News

Police calls for Thursday, June 21, 2018

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement and public safety agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction… Continue reading

  • Jun 21, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
A bicyclist cross the Douglas Bridge in November 2012. The bridge is the only connection to Douglas Island from the mainland. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

City revisits idea of North Douglas crossing

A divisive issue dating back at least to 1984 on whether Juneau should have a second connection between Juneau and Douglas Island has come back… Continue reading

A bicyclist cross the Douglas Bridge in November 2012. The bridge is the only connection to Douglas Island from the mainland. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The crosswalk at Seventh and Gold Street in May 2017 before being painted back to white by the City and Borough of Juneau. (Susan Warner | Courtesy Photo)

Vandalism or art? City seeks solutions to rainbow-painted crosswalks

Rainbow-painted crosswalks downtown have the City and Borough of Juneau trying to find a compromise between public safety and creative expression. The white lines on… Continue reading

The crosswalk at Seventh and Gold Street in May 2017 before being painted back to white by the City and Borough of Juneau. (Susan Warner | Courtesy Photo)
Brigham Young University’s Naomi Welling. (Courtesy Photo | BYU)

Checking in with Naomi Welling

Naomi Welling knows how to make a splash. Welling won three state championships in her Thunder Mountain High School track debut five years ago. Over… Continue reading

Brigham Young University’s Naomi Welling. (Courtesy Photo | BYU)
Liz Snyder, candidate for House District 27, is seen in a May photo from her campaign. (Courtesy photo)

Ruling may allow more professors to campaign for office

The Alaska Public Offices Commission may approve a legal opinion today that could encourage University of Alaska professors to run for state office. In March,… Continue reading

Liz Snyder, candidate for House District 27, is seen in a May photo from her campaign. (Courtesy photo)
Gov. Bill Walker speaks to members of the media in April 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file photo)

Despite pending lawsuit, Gov. Bill Walker signs oil and gas borrowing bill

Despite a pending lawsuit, Gov. Bill Walker on Wednesday signed legislation allowing the state of Alaska to borrow up to $1 billion in order to… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks to members of the media in April 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file photo)
President Donald Trump signs an executive order to keep families together at the border, but says that the ‘zero-tolerance’ prosecution policy will continue, during an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 20, 2018. Standing behind Trump are Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, left, and Vice President Mike Pence. (Martinez Monsivais | The Associated Press)

In reversal, Trump orders halt to his family separation rule

Bowing to pressure from anxious allies, President Donald Trump abruptly reversed himself.

  • Jun 20, 2018
  • By JILL COLVIN and COLLEEN LONG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Nation-World
President Donald Trump signs an executive order to keep families together at the border, but says that the ‘zero-tolerance’ prosecution policy will continue, during an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 20, 2018. Standing behind Trump are Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, left, and Vice President Mike Pence. (Martinez Monsivais | The Associated Press)
Zach Fansler

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler withdraws from Democratic primary

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler has officially dropped out of the race for Democratic primary for House District 38. Fansler sent a letter to Division… Continue reading

Zach Fansler
In this June 11, 2009 file photo, an Alaska Airlines airliner is pushed away from a gate at SeaTac Airport in SeaTac, Wash. (Associated Press file)

Alaska Airlines denounces child separation policy

Alaska Airlines joined several other national air carriers Wednesday by asking the Trump administration to not use their flights to carry migrant children who have been separated from their parents by immigration authorities.

In this June 11, 2009 file photo, an Alaska Airlines airliner is pushed away from a gate at SeaTac Airport in SeaTac, Wash. (Associated Press file)
The State of Alaska has applied to take control of the land under the Taku River. The lands the state is asking for are pictured in blue. (Map courtesy Bureau of Land Management)

Alaska applies for control of Taku River, a federal waterway

The land under the Taku River may soon have a new owner: the State of Alaska. The state has applied with the Bureau of Land… Continue reading

The State of Alaska has applied to take control of the land under the Taku River. The lands the state is asking for are pictured in blue. (Map courtesy Bureau of Land Management)
Good Samaritan vessels assist three adults and three children after their 27-foot cabin cruiser began taking on water near Long Island in Sitka Sound, Alaska, June 19, 2018. (U.S. Coast Guard | Courtesy Photo)

Good Samaritans, Coast Guard rescues boat taking on water

Three adults and three children are safe after their boat began taking on water near Long Island in Sitka Sound, according to a Coast Guard… Continue reading

