News

The Housing First Project in September 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Juneau program makes strides in helping homeless population

Emergency services use has decreased since housing project went up.

The Housing First Project in September 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska House starts voting on rollback of criminal justice reform

As voting began Saturday morning on floor amendments to Senate Bill 54, members of the Alaska House of Representatives found themselves divided into two camps.… Continue reading

Alaska mayors again plead for Legislature to fix deficit

For the past two years, mayors across Alaska have pleaded for the Alaska Legislature to do something — anything — to solve the state’s multibillion-dollar… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker walks into the Cabinet Room to present his compromise plan to the House Minority. (Courtesy photo/Office of the Governor)

House cool to Walker compromise

In a bid to avoid a state-spanning government shutdown, Gov. Bill Walker on Monday proposed a compromise to bring the Alaska Senate and Alaska House… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker walks into the Cabinet Room to present his compromise plan to the House Minority. (Courtesy photo/Office of the Governor)
Several Alaska state representatives gather around Rep. Lance Pruitt, seated, during a break in a House floor session on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. Shown are, from left, Reps. Tammie Wilson, Steve Thompson, Jennifer Johnston, Pruitt and Chuck Kopp. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska lawmakers face special session on budget, fiscal fix

JUNEAU — Alaska legislators are set to convene a special session called by Gov. Bill Walker to complete work on a budget and plan for… Continue reading

Several Alaska state representatives gather around Rep. Lance Pruitt, seated, during a break in a House floor session on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. Shown are, from left, Reps. Tammie Wilson, Steve Thompson, Jennifer Johnston, Pruitt and Chuck Kopp. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Several Alaska state representatives gather in front of state House Speaker Bryce Edgmon during a break in a House floor session on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

With deadline near, Alaska Legislature eyes taking more time

JUNEAU — Wednesday marked a constitutional deadline for Alaska lawmakers to end their regular session. But with a budget and plan for addressing Alaska’s multibillion-dollar… Continue reading

Several Alaska state representatives gather in front of state House Speaker Bryce Edgmon during a break in a House floor session on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)

Wasilla Republican asks Alaska Legislature to criminalize abortion

Wasilla Republican David Eastman has proposed a measure making abortion illegal in the state of Alaska. On Monday, Eastman introduced House Bill 250, which —… Continue reading

State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)

Big issues unresolved as Alaska legislative deadline looms

JUNEAU — Alaska legislators face a looming constitutional deadline for completing their work, but they remain at odds over how best to address a multibillion-dollar… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed its version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

Alaska House approves Permanent Fund plan — with strings attached

For the first time in state history, the Alaska Legislature has chosen to spend the Alaska Permanent Fund on something other than dividends. On Wednesday,… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed its version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

Agencies: Alaska laws may limit health care competition

JUNEAU — Two federal agencies have recommended that Alaska repeal laws that the agencies say may limit competition in the health care market. The U.S.… Continue reading

Pat Foley, Senior Vice President of Alaska Operations for North Slope oil producer Caelus Energy, speaks on the oil industry's importance to Alaska's fiscal recovery during a talk on Wednesday, April 5 at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center. "We're all in the oil business," Foley told his audience, speaking of oil's central place in Alaska's economy. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Caelus seeks to invest locals in Smith Bay oil

Under Alaska’s current oil tax and incentive program, the state “is really a co-investor” in oil and gas development, according to Pat Foley, Senior Vice… Continue reading

Pat Foley, Senior Vice President of Alaska Operations for North Slope oil producer Caelus Energy, speaks on the oil industry's importance to Alaska's fiscal recovery during a talk on Wednesday, April 5 at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center. "We're all in the oil business," Foley told his audience, speaking of oil's central place in Alaska's economy. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmaker wants primary elections to be more like California

The chairwoman of the powerful House Rules Committee believes she has a plan to drive Alaska politics toward the center. Her Republican critics say it’s… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Trump revokes Alaska refuge rule; change may be symbolic

