Annie Zak

The Seattle coffee giant has filed a formal complaint with federal regulators against an attempt by Wasilla company Mountains & Mermaids to trademark “Siren’s Brew.”

One reason is unusually large retail job losses in the city recently, the state labor department said.

The J.C. Penney Furniture Gallery in Midtown is also closing this month.

As of Friday more than 450 possible cases of lung illness associated with e-cigarette products have been reported in 33 states and one territory, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said.

As Alaskans’ drinking habits change, how far should the state go in regulating events and entertainment allowed in craft-brewery tasting rooms? The issue may be headed to the Legislature.

Even a little rain would be welcome, the weather service says, with parts of the region in extreme drought and fire danger high.

“There’s probably more firefighters in Cooper Landing than there are residents,” one spokesman said.

Budget cuts had already alarmed business leaders in a state that recently saw three years of recession.

Wildfire updates: The Swan Lake fire crossed Resurrection Trail and was about two miles from the town on Tuesday, authorities said.

Some doctors are hearing from more patients about respiratory health concerns.

Smoke crept back into Anchorage on Friday morning and air quality in the city was again at an “unhealthy” level.

Recent closures along the Sterling Highway and a flood advisory in the area were also factors in the decision to call off the Saturday race.

Three of the wildfires now burning in Southcentral Alaska were human-caused, according to a report released Wednesday.

Passenger and freight trains are running at a slower speed than normal.

Chugach National Forest also issued an emergency fire prohibition for the Kenai Peninsula area of the forest.