Packed court expected for start of felony perjury trial for former Alaska judge
This Friday, a pretrial hearing begins for former Alaska District Judge Margaret Murphy. In June she pleaded not guilty to felony perjury, but if convicted she faces up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to $100,000. The case has drawn considerable
Rural Alaska elementary teacher convicted of 14 sexual felonies
A Bethel jury found elementary teacher John Mark Hammons guilty of 14 counts of sexual felonies. The Aug. 4 verdict followed a three-week trial for the 49-year-old Hammonds, who worked as a both a schoolteacher and coach at the Akiachak school, while also
Mat-Su bans sex offenders from living near childcare centers, schools, parks
In an effort to protect children from sex crimes, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly approved a new ordinance that prohibits sex offenders from taking up permanent residence within 1,000 feet of any school, daycare facility or public park. Approved at the
Dept. of Corrections withdraws ban on Catholic masses in Alaska prisons
After considerable public outcry, the Alaska Department of Corrections has rescinded a policy that had effectively banned the celebration of Catholic mass in state prisons for the past month. “Alaska Department of Corrections acknowledges the recent concern
Interim policy bans Catholic mass in Alaska prisons
In what may well be a violation of the First Amendment, Alaska inmates are currently unable to participate in Catholic masses thanks to a new policy from the state corrections department, which effectively bans the use of sacramental altar wine in the
CORRECTION: Explicit child sex graffiti sprayed on Anchorage playground at North Star Elementary
Explicit sexual images and messages have now been sprayed on the playground at North Star Elementary School in Anchorage, just a few days after the Mountain View Elementary playground was burned by suspected vandals on July 4. On July 6, the Watchman received
Rep. Vance offers free tickets to action movie based on true-life fight against child trafficking
In an effort to raise awareness about the plague of child trafficking, both in Alaska and across the world, the office of Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) is offering free movie tickets to the new major motion film, “Sound of Freedom.” The feature
Alaska’s top federal prosecutor assures gay pride crowd that she will fight ‘noncriminal’ bias
Alaska’s top federal prosecutor tells gay pride crowd she aims to confront ‘noncriminal acts of
Alaska law enforcement agencies rebuff rumors of serial killer on the loose
Alaska law enforcement agencies rebuff rumors of serial killer on the
Anchorage Library Board will attempt to address teen book on anal sex/porn after chief librarian claims it’s ‘appropriate’
Anchorage’s new chief librarian, Virginia McClure, doesn’t see a problem with young teens reading library books that include graphic instructions on how to have anal sex, explore sexual fantasies and gender identities, create their own personal digital