News

Kammi Matson spins a fire hoop on Sept. 13 at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit beach as "Reach: A Basket of Remembrance and Unburdening" burns. About 200 people attended the annual event, which included drumming, fire spinning and dancing. Visitors also placed notes, origami cranes and mementoes at the basket before it was set on fire.

Photo: Remembrance and unburdening

Kammi Matson spins a fire hoop on Sept. 13 at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit beach as “Reach: A Basket of Remembrance and Unburdening”… Continue reading

Kammi Matson spins a fire hoop on Sept. 13 at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit beach as "Reach: A Basket of Remembrance and Unburdening" burns. About 200 people attended the annual event, which included drumming, fire spinning and dancing. Visitors also placed notes, origami cranes and mementoes at the basket before it was set on fire.

Police blotter for Monday, Sept. 28, 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

A familiy takes a selfie on the Champs Elysees during the "day without cars" on Sunday in Paris, France.

Pretty Paris’ dirty secret: Pollution

PARIS — Guidebooks rarely mention it, but Paris is one of the most polluted cities in the rich world. The Eiffel Tower is periodically shrouded… Continue reading

  • Sep 28, 2015
  • By ANGELA CHARLTON and SYLVIE CORBET
  • Nation-World
A familiy takes a selfie on the Champs Elysees during the "day without cars" on Sunday in Paris, France.

India clamping down on critics, activist groups

NEW DELHI — It takes courage to accuse a powerful politician — a man who would go on to become India’s prime minister — of… Continue reading

Boehner slams ‘false prophets’ among GOP

WASHINGTON — House Speaker John Boehner warned Sunday against “false prophets” in his own party making unrealistic promises, saying his resignation had averted a government… Continue reading

Pope Francis blesses the bread while preparing communion during Mass Sunday in Philadelphia.

Pope Francis wraps up joyful US visit with big open-air Mass

PHILADELPHIA — Pope Francis urged hundreds of thousands of the faithful gathered Sunday for the biggest event of his U.S. visit to be open to… Continue reading

Pope Francis blesses the bread while preparing communion during Mass Sunday in Philadelphia.

Asians to become largest migrant group

WASHINGTON — In a major shift in immigration patterns over the next 50 years, Asians will have surged past Hispanics to become the largest group… Continue reading

Chinese President Xi Jinping laughs during a meeting on gender equality and women's empowerment Sunday at United Nations headquarters.

UN pledges support for women’s equality

UNITED NATIONS — World leaders pledged money and political clout to achieve equality for women by 2030 at a U.N. meeting Sunday co-chaired by China’s… Continue reading

Chinese President Xi Jinping laughs during a meeting on gender equality and women's empowerment Sunday at United Nations headquarters.
President Barack Obama speaks at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, Sunday at the United Nations headquarters.

Obama makes forceful defense of UN goals

UNITED NATIONS — President Barack Obama on Sunday committed the U.S. to a new blueprint to eliminate poverty and hunger around the world, telling a… Continue reading

President Barack Obama speaks at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, Sunday at the United Nations headquarters.

For seniors, tax-free condo association fees unlikely

It is unlikely that the city will try to find a way to make condo association fees tax exempt for seniors, even though these fees… Continue reading

‘I’m trying to sell gas’

“I’m not trying to buy love. I’m trying to sell gas.”So declared Gov. Bill Walker in a press conference Friday as he explained to the… Continue reading

A rendering of what the new cruise ship berths will look like downtown, according to the City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors website.

Fishermen’s Memorial loses to Panamax docks

For the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial board in Juneau, fighting the city’s downtown cruise ship dock project has been a losing battle.After years of protesting… Continue reading

A rendering of what the new cruise ship berths will look like downtown, according to the City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors website.

Federal officials investigate walrus deaths

ANCHORAGE — Two groups of Pacific walrus have been found dead along the Chukchi Sea northwest of Alaska. One incident is the subject of a… Continue reading

NTSB: Plane struck lake before deadly crash

ANCHORAGE — A preliminary report has found that a floatplane struck the surface of a lake before crashing into a nearby tree-covered hillside, killing three… Continue reading

Eric Kueffner stops Wednesday to count the growth rings in trees blown down last winter along the DuPont Trail. Trail Mix cleared and opened the trail in May.

Photo: Counting tree rings

Eric Kueffner stops Wednesday to count the growth rings in trees blown down last winter along the DuPont Trail. Trail Mix cleared and opened the… Continue reading

Eric Kueffner stops Wednesday to count the growth rings in trees blown down last winter along the DuPont Trail. Trail Mix cleared and opened the trail in May.

Around town for Sunday, Sept. 27

Open trap shooting, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Juneau Trap Club, 1 Mile Montana Creek Road. The Juneau Trap Club is open to members and public trap… Continue reading

Police & Fire for Sunday, Sept. 27, 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

Pope Francis speaks in front of Independence Hall from the lectern used by President Abraham Lincoln during the Gettysburg Address alongside a statue of President George Washington on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Pope extols America’s founding ideals

PHILADELPHIA — He spoke at Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. He stood at the very lectern Abraham Lincoln… Continue reading

  • Sep 27, 2015
  • By NICOLE WINFIELD and MICHAEL R. SISAK
  • Nation-World
Pope Francis speaks in front of Independence Hall from the lectern used by President Abraham Lincoln during the Gettysburg Address alongside a statue of President George Washington on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Women stand with their children and belongings in rebel held Bauw village in Koch county of South Sudan's Unity state on Friday.

In South Sudan a fragile peace allows food deliveries

KOCH, South Sudan — Sarah Nyanchar fled her home in South Sudan’s war-torn Unity state months ago, but with fighting continuing despite a peace deal… Continue reading

Women stand with their children and belongings in rebel held Bauw village in Koch county of South Sudan's Unity state on Friday.
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio smiles during a news conference Friday on Capitol Hill in Washington where he announced that he would resign from Congress at the end of October.

After Boehner: Can House GOP be led?

WASHINGTON — The gulf between tea party conservatives and establishment Republicans has grown so wide that it just swallowed up the speaker of the House… Continue reading

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio smiles during a news conference Friday on Capitol Hill in Washington where he announced that he would resign from Congress at the end of October.