Stylish garbage collector gets dream job he was gunning for

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Three years ago, Empire staff photographer Michael Penn took a photograph of a garbage collector emptying a trash can for the city of Juneau in a suit and tie. When asked about his sartorial choice, Charlie Gallant said, "Why not? I decided I would wear a coat and tie all week. When I...

Man missing after spiritual quest to Alaska's Hatcher Pass

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — In August 2018, a solitary man walked 14 miles into a lonely valley on the western side of Hatcher Pass. He carried almost nothing: A backpack, 5 pounds of oatmeal. No rifle or bear spray. Vladimir Kostenko planned to stay at a tiny dry cabin for months. He was seeking no less than...

1 dead after plane landing on Alaska island went off runway

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — One person died after a commuter airplane went off the end of a runway while landing at an airport in the remote Aleutian Islands fishing community of Unalaska, authorities said Friday. Alaska State Troopers identified the victim as David Allan Oltman, 38, of Washington state. The...

The Latest: City plans to remove plane from site Saturday

UNALASKA, Alaska (AP) — The Latest on a plane that went off the runway while landing at an Aleutian Islands community (all times local): 4:46 p.m. The city of Unalaska said in a statement Friday evening that it plans to remove on Saturday the PenAir airplane from the scene of a crash The state Department...

The coolest Saints fans keep the faith in Anchorage, Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The borders of the Who Dat Nation extend far beyond the top row of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, far beyond Sulphur and Bastrop and Bogalusa, and far beyond the Lower 48 for that matter. In fact, there's a colony of Who Dats in Anchorage, Alaska — 4,344 miles from Poydras...

Alaska State Troopers say Washington state man dies from injuries suffered in Alaska plane crash

Work order on Seward statue to be filled after 83 years

NEW YORK (AP) — A statue in New York City is getting a new pedestal 83 years after a city parks engineer requested it. The Wall Street Journal reports work on the statue of William H. Seward at Madison Square Park's southern entrance will begin next week. Seward served as a U.S. Senator, as New York's...

Alaska considers effects of prisoner transfers out of state

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Lawmakers and others familiar with Alaska's prison system have expressed concerns that a plan to transfer inmates to other states could have negative repercussions for the prisoners and the community. Some officials believe an Alaska Department of Corrections plan to send inmates...

Alaska community considers switch from alcohol ban to sales

BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — Members of an Alaska community that has prohibited alcohol for more than three decades now want to open a city-owned store to sell it, officials said. The community of Marshall in the Lower Yukon voted Oct. 1 to change its local option status to allow an alcohol store, KYUK-AM...

Dunleavy discusses rural public safety, budget in speech

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Republican Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy outlined plans aimed at improving public safety in rural Alaska during a speech Thursday to a major gathering of Alaska Natives that was interrupted by protests. The speech during a televised meeting of the Alaska Federation of Natives in Fairbanks...