The State of Alaska is considering selling the Alaska Marine Highway ferry Taku. The ship was commissioned in 1963. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Cities and boroughs get first dibs on ferry Taku before it heads to auction

The Alaska Marine Highway is beginning the long process of selling the ferry Taku. On Monday, the state ferry system announced that it will accept… Continue reading

The State of Alaska is considering selling the Alaska Marine Highway ferry Taku. The ship was commissioned in 1963. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

In Alaska, voices are raised for and against Trump’s executive order on immigration

Just under 100 Juneau residents gathered in a silent protest Monday, thanks to a conversation over beer at Louie’s Douglas Inn. Standing in front of… Continue reading

Suspect in fatal Anchorage shooting appears in court

ANCHORAGE — A man is facing charges in the shooting death of a 19-year-old man in Anchorage. Bail was set for 23-year-old Christopher Birotte on… Continue reading

Snowmachiner dies after avalanche in southcentral Alaska

ANCHORAGE — Authorities say a man has died after being caught in an avalanche near Cooper Landing in southcentral Alaska. Alaska State Troopers had received… Continue reading

Airplane missing on flight from Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula

ANCHORAGE — A federal spokesman says an airplane is missing on a flight from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula. Clint Johnson of the National Transportation… Continue reading

Esteban Santiago, center, is led from the Broward County jail for an arraignment in federal court, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Santiago is charged in a 22-count federal indictment in the Jan. 6 shooting at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. (Lynne Sladky | The Associated Press)

Florida airport shooting suspect pleads not guilty

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — One by one, a judge detailed the 22 charges against an Alaskan man accused of killing five people and wounding six… Continue reading

Esteban Santiago, center, is led from the Broward County jail for an arraignment in federal court, Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Santiago is charged in a 22-count federal indictment in the Jan. 6 shooting at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. (Lynne Sladky | The Associated Press)

Alaska lawmakers mull spending cap amid deficit

JUNEAU — Alaska has never violated its constitutional spending cap, but many Republican lawmakers consider the limit too loose and want it tightened to limit… Continue reading

In this Jan. 18 photo, Youth Advocates of Sitka Assistant Director Jessica Clark speaks at the Sitka Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Westmark Hotel in Sitka, Alaska. Youth Advocates of Sitka students will soon be peddling smoothies and coffee as a way to gain real life work experience. (James Poulson | Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Young people to train in truck serving coffee, smoothies

SITKA — Youth Advocates of Sitka students will soon be peddling smoothies and coffee as a way to gain real life work experience. A food… Continue reading

In this Jan. 18 photo, Youth Advocates of Sitka Assistant Director Jessica Clark speaks at the Sitka Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Westmark Hotel in Sitka, Alaska. Youth Advocates of Sitka students will soon be peddling smoothies and coffee as a way to gain real life work experience. (James Poulson | Daily Sitka Sentinel)
John Reese, the last fluent Shm’algyack speaker in Ketchikan, speaks to a language class Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in the Ketchikan Indian Community building in Ketchikan, Alaska. Through past U.S. government policy to assimilate Native language and culture to Western ideals, and now, the impeding rush of modern-day society, the Tsimshian language of Sm’algyax and others of Alaska Natives have widely been forgotten. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)

Tribal elder, KIC work to save Sm’algyax

KETCHIKAN — If tribal elder John Reese could leave behind just one thing, it would be his beloved Tsimshian language. Through past U.S. government policy… Continue reading

John Reese, the last fluent Shm’algyack speaker in Ketchikan, speaks to a language class Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in the Ketchikan Indian Community building in Ketchikan, Alaska. Through past U.S. government policy to assimilate Native language and culture to Western ideals, and now, the impeding rush of modern-day society, the Tsimshian language of Sm’algyax and others of Alaska Natives have widely been forgotten. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)

Deaths of loose pets prompt Fairbanks animal cruelty fines

FAIRBANKS — People caught killing loose pets without cause in Fairbanks face new fines that were passed after several animal deaths. The borough assembly voted… Continue reading

New lawmaker squarely targets Legislature’s conflicts of interest

Ray Metcalfe sat at a desk next to a wallet full of million-dollar bills and asked Alaska lawmakers to curtail corruption. On Friday, members of… Continue reading

Alaska volcano erupts for 2nd day in a row; planes warned

ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Volcano Observatory has raised the aviation warning level after a volcano in the Aleutian Islands erupted again. Bogoslof Volcano erupted Friday… Continue reading

Armed robbery suspects target lone Anchorage women

ANCHORAGE — Anchorage police are warning women to be cautious when walking or in a car alone after three evening armed robberies. Police say in… Continue reading

Alaska fracking projects could get new public comment period

ANCHORAGE — A commission overseeing oil and gas drilling in Alaska is proposing a 10-day public comment period on applications for hydraulic fracturing projects. The… Continue reading

US rig count increases 18 this week to 712; Alaska gains one

HOUSTON — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. increased by 18 this week to 712. A year ago,… Continue reading

Alaska Native corporation sues over whistleblower case costsV

KODIAK — An Alaska Native corporation has filed a lawsuit seeking to have an insurance company pay for its defense in a case brought by… Continue reading

Alaska volcano erupts again, sending up another ash cloud

ANCHORAGE — A volcano in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands has erupted again, sending a cloud of ash and ice particles 30,000 feet in the air. The… Continue reading

Palin’s political action committee seeks to terminate

JUNEAU — Sarah Palin’s political action committee is shutting down. Sarah PAC filed a “termination report” Thursday with the Federal Election Commission. Palin began the… Continue reading

Sitka faces another lawsuit related to 2015 landslide

SITKA — The city of Sitka has been added as a defendant in a lawsuit brought by a woman whose home was destroyed in a… Continue reading

Florida airport shooting suspect indicted on 22 counts

MIAMI — A federal grand jury returned a 22-count indictment against the man accused of a shooting rampage at a South Florida airport that left… Continue reading