News

Suspect sought in Anchorage kidnapping arrested

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage police say an 18-year-old man sought in connection with an Anchorage kidnapping has been arrested.William Burgess was found in Fairbanks and arrested… Continue reading

Body found on Anchorage road; police investigate as homicide

ANCHORAGE — A man was found dead Monday on an Anchorage road and police are investigating the case as a homicide.The body of the man… Continue reading

Alaska Airlines breaks ground on $40M Anchorage hangar

ANCHORAGE — Alaska Airlines formally broke ground Monday on construction of a $40 million aircraft maintenance hangar in Anchorage.Officials with the Seattle-based airline say the… Continue reading

Homeless awareness campaign breaks fist-bumping record

ANCHORAGE — Three hundred people in Alaska looking to raise awareness of homelessness are the new world record holders in fist-bumping.KTVA-TV reported a Guinness World… Continue reading

Around Town

Today, Aug. 24Valley Toastmasters meeting, 6:15 a.m., St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Parish Hall. A safe, fun environment to learn public speaking skills. Details: Jim, 789-3074.Women,… Continue reading

Educators in Alaska, Idaho partner for pharmacy program

ANCHORAGE — Alaska’s first doctoral pharmacy program is near its debut at the University of Alaska Anchorage through a partnership with Idaho State University.The program… Continue reading

This Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, photo shows dead whitefish floating in the Yellowstone River near Emigrant, Mont. Montana wildlife officials closed a stretch of the river and numerous tributaries after a massive fish kill that is blamed on a contagious parasite. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)

More tests set for Yellowstone, tributaries after fish deaths

BILLINGS, Mont. — Wildlife workers will conduct tests on fish from additional areas of Montana to determine the extent of a disease blamed in a… Continue reading

This Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, photo shows dead whitefish floating in the Yellowstone River near Emigrant, Mont. Montana wildlife officials closed a stretch of the river and numerous tributaries after a massive fish kill that is blamed on a contagious parasite. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2013, file photo, a tour bus kicks up dust during a sunny day at Denali National Park in Alaska as Mount Denali appears in the background. Activists protested outside a state office building in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Aug.10, 2016, to demand Alaska Gov. Bill Walker to end wolf hunting near the park in light of its declining wolf population (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes, File)

Fairbanks to take sides on wolf hunting

FAIRBANKS — Fairbanks officials plan to weigh in on a statewide dispute about wolf hunting rules near Denali National Park.A resolution from Fairbanks North Star… Continue reading

FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2013, file photo, a tour bus kicks up dust during a sunny day at Denali National Park in Alaska as Mount Denali appears in the background. Activists protested outside a state office building in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Aug.10, 2016, to demand Alaska Gov. Bill Walker to end wolf hunting near the park in light of its declining wolf population (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes, File)
Sara Boesser, left, celebrates with Assembly member Maria Gladziszewski, right, as Mo Longworth greets Mayor Ken Koelsch after the Assembly voted to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance during their Monday meeting.

Assembly passes equal rights ordinance

Discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or national origin has no place in Juneau,… Continue reading

Sara Boesser, left, celebrates with Assembly member Maria Gladziszewski, right, as Mo Longworth greets Mayor Ken Koelsch after the Assembly voted to pass an anti-discrimination ordinance during their Monday meeting.
Sculpture artist R.T. "Skip" Wallen, left, and Bruce Botelho, president of the Board of Directors for The Whale Project, watch the installation of the life-sized bronze whale on Sunday.

Video: Sculptor Skip Wallen talks about his whale’s journey to Juneau

Sculpture artist R.T. "Skip" Wallen talks about his whale's journey in an interview with Empire photographer Michael Penn on Sunday. The six-and-a-half ton bronze whale… Continue reading

Sculpture artist R.T. "Skip" Wallen, left, and Bruce Botelho, president of the Board of Directors for The Whale Project, watch the installation of the life-sized bronze whale on Sunday.

JPD busts burglar in the act

On Sunday morning, Juneau Police Department officers arrested a man they caught burglarizing a business in the 5100 block of Glacier highway, according to JPD.… Continue reading

Around Town

Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., SEARHC Juneau WIC Clinic, 3245 Hospital Drive, first floor. Free nutrition services for income-eligible women who… Continue reading

Police and fire dispatches for Aug. 22, 2016

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

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 22, 1986

This Day in Juneau History: Aug. 22, 1986

On Aug. 22, 1986, incumbent Gov. Bill Sheffield defended himself against three other gubernatorial candidates including Fairbanks attorney Steve Cowper during the Democratic party’s debate.… Continue reading

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 22, 1986

Ex-corrections officer to take plea deal in drug case

ANCHORAGE — A former corrections officer suspected of smuggling drugs into prison is expected to take a plea deal.KTUU-TV reported Adam Jason Spindler was arrested… Continue reading

Bench debate spurs talks to help homeless, inebriated people

KETCHIKAN — Complaints about behavior at benches in Ketchikan have spurred a discussion about how the city can help homeless and inebriated residents.The Ketchikan Daily… Continue reading

In this Aug. 12 photo, Jack Binder, a trainer, mentor and longtime truck driver, stands by trucks at Alaska West Express in Fairbanks. Driving trucks on the Dalton Highway is an adventure, which is why Binder has braved the famed highway since it opened in 1974.

Truck driver recalls 50-year career on Dalton Highway

FAIRBANKS — Driving trucks on the Dalton Highway is an adventure, which is why Jack Binder has braved the famed highway since it opened in… Continue reading

In this Aug. 12 photo, Jack Binder, a trainer, mentor and longtime truck driver, stands by trucks at Alaska West Express in Fairbanks. Driving trucks on the Dalton Highway is an adventure, which is why Binder has braved the famed highway since it opened in 1974.

Satanic prayer sparks protest, possible changes to invocation

SOLDOTNA — Rain began to fall just before a huddled group of Catholic Church members began praying on a sidewalk in Soldotna.Some held rosaries or… Continue reading

Juneau Food Tours owner Midgi Moore talks to two of her customers at Tracy's King Crab Shack, the first tasting of the day.

Sharing Juneau’s food with visitors, one belly at a time

Midgi Moore loves food, and she loves Juneau. Less than two years ago, she started a business that allowed her to focus on both —… Continue reading

Juneau Food Tours owner Midgi Moore talks to two of her customers at Tracy's King Crab Shack, the first tasting of the day.
Welder Craig Starmer, left, passes his cellphone to sculptor R.T. "Skip" Wallen for a quick photo as Starmer welds the fins on the towering sculpture of a humpback whale that will soon be mounted on Juneau's waterfront. Starmer was joined by crane operator Buck Churchill and assistant Bart Latta for welding work that started Thursday and continued at 7 a.m. Friday.

Photos: Whale of a welding job

Welder Craig Starmer, left, passes his cellphone to sculptor R.T. “Skip” Wallen for a quick photo as Starmer welds the fins on the towering sculpture… Continue reading

Welder Craig Starmer, left, passes his cellphone to sculptor R.T. "Skip" Wallen for a quick photo as Starmer welds the fins on the towering sculpture of a humpback whale that will soon be mounted on Juneau's waterfront. Starmer was joined by crane operator Buck Churchill and assistant Bart Latta for welding work that started Thursday and continued at 7 a.m. Friday.