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Members of the House of Representatives leave the chamber Wednesday, Feb. 3,. after failing to elect a temporary speaker, part of a deadlock that was broken Thursday, when Rep. Josiah Patkotak was elected Speaker Pro Tem. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

State House picks temporary speaker

One step closer.

Screenshot This still image from a Gavel Alaska livestream shows Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum as he speaks to a Senate committee on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. Lawmakers questioned Crum on the legality of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s emergency disaster declarations and extensions.

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Different reasons, same conclusion: Disaster extensions concerns state lawmakers

Committee to resume Thursday.

Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, seen here sitting in the Speaker’s chair in the Alaska House of Representatives chamber on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, presided over yet another House session where lawmakers failed to organize. Feb. 1, marked the third straight week of deadlock in the House. Lawmakers will meet again Tuesday morning. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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House remains deadlocked. Here’s what that means for future legislation

Senate can only do so much.

Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, chairs the Senate State Affairs Committee on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, during a review of a bill he submitted. Shower says the bill would strengthen Alaska’s election security while critics say it will make it harder for Alaskans to vote. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Security or suppression? Bill would change how Alaskans vote

Election security or voter suppression?

Juneau poet Lin Davis reads a poem at a demonstration in Dimond Court Plaza across from the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. Dozens of protestors gathered to support strong actions by the state to combat climate change. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Environmentalists welcome lawmakers with call to action

Fossil fuel-free Alaska?

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Republican members of the House of Representatives gather in a conference room at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday to watch the governor’s State of the State address.

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Governor encourages unity, increased independence in State of State

First virtual address.

Staff, lawmakers and members of the press gather for the first Senate Judiciary Committee meeting of the 32nd Legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. While Senators moved ahead with work, the House of Representatives was once again unable to organize. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

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Deadlock continues as senators forge ahead

Committees and caucuses.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here giving his 2020 State of the State address before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, announced this year’s address would be virtual due to the pandemic. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

News

Dunleavy to give virtual State of the State address

Virtual for the first time.

Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer leaves the Alaska House of Representatives chamber Monday, Jan. 25, 2020 after presiding over yet another floor session in which lawmakers were unable to elect leadership. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

House deadlock remains, lawmakers to meet Wednesday

They’ll try again Wednesday.

Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke with the Empire in his office at the Capitol on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. He said he was hopeful about finding a path forward for the state and that he wanted better communication between the Legislature and the public. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

‘It must be done this year’: Senate president eyes fiscal plan

“We have to solve this problem.”

Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, left, leaves the Alaska House of Representatives chamber Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, with George Rauscher, R-Sutton, after a brief floor session where lawmakers failed to nominate a temporary speaker. Meyer will preside over the body until a leadership is elected. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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House members optimistic, but still deadlocked

‘Not everyone stand at once here.’

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who spoke to the Empire via phone Wednesday, speaks at an Anchorage press conference on Dec. 11, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

News

Governor confident in Alaska’s ability to recover

‘A lot of opportunities.’

Newly elected Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, speaks with Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, after being unanimously elected to the position on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Senate organizes, elects Micciche as president

Legislature is stalled.

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives take their oaths of office on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021 in the Alaska State Capitol at Juneau, Alaska. Members were allowed to remove their COVID-19 masks as they took the oath. (James Brooks/Anchorage Daily News, Pool)

News

State House remains unorganized after first day

They’ll try again Wednesday.

House members await the start of the new session on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Capitol Live: House deadlocks on leadership, adjourns

Live updates from the Capitol

New signage at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, Jan 15, 2020, reminds visitors of health mitigation strategies. Committees from the previous legislature had their final meetings Monday as the new session starts Tuesday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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State will audit CARES Act funding

Public money, public information.

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News

Ed Sniffen appointed as Attorney General

Acting AG since August.

Increased collaboration between the University of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, and UA Fairbanks had led to greater enrollment in the university system's fisheries programs, according to UA Interim President Pat Pitney. Making Juneau a fisheries hub was mentioned as a way of increasing enrollment and better serving the state at a UA Regents meeting Friday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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University of Alaska looks to a post-pandemic future

After a chaotic year, stability seems to have returned, and leaders are optimistic.

After violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol today, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., join other senators as they return to the House chamber to continue the joint session of the House and Senate and count the Electoral College votes cast in November's election, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Murkowski on impeachment: ‘I will listen carefully’ to both sides

As for timing, the senator said, “our priority this week must be to ensure safety in Washington, D.C.”

Even as coronavirus numbers are going down and vaccines are being distributed, pandemic-related facilities like the testing site at Juneau International Airport, seen here in this Oct. 12 file photo, are scheduled to remain for some time, according to city health officials. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Vaccines are coming, but pandemic facilities will remain

Testing sites and other COVID-19 operations will continue, officials say, but infections are trending down.