A Kodiak brown bear sow on the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge in 2016. (Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

State and Interior disagree over bear hunting on parks and preserves

The state of Alaska has a mandate to sustainably manage wildlife species for the benefit of hunters, which means they sometimes manage — even kill… Continue reading

A Kodiak brown bear sow on the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge in 2016. (Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Stabbing suspect in custody after briefly evading police

A 39-year-old man is in custody for allegedly stabbing another man Thursday night. Lucas Schneider, of Juneau, allegedly stabbed a 44-year-old man multiple times Thursday… Continue reading

Garrett Schoenberger and Paul Simpson, of Alaska Legacy Partners, bought the previous University of Alaska Southeast book store and administration building in Auke Bay and are offering it as The Jetty for retail options in the Auke Bay area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Former UAS bookstore to be repurposed into ‘hub’ for local businesses

The University of Alaska Southeast closed its bookstore at Auke Bay in late 2014. The next time that building opens, it could contain a combination… Continue reading

Garrett Schoenberger and Paul Simpson, of Alaska Legacy Partners, bought the previous University of Alaska Southeast book store and administration building in Auke Bay and are offering it as The Jetty for retail options in the Auke Bay area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau man indicted on 21 counts of child porn possession

A Juneau man was indicted in December on 21 counts of child pornography possession. A grand jury indicted Joshua Youll, 21, alleging that Youll knowingly… Continue reading

State regulator approves electric vehicle rate

Alaska’s utility regulator has closed the book on a special rate for charging electric vehicles in Juneau. In an order issued Wednesday, the Regulatory Commission… Continue reading

Coast Guard asks for opinions on Gastineau Channel

The U.S. Coast Guard is asking mariners for their opinions on Gastineau Channel. Coast Guard Sector Juneau has created an online survey to judge how… Continue reading

Police calls for Friday, Jan. 5, 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 5, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Courtesy Photo | SERRC  Alma Espinoza, right, receives one-on-one math tutoring from The Learning Connection educator Joyanne Bloom in December 2017, at the 210 Ferry Way location. TLC offers free classes and tutoring for adults.

The Learning Center to host open house

The Learning Connection is hosting an open house on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. to celebrate the new year and new resolutions. The public… Continue reading

Courtesy Photo | SERRC  Alma Espinoza, right, receives one-on-one math tutoring from The Learning Connection educator Joyanne Bloom in December 2017, at the 210 Ferry Way location. TLC offers free classes and tutoring for adults.
In this Oct. 17, 2017 photo provided by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, oil production equipment appears on Spy Island, an artificial island in state waters of Alaska’s Beaufort Sea. The Trump administration on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018 moved to vastly expand offshore drilling from the Atlantic to the Arctic oceans with a plan that would open up federal waters off the Pacific coast for the first time in more than three decades. Alaska’s Beaufort Sea is one of those areas. (Guy Hayes | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement)

Drill, maybe drill: Federal government considers offshore oil drilling in Southeast

The Trump Administration has released a draft plan calling for oil and gas lease sales across Alaska’s coasts, including in Southeast waters. The proposal, published… Continue reading

In this Oct. 17, 2017 photo provided by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, oil production equipment appears on Spy Island, an artificial island in state waters of Alaska’s Beaufort Sea. The Trump administration on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018 moved to vastly expand offshore drilling from the Atlantic to the Arctic oceans with a plan that would open up federal waters off the Pacific coast for the first time in more than three decades. Alaska’s Beaufort Sea is one of those areas. (Guy Hayes | Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement)

Cable provider GCI reaches extension with network affiliates

ANCHORAGE — Alaska cable and internet provider GCI reached a contract extension that will keep ABC, CW and Fox on its cable packages at least… Continue reading

  • Jan 4, 2018
  • By The Associated Press
In this Dec. 15, 2017 photo, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is going after legalized marijuana. Sessions is rescinding a policy that had let legalized marijuana flourish without federal intervention across the country. That’s according to two people with direct knowledge of the decision. (Carolyn Kaster | The Associated Press File)

Alaska marijuana businesses vow to press on after Sessions’ decision

Juneau’s marijuana retailers say they will continue to press ahead after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions ended an Obama-era policy Thursday that paved the way… Continue reading

In this Dec. 15, 2017 photo, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is going after legalized marijuana. Sessions is rescinding a policy that had let legalized marijuana flourish without federal intervention across the country. That’s according to two people with direct knowledge of the decision. (Carolyn Kaster | The Associated Press File)
One oz. of dried marijuana. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Sessions ending federal policy that let legal pot flourish

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded an Obama-era policy that paved the way for legalized marijuana to flourish in states across the country,… Continue reading

  • Jan 4, 2018
  • By SADIE GURMAN
One oz. of dried marijuana. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Mark Anthony De Simone, 53, arrives in Juneau District Court for his arraignment is this May 2016 file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

More concrete trial date set in De Simone murder trial

The trial of a man accused of a 2016 murder has been pushed back repeatedly over the past year, and court officials hope they have… Continue reading

Mark Anthony De Simone, 53, arrives in Juneau District Court for his arraignment is this May 2016 file photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Trump moves to vastly expand offshore drilling

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Thursday moved to vastly expand offshore drilling from the Atlantic to the Arctic oceans with a plan that would… Continue reading

Murkowski calls DOJ marijuana decision ‘regrettable’

Alaska’s senior U.S. senator is calling the Department of Justice’s decision to rescind an Obama-era policy that help pave the way for legalized marijuana to… Continue reading

  • Jan 4, 2018
  • By The Associated Press

Alaska jobs forecast for 2018 improves from awful to bad

Alaska’s most significant recession since the oil bust of the 1980s appears to be abating. In its annual forecast of the state’s employment picture, the… Continue reading

Local singer-songwriter plays first Juneau show following 2017 tour

After an arduous year of touring in 2017, Juneau singer-songwriter Marian Call is playing in town this Friday for the first time in a while.… Continue reading

In this file photo from April 2012, Juneau Superior Court Judge Louis Menendez, center, holds a conference with Assistant Public Defender Eric Hedland, left, and then-District Attorney David Brower during a criminal trial. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Two Southeast judges are retiring

Two Alaska Superior Court judges serving Southeast Alaska are retiring, according to the Alaska Judicial Council. Superior Court Judges Louis Menendez in Juneau and David… Continue reading

In this file photo from April 2012, Juneau Superior Court Judge Louis Menendez, center, holds a conference with Assistant Public Defender Eric Hedland, left, and then-District Attorney David Brower during a criminal trial. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

City officials identify four areas where borough boundaries can expand

For years, the City and Borough of Juneau has looked at expanding its borders. At a Committee of the Whole meeting Wednesday, city officials took… Continue reading

In this file photo, marine biologist Michelle Ridgway, left, and NOAA veterinarian and biologist Kate Savage examine a adult female Dall’s Porpoise at the Douglas Harbor on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. The porpoise was reported washed up on the beach near Lucky Me on South Douglas Island. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Marine researcher who died in crash leaves legacy of passion for conservation, education

It seems that everyone has their own moniker for marine researcher Michelle Ridgway. In the days since the 54-year-old Ridgway sustained fatal injuries in a… Continue reading

In this file photo, marine biologist Michelle Ridgway, left, and NOAA veterinarian and biologist Kate Savage examine a adult female Dall’s Porpoise at the Douglas Harbor on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. The porpoise was reported washed up on the beach near Lucky Me on South Douglas Island. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)