Michael S. Lockett

Alaska Department of Law
The FBI is seeking more information about the activities of a former Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service officer Bert Christopher Heitstuman.

FBI seeking further information ex-DHS officer charged with sexual assault

They’re investigating his activities inside Anchorage as well as elsewhere.

Alaska Department of Law
The FBI is seeking more information about the activities of a former Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service officer Bert Christopher Heitstuman.
Larry Talley / Courtesy photo
A dead whale previously seen and necropsied on a small island near Angoon was spotted afloat on March 3. The cuts visible come from the necropsy effort, said a NOAA official.

Whale’s body spotted near Tenakee Inlet in Southeast Alaska

The animal with a long history in the area has been necropsied.

Larry Talley / Courtesy photo
A dead whale previously seen and necropsied on a small island near Angoon was spotted afloat on March 3. The cuts visible come from the necropsy effort, said a NOAA official.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Viktor Tkachenko, who recently moved to Alaska from Ukraine, speaks during a rally encouraging the state to divest from all Russian investment on March 4, 2022.

Protesters, politicians call for cutting financial ties to Russia

The governor issued a statment directing state agencies to identify and divest, if appropriate.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Viktor Tkachenko, who recently moved to Alaska from Ukraine, speaks during a rally encouraging the state to divest from all Russian investment on March 4, 2022.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Viktor Tkachenko, who moved to Alaska from Ukraine last year, holds a sign asking NATO for assistance defeating Russian airpower at a protest against the war Saturday in Marine Park.

Juneau rallies for Ukraine

Opponents of the Russian invasion of Ukraine gathered Saturday

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Viktor Tkachenko, who moved to Alaska from Ukraine last year, holds a sign asking NATO for assistance defeating Russian airpower at a protest against the war Saturday in Marine Park.
U.S. Navy / Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Montemarano
The USS Hopper (DDG 70) prepares to moor in Homer, Alaska, for a scheduled port visit in conjunction with its participation in Northern Edge 2017 in Homer, Alaska, April 29, 2017. The Navy is proposing to considerably expand its exercise area in the Gulf of Alaska.

Navy proposes expanding Gulf of Alaska exercise area

The proposal would more than quadruple the sea room for ships and aircraft to manuever in

U.S. Navy / Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Montemarano
The USS Hopper (DDG 70) prepares to moor in Homer, Alaska, for a scheduled port visit in conjunction with its participation in Northern Edge 2017 in Homer, Alaska, April 29, 2017. The Navy is proposing to considerably expand its exercise area in the Gulf of Alaska.
Courtesy photo / Juneau Raptor Center
This golden eagle was rescued by the Juneau Raptor Center over the summer after being found weak and thin.

Rescue center, birdwatchers look back on 2021

Juneau Christmas bird count was way down this year.

Courtesy photo / Juneau Raptor Center
This golden eagle was rescued by the Juneau Raptor Center over the summer after being found weak and thin.
Employees of the Alaska Department of Corrections used excessive force, failing to comply with the department’s own use of force policy, according to a report released by the state ombudsman on Monday. (Screenshot)

Report: Excessive force used in Anchorage prison

The ombudsman found the five allegations made by inmates justified, and only partially rectified.

Employees of the Alaska Department of Corrections used excessive force, failing to comply with the department’s own use of force policy, according to a report released by the state ombudsman on Monday. (Screenshot)
Astronaut Candidate Deniz Burnham, of ASCAN Class of 2021, poses for an official photo on Dec. 3, 2021. (Robert Markowitz / NASA)
Astronaut Candidate Deniz Burnham, of ASCAN Class of 2021, poses for an official photo on Dec. 3, 2021. (Robert Markowitz / NASA)
A joint investigation between the FBI and Canadian law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of a Canadian man for cybercrimes on Nov. 30, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Canadian man indicted in international cybercrime case

His attacks targeted State of Alaska computers as well as Canadian ones.

A joint investigation between the FBI and Canadian law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of a Canadian man for cybercrimes on Nov. 30, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)

State moves ahead with replacement of Tustumena

The state has other plans for updating the marine highway.

