News

Police blotter for Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015

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

American Seafoods seeks grant applicants

The American Seafoods Community Advisory Board is accepting applications for its community grant program.A total of $37,000 will be distributed to community projects addressing local… Continue reading

Around town for Tuesday, Oct. 20

Computer Basics, 9 a.m.-11 a.m., The Learning Connection, 210 Ferry way.Parks and Recreation Wednesday hike, 9:30 a.m., call for location. Details: 586-0428.Day of quilting, sewing… Continue reading

Alaska Airlines plans $50M of improvements

FAIRBANKS — Alaska Airlines is planning more than $50 million in new capital investments in Alaska over the next few years.Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden… Continue reading

New animal shelter to open in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will soon be opening its doors at a new facility in south Anchorage.The… Continue reading

Most states show increase in high school graduation rates

WASHINGTON — High school graduation rates for most states continue to improve, according to preliminary data released Monday by the Obama administration.The majority of states… Continue reading

Steve Carlton and his wife, Heather, play with their children, Theo, 3, below, and Arlo, 5, during the Moon Walk for Alaska Day at the Dimond Park Fieldhouse on Monday.

Photo: Moon walk

Steve Carlton and his wife, Heather, play with their children, Theo, 3, below, and Arlo, 5, during the Moon Walk for Alaska Day at the… Continue reading

Steve Carlton and his wife, Heather, play with their children, Theo, 3, below, and Arlo, 5, during the Moon Walk for Alaska Day at the Dimond Park Fieldhouse on Monday.
Emergency vehicles line up outside the Deni'ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage on Oct. 17, 2015. Police responded after a person died after falling or jumping from the top-level concourse at the three-story convention center while the annual Alaska Federation of Natives conference was being held.

Activist hopes convention suicide leads to more awareness

ANCHORAGE — An Alaska suicide-prevention activist is hoping a man’s very public suicide at an Alaska Native conference will propel people across the state to… Continue reading

Emergency vehicles line up outside the Deni'ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage on Oct. 17, 2015. Police responded after a person died after falling or jumping from the top-level concourse at the three-story convention center while the annual Alaska Federation of Natives conference was being held.
Local families watch the release of "Heli," a four-month-old female harbor seal at False Outer Point on Monday. Heli was found on July 20 suffering from a high temperature, dehydration, maternal neglect and multiple puncture wounds. She was flown to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward for rehabilitation.

Injured seal pup ends road to recovery with North Douglas release

How does a seal fly?Air cargo.On Monday afternoon, a harbor seal named Heli wobbled tentatively from her crate before plunging into the water off False… Continue reading

Local families watch the release of "Heli," a four-month-old female harbor seal at False Outer Point on Monday. Heli was found on July 20 suffering from a high temperature, dehydration, maternal neglect and multiple puncture wounds. She was flown to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward for rehabilitation.

Sitka’s ‘slave auction’ to be renamed

ANCHORAGE — Organizers of an annual Alaska charity event said Monday they will stop calling it a “slavery auction” after the NAACP complained.The event in… Continue reading

Hints of life on what was thought to be a desolate early Earth

WASHINGTON — Scientists have found fossil-like hints that some kind of life existed on Earth 4.1 billion years ago — when the planet was a… Continue reading

In this Jan. 14, 2012 photo, dogs play on a street in Lumbini, believed to be the birthplace of Buddha, southwest of Katmandu, Nepal. In a paper released Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers say man's best friend may have evolved somewhere near what is now Nepal and Mongolia.

DNA study says dogs first appeared in Central Asia

NEW YORK — Where did dogs first arrive on the scene? Scientists have long debated that question, and now a study of doggie DNA from… Continue reading

In this Jan. 14, 2012 photo, dogs play on a street in Lumbini, believed to be the birthplace of Buddha, southwest of Katmandu, Nepal. In a paper released Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers say man's best friend may have evolved somewhere near what is now Nepal and Mongolia.

Chinese cyberattacks on US companies continue

WASHINGTON — Chinese hacking attempts on American corporate intellectual property have occurred with regularity over the past three weeks, suggesting that China almost immediately began… Continue reading

In this Aug. 10, 2006 photo, the sign used as the backdrop for press briefings at the U.S. Department of State is seen in Washington.

While Clinton used home email, State’s networks were at risk

WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton has come under fierce criticism for doing business over personal email while secretary of state, putting sensitive data at risk… Continue reading

In this Aug. 10, 2006 photo, the sign used as the backdrop for press briefings at the U.S. Department of State is seen in Washington.

Amazon sues to stop phony product reviews

NEW YORK — Internet users increasingly rely on online customer reviews when making spending decisions, whether they’re buying an iPhone case on Amazon or hiring… Continue reading

Missing Florida girl found dead in freezer

MIAMI — The body of an 11-year-old girl who had apparently been missing for more than a year — though authorities say no one reported… Continue reading

In this July 20, 2012 photo, Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, right, and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz sign a petition supporting Native Hawaiian sovereignty in Honolulu.

Lawsuit, divisiveness hamper Native Hawaiian election effort

HONOLULU — A group of Native Hawaiians are organizing an election to create a national government for the first time since American businessmen, backed by… Continue reading

In this July 20, 2012 photo, Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, right, and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz sign a petition supporting Native Hawaiian sovereignty in Honolulu.

Oil collapse tests US colleges as donors dry up

AUSTIN, Texas — It’s easy to see what oil money means to the University of Texas. Tuition hasn’t budged in three years because of gushing… Continue reading

Three additional Boeing 737-700 freighters for Alaska Airlines' statewide fleet will also be unveiled as part of the new investments. The passenger planes will replace the airline's existing Boeing 737-400 combi jets, which CEO Brad Tilden said should be phased out by 2017.

Alaska Airlines plans $50 million of improvements in state

FAIRBANKS — Alaska Airlines is planning more than $50 million in new capital investments in Alaska over the next few years.Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden… Continue reading

Three additional Boeing 737-700 freighters for Alaska Airlines' statewide fleet will also be unveiled as part of the new investments. The passenger planes will replace the airline's existing Boeing 737-400 combi jets, which CEO Brad Tilden said should be phased out by 2017.

Most states show increase in high school graduation rates, Alaska not among them

WASHINGTON — High school graduation rates for most states continue to improve, according to preliminary data released Monday by the Obama administration.The majority of states… Continue reading