U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl leaves the courthouse Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, after his arraignment hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C.  Bergdahl, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, was scheduled to appear Tuesday before a military judge on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft /The Fayetteville Observer via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Bergdahl arraigned at N.C. Army base

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Wearing a dress blue uniform, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl faced a military judge Tuesday for the first time since the U.S. Army… Continue reading

U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl leaves the courthouse Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, after his arraignment hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C.  Bergdahl, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, was scheduled to appear Tuesday before a military judge on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft /The Fayetteville Observer via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Rosanne Schmitz wades through nearly 2600 balloons with her daughter, Aileen, center, and friend, Tori Talley, right, in her livingroom on Monday. Schmitz tranformed her livingroom to celebrate her daughter's 21st birthday. Schmitz also opened her house to friends to frolic and ended it with a popping party Monday night.

Photos: Balloon party

Rosanne Schmitz wades through nearly 2600 balloons with her daughter, Aileen, center, and friend, Tori Talley, right, in her livingroom on Monday. Schmitz tranformed her… Continue reading

Rosanne Schmitz wades through nearly 2600 balloons with her daughter, Aileen, center, and friend, Tori Talley, right, in her livingroom on Monday. Schmitz tranformed her livingroom to celebrate her daughter's 21st birthday. Schmitz also opened her house to friends to frolic and ended it with a popping party Monday night.

Man suspected of breaking Wasilla home, assaulting woman

WASILLA — A Wasilla man suspected of breaking into a home early Monday and assaulting a woman is being held without bail at Mat-Su Pretrial… Continue reading

Coast Guard hires private security at base

KETCHIKAN — The U.S. Coast Guard base in Ketchikan has been operating with tighter security after officials approved a $2 million contract with a Virginia-based… Continue reading

Geoffrey Wyatt sleds with his son, Lucas, 5, Orion Paden, 5, and Momar Diouf, 3, in front of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center on Monday.

Photos: Glacier sledding

Breanna Hills and her daughter, Cadance, 3, sled in front of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Monday.… Continue reading

Geoffrey Wyatt sleds with his son, Lucas, 5, Orion Paden, 5, and Momar Diouf, 3, in front of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center on Monday.

Experts: Less sea ice means more rain and snow

ANCHORAGE — The Arctic is seeing more precipitation as sea ice diminishes from climate warming, according to a research paper by U.S. and Canada scientists.The… Continue reading

Richard Nault, right, is the interim Director of the Rainforest Recovery Center in Juneau and Mitzi Privett is the Intake Coordinator for the treatment facility.

Rainforest’s red-tape

Editor’s Note: This is the third part of a series that examines why it’s so hard for heroin and drug addicts to get into treatment… Continue reading

Richard Nault, right, is the interim Director of the Rainforest Recovery Center in Juneau and Mitzi Privett is the Intake Coordinator for the treatment facility.

Police blotter for Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015

This report contains public information from law enforcement agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone listed in this report is… Continue reading

Correction

A photo that appeared in the Juneau Empire of the Shop with a Cop program contained inaccurate information. The funds to take the kids shopping… Continue reading

White spot disease kills Arctic grayling in Scout Lake

KENAI — State officials have identified warmer lake temperatures as a possible contributing factor to the die-off of hundreds of Arctic grayling this summer.A state… Continue reading

Photo: Solstice sunrise

A couple watches the sunrise along Egan Drive downtown on Monday. Monday is the winter solstice with the shortest amount of daylight for the year.… Continue reading

2 die in shooting in west Anchorage

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage police say two people died early Monday in a shooting in west Anchorage.Police say the shooting occurred in the area of Lois… Continue reading

Around town for Tuesday, Dec. 22

Parks and Recreation Wednesday hike, 9:30 a.m., call for location. Details: 586-0428.Day of quilting, sewing and good fellowship, 10 a.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church. Quilts donated… Continue reading

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) stretches with teammates before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

NFL suspends Giants’ Beckham for one game

NEW YORK — Losing control during Sunday’s loss to the Panthers will cost Giants star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. one game.The NFL on Monday suspended… Continue reading

  • Dec 22, 2015
  • By BARRY WILNER
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) stretches with teammates before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Court bans Blatter, Platini for 8 years

ZURICH — Banished from soccer’s ruling body for eight years for unethical conduct, Sepp Blatter won’t give up the presidency of his beloved FIFA without… Continue reading

  • Dec 22, 2015
  • By GRAHAM DUNBAR

Clemson’s Swinney wins AP coach of year after perfect season

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is The Associated Press college football coach of the year after leading the Tigers to an unbeaten regular season and the longest… Continue reading

  • Dec 22, 2015
  • By RALPH D. RUSSO

Panthers spokesman: DBs didn’t taunt Beckham with bat

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers deny that any member of the team taunted New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with a baseball… Continue reading

  • Dec 22, 2015

Shark kills Venezuelan during Coast Guard rescue near Aruba

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) — One of seven Venezuelan men whose boat capsized near Aruba died after he was attacked by a shark while being rescued,… Continue reading

After students disappear, city tries to turn page

IGUALA, Mexico — The previous elected mayor is in jail, and the new one wants to “turn the page” on the ugliest chapter in the… Continue reading

Former Miss Universe Paulina Vega, center, removes the crown from Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, left, before giving it to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, right, at the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Las Vegas. Gutierrez was incorrectly named the winner before Wurtzbach was given the Miss Universe crown. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Angry Colombians look for blame in mix-up

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombians celebrated for a little more than two minutes what appeared to be an unprecedented feat for this beauty pageant-obsessed South American… Continue reading

Former Miss Universe Paulina Vega, center, removes the crown from Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, left, before giving it to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, right, at the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Las Vegas. Gutierrez was incorrectly named the winner before Wurtzbach was given the Miss Universe crown. (AP Photo/John Locher)