This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)
A man missing for more than 40 years was identified by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation as a Chugiak resident who was last seen in 1979. The man’s body was discovered on an island near Anchorage in 1989. (Courtesy photo/Alaska Department of Public Safety)

Body found in 1980s ID’d through DNA analysis

The body, found in 1989, had been unidentified until now.

A man missing for more than 40 years was identified by the Alaska Bureau of Investigation as a Chugiak resident who was last seen in 1979. The man’s body was discovered on an island near Anchorage in 1989. (Courtesy photo/Alaska Department of Public Safety)
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Elderberry carried the Together Tree, bound for the Alaska Governor’s Mansion, up from Wrangell where it was harvested after a brief delay due to some mechanical issues. (USCG photo / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)

Governor’s mansion tree arrives in Juneau

No weather or floating lines could stay these Coast Guardsmen about their task.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Elderberry carried the Together Tree, bound for the Alaska Governor’s Mansion, up from Wrangell where it was harvested after a brief delay due to some mechanical issues. (USCG photo / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)
This screen capture from surveillance footage released by the Anchorage Police Department shows a masked man vandalizing the Alaska Jewish Museum in Anchorage in May. (Courtesy photo / APD)

Museums statewide condemn antisemitic vandalism

Two incidents, one in May, one in September, have marred the museum this year.

This screen capture from surveillance footage released by the Anchorage Police Department shows a masked man vandalizing the Alaska Jewish Museum in Anchorage in May. (Courtesy photo / APD)
The Federal Aviation Administration released an initiative to improve flight safety in Alaska for all aviation on Oct. 14, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

FAA releases Alaska aviation safety initiatives

The recommendations, covering five areas, range from improvements in hardware to data-gathering.

The Federal Aviation Administration released an initiative to improve flight safety in Alaska for all aviation on Oct. 14, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Courtesy Photo / Molly Pressler Collection 
Japanese-Americans interned in Alaska in World War II are shown in this photo at a camp in New Mexico where they endured the majority of the war.

Research into interned Japanese-Americans in Alaska receives grant support

104 Japanese-Americans were interned from Alaska at the outset of WWII.

Courtesy Photo / Molly Pressler Collection 
Japanese-Americans interned in Alaska in World War II are shown in this photo at a camp in New Mexico where they endured the majority of the war.
Courtesy photo / MyKenzie Robertson 
Army Pfc. Luke McCarty jumps in the water during training for the engineer divers Monday with a Coast Guard dive team.

Army and Coast Guard divers team up in Juneau

Getting work done in an ocean far from home.

Courtesy photo / MyKenzie Robertson 
Army Pfc. Luke McCarty jumps in the water during training for the engineer divers Monday with a Coast Guard dive team.
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire
Charlie Smith, a National Guard first lieutenant at the time of the 1971 airline crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 1866, talks about the recovery efforts on Aug. 9 — 50 years later.

Half a century on, National Guardsman recalls 1971 airline crash

“They said, we have a job to do and we’ll do it.”

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire
Charlie Smith, a National Guard first lieutenant at the time of the 1971 airline crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 1866, talks about the recovery efforts on Aug. 9 — 50 years later.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Participants burn an example of a commercial garment that led to a now-settled intellectual property lawsuit in a ceremony commemorating the settlement with the fashion company on Friday.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Participants burn an example of a commercial garment that led to a now-settled intellectual property lawsuit in a ceremony commemorating the settlement with the fashion company on Friday.
Two hikers, third and fourth from the right, were rescued after being stranded on Mt. Roberts Wednesday evening by rapidly changing weather. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Mountain Rescue)

2 hikers stranded by weather rescued off Mount Roberts

Juneau’s mercurial weather left them high, but not dry.

Two hikers, third and fourth from the right, were rescued after being stranded on Mt. Roberts Wednesday evening by rapidly changing weather. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Mountain Rescue)
A C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron flies over Fort Greely, Alaska during RED FLAG-Alaska 21-2, June 24, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Jose Miguel T. Tamondong)

Multinational Air Force exercise wraps up successfully

Three nations and hundreds of aircraft participated.

A C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron flies over Fort Greely, Alaska during RED FLAG-Alaska 21-2, June 24, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Jose Miguel T. Tamondong)