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks to reporters during a Friday press conference in Anchorage. At left are Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth and Col. Hans Brinke, director of the Alaska State Troopers. To the right is Col. Steve Hall, director of Wildlife Troopers. (Alaska Journal of Commerce Photo)

Walker backs rollback of criminal justice reform

Gov. Bill Walker will ask legislators to toughen the state’s penalties for some minor crimes when the Alaska Legislature convenes for a special session next… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks to reporters during a Friday press conference in Anchorage. At left are Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth and Col. Hans Brinke, director of the Alaska State Troopers. To the right is Col. Steve Hall, director of Wildlife Troopers. (Alaska Journal of Commerce Photo)
University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen watches Board of Regents vote on his bonus pay during their meeting at the University of Alaska Southeast Student Recreation Center on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Regents award UA prez $50K bonus. He immediately donates it back to school.

On a day when the University of Alaska Board of Regents considered tuition increases for students and pondered how best to deal with state budget… Continue reading

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen watches Board of Regents vote on his bonus pay during their meeting at the University of Alaska Southeast Student Recreation Center on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A large still is a centerpiece in the tasting room at the Amalga Distillery at Franklin and Second Streets on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Bar Wars: Alcohol board bans distilleries from selling cocktails

Amalga Distillery got some sobering news from the Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board on Wednesday: distilleries may no longer serve cocktails, effective immediately. It was… Continue reading

A large still is a centerpiece in the tasting room at the Amalga Distillery at Franklin and Second Streets on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)