News

DOC increases fee for Anchorage prisoners

ANCHORAGE — The state Department of Corrections says it’s raising the fee it will charge the municipality of Anchorage for housing prisoners by nearly 50… Continue reading

Kenai woman charged in Homer thefts; second suspect sought

ANCHORAGE — Alaska State Troopers have arrested a 39-year-old Kenai woman found in a car with checks stolen near Homer and are seeking a second… Continue reading

Josie Bahnke, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, writes down vote totals in Juneau, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. A recount was being conducted in the the House District 40 primary race between incumbent Rep. Ben Nageak and his Democratic challenger, Dean Westlake. (Michael Penn of the Juneau Empire via AP).

Nageak files lawsuits against state officials over election

ANCHORAGE — The losing incumbent in a northern Alaska state legislative race has filed two lawsuits against state elections officials, alleging illegal procedures were followed.KTVA-TV… Continue reading

Josie Bahnke, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, writes down vote totals in Juneau, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. A recount was being conducted in the the House District 40 primary race between incumbent Rep. Ben Nageak and his Democratic challenger, Dean Westlake. (Michael Penn of the Juneau Empire via AP).

US marshals arrest man indicted in Anchorage homicide

ANCHORAGE — A second suspect indicted on murder charges in the death of an Anchorage man on a rural road is in custody.U.S. marshals on… Continue reading

Troopers recover body of man who died in creek near Cantwell

CANTWELL — The body of an Anchorage man who died in an interior Alaska creek has been recovered.Alaska State Troopers said the body of 55-year-old… Continue reading

Former state Sen. Rick Halford, left, and current state Sen. Bill Wielechowski answer questions about a lawsuit they filed at a press conference on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, in Anchorage, Alaska. The lawsuit filed by Wielechowski, Halford and former state Sen. Clem Tillion claims Gov. Bill Walker acted illegally in vetoing half the money designated for Alaska Permanent Fund dividends, the annual checks that give residents a share of the state's oil wealth. (AP Photo/Dan Joling)

Senators file lawsuit over Walker’s PFD veto

ANCHORAGE — Gov. Bill Walker illegally vetoed Alaska Permanent Fund earnings that were required to be transferred to dividends, a lawsuit filed Friday by a… Continue reading

Former state Sen. Rick Halford, left, and current state Sen. Bill Wielechowski answer questions about a lawsuit they filed at a press conference on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, in Anchorage, Alaska. The lawsuit filed by Wielechowski, Halford and former state Sen. Clem Tillion claims Gov. Bill Walker acted illegally in vetoing half the money designated for Alaska Permanent Fund dividends, the annual checks that give residents a share of the state's oil wealth. (AP Photo/Dan Joling)
A comparison of utility rates in Alaska and the Lower 48.

AEL&P seeking 8 pct. rate increase

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that Alaska Electric Light & Power Co. filed for a single rate increase of 8.1 percent,… Continue reading

A comparison of utility rates in Alaska and the Lower 48.
A Thunder Mountain High School student was accidentally killed when a weapon he was grabbing for discharged, according to police.

TMHS student dies of accidental gunshot

A 17-year-old Juneau high school student was killed Saturday morning when a firearm he was retrieving accidentally discharged.The Juneau Police Department was notified at 9:04… Continue reading

  • Sep 17, 2016
  • By CHARLES L. WESTMORELAND and PAULA ANN SOLIS
  • Local News
A Thunder Mountain High School student was accidentally killed when a weapon he was grabbing for discharged, according to police.

Two ferries down from mechanical problems

Two Alaska Marine Highway System ferries are out of service for the time being due to mechanical issues.Both the MV Columbia and the fast ferry… Continue reading

Officer Sean Ahshapanek has his picture taken with long-time partner Barbara Dude and their children, Michelle, 8, and Shaunde, 3, after being sworn into the Juneau Police Department on Friday.

JPD adds new officer, increases police diversity

When Sean Ahshapanek moved to Juneau in 2011 from Mississippi, his girlfriend told him he’d be a good fit for the police force — it… Continue reading

Officer Sean Ahshapanek has his picture taken with long-time partner Barbara Dude and their children, Michelle, 8, and Shaunde, 3, after being sworn into the Juneau Police Department on Friday.
Electrical issue causes power outage downtown

Electrical issue causes power outage downtown

An electrical issue with a switch cabinet on Shattuck Way caused an areawide power outage in the downtown Juneau Friday afternoon.One of the wires that… Continue reading

Electrical issue causes power outage downtown

Coast Guard rescues three from sunken boat near Berners Bay

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people Thursday night left stranded in chest-high water near Berners Bay after their jet boat sank.A Coast Guard Sitka… Continue reading

A screengrab from the Alaska Department of Corrections website shows the Anchorage Correctional Complex

Corrections Department increases fee for Anchorage prisoners

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz says his city is paying the price for the state’s failure to resolve its fiscal crisis.Berkowitz reacted after the… Continue reading

A screengrab from the Alaska Department of Corrections website shows the Anchorage Correctional Complex
In this January 2015 file photo, ground-up marijuana flowers sit before potency testing at Analytical 360 in Yakima, Washington. Washington state has agreed to begin more regular testing for banned pesticides in marijuana. The testing is expected to begin early next year and will examine marijuana where regulators have reason to suspect illegal pesticides have been used.

Washington to increase testing pot for pesticides

SEATTLE — More than two years after Washington state launched legal marijuana sales, it’s planning to test pot for banned pesticides more regularly.The state’s Liquor… Continue reading

In this January 2015 file photo, ground-up marijuana flowers sit before potency testing at Analytical 360 in Yakima, Washington. Washington state has agreed to begin more regular testing for banned pesticides in marijuana. The testing is expected to begin early next year and will examine marijuana where regulators have reason to suspect illegal pesticides have been used.
This still image from security footage the Juneau Police Department released on Friday shows a person police believe could be Chirstopher Edward Orcutt, 22, who hasn't been seen or heard from in three weeks. The footage is from outside the Parkshore Condominiums in downtown Juneau.

Missing man possibly spotted on video, police seek more info

The Juneau Police Department released a video on Friday that shows a person in downtown Juneau believed to be the missing 22-year-old man who hasn’t… Continue reading

This still image from security footage the Juneau Police Department released on Friday shows a person police believe could be Chirstopher Edward Orcutt, 22, who hasn't been seen or heard from in three weeks. The footage is from outside the Parkshore Condominiums in downtown Juneau.

Alleged home intruder told police he was just at the wrong house

A Juneau grand jury on Wednesday indicted the man who police arrested Saturday after allegedly trying to burglarize a Mendenhall Valley home — a home… Continue reading

Willoughby District development update

The Juneau Economic Development Council on Wednesday held a community meeting to provide updates on improvements to the Willoughby District, an ongoing effort between landowners… Continue reading

State accepting public comments about Juneau judge applicants

The Alaska Judicial Council will hold a public hearing Monday to receive comments about Juneau District Court judgeship applicants vying to take over a seat… Continue reading

Realtor convention underway in Juneau

A realtor convention kicked off this week in the capital city and is continuing through the weekend.Juneau is the site of this year’s annual convention,… Continue reading

Police & fire for Friday, Sept. 16, 2016

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