News

Former Alaska U.S. Senator Mark Begich greets and speaks to Juneau residents interested in his campaign for governor at the IBEWLocal 1547 Union office on Thursday, June 29, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Begich to visit Juneau, Dunleavy gets Trump endorsement

The latest from the campaign trail.

Former Alaska U.S. Senator Mark Begich greets and speaks to Juneau residents interested in his campaign for governor at the IBEWLocal 1547 Union office on Thursday, June 29, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sealaska Plaza and the Sealaska Heritage Institute are seen during a dedication ceremony Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. Sealaska Corp., the regional Native Corporation for Southeast Alaska, says it is not making an endorsement in the new-look governor’s race. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Tlingit & Haida, Sealaska Corp. decline to endorse gov candidate

Sealaska Corp. will not make an endorsement in the new-look Alaska governor’s race.

Sealaska Plaza and the Sealaska Heritage Institute are seen during a dedication ceremony Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. Sealaska Corp., the regional Native Corporation for Southeast Alaska, says it is not making an endorsement in the new-look governor’s race. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Education commissioner Michael Johnson is seen in a photo provided by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. (Courtesy photo)

State school board to hold work session

The State Board of Education and Early Development will meet at 3 p.m. today, Oct. 24 for a work session. The work session will take… Continue reading

Education commissioner Michael Johnson is seen in a photo provided by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. (Courtesy photo)
Sara Hannan, running as an Democrat for state House District 33, talks about her campaign during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Trauma in Vladivostok turns into Juneau resolve for candidate Sara Hannan

For Sara Hannan, there is a night in Vladivostok that she’ll always remember.

Sara Hannan, running as an Democrat for state House District 33, talks about her campaign during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Republican Mike Dunleavy, left, and Democrat Mark Begich, right, are the two leading candidates in the race to replace incumbent independent Gov. Bill Walker. (Composite image)

After Walker quits, governor race now ‘down to the wire’

Mike Dunleavy still leads the race to become Alaska’s next governor, latest poll shows.

Republican Mike Dunleavy, left, and Democrat Mark Begich, right, are the two leading candidates in the race to replace incumbent independent Gov. Bill Walker. (Composite image)
The Fairbanks Four — Marvin Roberts, left to right, Kevin Pease, Eugene Vent, and George Frese — hold up four fingers, symbolizing the Fairbanks Four, in the David Salmon Tribal Hall after they were freed in December 2015 in Fairbanks. (Rachel D’Oro | The Associated Press file)

Federal judge dismisses Fairbanks Four lawsuit

A federal judge ruled against the Fairbanks Four in an opinion issued Monday.

The Fairbanks Four — Marvin Roberts, left to right, Kevin Pease, Eugene Vent, and George Frese — hold up four fingers, symbolizing the Fairbanks Four, in the David Salmon Tribal Hall after they were freed in December 2015 in Fairbanks. (Rachel D’Oro | The Associated Press file)
Angela Rodell, executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, speaks in July 2018. An APFC spokeswoman said the corporation has declined an invitation to a Saudi investment conference. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation not attending Saudi conference

But not for political reasons.

Angela Rodell, executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, speaks in July 2018. An APFC spokeswoman said the corporation has declined an invitation to a Saudi investment conference. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Andi Story is running for Alaska House District 34. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

For House candidate Andi Story, the secret to success is mobilization

The House District 34 candidate believes making good decisions involves bringing as many ideas into play as possible.

Andi Story is running for Alaska House District 34. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Republican governor candidate Mike Dunleavy, left, and Democratic governor candidate Mark Begich, right, faced each other in their first head-to-head debate just 90 minutes after incumbent independent Gov. Bill Walker announced he was suspending his campaign. (Composite image)

Begich, Dunleavy meet in first head-to-head debate

Begich praised Walker’s decision. Dunleavy didn’t say the incumbent’s name.

Republican governor candidate Mike Dunleavy, left, and Democratic governor candidate Mark Begich, right, faced each other in their first head-to-head debate just 90 minutes after incumbent independent Gov. Bill Walker announced he was suspending his campaign. (Composite image)
Libby Bakalar, left, receives her ballot from election official Tami Burgett, right, as Michael Grubbs waits during early voting at the State Office Building on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. Voting is on the 8th floor of the State Office Building from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. The Elections Office in the Mendenhall Mall Annex is also open for voting during the same times plus Saturday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 4, noon-4 p.m. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Quiet start to early voting

Byron Mallott is usually one of the first early voters when polls open at the State Office Building. This year, the first person in line… Continue reading

