James Brooks

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Juneau’s new cruise ship berth prepares to welcome tourists ─ and something else

This summer, Juneau’s new downtown cruise ship dock will welcome hundreds of thousands of happy tourists eager to visit the Great Land. It’ll also welcome… Continue reading

Public invited to talk about PFD veto this weekend

Alaskans who want an extra $1,000 are being invited to talk to the Legislature this weekend. So are those who want to reduce government spending.… Continue reading

Legislature takes 11th swing at pro-drilling ANWR resolution

For the 11th time since 1995, the Alaska Legislature is preparing to urge the U.S. Congress to allow oil and gas drilling on the coastal… Continue reading

Gus van Vliet of the Air Quality Division of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation works on air quality and radiation detection equipment on the roof of the Floyd Dryden Middle School in March 2011. The equipment belongs to the US Environmental Protection Agency and sends its information via modem to its National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory in Montgomery, Alabama. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Trump’s EPA freeze might cost Alaska millions in funding

President Donald Trump’s move to freeze grants from the Environmental Protection Agency could cost the state of Alaska tens of millions of dollars and endanger… Continue reading

Gus van Vliet of the Air Quality Division of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation works on air quality and radiation detection equipment on the roof of the Floyd Dryden Middle School in March 2011. The equipment belongs to the US Environmental Protection Agency and sends its information via modem to its National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory in Montgomery, Alabama. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Norton Gregory, left, Mary Becker, center, and Beth Weldon pose for pictures in the Assembly chambers after winning their respective Assembly seats in the municipal election on Oct. 4, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The most expensive local election ever? Candidates spent more than $100K last year

Last year’s municipal election may have been the most expensive in Juneau history. According to new filings from the Alaska Public Offices Commission, candidates in… Continue reading

Norton Gregory, left, Mary Becker, center, and Beth Weldon pose for pictures in the Assembly chambers after winning their respective Assembly seats in the municipal election on Oct. 4, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Oil and gas subsidy debate, which sank budget deal last year, is poised to return

Oil and gas subsidy debate, which sank budget deal last year, is poised to return

An issue that sank plans for a budget fix in 2016 will soon resurface in the Alaska Legislature. A bill addressing North Slope oil and… Continue reading

Oil and gas subsidy debate, which sank budget deal last year, is poised to return
Nearly 1,000 people attend the Women’s March in Juneau on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Capitol Decode: One-sentence summaries of the 37 new bills introduced so far

The first week of each session of the Alaska Legislature is always one of organization and preparation. With 15 new members in the 30th Legislature… Continue reading

Nearly 1,000 people attend the Women’s March in Juneau on Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Paul Gatza, director of the trade and advocacy group for craft beer brewers in the United States called Brewers Association, talks about the industry during a stop at the Triangle Bar in Juneau on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Amid recession, Alaska’s breweries find boom times

In 1986, Alaska was in the middle of a cataclysmic recession. Geoff and Marcy Larson decided it was the perfect time to open a brewery.… Continue reading

Paul Gatza, director of the trade and advocacy group for craft beer brewers in the United States called Brewers Association, talks about the industry during a stop at the Triangle Bar in Juneau on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

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

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)

Lobbyist believes Legislature will slash state’s $3B annual deficit

Kevin Jardell offered a rare bit of legislative optimism to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly on Thursday morning. The city’s state lobbyist told… Continue reading

Walker says Alaska is in the ‘gravest fiscal crisis in state history’

Speaking to the Alaska Legislature Wednesday night, Gov. Bill Walker referenced the words of the director of the Legislative Finance Division and called the state’s… 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.

MCAN speaks up about downtown land sale

An organization devoted to supporting mental health is raising concerns about the pending sale of Mental Health Trust-owned land in downtown Juneau.The Mental Health Consumers… Continue reading

Legislature’s ‘preseason’ ends with another round of proposals

The 30th Alaska Legislature convenes Tuesday. On Friday, lawmakers released the last batch of prefiled legislation before the start of session. Here are one-sentence summaries… Continue reading

Juneau population drops to 2012 levels

Juneau population drops to 2012 levels

If employment is the pulse of an economy, population is its blood pressure — a sign of its overall condition.Juneau’s blood pressure is dropping, and… Continue reading

Juneau population drops to 2012 levels
Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, seen here in 2016.

Senator proposes fix for the budget without taxes – but with big cuts

Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, believes he’s found a way Alaska can erase its multibillion-dollar deficit and guarantee big Permanent Fund dividends — without tax increases.On… Continue reading

Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, seen here in 2016.

Assembly presses ahead with plan to keep homeless from sleeping in doorways downtown

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly is pressing ahead with a plan to keep the city’s homeless from sleeping in businesses’ doorways downtown at… Continue reading

One-sentence summaries of all prefiled bills so far in the Legislature

Here's an early look at what the Alaska Legislature will address once it convenes in the capitol on Jan. 17.[Permanent Fund and spending cap are… Continue reading

Jim Nelson climbs a ladder held by his neighbor Jim Fowler on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, as he replaces asphalt shingles blown off his roof by last week's wind storm.

Windstorm damage widespread, but minor, after Taku weekend

Monday was a busy day for Chris Bradley.As the weekend’s Taku windstorm calmed, Bradley - of Juneau Glass - was literally picking up the pieces.“We… Continue reading

Jim Nelson climbs a ladder held by his neighbor Jim Fowler on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, as he replaces asphalt shingles blown off his roof by last week's wind storm.