Husband charged with doctor’s slaying in affluent NYC suburb

SCARSDALE, N.Y. (AP) — The husband of a pediatrician at a New York City children’s hospital was charged with murder after she was found stabbed… Continue reading

Flint crisis: Would it happen in wealthier, whiter community?

FLINT, Mich. — Ever since the full extent of the Flint water crisis emerged, one question has persisted: Would this have happened in a wealthier,… Continue reading

  • Jan 22, 2016
  • By ROGER SCHNEIDER and MIKE HOUSEHOLDER
  • Nation-World
Gov. Bill Walker is greeted by legislators as he enters the House chambers for his annual State of the State address to a Joint Session of the Legislature on Thursday.

At State of the State, Walker sells teamwork as necessary to beat deficit

It was Salesman Walker who spoke from the podium Thursday night in the Alaska Capitol.Delivering his second State of the State address, Gov. Bill Walker… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker is greeted by legislators as he enters the House chambers for his annual State of the State address to a Joint Session of the Legislature on Thursday.
Gov. Bill Walker will give his State of the State address at 7 p.m. tonight.

Gov. Walker to deliver State of State speech

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker is set to deliver his second State of the State address as Alaska grapples with a multibillion-dollar budget deficit amid… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker will give his State of the State address at 7 p.m. tonight.
The Alaska Marine Highway ferry Malaspina heads up Lynn Canal towards Haines and Skagway from Juneau in 2008. An AMHS official recommended Thursday that the state scale back from 11 ships to nine.

Captain: Ferry fleet needs to shrink

The head of the Alaska Marine Highway System gave the clearest statement yet that the ferry system will soon sell two of its 11 ships.Speaking… Continue reading

The Alaska Marine Highway ferry Malaspina heads up Lynn Canal towards Haines and Skagway from Juneau in 2008. An AMHS official recommended Thursday that the state scale back from 11 ships to nine.

Power restored to Newtok after days-long outage

ANCHORAGE — Power has been restored to the village of Newtok in southwestern Alaska after the community’s only generator malfunctioned over the weekend.The village was… Continue reading

Linda Seek, a 32-year-old former Juneau resident and Alaska Native, was reported missing Jan. 4 by her husband Thomas Skeek. Thomas was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and tampering with evidence Wednesday evening in connection with Linda's disappearance, according to the Anchorage Police Department.

Murder charges in case of missing Juneau woman

It was only through news reports Wednesday evening that family members in Juneau learned police made an arrest in connection to the disappearance of their… Continue reading

Linda Seek, a 32-year-old former Juneau resident and Alaska Native, was reported missing Jan. 4 by her husband Thomas Skeek. Thomas was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and tampering with evidence Wednesday evening in connection with Linda's disappearance, according to the Anchorage Police Department.
The Shell logo is seen at a petrol station in London on Wednesday. Royal Dutch Shell expects its fourth quarter profits to drop by at least 40 percent to between $1.6 billion and $1.9 billion after a sharp drop in crude oil prices.

Shell expects 4Q profits to drop at least 40 percent

LONDON — Royal Dutch Shell expects its fourth quarter profits to drop at least 40 percent to between $1.6 billion and $1.9 billion after a… Continue reading

The Shell logo is seen at a petrol station in London on Wednesday. Royal Dutch Shell expects its fourth quarter profits to drop by at least 40 percent to between $1.6 billion and $1.9 billion after a sharp drop in crude oil prices.
Feb. 22 is the deadline for comments on a plan that would wean the Southeast logging industry from older, larger trees and switch it to the harvest of younger, smaller ones.

Forest Service nears finish line for long-term Tongass plan

Alaskans are running out of time to give their input on the U.S. Forest Service’s plan to manage the Tongass National Forest into the 2030s.Feb.… Continue reading

Feb. 22 is the deadline for comments on a plan that would wean the Southeast logging industry from older, larger trees and switch it to the harvest of younger, smaller ones.
Karen Crane

Assemblywoman throws hat in mayoral race

The seven-day candidate filing period for the upcoming special municipal election is now more than halfway over, and as of Wednesday evening there are two… Continue reading

Karen Crane
Pat Pitney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, presents Gov. Bill Walker's budget proposal to Senate Finance Committee members at the Capitol on Wednesday.

State budget calls for fewest gov’t workers since 2007

Alaska’s state government will continue to shrink.Speaking to the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday morning, state budget director Pat Pitney said Gov. Bill Walker proposes… Continue reading

Pat Pitney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, presents Gov. Bill Walker's budget proposal to Senate Finance Committee members at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, left, speaks with Marshall Lind, former Chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Southeast, during Juneau's 31st Annual Legislative Welcome Reception at Centennial Hall on Wednesday.

Photo: Well received

Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, left, speaks with Marshall Lind, former Chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Southeast, during Juneau's 31st Annual Legislative Welcome… Continue reading

Rep. Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, left, speaks with Marshall Lind, former Chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Southeast, during Juneau's 31st Annual Legislative Welcome Reception at Centennial Hall on Wednesday.

Pot states take fresh look at out-of-state investment

DENVER — States that have legalized pot are taking a fresh look at making it easier for out-of-state investors to get in the weed business,… Continue reading

Around Town for Jan. 21

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

Anchorage’s Loussac Library temporarily closes for remodel

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage’s main library is closing for renovations.Anchorage television station KTUU reported the 30-year-old Z.J. Loussac Library will reopen Tuesday after a book circulation… Continue reading

Gastineau demo to impact traffic

The structural demolition of the shuttered Gastineau Apartments is slated to start Monday, and once it does, all northbound traffic on North Franklin Street will… Continue reading

Police & Fire for Wednesday, Jan. 21, 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

31 vying to fill city manager position

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly reviewed about 30 city manager applications during a special meeting, held entirely in executive session, Tuesday night. The… Continue reading

Snyder appeals Obama’s denial of disaster aid for Flint

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday released his emails related to Flint’s drinking water and asked President Barack Obama to reconsider… Continue reading

Senate Democrats block Syrian refugee bill from advancing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked a bill that would crack down on Syrian and Iraqi refugees coming to the U.S. as the… Continue reading