News

Gov. Bill Walker, left, listens to Homer Mayor Beth Wythe, right, after speaking to the Homer City Council on Tuesday. Homer Advisory Planning Commissioner Roberta Highland, center, looks on.

Walker: ‘I’m the only guy with a bucket’

HOMER — In a talk before the Homer City Council on Tuesday, Gov. Bill Walker mentioned a historic photo of Metlakatla villagers Lt. Gov. Byron… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker, left, listens to Homer Mayor Beth Wythe, right, after speaking to the Homer City Council on Tuesday. Homer Advisory Planning Commissioner Roberta Highland, center, looks on.

Missing Valdez motorcyclist found dead along highway

ANCHORAGE — A Valdez man reported missing last week has been found dead along the Richardson Highway.Alaska State Troopers said the body of 39-year-old Christian… Continue reading

This July 25, 2016, photo provided by the U.S. Air Force shows Spc. Sixto Carrasquiollo, a native of New York City, assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Alaska, holding an AT-4 anti-armor weapon while listening to orders to occupy defensive positions during a war games simulation at Donnelly Training Area near Ft. Greely, Alaska. More than 5,000 soldiers and support personnel took part in the Arctic Anvil training exercise, the largest to be held in Alaska in about 15 years. (Justin Connaher/U.S. Air Force via AP)

US, Canadian soldiers train in Interior

ANCHORAGE — Soldiers from U.S. and Canada have spent much of the last few weeks engaging in war games in expansive interior Alaska, with Iowa… Continue reading

This July 25, 2016, photo provided by the U.S. Air Force shows Spc. Sixto Carrasquiollo, a native of New York City, assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Alaska, holding an AT-4 anti-armor weapon while listening to orders to occupy defensive positions during a war games simulation at Donnelly Training Area near Ft. Greely, Alaska. More than 5,000 soldiers and support personnel took part in the Arctic Anvil training exercise, the largest to be held in Alaska in about 15 years. (Justin Connaher/U.S. Air Force via AP)

Warrant issued for teen suspect in fatal Anchorage shooting

ANCHORAGE — A teenager not in custody has been charged with manslaughter in a fatal Anchorage shooting.Anchorage police said a warrant has been issued for… Continue reading

Walker picks Arctic adviser to lead Washington, DC office

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker has appointed his Arctic policy adviser to lead the state’s Washington, D.C., office.Craig Fleener will continue advising Walker on Arctic… Continue reading

Juneauites crowd the GCI store near Juneau International Airport on Saturday, April 2, 2016 for the launch of GCI's gigabit Internet service. GCI and one of its lead competitors, ACS, are taking different investment strategies amid Alaska's multibillion-dollar budget deficit.

Optimism and pessimism collide among Alaska’s telecom leaders

Alaska has two major telecommunications companies, each with its own target market, corporate strategy and — as was on display this week — belief in… Continue reading

Juneauites crowd the GCI store near Juneau International Airport on Saturday, April 2, 2016 for the launch of GCI's gigabit Internet service. GCI and one of its lead competitors, ACS, are taking different investment strategies amid Alaska's multibillion-dollar budget deficit.
Marine Exchange of Alaska Executive Director Ed Page talks Wednesday about the new 5,000-square-foot building that will house a growing nonprofit organization that tracks ships all over the world.

New headquarters in the works for Marine Exchange

The closest thing Alaska has to air-traffic control for ships is getting a new control tower.On Thursday afternoon at the Juneau Moose Lodge, Marine Exchange… Continue reading

Marine Exchange of Alaska Executive Director Ed Page talks Wednesday about the new 5,000-square-foot building that will house a growing nonprofit organization that tracks ships all over the world.

Lost at the glacier: Elderly woman spends night in woods, rescues self

A 79-year-old cruise ship passenger spent Wednesday night in the woods alone and without any camping gear after she got lost while hiking near the… Continue reading

Greg Fitch has started a nonprofit to help advocate for those with mental health issues. This photo was taken in May.

How the former head of ACORN became president of a Juneau mental health organization

At age 20, Wade Rathke was a community organizer fighting for the welfare rights of single mothers in Massachusetts. The following year, in 1970, he… Continue reading

Greg Fitch has started a nonprofit to help advocate for those with mental health issues. This photo was taken in May.
Travis Richards, 24, appears in Juneau District Court on charges of resisting arrest on Thursday.

Man locks himself in car to avoid arrest

A 24-year-old man tried to avoid being arrested Wednesday evening by locking himself in a car for more than 30 minutes.It didn’t work — police… Continue reading

Travis Richards, 24, appears in Juneau District Court on charges of resisting arrest on Thursday.

Man electrocuted when truck boom touches overhead wires

ANCHORAGE — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the death of a man by electrocution Tuesday in Eagle River.Anchorage Police Department spokeswoman Anita… Continue reading

Alaska Airlines to build new $40 million hangar in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE — Alaska Airlines has announced plans to build a $40 million maintenance hangar at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to support a growing fleet… Continue reading

Woman indicted for groping passenger on flight to Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon woman has been indicted on a charge of abusive sexual contact for an alleged incident on an Alaska Airlines flight.The… Continue reading

Reinbold triggers investigation over Beyoncé image

The Aug. 16 primary contest for the state house seat in Eagle River’s District 14 between incumbent Rep. Lora Reinbold and challenger Crystal Kennedy has… Continue reading

FILE - In this Mar. 27, 2009 photo, smoke rises from the top a wood-fired boiler near a home in Fairbanks, Alaska. The popularity of heating with wood stoves and outdoor wood boilers that are belching small particles into the air, is forcing residents on some days to breathe some of the unhealthiest air in the nation. Three environmental groups announced Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, they will again sue the Federal Environmental Protection Agency over continuing air pollution issues in Fairbanks. (John Wagner/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP, File)

Groups set to sue over polluted Fairbanks air

ANCHORAGE — Three environmental groups announced Wednesday they intend to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for not enforcing federal air pollution law in Fairbanks.Six years… Continue reading

FILE - In this Mar. 27, 2009 photo, smoke rises from the top a wood-fired boiler near a home in Fairbanks, Alaska. The popularity of heating with wood stoves and outdoor wood boilers that are belching small particles into the air, is forcing residents on some days to breathe some of the unhealthiest air in the nation. Three environmental groups announced Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, they will again sue the Federal Environmental Protection Agency over continuing air pollution issues in Fairbanks. (John Wagner/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP, File)

Petersburg pursues dredging project for south harbor

PETERSBURG — The Southeast Alaska town of Petersburg is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a dredging project to address a growing… Continue reading

Police calls for Thursday, Aug. 4, 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

This Day in Juneau History: Aug. 4, 2016

On Aug. 4, 1986, the Golden North Salmon Derby had reached its ending point — and with a big splash. For lifelong Juneau resident and… Continue reading

Around Town

Juneau Gastineau Rotary Club meeting, 7 a.m., The Prospector Hotel.Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., SEARHC Juneau WIC Clinic, 3245 Hospital Drive,… Continue reading

Customers eat at Tracy's King Crab Shack in July.

Juneau man said he broke into Tracy’s Crab Shack to buy drugs, now he faces a felony indictment

The man whom police suspect caused more than $1,000 in damages by breaking into Tracy’s Crab Shack Sunday night — and only walking out with… Continue reading

Customers eat at Tracy's King Crab Shack in July.