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Theater Alaska performers Bostin Christopher, left, and Erin Tripp perform a short play in front of an audience at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Theater Alaska partnered with environmental group 350Juneau to put on a Climate Fair for a Cool Planet, which drew over 100 people. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Juneauites use performances to urge climate action

Climate ‘catastrophe.’

Former Gov. Bill Walker, seen here in 2016, filed to run for governor once again in 2022, picking former Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Heidi Drygas to run for lieutenant governor. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

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Former Gov. Walker files to run again as an independent

‘Our goal is to be a fiscal solution.’

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds up a graph showing the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund during a new conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. Lawmakers have asked the governor to amend the call of the special session, allowing them to address the budget which remains only partially funded. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Lawmakers, governor spar over direction of special session

Lawmakers return to the capital city.

Tiffany Listberger poses with her 31.7-pound king salmon turned in at the Auke Bay weight station on Sunday. According to provisional results, Listberger is the winner of the 75th annual Goldern North Salmon Derby. (Courtesy photo / Derek Listeberger)

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King weighing over 31 pounds leads salmon derby results

Provisional results.

Shona Osterhout holds up a 26-pound king salmon turned into the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor weigh station for the 75th annual Golden North Salmon Derby on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Osterhout, a derby volunteer, said at the time the fish was leading the derby. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Derby days: Heavy rains and heavy fish

Rainy start, but Saturday sees more action.

The Power Cost Equalization program works with regional electrical utilities like the Inside Passage Electrical Cooperative, seen here on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, to provide subsidies to bring down electricity rates in rural Alaska. Payments for the program had been tied up by legislative deadlock but a Anchorage Superior Court Case Thursday said the money could be released. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Court ruling brings relief, but concern remains for PCE

‘Pleased with the ruling.’

A new course through the University of Alaska Fairbanks hopes to train new crops of Alaska Native filmmakers in a drive toward greater narrative soverignty. (Jakob Owens / Unsplash)

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Filmmaking course hopes to create ‘narrative sovereignty’ for Alaska Natives

‘Our stories from our own perspective.’

A sign points the way to the weigh station at the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor during last year's Golden North Salmon Derby on Aug. 16, 2020. This year is the derby's 75th year and organizers have added additional prizes in celebration of the event. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Salmon derby celebrates 75 years with new ways to win

Derby days are here again.

This May 30 photo shows a view aboard the MV LeConte. The Alaska Marine Highway System is poised to benefit from a massive spending plan with bipartisan backing. The $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed the Senate on Tuesday. The bill, a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda, now heads to the House. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Alaska’s senators part of bipartisan push for big bill

Both voted for the ‘historic’ $1T infrastructure plan.

Environmentalists in Southeast Alaska are hoping to renew a push for action on pollution of transboundary waters flowing from Canada into the U.S. South of the Juneau, heavy metals run out of the Tulsequah Chief mine opening and down to holding ponds next to the Tulsequah River Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. Leakage from those ponds can be seen entering the river that flows into the Taku River down stream. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

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Resolution urges action on transboundary pollution

‘Coming at us quickly.’

State health officials are again urging Alaskan who haven’t to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are widely available in Alaska, as seen in this Aug. 5 photo, showing a sign advertising free shots. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Officials again urge vaccinations as COVID cases rise

Vax up, mask up.

A map from the Alaska Energy Authority showing all the communities in Alaska eligible for the Power Cost Equalization program which subsidizes power costs in rural areas. Funding for the program has been caught up in year-to-year budget battles and lawmakers are hopeful they can address the issue in the next special session of the Alaska State Legislature. (Courtesy image / Alaska Energy Authority)

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Lawmakers want to amend call to special session

Lots of public testimony.

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly gave the city manager's office the go-ahead to begin negotiations with Norwegian Cruise Line over land the company needs to build its proposed dock on Egan Drive, seen here on Jun. 6, 2021. The company will need access to state and city-owned tidelands in order to complete the dock, and City Manager Rorie Watt told Assembly members Monday the company could now submit its applications. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Assembly says cruise company can submit plans

Next steps.

Mila Cosgrove, right, who retired from her position as Deputy City Manager of the City and Borough of Juneau, received a commendation from the CBJ Assembly Monday night for her years of service to the city. This August 2011 file photo shows Cosgrove in her former position as CBJ Human Resources and Risk Management Director alongside former City Attorney Jane Sebens. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

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City commends retired deputy city manager

“When you have a Mila Cosgrove…”

Lawmakers will be back at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this file photo, on Aug. 16, and after spending several weeks on background hearings and public testimony, members of the work group say they're ready to get into solutions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Fiscal working group readies for policy proposals

Making progress.

After the second-wettest summer on record last year, Juneau is seeing more typical summer weather according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures in downtown Juneau hadn't reached 70 degrees yet the morning of Saturday, July 31, 2021, but they would get there before the end of the day. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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After rainy 2020, Juneau sees more typical summer weather

What a difference a year makes.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, center, joined by, from left, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, announces to reporters that he and the other GOP negotiators have reached agreement on a $1 trillion infrastructure bill with Democrats and are ready to vote to take up the bill, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 28, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Murkowski: Alaska’s needs addressed in infrastructure bill

‘Pretty historic.’

file

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State lawyer no longer with law department after social media report

Accusations remain unconfirmed.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire There aren’t many patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 at Bartlett Regional Hospitals, seen here on Wednesday, but health officials are urging Alaksans to get vaccinated as a flood of new cases is straining health care systems in other parts of the state.

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Officials encourage vaccination as hospitals in state near capacity

Hospitalizations remain low locally, but there’s concern about a surge.

Killah Priest of the Wu-Tang Clan performs at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, is returning to town for a show in support of the Helping Hands of Juneau Foodbank. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

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Killah Priest returns to Juneau in support of local charity

Free show, donations appreciated.