James Brooks

Alyse Galvin, indpendent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, right, speaks with Marilyn Orr during a “town-hall-style coffee and conversation” at 60 Degrees North Coffee and Tea on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Galvin is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Don Young. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

US House candidate Galvin to host Juneau town hall

Alyse Galvin, the independent candidate for Alaska’s sole U.S. House of Representatives seat, has announced a town hall meeting to take place in Juneau. The… Continue reading

Alyse Galvin, indpendent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, right, speaks with Marilyn Orr during a “town-hall-style coffee and conversation” at 60 Degrees North Coffee and Tea on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Galvin is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Don Young. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Don Etheridge, running as an independent for state Senate District Q, talks about his campaign during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Independent seeks to replace Dennis Egan in Alaska Senate

Don Etheridge woke up in the middle of the night with a sinking feeling. He didn’t know what was wrong, but after tossing and turning… Continue reading

Don Etheridge, running as an independent for state Senate District Q, talks about his campaign during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The owner of the Mendenhall Tower Apartments, top center has made a large donation to an independent expenditure group supporting Mark Begich’s campaign for governor. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Owner of Mendenhall Tower backs Begich

The owner of the Mendenhall Tower Apartments is backing Begich.

The owner of the Mendenhall Tower Apartments, top center has made a large donation to an independent expenditure group supporting Mark Begich’s campaign for governor. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A view of Egan Drive where it connects with Main Street on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is in the process of receiving bids for the reconstruction of the road from Main Street to 10th Street. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Big downtown road project approaches

The Alaska Department of Transportation has begun accepting bids for a long-delayed project that will bring big changes to downtown Juneau traffic. At a community… Continue reading

A view of Egan Drive where it connects with Main Street on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is in the process of receiving bids for the reconstruction of the road from Main Street to 10th Street. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Investigators in October 2017 examine the wreckage of a Cessna 182 airplane that went missing just south of Juneau in 2008. The plane remained undiscovered until it was discovered by a deer hunter. (Alaska State Troopers | Courtesy photo)

Federal investigators close case in fatal plane crash mystery

Federal investigators have closed their investigation into an Admiralty Island plane crash discovered last year, nine years after its pilot and his younger son went… Continue reading

Investigators in October 2017 examine the wreckage of a Cessna 182 airplane that went missing just south of Juneau in 2008. The plane remained undiscovered until it was discovered by a deer hunter. (Alaska State Troopers | Courtesy photo)
The wreckage of a crashed Airbus AS350-B3e is seen near Lituya Bay in early October in a photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. (Courtesy photo)

Pilot ‘rolled back throttle’ in fatal helicopter crash

The sole survivor of a fatal helicopter crash has given federal investigators their first insight into the event that killed three people Sept. 28. In… Continue reading

The wreckage of a crashed Airbus AS350-B3e is seen near Lituya Bay in early October in a photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. (Courtesy photo)
Alyse Galvin, indpendent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, and Don Young, Republican incumbent candidate for U.S. House, are seen in a composite image using photographs submitted by their campaigns. (Composite image)

Galvin is beating Rep. Young in fundraising

If Galvin were to defeat Young, it would be a colossal upset.

Alyse Galvin, indpendent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, and Don Young, Republican incumbent candidate for U.S. House, are seen in a composite image using photographs submitted by their campaigns. (Composite image)
A city maintainance crew waits for equipment to clean up a small mud slide at the south end of Gastineau Avenue on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Rainfall brings mudslides to Haines but no relief to Ketchikan

A soggy weekend led to mudslides and high water across northern Southeast, but the atmospheric river that delivered the rain brought little relief to parched… Continue reading

A city maintainance crew waits for equipment to clean up a small mud slide at the south end of Gastineau Avenue on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Snow-removal crews work in White Pass during the winter of 2015-2016. (Hal Hartman | Courtesy photo)

Keeping Klondike Highway open isn’t just a blast

The State of Alaska is looking for someone who enjoys working with explosives and coping with avalanches. Last week, the Alaska Department of Transportation and… Continue reading

Snow-removal crews work in White Pass during the winter of 2015-2016. (Hal Hartman | Courtesy photo)
This chart shows the number of aviation accidents in Alaska between Oct. 1, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

FAA: Aviation accidents up from 2017

New statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration show a slight year-over-year increase in the number of aviation accidents in Alaska. The figures were released Wednesday… Continue reading

This chart shows the number of aviation accidents in Alaska between Oct. 1, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
In this screenshot taken from a video broadcast by the Alaska Legislature, state lawmakers gather in Anchorage to discuss crime and criminal justice reform on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. (Screenshot)

Lawmakers consider crime in runup to November election

Lawmakers and Alaskans frustrated by rising crime rates gathered in Anchorage Saturday for an extended forum to vent their frustrations with Alaska’s criminal justice system.… Continue reading

In this screenshot taken from a video broadcast by the Alaska Legislature, state lawmakers gather in Anchorage to discuss crime and criminal justice reform on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. (Screenshot)
This screenshot of a video provided by the Fairbanks Police Department shows Alaska State Troopers and Fairbanks officers shortly before the fatal shooting death of 20-year-old Cody Eyre on Dec. 24, 2017. (Screenshot)

