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House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, gave a stern warning about decorum to members of the Alaska House of Representatives on the first day of the legislative session on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022. Last year the Legislature was so divided it took a full regular session and four special sessions before work was completed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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First day of session brings familiar tensions to Legislature

Many bills, not much time.

Chair of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Board of Trustees Craig Richards answers questions from the bicameral Legislative Budget and Audit Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2022. The committee called Richards and other members of the board to answer questions about the December firing of APFC CEO Angela Rodell, who has claimed her termination was politically motivated. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Permanent Fund Corp. board members defend CEO firing

A tense start to session.

The next session of the Alaska State Legislature will begin next week at the Capitol building in Juneau, seen here on Jan. 10, 2022, and lawmakers have already filed dozens of new bills for consideration. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Juneau lawmakers’ prefiled bills seek state services stability

Session starts Tuesday.

In this Empire file photo, a Princess Cruise Line ship is seen docked in Juneau on Aug. 25, 2021. The U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday the company pleaded guilty to violating the terms of its probabtion stemming from a 2017 conviction for illegal wastewater dumping. (Michael Lockett / Juneau Empire file)

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Princess Cruises pleads guilty to probation violation

U.S. Dept. of Justice says company violated probation terms.

This Aug. 21, 2020 photo shows the interior of Riverbend Elementary School, which suffered severe damage after two water pipes burst following extreme cold in Juneau. The Juneau School District announced Thursday the school would remain closed until at least next week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Riverbend Elementary to remain closed due to water damage

Alternative plans being made.

Signatures for a ballot initiative to have the State of Alaska recognize the 229 federally-recognized tribal governments were submitted to Division of Elections offices in Anchorage Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. The campaign was able to collect 56,230 signatures - well over the minimum requirement - meaning Alaskan voters will likely see the initiative on the November ballot. (Courtesy photo / Alaskans for Better Government)

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Campaigners submit over 56,000 signatures for tribal recognition initiative

State has 60 days to reply.

A worker stands outside a collapsed building in Lemon Creek on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, one of two building collapses reported in Juneau amid ongoing rain following heavy snowfall. The City and Borough of Juneau said no injuries were reported and urged building owners to be cautious of snow loads on roofs. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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City reports 2 buildings collapse as continuing rain stresses infrastructure

Rain to continue through weekend.

FILE--In this undated file photo, drilling operations at the Doyon Rig 19 at the Conoco-Phillips Carbon location in the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska, are shown. Alaska's Congressional delegation released a joint statement Tuesday condemning the Biden Administration's decision not to pursue development on the reserve, saying it would hurt the state's economy. (AP Photo/Judy Patrick, File)

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Congressional delegation condemns NPR-A development reversal

Another policy reversal.

Lawmakers will return next week to the Alaska State Capitol building, seen here on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, for the next session of the Alaska State Legislature, but local leaders were cautious about what could be accomplished in an election year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Local leaders expect old issues to shape new session

Familiar issues to dominate session.

Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation CEO Angela Rodell speaks to the House Finance Committee on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Rodell was fired as CEO on Dec. 10 by APFC's board, a decision which has lawmakers and others asking 'why?' (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Lawmakers want answers on CEO firing at permanent fund corp

Record earnings reported.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced his People First Initiative - a package of programs and reforms aimed at increasing public safety - at a press conference in Anchorage on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. The package of reforms is meant to address five major intersecting topics, the governor said: domestic violence and sexual assault; Missing and Murdered Indigenous People; human/sex trafficking; foster care and homelessness. (screenshot)

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Dunleavy announces package of public safety measures

Programs, laws and reforms.

Copies of the Alaska State Constitution were available outside the Lt. Governor’s office on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, but if voters choose to have a constitutional convention next year, the state’s foundational document could be re-written entirely. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Group warns of costs, time and changes from constitutional convention

You say you’ll change the constitution.

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Cities hope to see full state budget, bolstered by federal funds

School bond debt.

Dorothy Thomson stands while giving a thumbs down as Gov. Mike Dunleavy gives his State of Alaska Address during the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. The 2019 convention was the last in-person convention as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the meeting to go digital for the second year in a row. (Eric Engman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP)

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‘Relationships are key’: AFN Convention brings leaders to the table

All levels of leadership.

Last year’s haul of donated socks to the Mountain View Senior and Disable Housing is laid out on a table in this undated courtesy photo from Briana Heller, the home’s services coordinator. Heller said the home is running a donation drive for socks and slippers as Christmas gifts for the home’s 67 residents. (Courtesy photo / Briana Heller)

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Home seeks slippers and socks for seniors

Slippers for seniors.

A student pets Wilson, a therapy dog, in a hallway at French Middle School, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. The dog is one of the tools designed to relieve stresses faced by students as they return to classrooms amid the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Health officials: Youth mental health issues, suicides worsened by pandemic

Anxiety and depression.

Heavy rain and snow fell on the Mike Pusich Douglas Harbor on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 and is expected to continue through the week, according to the National Weather Service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Juneau records 2nd snowiest early winter in 20 years

More snow expected in the near future, too

Gov. Mike Dunleavy spoke with reporters at the Alaska Governor's Mansion on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, before greeting guests for the traditional Christmas open house. The event was suspended last year due to COVID-19 but was back this year with limited health mitigation rules in place. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Juneauites fill Governor’s Mansion as annual open house returns

Kids more interested in cookies than governor.

Heavy snow and rain fell on Juneau’s Aurora Harbor on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, creating potentially hazardous conditions. City and Borough of Juneau Docks and Harbors officials asked boat owners to keep a careful eye on their vessels as heavy snow and rain is expected through the week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

More rain, snow and overnight ice expected

Drive/Boat safe.

This February 2020 file photo shows the Alaska state flag on the bow of the MV Matanuska at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. The infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress includes significant funding for the ferry system, but coastal communities are still feeling the pinch of reduced service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Infrastructure bill will boost ferries, but winter service still sparse

New funds, old problems.