Good Samaritan vessels assist three adults and three children after their 27-foot cabin cruiser began taking on water near Long Island in Sitka Sound, Alaska, June 19, 2018. (U.S. Coast Guard | Courtesy Photo)

Despite pending lawsuit, Gov. Bill Walker signs oil and gas borrowing bill

Despite a pending lawsuit, Gov. Bill Walker on Wednesday signed legislation allowing the state of Alaska to borrow up to $1 billion in order to… Continue reading

Christopher Strawn appears in Juneau Superior Court on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, for sentencing in the 2015 murder of Brandon Cook. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Convicted murderer gets 90-year prison sentence

Christopher D. Strawn was found guilty of the 2015 murder of Brandon Cook.

  • Jun 20, 2018
  • By Alex McCarthy Juneau Empire
  • Local News
Christopher Strawn appears in Juneau Superior Court on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, for sentencing in the 2015 murder of Brandon Cook. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Immigrant children walk in a line outside the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children, a former Job Corps site that now houses them, on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, in Homestead, Florida. U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo said he found it “troubling” to see two of his Democratic colleagues turned away from the Miami-area detention center for migrant children. (Brynn Anderson | The Associated Press)

In reversal, Trump orders halt to his family separation rule

WASHINGTON — Bowing to pressure from anxious allies, President Donald Trump abruptly reversed himself Wednesday and signed an executive order halting his administration’s policy of… Continue reading

  • Jun 20, 2018
  • By JILL COLVIN
Immigrant children walk in a line outside the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children, a former Job Corps site that now houses them, on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, in Homestead, Florida. U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo said he found it “troubling” to see two of his Democratic colleagues turned away from the Miami-area detention center for migrant children. (Brynn Anderson | The Associated Press)
Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, talks during the announcement of a new northern internet fiber-optic link while in Whitehorse on June 20, 2018. (Crystal Schick | Yukon News)

Yukon rejects Alaska fiber link

The Yukon government will not build a cross-border fiber-optic link connecting Alaska over land, it announced Wednesday.

Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, talks during the announcement of a new northern internet fiber-optic link while in Whitehorse on June 20, 2018. (Crystal Schick | Yukon News)
Zach Fansler

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler withdraws from Democratic primary

Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler has officially dropped out of the race for Democratic primary for House District 38. Fansler sent a letter to Division… Continue reading

Zach Fansler
In this June 11, 2009 file photo, an Alaska Airlines airliner is pushed away from a gate at SeaTac Airport in SeaTac, Wash. (Associated Press file)

Alaska Airlines denounces child separation policy

Alaska Airlines joined several other national air carriers Wednesday by asking the Trump administration to not use their flights to carry migrant children who have… Continue reading

In this June 11, 2009 file photo, an Alaska Airlines airliner is pushed away from a gate at SeaTac Airport in SeaTac, Wash. (Associated Press file)
The State of Alaska has applied to take control of the land under the Taku River. The lands the state is asking for are pictured in blue. (Map courtesy Bureau of Land Management)

Alaska applies for control of Taku River, a federal waterway

The land under the Taku River may soon have a new owner: the State of Alaska. The state has applied with the Bureau of Land… Continue reading

The State of Alaska has applied to take control of the land under the Taku River. The lands the state is asking for are pictured in blue. (Map courtesy Bureau of Land Management)
Good Samaritan vessels assist three adults and three children after their 27-foot cabin cruiser began taking on water near Long Island in Sitka Sound, Alaska, June 19, 2018. (U.S. Coast Guard | Courtesy Photo)

Good Samaritans, Coast Guard rescues boat taking on water

Three adults and three children are safe after their boat began taking on water near Long Island in Sitka Sound, according to a Coast Guard… Continue reading

Good Samaritan vessels assist three adults and three children after their 27-foot cabin cruiser began taking on water near Long Island in Sitka Sound, Alaska, June 19, 2018. (U.S. Coast Guard | Courtesy Photo)
Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, talks during the announcement of a new northern internet fiber-optic link while in Whitehorse on June 20, 2018. (Crystal Schick | Yukon News)

Yukon rejects Alaska fiber link

This article has been updated to include comment from Alaska Power and Telephone. The Yukon government will not build a cross-border fiber-optic link connecting Alaska… Continue reading

Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, talks during the announcement of a new northern internet fiber-optic link while in Whitehorse on June 20, 2018. (Crystal Schick | Yukon News)