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State lawmakers including Juneau Democrats Sen. Jesse Kiehl and Rep. Andi Story, pose with a copy of a joint resolution urging federal action to allow cruising to return to Alaska this summer. Gov. Mike Dunleavy stands to the left and Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon is in the left background in the hangar of Wings Airways in Juneau on Friday, April 9, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Governor says help coming for beleaguered tourism industry

Alaska is open.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy sent a letter to the White House asking for federal action to get cruise ship passengers, like the ones seen here in this 2017 file photo, back in Alaska. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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Dunleavy asks White House to allow cruises

Cites severe economic impact.

In this file photo from April 13, 2017, firefighters spray foam during a drill at the Hagevig Regional Fire Training Center. The state filed a lawsuit against several foam manufacturers for not disclosing contaminants in their products. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

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State sues DuPont, other PFAS manufacturers

A lot of work to do.

Longtime Alaska law enforcement official Jim Cockrell, seen here in an undated photo in his role as a colonel with the Alaska State Troopers, was appointed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy as Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

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Dunleavy appoints new Public Safety Commissioner

Law enforcement veteran to lead state’s public safety department.

A health care worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. There's concern that COVID-19 vaccination could be made mandatory by businesses for activities such as travel-- or employment. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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Without a vaccine mandate exemptions are untested

Legal gray area.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Juneau’s downtown waterfront sits empty Monday. In a typical year, businesses would be getting ready for the flood of local tourists. But with the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, Alaska’s cruise ship season remains uncertain.

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New guidelines for cruise ships, but Alaska’s still off the itinerary

Maritime law cuts off Alaskan tourism.

Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department displayed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. The state is suing prescription drug companies, accusing them of helping to fuel a drug crisis in the state. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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State sues drug companies over opioids

Not Alaska’s first opioid lawsuit.

Doug Woodby, co-chair of environmental group 350Juneau, holds up a letter addressed to the CEO of Wells Fargo alongside Irene Alexakos and Dick Farnell, wearing the costume. The group delivered the letter urging divestment from the fossil fuel industry to the bank's branch in downtown Juneau on Friday, April 2, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Costume-clad conservationist calls on banks to divest from fossil fuels

Tyrannosaurus checks.

The banner at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court case on display at the Newseum in Washington D.C. The banner's owner was unable to find it a home in Juneau, and it's been sent to the First Amendment Museum in Maine. (Wikicommons)

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Banner at center of Supreme Court case leaves Juneau

Student speech still relevant.

A person holds their thumb over a fingerprint sensor to log into an application. Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday introduced a bill that would make companies that collect and sell private information have to receive user's consent first. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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New bill would allow Alaskans to know when data is collected

Governor introduced Consumer Data Privacy Act on Wednesday.

House lawmakers are hoping to see at least some cruise ship passengers like these seen in this Sept. 2017 file photo, and passed a resolution urging Congress and the president to take action on behalf of Alaska's tourist sector. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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House OKs resolution urging federal action to allow cruise ships to come to Alaska

Juneau’s lawmakers say tourism needed for Southeast.

The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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Deputy commissioner to fill in for Tshibaka

Departure effective immediately.

A fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor in September 2014. A resolution urging federal action on maritime laws was held up by House Republicans with legal concerns. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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House Republicans balk at cruise ship waiver language

Will they waive them through?

House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, listens to representatives debate a COVID-19 disaster declaration on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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House passes emergency declaration bill

Ongoing issues.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a news conference in Anchorage on Friday, March 26, 2021, to announce the state’s intention to begin management of over 800,000 miles of submerged lands as affirmed in a 2019 U.S. Supreme Court decision. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

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State demands right to manage submerged lands

‘Enough is enough.’

House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, listens to representatives debate a COVID-19 disaster declaration on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Lawmakers clash on how to manage pandemic

Disaster debate shows deep divisions.

Sens. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, left and Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, questioned acting Attorney General Treg Taylor about the administration’s approach to legal matters at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 23, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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AG defends pandemic emergency orders during hearing

Liberties can be limited.

The shelves at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank were full on Feb. 18, 2021, as food banks around the state have been working hard to meet extra demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but starting in April its possible the state could lose $8 million a month in federal food stamp benefits. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Looming benefit loss causes food security concerns

Two bills are being considered to keep increased food stamp benefits.

Volunteers with the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network perform a necropsy on a beached humpback whale on Kuzof Island on Thursday, March 18, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network)

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Beached humpback provides rare opportunity for scientists

Volunteers led by UAS researchers dissect whale near Sitka.

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. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Mask rules standoff derails House floor session

Rescheduled for Saturday.