News

Around Town for Wednesday, Jan. 18

Alaska Beer Week: Tapping 25th Anniversary Perseverance Ale, all day.Juneau Gastineau Rotary Club meeting, 7 a.m., The Prospector Hotel.Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 8… Continue reading

Central Council forms Constitutional Committee

The Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska has announced the members of its Constitutional Committee, according to a Tuesday press release.… Continue reading

  • Jan 18, 2017

Police seek man suspected of stealing car with child inside

ANCHORAGE — A warrant has been issued for a man suspected of stealing a car in Anchorage with a 3-year-old girl inside. Anchorage police are… Continue reading

  • Jan 18, 2017

Alaska joins 12 other states suing to block Obama coal mining rule

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas and 12 other states have asked a federal court to block final rules from President Barack Obama’s administration designed to reduce… Continue reading

  • Jan 18, 2017

AP FACT CHECK: Palin not blaming attack on ‘Mexican Muslims’

Sarah Palin isn’t blaming a recent fatal shooting at a Florida airport on “Mexican Muslims” despite the claims of a story being shared on social… Continue reading

Longtime Yukon Quest volunteer reflects on races

FAIRBANKS — After 20 years managing a checkpoint along the 1,600-kilometer Yukon Quest, Peter Kamper is looking forward to getting a different view of the… Continue reading

Walker says Alaska is in the ‘gravest fiscal crisis in state history’

Speaking to the Alaska Legislature Wednesday night, Gov. Bill Walker referenced the words of the director of the Legislative Finance Division and called the state’s… Continue reading

Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, left, Rep. Dan Ortiz, I-Ketchikan, Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, and Rep. Sam Kito, D-Juneau, are sworn-in by Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott on the first day of the first session of 30th Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Deficit is distant thunder as Legislature convenes

For one day, there were smiles.At times resembling students returning for the first day of a new high school year, the 30th Alaska Legislature convened… Continue reading

Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, left, Rep. Dan Ortiz, I-Ketchikan, Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, and Rep. Sam Kito, D-Juneau, are sworn-in by Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott on the first day of the first session of 30th Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Tuesday.
The World’s Largest Lesson at Eaglecrest took place on Jan. 6, 2017.

Eaglecrest to pitch beer and wine sales

After lift close on a typical day at Eaglecrest Ski Area, small groups gather around SUVs and pickup trucks to unburden their boot-locked feet, stretch,… Continue reading

The World’s Largest Lesson at Eaglecrest took place on Jan. 6, 2017.
Interior Secretary-designate, Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, prior to testifying at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Zinke, 55, a former Navy SEAL who just won his second term in Congress, was an early supporter of President-elect Donald Trump and, like his prospective boss, has expressed skepticism about the urgency of climate change.

Interior nominee Zinke disputes Trump on climate change

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s choice to head the Interior Department on Tuesday rejected the president-elect’s claim that climate change is a hoax, saying it is… Continue reading

Interior Secretary-designate, Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, prior to testifying at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Zinke, 55, a former Navy SEAL who just won his second term in Congress, was an early supporter of President-elect Donald Trump and, like his prospective boss, has expressed skepticism about the urgency of climate change.
Esteban Santiago, center, leaves the Broward County jail for a hearing in federal court Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Shooter blamed ‘mind control,’ IS ties

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The man suspected of fatally shooting five people and wounding six others at a Florida airport told investigators initially he was… Continue reading

Esteban Santiago, center, leaves the Broward County jail for a hearing in federal court Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
This Feb. 3, 1999 photo shows a female Canada lynx heading for the woods after being released near South Fork, Colorado. In control of Congress and soon the White House, Republicans are readying plans to roll back the influence of the Endangered Species Act, one of the government's most powerful conservation tools, after decades of complaints that it hinders drilling, logging and other activities.

GOP targets Endangered Species Act for big changes

BILLINGS, Mont. — In control of Congress and soon the White House, Republicans are readying plans to roll back the influence of the Endangered Species… Continue reading

This Feb. 3, 1999 photo shows a female Canada lynx heading for the woods after being released near South Fork, Colorado. In control of Congress and soon the White House, Republicans are readying plans to roll back the influence of the Endangered Species Act, one of the government's most powerful conservation tools, after decades of complaints that it hinders drilling, logging and other activities.

Around Town for Tuesday, Jan. 17

Alaska Beer Week: Smoked Porter Preview, all day. Buy vintage Smoked Porter bottles, with six vintages available between 2005 and 2015 (limit one bottle per… Continue reading

Anchorage coalition gets $1.5M to help homeless teenagers

ANCHORAGE — The federal government has awarded $1.5 million to a coalition of Anchorage organizations that work to combat homelessness as part of a national… Continue reading

On MLK Day in Juneau, working for equality means providing free legal help

Monday was Greta Gard’s birthday. But she didn’t let that fact, or the rain and wind, stop her from making the trek downtown to avail… Continue reading

Victorious Inlet drifters file to vacate salmon rule

ANCHORAGE - A Cook Inlet salmon plan will take a lot more work from federal managers in the next few years.The United Cook Inlet Drift… Continue reading

Urgency in budget, but legislators face rifts

JUNEAU — Alaska legislators agree on the need to address the state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit. But rifts remain over how best to do that, with… Continue reading

Silver, gold production steady in Southeast

ANCHORAGE - The metal mines of Southeast Alaska had consistent and positive production in 2016, according to year-end results released by the operating companies.Hecla Mining… Continue reading

Police & Fire for Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017

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

A bald eagle is perched on a railing on the side of Glacier Highway in July 2016. Audubon Society bird counters found the number of bald eagles in 2015 were double the 1995 count. Some farmers and conservationists say the resurgence of the American bald eagle has come at a price.

The bald and the bold: Eagles’ resurgence comes at a price

PORTLAND, Maine — The eagle has landed — on chickens and rare birds, with talons at the ready.The resurgence of the bald eagle is one… Continue reading

A bald eagle is perched on a railing on the side of Glacier Highway in July 2016. Audubon Society bird counters found the number of bald eagles in 2015 were double the 1995 count. Some farmers and conservationists say the resurgence of the American bald eagle has come at a price.