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Eric Forrer, left, and Joe Geldhof, right, have sued the state of Alaska in an attempt to stop a plan that calls for borrowing up to $1 billion from global bond markets to pay oil and gas tax credits owed by the state. They are pictured May 22, 2018 in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska pauses plan to borrow $1 billion for oil-company payouts

State officials confirmed Tuesday that a billion-dollar bond issue is on hold amid a pending lawsuit by two Juneau men.

Eric Forrer, left, and Joe Geldhof, right, have sued the state of Alaska in an attempt to stop a plan that calls for borrowing up to $1 billion from global bond markets to pay oil and gas tax credits owed by the state. They are pictured May 22, 2018 in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire File)
Charred trees rise above a burnt motor home and shed at a Mendenhall Valley home on July 10, 2018. An early-morning fire damaged the shed, the motor home, a fish smokehouse and a Chevy truck. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Fire destroys structures, vehicles, but doesn’t harm residents

Fire Marshal not ruling out arson as the cause.

Charred trees rise above a burnt motor home and shed at a Mendenhall Valley home on July 10, 2018. An early-morning fire damaged the shed, the motor home, a fish smokehouse and a Chevy truck. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
The tugboat Lumberman is seen aground in Gastineau Channel on Monday, May 21, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire photo)

Agencies meet on tug move

Federal, state and municipal agencies are working together to remove the Lumberman, a 200-ton World War II era tug stuck in the Gastineau Channel. Removing… Continue reading

The tugboat Lumberman is seen aground in Gastineau Channel on Monday, May 21, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire photo)
Juneau Empire file.

USDA Sec. Perdue: Logging, other Southeast industries not ‘mutually-exclusive’

Correction: This article initially listed an incorrect figure for the number of acres the roadless rule would apply to in the Tongass National Forest. The… Continue reading

Juneau Empire file.
This photo of Christopher Davison was released by the Juneau Police Department when the department issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) advisory April 21, 2017. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Police Department)

Two men sentenced for illegal gun possession

Two Juneau men were sentenced this past Friday for separate federal firearms offenses. Christopher W. Davison, 34, was sentenced to seven and a half years… Continue reading

This photo of Christopher Davison was released by the Juneau Police Department when the department issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) advisory April 21, 2017. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Police Department)
Jeff Brown, center, raises peace signs in the air as his name is announced at the Jeff Brown Appreciation Party at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Friday, July 6, 2018. The party was a celebration of Brown’s 40-year career at KTOO. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

After 40 years of balloons, magic and radio, Jeff Brown retires from KTOO

When Jeff Brown came from his birthplace in Los Angeles to be in the Coast Guard in Juneau, he wandered downtown to look for something… Continue reading

Jeff Brown, center, raises peace signs in the air as his name is announced at the Jeff Brown Appreciation Party at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Friday, July 6, 2018. The party was a celebration of Brown’s 40-year career at KTOO. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
The sign for Cope Park is seen on March 30, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Two people rescued after falling in, near Gold Creek early Sunday

As Saturday turned to Sunday this weekend, two people fell down steep embankments in Cope Park and couldn’t get back up, Capital City Fire/Rescue Assistant… Continue reading

The sign for Cope Park is seen on March 30, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Dr. Cate Buley, the medical director of primary care clinics for the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), talks about changing policies in the realm of opioid prescriptions. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

State shows progress on reducing opioids

Looking at the entirety of the opioid addiction epidemic that has taken hold of Alaska and the rest of the country, it’s easy to get… Continue reading

Dr. Cate Buley, the medical director of primary care clinics for the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), talks about changing policies in the realm of opioid prescriptions. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Nolan Harvey, right, shows off his gold medal with coach Tayvia Ruvane, center, and teammate Erica Pletting. (Courtesy Photo | Special Olympics Alaska)

Harvey wins gold medal at USA Games

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the Empire spoke to Nolan Harvey on Thursday. The Empire spoke to Harvey on Friday. The… Continue reading

Nolan Harvey, right, shows off his gold medal with coach Tayvia Ruvane, center, and teammate Erica Pletting. (Courtesy Photo | Special Olympics Alaska)
Emissions from cruise ships cloud up the Gastineau Channel on July 5. (Photo courtesy Eric Adam)

As blue haze rises, so do cruise ship complaints

Complaints over cruise ship emissions are rising, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation, partly due to excessive blue haze from cruise ship exhaust stacks.… Continue reading

Emissions from cruise ships cloud up the Gastineau Channel on July 5. (Photo courtesy Eric Adam)
The Alaska Marine Highway System ferries LeConte, left, and Fairweather at the Auke Bay Terminal on Monday, March 5, 2018. (Juneau Empire file)

