News

Grants Administrator Linda Landvik, right, and Chief Integrated Services Officer Doug Harris, talk about the recent merging of JAMHI and NCADD (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) Juneau to make access to both organizations’ services more convenient for the community. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Nonprofits merge to combine mental health, addiction treatments

The timing was just right. Those at the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) Juneau had been looking to partner with another agency… Continue reading

Grants Administrator Linda Landvik, right, and Chief Integrated Services Officer Doug Harris, talk about the recent merging of JAMHI and NCADD (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) Juneau to make access to both organizations’ services more convenient for the community. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
This Oct. 1, 2017 still image taken from police body camera video, provided by the city of Seward, Alaska, in response to a public records request, shows Seward Police Officer Michael “Eddie” Armstrong ordering Micah McComas out of the front seat of his patrol car, after placing him handcuffed in the back seat, during a traffic stop in Seward. Armstrong has been cleared in last year’s fatal shooting of McComas, who had been placed in the backseat of the officer’s idling patrol car and managed to start driving it away. The state attorney general’s office says in a letter to Seward police that it was reasonable for Armstrong to use deadly force. (City of Seward)

Alaska cop cleared in shooting death of suspect

ANCHORAGE — An Alaska police officer has been cleared in a fatal shooting of a handcuffed suspect who had been placed in the back of… Continue reading

  • Feb 1, 2018
  • By RACHEL D’ORO
This Oct. 1, 2017 still image taken from police body camera video, provided by the city of Seward, Alaska, in response to a public records request, shows Seward Police Officer Michael “Eddie” Armstrong ordering Micah McComas out of the front seat of his patrol car, after placing him handcuffed in the back seat, during a traffic stop in Seward. Armstrong has been cleared in last year’s fatal shooting of McComas, who had been placed in the backseat of the officer’s idling patrol car and managed to start driving it away. The state attorney general’s office says in a letter to Seward police that it was reasonable for Armstrong to use deadly force. (City of Seward)

Anchorage Daily News will get new publisher, Binkley says

Alaska’s largest newspaper will have a new publisher “in the next few weeks,” current co-publisher Ryan Binkley announced Thursday in the keynote address at the… Continue reading

New poll finds Gov. Walker among America’s least-popular governors

Gov. Bill Walker is the most unpopular state governor seeking re-election this year, the results of a new poll indicate. The poll, conducted by Morning… Continue reading

Police calls for Friday, Feb. 2, 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

  • Feb 1, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
In this May 1, 2017 photo, passengers walk off Holland Amerca Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

State offers, then withdraws, help to CBJ on cruise ship lawsuit

The State of Alaska offered, then abruptly revoked, help to the City and Borough of Juneau in an ongoing lawsuit. On Wednesday afternoon, the State… Continue reading

In this May 1, 2017 photo, passengers walk off Holland Amerca Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, right, walks out of the Senate chambers on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, with Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Report says Alaska senator retaliated against staffer

Sen. David Wilson committed a “very serious case of retaliation,” according to a report compiled by the Alaska Legislature’s HR director and released Wednesday by… Continue reading

Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, right, walks out of the Senate chambers on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, with Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

New members join Hospital Board, Planning Commission

Both the Bartlett Regional Hospital Board and the Planning Commission gained new members this week. At a special meeting Tuesday, the City and Borough of… Continue reading

Police calls for Thursday, Feb. 1, 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

  • Feb 1, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Rep. John Lincoln, D-Kotzebue, left, has his picture taken with Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, by Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, as Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, watches in the House chambers on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lincoln sworn in as newest Alaska House member

The newest member of the Alaska Legislature has been sworn in. State Rep. John Lincoln of Kotzebue was sworn in Wednesday, one week after being… Continue reading

  • Jan 31, 2018
  • By Becky Bohrer
Rep. John Lincoln, D-Kotzebue, left, has his picture taken with Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, by Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, as Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, watches in the House chambers on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Wednesday, Jan. 31, 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

  • Jan 31, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire) Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Troubled Rep. Zach Fansler has not told House Majority if he will resign or not

A battery of cameras surrounded Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon on Tuesday morning, but they and the reporters behind them failed to reveal any… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire) Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this Jan. 7, 2013 photo, a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter flies over the Kulluk, the Shell floating drilling barge off Kodiak Island in Alaska’s Kiliuda Bay, as salvage teams conduct an in-depth assessment of its seaworthiness. Citing the disappointing results from an exploratory well in 2015, and challenging and unpredictable federal regulatory environment, Shell abandoned drilling in U.S. Arctic waters. The Trump administration is pursuing petroleum lease sales in Arctic waters but an analyst says potential bidders may find other areas more attractive. (James Brooks | Kodiak Daily Mirror File)