Trump revokes Alaska refuge rule; change may be symbolic

ANCHORAGE — The state of Alaska’s toolkit for increasing moose and caribou numbers includes killing wolf pups in dens, shooting wolf packs from helicopters, and… Continue reading

Trump revokes Alaska refuge rule; change may be symbolic
In this image provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Center and NASA, shows how low sea ice levels were in the Arctic this winter, alarming climate scientists. During the winter, Arctic sea ice grew to 5.57 million square miles (14.42 million square kilometers) at its peak, but that’s the smallest amount of winter sea ice in 38 years of record keeping, beating the record set in 2015 and tied last year. Sea ice in March of this year was smaller than last year by an area about the size of the state of Maine. (National Snow and Ice Data Center and NASA via AP)

Arctic sea ice dips to record low for winter

WASHINGTON — The frigid top of the Earth just set yet another record for low levels of sea ice in what scientists say is a… Continue reading

In this image provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Center and NASA, shows how low sea ice levels were in the Arctic this winter, alarming climate scientists. During the winter, Arctic sea ice grew to 5.57 million square miles (14.42 million square kilometers) at its peak, but that’s the smallest amount of winter sea ice in 38 years of record keeping, beating the record set in 2015 and tied last year. Sea ice in March of this year was smaller than last year by an area about the size of the state of Maine. (National Snow and Ice Data Center and NASA via AP)
In this Sunday, March 19, 2017 photo, a flight attendant holds a snake found on a Ravn Alaska flight between Aniak, Alaska and Anchorage. The snake escaped from a passenger on a previous flight. The flight attendant captured the reptile and placed it in a trash bag and stowed it in an overhead luggage compartment. (Anna McConnaughy via AP)

That’s not carry-on: Loose snake slumbers on Alaska flight

ANCHORAGE — Anna McConnaughy was flying to Alaska’s largest city when the announcement came over the intercom: a passenger on a previous flight had brought… Continue reading

In this Sunday, March 19, 2017 photo, a flight attendant holds a snake found on a Ravn Alaska flight between Aniak, Alaska and Anchorage. The snake escaped from a passenger on a previous flight. The flight attendant captured the reptile and placed it in a trash bag and stowed it in an overhead luggage compartment. (Anna McConnaughy via AP)
This Dec. 11, 2004 photo provided by Marlene Minnette show reindeer from the herd owned by the Native village of Mekoryuk on Alaska’s Nunivak Island. The tribal government is expanding its commercial reindeer subsidiary with $1.8 million in federal grants, with plans to include sales of the meat to larger urban markets. (Marlene Minnette via AP)

Village aims to serve up reindeer meat far and wide

ANCHORAGE — A remote Eskimo village on a tundra-covered island in western Alaska is hoping to counter its steep unemployment rate and achieve greater self-sufficiency… Continue reading

This Dec. 11, 2004 photo provided by Marlene Minnette show reindeer from the herd owned by the Native village of Mekoryuk on Alaska’s Nunivak Island. The tribal government is expanding its commercial reindeer subsidiary with $1.8 million in federal grants, with plans to include sales of the meat to larger urban markets. (Marlene Minnette via AP)

Senate panel moves bill to use permanent fund money

JUNEAU — A state Senate committee advanced legislation Friday calling for structured draws from Alaska’s oil-wealth fund to help pay for government as the state… Continue reading

Police kill Eagle River veteran after standoff near Denver

A former Eagle River resident and Marine reservist was shot and killed by police after a standoff near Denver on Friday. According to the Denver… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker speaks during a news conference in which he outlined legislation aimed at further addressing opioid abuse in the state on Monday, March 6, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Walker proposes more steps to fight opioid abuse

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker on Monday proposed additional steps aimed at addressing opioid abuse in Alaska, including pain management training for medical providers and… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker speaks during a news conference in which he outlined legislation aimed at further addressing opioid abuse in the state on Monday, March 6, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Midway through session, lawmakers looking for fiscal fix

JUNEAU — Alaska legislative leaders say they are committed to taking major steps to address the state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit this year, even if that… Continue reading