Ferry passengers stranded without toilets

A pair of generators broke down on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry M/V LeConte Thursday afternoon, stranding 52 passengers on board without working toilets and… Continue reading

The Alaska Marine Highway System ferries LeConte, left, and Fairweather at the Auke Bay Terminal on Monday, March 5, 2018. (Juneau Empire file)
“Solstice,” by Fisher Stevens, won the Judge’s Choice Award at the Douglas Sandcastle Challenge on July 4, 2018. (Photo courtesy Zane Jones)

Juneau and Douglas Fourth of July parade and contest winners

More floats registered for this year’s Juneau parade, committee director Jean Sztuk said, that organizers had to turn a few entrants away. The Douglas parade… Continue reading

“Solstice,” by Fisher Stevens, won the Judge’s Choice Award at the Douglas Sandcastle Challenge on July 4, 2018. (Photo courtesy Zane Jones)
Laron Carlton Graham appears in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, for an arraignment on two counts of first-degree murder for the Nov. 15, 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Attorneys prep for complex murder trial

The task of preparing for a complex murder trial has proven difficult for the defense attorney in the case, as she said Thursday that she’s… Continue reading

Laron Carlton Graham appears in Juneau Superior Court on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, for an arraignment on two counts of first-degree murder for the Nov. 15, 2015 shooting deaths of 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis and 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Firefighters prepare to enter the Mendenhall Tower Apartments on Thursday, July 5, 2018 to respond to a kitchen fire on the third floor. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Unattended food on stovetop catches fire at downtown apartment

A kitchen fire sent smoke and residents streaming out of the Mendenhall Tower Apartments on Thursday morning, Capital City Fire/Rescue officials said on the scene.… Continue reading

Firefighters prepare to enter the Mendenhall Tower Apartments on Thursday, July 5, 2018 to respond to a kitchen fire on the third floor. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Larvae of the aspen leaf miner eat the leaf surface, leaving conspicuous trails. One larva is visible at the end of its trail on the leaf on the right. (Photo by Kerry Howard)

Arctic squirrels, ants and aspens: Nature abounds at excursion to Kluane Park

Past an intensive construction zone, where the Chilkat River had begun to threaten the highway, up over the Three Guardsmen pass, there it begins —… Continue reading

Larvae of the aspen leaf miner eat the leaf surface, leaving conspicuous trails. One larva is visible at the end of its trail on the leaf on the right. (Photo by Kerry Howard)
Abbey Whitcomb and her client, Naknek resident Bryon Singly, pose with a small rainbow on the Naknek River. (Courtesy Photo | Sarah Miller)

Casting for fish — and guides — in Bristol Bay

Triston Chaney, a 19-year-old college student raised in Dillingham, knew before this year that he loved fly fishing. What he didn’t know is that he’d… Continue reading

Abbey Whitcomb and her client, Naknek resident Bryon Singly, pose with a small rainbow on the Naknek River. (Courtesy Photo | Sarah Miller)
A person identified as Ryan Jerome Bradshaw is seen in a photo provided by the Juneau Police Department. (Courtesy photo)

Juneau police arrest wanted man

Ryan Jerome Bradshaw is accused of multiple felonies.

A person identified as Ryan Jerome Bradshaw is seen in a photo provided by the Juneau Police Department. (Courtesy photo)
Juneau Municipal Clerk Laurie Sica in her office on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. Sica is retiring this month. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Churn that butter’: Municipal clerk retires after 22 years working for the city

Laurie Sica never knows exactly what her day may entail. And for her, that is part of why she will miss her job. Sica, who… Continue reading

  • Jun 25, 2018
  • By Gregory Philson Juneau Empire
  • Local News
Juneau Municipal Clerk Laurie Sica in her office on Tuesday, June 19, 2018. Sica is retiring this month. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Governor Hilario Davide, from the Philippines Province of Cebu, meets with Mayor Ken Koelsch, left, and Assembly members Mary Becker, center, Jerry Nankervis and Jesse Kiehl (not pictured) at City Hall on Friday, June 22, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Filipino gov makes a trip to historic enclave

Gov. Hilario P. Davide III sat in front of a bowl of karioko on Friday at city hall, Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch at his side.… Continue reading

  • Jun 25, 2018
  • By Kevin Gullufsen Juneau Empire
  • Local News
Governor Hilario Davide, from the Philippines Province of Cebu, meets with Mayor Ken Koelsch, left, and Assembly members Mary Becker, center, Jerry Nankervis and Jesse Kiehl (not pictured) at City Hall on Friday, June 22, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska will ban mandatory tip pooling

The State of Alaska is banning mandatory tip-pooling starting this Friday, restoring labor protections revoked by the administration ofPresident Donald Trump.