Libby Bakalar, left, receives her ballot from election official Tami Burgett, right, as Michael Grubbs waits during early voting at the State Office Building on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. Voting is on the 8th floor of the State Office Building from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. The Elections Office in the Mendenhall Mall Annex is also open for voting during the same times plus Saturday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 4, noon-4 p.m. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Assembly member and legislative candidate Jerry Nankervis chairs a public safety committee meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Door to door, Nankervis seeks understanding in House District 34

Walking from house to house during his legislative campaign, Jerry Nankervis faces a perpetual guessing game. When the door opens, will it be someone he… Continue reading

Assembly member and legislative candidate Jerry Nankervis chairs a public safety committee meeting at City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Chum salmon are processed at Taku Smokeries in June 2011. New figures show a continued decline in the number of jobs available in Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska jobs numbers continue to fall

Alaska’s unemployment dipped from August to September, but the number of jobs in Alaska continues to fall, indicating the 49th state has not yet begun… Continue reading

Chum salmon are processed at Taku Smokeries in June 2011. New figures show a continued decline in the number of jobs available in Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott abruptly resigned form office Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott abruptly resigns

Gov. Walker describes comments to AP an ‘inappropriate overture to a woman.’

Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott abruptly resigned form office Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Gov. Bill Walker speaks during an interview in his Capitol office on April 13, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Video

Gov. Bill Walker’s Juneau backers still support him after Mallott’s resignation

Mallott resigned. Now what?

Gov. Bill Walker speaks during an interview in his Capitol office on April 13, 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Video
The owner of the Mendenhall Tower Apartments, top center has made a large donation to an independent expenditure group supporting Mark Begich’s campaign for governor. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Owner of Mendenhall Tower backs Begich

The owner of the Mendenhall Tower Apartments is backing Begich.

The owner of the Mendenhall Tower Apartments, top center has made a large donation to an independent expenditure group supporting Mark Begich’s campaign for governor. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this photo provided by Vincent Nusunginya, items fallen from the shelves litter the aisles inside a Safeway grocery store following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake on the Kenai Peninsula on Sunday Jan. 24, 2016, in south-central Alaska. The quake knocked items off shelves and walls in south-central Alaska and jolted the nerves of residents in this earthquake prone region, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. (Vincent Nusunginya via the AP)

Alaska plans statewide earthquake drill for Thursday

The Alaska division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is urging Alaskans to participate in “The Great Alaska Shakeout,” a statewide earthquake drill, at 10:18… Continue reading

In this photo provided by Vincent Nusunginya, items fallen from the shelves litter the aisles inside a Safeway grocery store following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake on the Kenai Peninsula on Sunday Jan. 24, 2016, in south-central Alaska. The quake knocked items off shelves and walls in south-central Alaska and jolted the nerves of residents in this earthquake prone region, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. (Vincent Nusunginya via the AP)
Snow-removal crews work in White Pass during the winter of 2015-2016. (Hal Hartman | Courtesy photo)

Keeping Klondike Highway open isn’t just a blast

The State of Alaska is looking for someone who enjoys working with explosives and coping with avalanches. Last week, the Alaska Department of Transportation and… Continue reading

Snow-removal crews work in White Pass during the winter of 2015-2016. (Hal Hartman | Courtesy photo)
This chart shows the number of aviation accidents in Alaska between Oct. 1, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

FAA: Aviation accidents up from 2017

New statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration show a slight year-over-year increase in the number of aviation accidents in Alaska. The figures were released Wednesday… Continue reading

This chart shows the number of aviation accidents in Alaska between Oct. 1, 2008 and Sept. 30, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
In this file photo from 2015, a protester stands next to rubber boots on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol during a rally to bring attention to the long-term protection of transboundary waters, principally the Taku, Stikine and Unuk watersheds. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska’s congressional delegation pens another transboundary letter

It urges the State Department to protect Alaska’s watersheds.

In this file photo from 2015, a protester stands next to rubber boots on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol during a rally to bring attention to the long-term protection of transboundary waters, principally the Taku, Stikine and Unuk watersheds. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
This screenshot of a video provided by the Fairbanks Police Department shows Alaska State Troopers and Fairbanks officers shortly before the fatal shooting death of 20-year-old Cody Eyre on Dec. 24, 2017. (Screenshot)

Fairbanks police release video of fatal shooting

Two weeks after the Alaska Department of Law declined to criminally charge the Fairbanks Police Department in the shooting death of 20-year-old Cody Eyre, the… Continue reading

This screenshot of a video provided by the Fairbanks Police Department shows Alaska State Troopers and Fairbanks officers shortly before the fatal shooting death of 20-year-old Cody Eyre on Dec. 24, 2017. (Screenshot)