News

Proposed ordinance would make Fairbanks pot club illegal

FAIRBANKS — Proposed legislation in Fairbanks would make the city’s first private pot club an illegal facility.The operators of The Higher Calling, which opened in… Continue reading

Alaska police can force out village leaders who won’t leave

ANCHORAGE — A federal judge on Tuesday allowed police to use force if needed to remove former officials of an Alaska tribal village who have… Continue reading

FILE - In this March 3, 2014 file photo, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska speaks in Houston. The committee has voted to approve Dr. Robert Califf to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, but the nomination may face trouble on the Senate floor. Murkowski said she will hold up the nomination until she has reassurances from FDA that genetically modified salmon will be labeled as such. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)

Senate panel OKs Califf as FDA commissioner

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s choice for commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration won easy approval from a Senate panel Tuesday, but two senators… Continue reading

FILE - In this March 3, 2014 file photo, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska speaks in Houston. The committee has voted to approve Dr. Robert Califf to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, but the nomination may face trouble on the Senate floor. Murkowski said she will hold up the nomination until she has reassurances from FDA that genetically modified salmon will be labeled as such. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)
In this Thursday photo, dead common murres lie on a rocky beach in Whittier. Federal scientists in Alaska are looking for the cause of a massive die-off of one of the Arctic's most abundant seabirds, the common murre.

Starvation suspected in die-off of seabirds

ANCHORAGE — Seabird biologist David Irons drove recently to the Prince William Sound community of Whittier to check on a friend’s boat and spotted white… Continue reading

In this Thursday photo, dead common murres lie on a rocky beach in Whittier. Federal scientists in Alaska are looking for the cause of a massive die-off of one of the Arctic's most abundant seabirds, the common murre.
City finance director Bob Bartholomew, center, speaks during a special Assembly meeting with the Juneau legislative delegation in the Assembly chambers on Tuesday. Also shown are city lobbyist Kevin Jardell, left, Sen. Dennis Egan, center, and Deputy Mayor Jesse Kiehl, right.

Assembly has breakfast with a side of bad news

The pastries were sweet, the news was not.On Tuesday, the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly hosted its federal lobbyist, state lobbyist and two members… Continue reading

City finance director Bob Bartholomew, center, speaks during a special Assembly meeting with the Juneau legislative delegation in the Assembly chambers on Tuesday. Also shown are city lobbyist Kevin Jardell, left, Sen. Dennis Egan, center, and Deputy Mayor Jesse Kiehl, right.

Bill would ban prison marriages, but not for the reason you think

In his younger years, Anchorage Republican Rep. Bob Lynn served as a police officer in Tucson, Arizona.Last year, when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex… Continue reading

Barbara Sheinberg, left, is sworn in by city attorney Amy Mead after a special meeting to vote Sheinberg to fill the open District 1 Assembly seat.

Sheinberg awarded vacant seat

With a smile as bright as the sun that was just beginning to peak out from behind the clouds over downtown Juneau, Barbara Sheinberg took… Continue reading

Barbara Sheinberg, left, is sworn in by city attorney Amy Mead after a special meeting to vote Sheinberg to fill the open District 1 Assembly seat.

Bill would protect clergy who refuse marriages

Of the 34 bills prefiled by Alaska lawmakers on Friday, none have been more controversial than Senate Bill 120 and House Bill 236.The bills, proposed… Continue reading

Around Town

Introduction to Microsoft Excel, 9-11 a.m., The Learning Connection, 210 Ferry Way. Learn to use Excel to organize and calculate data in the workplace. Free.… Continue reading

District 1 canidate Douglas Mertz is interviewed by Assembly members at City Hall on Monday.

Assembly vets candidates for vacant seat

Monday evening was all about filling vacancies — both current and forecasted — for the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. In interviews of 10-minutes… Continue reading

District 1 canidate Douglas Mertz is interviewed by Assembly members at City Hall on Monday.

Prisoner dies in state custody at Anchorage hospital

ANCHORAGE — State prison officials have released the name of a prisoner who died Sunday morningThe Department of Corrections in a release says 24-year-old Kellsie… Continue reading

Police blotter for Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016

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

Seahawks thaw out from the Vikings, move on

RENTON, Wash. — Despite all of his rapid optimism, there came a point in the NFC wild-card game where doubt creeped into Pete Carroll’s mind.Not… Continue reading

  • Jan 12, 2016
  • By TIM BOOTH

Lionel Messi wins FIFA world player award for a fifth time

ZURICH — Now score it Lionel Messi 5, Cristiano Ronaldo 3.Messi won the Ballon d’Or trophy on Monday as the world’s best player in 2015,… Continue reading

  • Jan 12, 2016
  • By GRAHAM DUNBAR

US World Cup winner Lloyd gets world player award

ZURICH — United States World Cup-winning captain Carli Lloyd has won the FIFA women’s world player of the year award for 2015.Lloyd dominated a worldwide… Continue reading

  • Jan 12, 2016
Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, right, is escorted by soldiers and marines to a waiting helicopter, at a federal hangar in Mexico City, Friday, Jan. 8, 2016. The world's most wanted drug lord was recaptured by Mexican marines Friday, six months after he fled through a tunnel from a maximum security prison in an escape that deeply embarrassed the government and strained ties with the United States.(AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Sean Penn: Nothing to hide over drug lord interview

MEXICO CITY — Actor Sean Penn said he has “nothin’ to hide,” after images published Monday indicated he was under surveillance when he met with… Continue reading

Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, right, is escorted by soldiers and marines to a waiting helicopter, at a federal hangar in Mexico City, Friday, Jan. 8, 2016. The world's most wanted drug lord was recaptured by Mexican marines Friday, six months after he fled through a tunnel from a maximum security prison in an escape that deeply embarrassed the government and strained ties with the United States.(AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Aid convoys reach besieged Syria communities

DAMASCUS, Syria — Aid convoys delivered long-awaited food, medicine and other supplies to three besieged communities Monday, part of a U.N.-supported operation to help tens… Continue reading

Israeli author Dorit Rabinyan, sits at her house in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. The Israeli author whose book was rejected from the national high school curriculum because it depicts a Jewish-Arab love affair is now enjoying star status at home and abroad. Sales of "Borderlife" have skyrocketed, international inquiries have doubled, and American filmmakers are jockeying for the movie rights. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

Israeli author of blocked book sees sales soar

TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli author whose book was rejected from the national high school curriculum because it depicts a Jewish-Arab love affair is… Continue reading

Israeli author Dorit Rabinyan, sits at her house in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. The Israeli author whose book was rejected from the national high school curriculum because it depicts a Jewish-Arab love affair is now enjoying star status at home and abroad. Sales of "Borderlife" have skyrocketed, international inquiries have doubled, and American filmmakers are jockeying for the movie rights. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Waterloo, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Clinton confronts Sanders as Iowa polls tighten

WATERLOO, Iowa — Hillary Clinton has spent much of her presidential campaign looking past Democratic rival Bernie Sanders, focusing instead on Republicans and the November… Continue reading

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, in Waterloo, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Mandatory public union fees look to be scrapped

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court appears ready to deliver a major setback to American unions as it considers scrapping a four-decade precedent that lets public-sector… Continue reading