News

Gunmen worked as team to kill 5 at cookout

WILKINSBURG, Pa. — Two gunmen working as a team fatally shot five people and critically wounded two others at a backyard cookout, with one attacker… Continue reading

Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, D-Anchorage, center, is congratulated by Speaker of the House Mike Chenault after her official swearing-in to her House seat at the Capitol on Thursday. Along with other representatives watching the event is Spohnholz's mother, Ann, who was appointed to the House by Gov. Steve Cowper in 1989.

Gruenberg’s replacement sworn into Legislature as budget hits House floor

The Alaska Legislature’s newest member was sworn in on Thursday morning and found herself in a hotly contested budget debate 15 minutes later.“What a day… Continue reading

Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, D-Anchorage, center, is congratulated by Speaker of the House Mike Chenault after her official swearing-in to her House seat at the Capitol on Thursday. Along with other representatives watching the event is Spohnholz's mother, Ann, who was appointed to the House by Gov. Steve Cowper in 1989.
Tyler Myers, president of the Myers Group and owner of IGA Foodland, left, greets Scott Watts, owner of Ron's Apothecary Shoppe, at IGA Foodland on Wednesday. The new pharmacy will open later this month.

New downtown pharmacy opening March 21 in Foodland IGA

Ron’s Apothecary Shoppe is opening a second location inside Foodland IGA in the downtown Willoughby District.Standing in front of empty shelves behind the pharmacy counter,… Continue reading

Tyler Myers, president of the Myers Group and owner of IGA Foodland, left, greets Scott Watts, owner of Ron's Apothecary Shoppe, at IGA Foodland on Wednesday. The new pharmacy will open later this month.
Gov. Bill Walker addresses the media at the Capitol on Thursday about his signing of Administrative Order 281 to explore potential opportunities for efficiency and consolidation of three state corporations-Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) and the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA). Standing behind Gov. Walker are the executive directors of each corporation: John Springsteen, AIDEA, left, Bryan Butcher, AHFC, center, and Sara Fisher-Goad, AEA.

Governor suggests studying whether to merge three state corporations

Gov. Bill Walker is planning to analyze three big state-owned corporations with an eye toward combining some of their operations or even consolidating them.On Thursday… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker addresses the media at the Capitol on Thursday about his signing of Administrative Order 281 to explore potential opportunities for efficiency and consolidation of three state corporations-Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) and the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA). Standing behind Gov. Walker are the executive directors of each corporation: John Springsteen, AIDEA, left, Bryan Butcher, AHFC, center, and Sara Fisher-Goad, AEA.
Eight-year-old Kaija Guthrie is a student of the Tlingit Culture, Language & Literacy program. She testified with her mother, Melanie Rodriguez, at Tuesday night's Juneau School Board meeting.

Against public outcry, school board doesn’t budge on prioritizing Tlingit program

The Juneau School Board didn’t make any budget changes directly related to the Tlingit Culture, Language & Literacy program despite public outcry from the community… Continue reading

Eight-year-old Kaija Guthrie is a student of the Tlingit Culture, Language & Literacy program. She testified with her mother, Melanie Rodriguez, at Tuesday night's Juneau School Board meeting.

House takes up $8.6B budget today

The Alaska House of Representatives will today consider a draft of the $8.66 billion state operating budget that cuts $639.6 million from existing operations.A vote… Continue reading

State SurplusProperty Program manager Jeff Campbell collects money during the weekly sale to the public on Wednesday.

Dark days for the cult of surplus

A Juneau institution is ending: The state surplus barn will close at the end of June.“Yeah, this is going to be sad,” said John Shakespeare,… Continue reading

State SurplusProperty Program manager Jeff Campbell collects money during the weekly sale to the public on Wednesday.

Armed robber takes paperwork, leaves money behind

An armed robber allegedly visited the Dragon Inn restaurant Saturday night and left with a pile of paperwork, according to police.The Juneau Police Department learned… Continue reading

Around Town

Juneau Gastineau Rotary Club meeting, 7 a.m., The Prospector Hotel.Open lab computer training, 9-11 a.m, The Learning Connection, 210 Ferry Way. Storytime, 11 a.m., Douglas… Continue reading

Police & fire for Thursday, March 10, 2016

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone listed… Continue reading

Troopers investigate animal cruelty case in village of Kiana

ANCHORAGE — Alaska State Troopers are investigating a case of animal cruelty in the northwest village of Kiana.Troopers on Tuesday said the dog was found… Continue reading

Photo: Taking the Capitol’s blood pressure

Sen. Berta Gardner, D-Anchorage, left, greets House Minority Leader Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, as he has his blood pressure taken by Sue Hecks, executive director of… Continue reading

Bill would allow disabled Alaskans to save money

JUNEAU — Disabled Alaskans would be allowed to save more money without affecting their state and federal benefits under a bill pending in the Alaska… Continue reading

Planning Commission halts plan to move bus stop in front of home

The Juneau Planning Commission decided to hold off on a plan that would relocate the Davis Avenue bus stop a block down the road —… Continue reading

Overdose-fighting bill heads to governor’s desk

The Alaska Senate voted unanimously, 20-0, on Wednesday to approve a bill to increase the availability of the overdose-prevention drug Naloxone.Senate Bill 23 now heads… Continue reading

Bing’s Landing near Sterling to undergo construction work

KENAI — Parks officials are looking to begin up to $2.5 million in upgrades for a popular boat launch and bank fishing area just outside… Continue reading

Yup’ik school prepares to resume classes in new building

BETHEL — A Yup’ik elementary school in Bethel that was destroyed by a fire last year found a new temporary home inside a vacated grocery… Continue reading

A worker walks in the rubble left from an early morning explosion Wednesday, March 9, 2016, in Seattle. The natural gas explosion sent multiple firefighters to the hospital and reduced several businesses to rubble. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle blast levels buildings, causes no serious injuries

SEATTLE — Shop owners on Wednesday inspected walls that were ripped to shreds by an early morning natural gas explosion in Seattle and marveled that… Continue reading

  • Mar 10, 2016
  • By MARTHA BELLISLE and MANUEL VALDES
  • Nation-World
A worker walks in the rubble left from an early morning explosion Wednesday, March 9, 2016, in Seattle. The natural gas explosion sent multiple firefighters to the hospital and reduced several businesses to rubble. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
A student raises her fist during a rally in Paris on Wednesday.

French protest against bill tampering with 35-hour work week

PARIS — Tens of thousands of people protested across France on Wednesday against President Francois Hollande’s determination to achieve what his conservative predecessor didn’t even… Continue reading

A student raises her fist during a rally in Paris on Wednesday.
In this March 1 photo, a member of the Colombian Red Cross helps a Colombian patient returning to Venezuela in the border town of San Antonio, Venezuela, after her medical treatment in Cucuta, Colombia.

Venezuelans seek health care in Colombia

URENA, Venezuela — They gather by the hundreds at border bridges before dawn, in wheelchairs and surgical masks. They clutch X-rays and bundles of medical… Continue reading

In this March 1 photo, a member of the Colombian Red Cross helps a Colombian patient returning to Venezuela in the border town of San Antonio, Venezuela, after her medical treatment in Cucuta, Colombia.