News

Olga Simpson of Belarus celebrates receiving her certificate during a U.S. Naturalization Ceremony at the Robert Boochever U.S. Courthouse in the Federal Building on Friday. Forty-one people from 10 countries became U.S. citizens.

Living a dream and becoming an American

I grew up in a family of seven people — my mom, my three cousins, my two sisters and me. Six of them, having been… Continue reading

Olga Simpson of Belarus celebrates receiving her certificate during a U.S. Naturalization Ceremony at the Robert Boochever U.S. Courthouse in the Federal Building on Friday. Forty-one people from 10 countries became U.S. citizens.

New law strives to reduce driver cellphone use

SITKA — Sitkans appear to be complying with the new law against using handheld cellphones while driving, but some say there’s room for improvement.Officers have… Continue reading

Regents to discuss $40M deal for UAF engineering building

FAIRBANKS — The University of Alaska Board of Regents is set to decide next steps for the partially completed engineering building at the Fairbanks campus.The… Continue reading

Kansas man dies in weekend Alaska motorcycle crash

ANCHORAGE — The Army has identified a man who died in an Alaska motorcycle crash as a soldier from Junction City, Kansas.Thirty-one-year-old Staff Sgt. Maurice… Continue reading

Man injured in afternoon shooting at Anchorage park

ANCHORAGE — A shooting Sunday afternoon at a midtown Anchorage park left a man with a bullet wound to his back.Anchorage police said a 39-year-old… Continue reading

Woman found in south Anchorage had taken heroin, alcohol

ANCHORAGE — A homeless woman found dead last month in south Anchorage had heroin and alcohol in her body.Anchorage police said 45-year-old Darlene Kunayak lived… Continue reading

Around Town

Women, Infants and Children walk-in clinic, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., SEARHC Juneau WIC Clinic, 3245 Hospital Drive, first floor. Free nutrition services for income-eligible women who… Continue reading

The whale, Festus, was towed to shore on Sunday afternoon and it will go through a necropsy examination on Tuesday.

Dead humpback whale found in Glacier Bay National Park

The longest sighted humpback whale recorded in Southeast Alaska was found dead Sunday morning.“Festus” — or whale #441 in fluke identification photos — was floating… Continue reading

The whale, Festus, was towed to shore on Sunday afternoon and it will go through a necropsy examination on Tuesday.
John Neary, director of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, gives a tour to a Norwegian tourism industry delegation on Monday. The group is the studying tourism in Southeast Alaska.

Norway around it

If there was any doubt that Cruise Lines International Association Alaska’s lawsuit against the City and Borough of Juneau is making waves internationally, a visiting… Continue reading

John Neary, director of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, gives a tour to a Norwegian tourism industry delegation on Monday. The group is the studying tourism in Southeast Alaska.
Tourists near the finish of their Mendenhall River rafting trip at the Brotherhood Bridge in June 2011.

Rafting deaths highlight response problems

ANCHORAGE — The recent deaths of two women during a rafting excursion illustrate not only how unpredictably dangerous Alaska’s wilderness can be, but also how… Continue reading

Tourists near the finish of their Mendenhall River rafting trip at the Brotherhood Bridge in June 2011.
Lightning strikes ignite 20 new fires across the state

Lightning strikes ignite 20 new fires across the state

FAIRBANKS — Firefighters in Alaska have been busy after thousands of recorded lightning strikes sparked about 20 fires across the state.More than 8,000 lightning strikes… Continue reading

Lightning strikes ignite 20 new fires across the state
ADVANCE FOR USE SATURDAY, JUNE 25 - In this photo taken June 13, 2016, Doug Russell, the manager of marine operations for the University of Washington's School of Oceanography, stands on the bridge of the research vessel Thomas G. Thompson in Seattle. The ship will be heading into dry dock for a yearlong, $34.5 million overhaul that will be paid for by the U.S. government and extend its life by another 25 to 30 years. (Johnny Andrews/The Seattle Times via AP)

Oceanographic research vessel gets a midlife overhaul

SEATTLE — Capt. Eric Haroldson calls the research ship he commands “the Buddy Hackett of oceanographic research.”“It’s kind of boxy,” he said of the gray,… Continue reading

ADVANCE FOR USE SATURDAY, JUNE 25 - In this photo taken June 13, 2016, Doug Russell, the manager of marine operations for the University of Washington's School of Oceanography, stands on the bridge of the research vessel Thomas G. Thompson in Seattle. The ship will be heading into dry dock for a yearlong, $34.5 million overhaul that will be paid for by the U.S. government and extend its life by another 25 to 30 years. (Johnny Andrews/The Seattle Times via AP)

Victim in fatal Hoonah crash identified

Jeffrey Turner, 23, a Tampa Bay, Florida, resident, died in a vehicle rollover in Hoonah sometime between 10 p.m. Thursday and 5 a.m. Friday, Alaska… Continue reading

Couple unveils unique homemade library

KETCHIKAN — The newest library on Revillagigedo Island doesn’t have late fees or strict operating hours, and patrons don’t necessarily have to return the books… Continue reading

Kevin Murphy, right, chief ranger for the southeast area of Alaska State Parks, and Doug Drexel, southeast maintenance chief, view a shelter built down the beach from the new Salamander Cabin at Halibut Cove on Shelter Island on Thursday. The shelter is available without a reservation.

Gimme Shelter (Island)

At low tide Thursday morning, Kevin Murphy, Chief Ranger for Southeast Area State Parks, piloted a boat out of Amalga Harbor, making sure to avoid… Continue reading

Kevin Murphy, right, chief ranger for the southeast area of Alaska State Parks, and Doug Drexel, southeast maintenance chief, view a shelter built down the beach from the new Salamander Cabin at Halibut Cove on Shelter Island on Thursday. The shelter is available without a reservation.

Ordinance to remove prayer in Kenai assembly meetings struck down

KENAI — The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly begins every meeting with a prayer.Technically called an invocation, the borough code provides for local religious leaders to… Continue reading

Juneau Community Garage Sale organizer James Whycoff has been working as a volunteer to put the event together for the past six years. The annual community garage sale, now in its 21st year, used to be organized by Centennial Hall, which is where it's held.

Meet Juneau’s garage sale king

Lava lamps, collectible coins, baseball cards, bagpipes, VHS copies of every “Young Indiana Jones” film ever made. If there’s any truth to the proverb about… Continue reading

Juneau Community Garage Sale organizer James Whycoff has been working as a volunteer to put the event together for the past six years. The annual community garage sale, now in its 21st year, used to be organized by Centennial Hall, which is where it's held.
The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 27, 1986

This Day in Juneau History: June 27, 1986

On June 27, 1986, a national campaign to raise funds for the Alaska-Siberia Peace Bridge was announced. In September, the Alaska Performing Artists for Peace… Continue reading

The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 27, 1986

Man suspected of 2015 shooting in Fairbanks arrested in Ohio

FAIRBANKS — A man suspected of fatally shooting another man outside a Fairbanks bar last year has been arrested in Ohio.The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports… Continue reading

Alaska Zoo welcomes new wolverine from Sweden

ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage has welcomed a new male wolverine to join a female already on exhibit.KTVA-TV reported that Jumbo, a 3-year-old… Continue reading