News

Jenn-Marie Mann, a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines, demonstrates how carry-on roller bags fit up on their sides in new larger luggage bins installed a Alaska Airlines 737-900ER airplane on Friday in Seattle. The new overhead compartments, which Boeing calls "Space Bins," can hold six standard-size bags in the same space that used to hold four. Alaska Airlines will be the first to use the new bins, both on new and retrofitted planes.

Alaska Airlines debuts bigger overhead bins

Alaska Airlines is rolling out a new feature that fliers are sure to appreciate — larger overhead storage bins.The “Space Bins” debut today as Alaska… Continue reading

Jenn-Marie Mann, a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines, demonstrates how carry-on roller bags fit up on their sides in new larger luggage bins installed a Alaska Airlines 737-900ER airplane on Friday in Seattle. The new overhead compartments, which Boeing calls "Space Bins," can hold six standard-size bags in the same space that used to hold four. Alaska Airlines will be the first to use the new bins, both on new and retrofitted planes.

Bodies of 2 more men identified in 1952 plane crash

ANCHORAGE — The remains of two more U.S. service members who died in a plane crash outside Anchorage in 1952 have been identified.The Alaska Dispatch… Continue reading

Trio of suicides leaves Alaska village in grief

ANCHORAGE — An entire village on Alaska’s western coast is grieving the back-to-back suicides of three young adults —with each subsequent death influenced by the… Continue reading

Biologists track unusual fish sightings on Alaska’s coast

ANCHORAGE — Biologists say unusual fish are appearing near Alaska’s shores, likely because of warmer ocean temperatures caused by El Nino and the patch of… Continue reading

Young not in running for Speaker of the House

As the U.S. House of Representatives scrambles to find its next Speaker, there are few certainties.One of them is that Rep. Don Young, Alaska’s sole… Continue reading

Correction

A story in the Wednesday, Oct. 7 edition of the Juneau Empire incorrectly stated the length of a first term for the replacement of an… Continue reading

Walker makes pitch for opening ANWR to Obama administration

ANCHORAGE — Gov. Bill Walker has lobbied members of President Barack Obama’s administration on opening up parts of an Alaska refuge to oil drilling.Walker met… Continue reading

1 dead in small plane crash near Alaska high school

ANCHORAGE — Alaska State Troopers say a small plane crashed and caught on fire Thursday near an Alaska high school, killing the pilot.Troopers say 23-year-old… Continue reading

No ferry reservations on Sunday

The Alaska Marine Highway is closing its website and reservations system from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to upgrade its computer data center and… Continue reading

Permanent Fund to pick director today

The Alaska Permanent Fund Board of Trustees will meet for a special meeting at 10 a.m. today in the corporation’s offices on 10th Street in… Continue reading

Bethel residents support liquor store, advisory vote finds

BETHEL — Unofficial election results from a non-binding advisory vote in Bethel show that most residents would support a liquor store in the city.Early results… Continue reading

Alaska VA launches pilot program to schedule appointments

ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Veterans Affairs Healthcare System has launched a pilot program to revert the process of scheduling appointments to how it was before… Continue reading

Anchorage teen among poets honored by first lady

WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama honored a new class of National Student Poets for their bravery to be vulnerable and sharing their deepest thoughts.The first lady… Continue reading

Alexander Slivka, a candidate to become director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, answers questions from the corporation's board of trustees on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015 in Juneau.

Board considers candidates for Permanent Fund ‘pope’

Vast indirect power. An apolitical position. Immense public support. A venerable institution designed to last.The director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation might as well… Continue reading

Alexander Slivka, a candidate to become director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, answers questions from the corporation's board of trustees on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015 in Juneau.

UAA launches Alaska’s first pharmacy program

ANCHORAGE — The University of Alaska Anchorage is launching the state’s first entirely local pharmacy program in partnership with Idaho State University.UAA announced Tuesday that… Continue reading

Former Fairbanks tutor convicted of sexual abuse of minor

FAIRBANKS — A former Fairbanks public school tutor has been found guilty of forcing a boy to have sex with him in 2010.The Fairbanks Daily… Continue reading

Split decision in water reservation case

JUNEAU — A state agency delivered a split decision Wednesday for conservationists seeking to protect fish from the potential development of a coal mine in… Continue reading

This photo taken Sept. 24, shows a black-tailed deer fawn, one of the few mammal mounts of the furs, mounts and skulls collection, stored inside University of Alaska Anchorage Consortium Library in Anchorage.

Anchorage library loans out skulls, furs

ANCHORAGE — Need to borrow a polar bear fur? Or a walrus skull complete with tusks? Or how about a beluga whale vertebrae or piece… Continue reading

This photo taken Sept. 24, shows a black-tailed deer fawn, one of the few mammal mounts of the furs, mounts and skulls collection, stored inside University of Alaska Anchorage Consortium Library in Anchorage.
In this Sept. 29 image taken from video and released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a humpback whale is spotted near Kauai, Hawaii. The encounter was the first sighting of humpback in Hawaii this season.

Feds say first humpback whales of season spotted in Hawaii

HONOLULU — Humpback whales were spotted in the waters off Hawaii for the first time this season, leading officials to warn ships and recreational boaters… Continue reading

In this Sept. 29 image taken from video and released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a humpback whale is spotted near Kauai, Hawaii. The encounter was the first sighting of humpback in Hawaii this season.
Pres. Barack Obama speaks at the Conference on Global Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement and Resilience as Secretary of State John Kery listens at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage on Monday.

Alaska hired consultants ahead of Obama visit

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker’s administration spent $50,000 on consultants to help prepare for a visit by President Barack Obama and nearly another $2,000 on… Continue reading

Pres. Barack Obama speaks at the Conference on Global Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement and Resilience as Secretary of State John Kery listens at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage on Monday.