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Coast Guardsmen and state employees load the Together Tree bound for the Alaska Governor’s Mansion on a truck on Nov. 29, 2021. The annual open house at the governor's mansion is back this year, after having been suspended last year due to COVID-19. (USCG photo / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)

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Christmas open house at governor’s mansion returns

Open to all.

Ed Garity, a vet technician, and Dr. Sam Smith, a veterinarian and owner of Tongass Veterinary Services, tend to a 17-year-old dog on Friday, Dec. 3. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Veterinarian shortage dogs Juneau

Burnout, specialization, high demand and location all factor in.

AP Photo / Jae C. Hong Air China flight crew members in hazmat suits walk through the arrivals area Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport. The U.S. on Wednesday reported its first case of the omicron variant.

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Biden to announce testing, booster expansion

Announcement Thursday.

A flu shot is administered at a free vaccine clinic in Juneau on Nov. 23, 2021, and on Thursday health officials nationwide urged people to get inoculated for both COVID-19 and the flu ahead of the holiday season. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

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Health officials push vaccines, boosters to combat variant

A lot of unknowns.

Nick Begich III, seen here in this undated photo, is challenging Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives saying Alaska needs new energy in Washington D.C. (Courtesy photo / Alaskans for Nick Begich)

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Nick Begich III touts fiscal conservatism in U.S. House race

Young is old.

fund

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Study: PFD increases spending on kids among low-income families

More research needed.

People pass through Waterloo train station, in London, during the morning rush hour, Monday, Nov. 29, 2021. The new potentially more contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus popped up in more European countries on Saturday, just days after being identified in South Africa, leaving governments around the world scrambling to stop the spread. No cases have yet been reported in Alaska, according to the Department of Health and Social Services. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

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Health officials urge caution and calm amid new variant

No cases confirmed in Alaska but officials urged vaccinations.

Rep. Chris Kurka, R-Wasilla, leaves the chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, March 19, 2021, after an hour of delays concerning the wording on his mask. On Monday, Kurka announced he was running for governor in 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Wasilla Rep announces gubernatorial bid

Open primaries and ranked choice.

1

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Woman dies, man medevaced following early morning accident

One injured.

Choir group Floyd Dryden Eagles leads a crowd in the singing of Christmas carols at the Douglas Community United Methodist Church on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, during the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The Juneau 4th of July Parade Committee hosts the tree lighting each year in recognition of the two holidays - Christmas and the 4th of July - miners were given during Juneau's mining days. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Christmas season begins in Douglas with songs and lights

A not-so-silent night.

Collen Goodrich, owner of Annie Kaill's, holds up a print from the artist John Fehringer, on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. Goodrich said she's not having any sales for Black Friday, a major shopping day, but she's taking advantage of shoppers being out. Some had sales, others didn't, but businesses in downtown Juneau were open and ready for customers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Back in Business

Back in Black Friday.

Turkey was served at the Juneau Salvation Army Thanksgiving Dinner at the Hangar on the Wharf on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, but this year COVID-19 is preventing dine-in meals but hot meals will still be distributed for free Thanksgiving Day. (Courtesy Photo | Juneau Salvation Army)

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Public events fill up Juneau’s Thanksgiving weekend

There’s a horn of plenty to do.

This undated photos shows National Day of Mourning plaque on Cole's Hill in Plymouth, Mass, where since 1970 Indigenous groups have gathered to mourn the history of colonization in North America. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the traditional "First Thanksgiving " in 1621, but for many Indigenous people, including Alaska Natives, the holiday is a somber one. (Courtesy photo / Creative commons)

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Thanksgiving has somber context for Indigenous Americans

New narratives.

An Alaska Airlines flight lands at the Juneau International Airport on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, amid a day of rain and snow. The National Weather Services issued a winter storm warning for Tuesday to Thursday, which covers “Black Wednesday,” the busiest travel day of the year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Wintry weather coincides with busy travel days

Safe travels.

The entrance to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in the Tongass National Forest was covered in snow on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, a day after federal authorities announced the next step in restoring the 2001 Roadless Rule on the forest. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Feds put freeze on Roadless Rule rollback

On the Roadless Rule again.

In this Empire file photo, Juneau citizen Mary Ellen Yadao signs her name to vote in the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. Speaking to a panel of cybersecurity experts Thursday, Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer said the state is taking advantage of federal resources to bolster election security. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

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Lt Gov talks cybersecurity, election planning

Trust is key.

FILE - A woman stands next to an antenna at an NYU base camp at the Helheim glacier in Greenland on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. In an effort to combat climate change and help develop Arctic communities, the Department of Energy Wednesday announced it was seeking to develop new sustainable energy projects in Alaska. (AP Photo / Felipe Dana)

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Feds promote Arctic energy innovation

Living laboratory.

The Juneau Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School hockey team was in Palmer on Nov. 13, 2021, for a series of games in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Coach Luke Adams told the Empire he was confident in his team who were eager for the season ahead. (Courtesy photo / Judy Campbell)

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On the road again, JDHS hockey excited for season

Stiff competition.

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2016, file photo, a marijuana bud is seen before harvest at a rural area near Corvallis, Ore. Alaska Marijuana Industry Association President Lacy Wilcox said federal legalization could potentially hurt Alaska's cannabis cultivators who could lose out to other states such as Oregon where production is cheaper. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky, File)

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Young supports bill to end federal marijuana prohibition

Start the conversation.

The Tazlina was docked at the Auke Bay ferry terminal on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. It is one of 10 vessels in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet. Alaska’s Congressional delegation has said a recently passed infrastructure bill will bring money to the state’s ferries, but until then some communities are still seeing gaps in service over the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Gaps in ferry service remains as new board takes shape

Infstructure bill bonus.