Fairbanks police release video of fatal shooting

Two weeks after the Alaska Department of Law declined to criminally charge the Fairbanks Police Department in the shooting death of 20-year-old Cody Eyre, the… Continue reading

This screenshot of a video provided by the Fairbanks Police Department shows Alaska State Troopers and Fairbanks officers shortly before the fatal shooting death of 20-year-old Cody Eyre on Dec. 24, 2017. (Screenshot)
Legislative candidates answer questions during a forum sponsored by the Juneau Empire, along with the League of Women Voters of Juneau, Juneau Votes! and KTOO at KTOO on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018. From left: Senate District Q candidates Don Etheridge and Jesse Kiehl, House District 33 candidates Chris Dimond and Sara Hannan and House District 34 candidates Jerry Nankervis and Andi Story. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau candidates share views on legal abortion

Most say they are in favor of state abortion rights if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

Legislative candidates answer questions during a forum sponsored by the Juneau Empire, along with the League of Women Voters of Juneau, Juneau Votes! and KTOO at KTOO on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018. From left: Senate District Q candidates Don Etheridge and Jesse Kiehl, House District 33 candidates Chris Dimond and Sara Hannan and House District 34 candidates Jerry Nankervis and Andi Story. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Stephanie Quinn-Davidson, left, of Yes for Salmon, holds up what she says is habitat protection regulation as she debates the merits of Ballot Measure 1 with Kim Reitmeier, representing Stand for Alaska, during a Get Out the Native Vote Southeast forum at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Salmon ballot measure splits Native tribal, corporate interests

Alaska Native organizations are divided in their stances on this fall’s Stand for Salmon ballot measure.

Stephanie Quinn-Davidson, left, of Yes for Salmon, holds up what she says is habitat protection regulation as she debates the merits of Ballot Measure 1 with Kim Reitmeier, representing Stand for Alaska, during a Get Out the Native Vote Southeast forum at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Former state Senate Mike Dunleavy, left, Gov. Bill Walker, center, and former U.S. Senator Mark Begich debate during a Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Centennial Hall on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. Polls and financial disclosure forms show Dunleavy with a significant lead in the four-way governor’s race. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy leads Alaska’s four-way governor race

Republican Mike Dunleavy has a significant lead in financial and popular support with less than one month remaining in Alaska’s four-way governor race, according to… Continue reading

Former state Senate Mike Dunleavy, left, Gov. Bill Walker, center, and former U.S. Senator Mark Begich debate during a Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Centennial Hall on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. Polls and financial disclosure forms show Dunleavy with a significant lead in the four-way governor’s race. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A black bear is seen at the Alaska State Capitol at 4:12 p.m. Thursday in this photo taken by Megan Wallace and provided to the Empire. The bear wandered downtown Juneau at the start of the evening rush hour, lingering outside Dimond Courthouse, the Capitol, Key Bank and a bear statue. (Megan Wallace | Courtesy photo)

Black bear visits Capitol, courthouse

A black bear caused a brief stir in downtown Juneau on Thursday afternoon after it wandered onto the front steps of the Alaska Capitol, meandered… Continue reading

A black bear is seen at the Alaska State Capitol at 4:12 p.m. Thursday in this photo taken by Megan Wallace and provided to the Empire. The bear wandered downtown Juneau at the start of the evening rush hour, lingering outside Dimond Courthouse, the Capitol, Key Bank and a bear statue. (Megan Wallace | Courtesy photo)
Alaska lawmakers likely won’t vote on pay before election

Alaska lawmakers likely won’t vote on pay before election

Lawmakers are considering a proposal to reduce their expense payments, but they are not likely to vote on the proposal before the Nov. 6 general election.

Alaska lawmakers likely won’t vote on pay before election
The PFD is $1,600: A Q&A about your dividend

The PFD is $1,600: A Q&A about your dividend

This is the first year in decades that the state isn’t following the traditional distribution formula.

The PFD is $1,600: A Q&A about your dividend
Mainframe Operator Will Muldoon lifts 500 freshly printed Permanent Fund Dividend checks from the printer at the state’s secure printing facility in Juneau on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Check it out: Permanent Fund Dividend checks flow from printers this week

With the soft sound of smoothly operating electronics, workers in the State Office Building are printing money. This week, the thousands of paper checks that… Continue reading

Mainframe Operator Will Muldoon lifts 500 freshly printed Permanent Fund Dividend checks from the printer at the state’s secure printing facility in Juneau on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
At forum, Southeast candidates say income tax is necessary to defeat Alaska budget deficit

At forum, Southeast candidates say income tax is necessary to defeat Alaska budget deficit

Five of the six candidates running for Statehouse in northern Southeast agree that Alaska needs an income tax. In Tuesday’s Get Out the Native Vote… Continue reading

At forum, Southeast candidates say income tax is necessary to defeat Alaska budget deficit