Report: Alaskans fourth highest greenhouse gas emitters per-capita

Human-caused greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Alaska have decreased by 8 percent since 1990, according to an updated report from the Department of Environmental Conservation… Continue reading

In this Jan. 7, 2013 photo, a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter flies over the Kulluk, the Shell floating drilling barge off Kodiak Island in Alaska’s Kiliuda Bay, as salvage teams conduct an in-depth assessment of its seaworthiness. Citing the disappointing results from an exploratory well in 2015, and challenging and unpredictable federal regulatory environment, Shell abandoned drilling in U.S. Arctic waters. The Trump administration is pursuing petroleum lease sales in Arctic waters but an analyst says potential bidders may find other areas more attractive. (James Brooks | Kodiak Daily Mirror File)
Steve Behnke, the chair of the Juneau Commission on Sustainability’s Energy Committee, speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. The committee voted to forward the Renewable Energy Plan to the full Assembly, which will then vote on whether to adopt the goal of using 80 percent renewable energy by 2045. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

City moves closer to adopting ambitious energy use goal

City officials are one step closer to officially setting the goal to have Juneau be 80 percent renewable by 2045. By a unanimous vote Monday,… Continue reading

Steve Behnke, the chair of the Juneau Commission on Sustainability’s Energy Committee, speaks to the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly Committee of the Whole on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. The committee voted to forward the Renewable Energy Plan to the full Assembly, which will then vote on whether to adopt the goal of using 80 percent renewable energy by 2045. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
In this April 3, 2017 photo, Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, right, listens to David Teal, fiscal analyst for the Alaska Legislature, during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy wins Juneau Republicans’ straw poll

Former state Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, has won a straw poll of Republican candidates for governor. The straw poll was conducted across two gubernatorial forums… Continue reading

In this April 3, 2017 photo, Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, right, listens to David Teal, fiscal analyst for the Alaska Legislature, during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
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Kodiak City Council bans disposable plastic shopping bags

KODIAK — The Kodiak City Council approved a ban on some plastic bags. The new law goes into effect on April 22, the Kodiak Daily… Continue reading

  • Jan 30, 2018
  • By The Associated Press
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Police calls for Tuesday, Jan. 30, 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

  • Jan 30, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Senators take a moment of silence at the Capitol on Monday, Jan, 29, 2018, in memory of three Alaskan servicemen killed in action. The senate voted in favor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 to award the Alaska Decoration of Honor to David T. Brabander, Hansen B. Kirkpatrick and Jacob M. Sims. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senate votes to award medals to three slain Alaska soldiers

The families of two men from Wasilla and one man from Skagway will receive medals awarded by the State of Alaska for military service. In… Continue reading

Senators take a moment of silence at the Capitol on Monday, Jan, 29, 2018, in memory of three Alaskan servicemen killed in action. The senate voted in favor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 to award the Alaska Decoration of Honor to David T. Brabander, Hansen B. Kirkpatrick and Jacob M. Sims. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thomas Jack Jr. appears in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg ruled to send sentencing of Jack Jr. to a three-judge panel review during the hearing. That panel referred the case back to Pallenberg on Jan. 29, 2018. Jack, 40 in this photo, was convicted by a Juneau jury during a 2010 trial on six felony counts of sexually assaulting a minor — his then 11-year-old foster daughter. The child and her younger sister had begun living with the Jack family in Hoonah in summer 2007. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Panel of judges refers sexual assault case back to Juneau court

Almost a decade after his original arrest, Thomas Jack Jr.’s court case still isn’t finished. In 2016, Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg sentenced Jack… Continue reading

Thomas Jack Jr. appears in Juneau Superior Court on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. Juneau Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg ruled to send sentencing of Jack Jr. to a three-judge panel review during the hearing. That panel referred the case back to Pallenberg on Jan. 29, 2018. Jack, 40 in this photo, was convicted by a Juneau jury during a 2010 trial on six felony counts of sexually assaulting a minor — his then 11-year-old foster daughter. The child and her younger sister had begun living with the Jack family in Hoonah in summer 2007. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
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Southeast teen accused of having images of assaulted children

ANCHORAGE — Alaska State Troopers said a Southeast Alaska teenager was charged with child pornography after investigators discovered images on his phone of children between… Continue reading

  • Jan 29, 2018
  • By The Associated Press
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