Peter Segall

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Senators converse during an At Ease in a floor session of the Alaska State Senate on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. Senators passed a budget bill with a Permanent Fund Dividend of $1,100, but there’s disagreement over the fund sources that may lead to legal action. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Senate passes budget bill, $1,100 PFD hours before deadline

Next stop: The governor’s desk.

Senators converse during an At Ease in a floor session of the Alaska State Senate on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. Senators passed a budget bill with a Permanent Fund Dividend of $1,100, but there’s disagreement over the fund sources that may lead to legal action. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A bill aimed at helping Alaska's hospitals died Monday after provisions were added by lawmakers barring vaccine mandates. In this file photo, a nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

Bill aimed at helping hospitals stalls after anti-mandate language added

Distracting debate.

A bill aimed at helping Alaska's hospitals died Monday after provisions were added by lawmakers barring vaccine mandates. In this file photo, a nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)
State Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, participate's in an October 2020 march and rally in Juneau. Hannan on Monday apologized for comments made during a state House of Representatives floor session in which she suggested Nazi medical experiments led to gained knowledge. ((Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Hannan apologizes for Nazi experiment comments

State rep calls her remarks “incorrect, insensitive and hurtful.”

State Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, participate's in an October 2020 march and rally in Juneau. Hannan on Monday apologized for comments made during a state House of Representatives floor session in which she suggested Nazi medical experiments led to gained knowledge. ((Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Senate Majority Leader Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, right, speaks with Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, and Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, during a floor debate in the Alaska Senate over vaccine mandates on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Vaccine mandate debate roils Alaska

Mandate minefield.

Senate Majority Leader Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, right, speaks with Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, and Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, during a floor debate in the Alaska Senate over vaccine mandates on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday he was filing suit against the Biden administration for an Environmental Protection Agency decision to potentially protect Bristol Bay waters under the Clean Water Act. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Gov criticizes Biden admin over Bristol Bay review

Ready for litigation.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday he was filing suit against the Biden administration for an Environmental Protection Agency decision to potentially protect Bristol Bay waters under the Clean Water Act. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Lawmakers at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this Jun. 7, file photo, heard a bill that would make it easier for hospitals to hire workers from other states on Tuesday, with only a week left in the Legislature's third special session of the year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Lawmakers fast-track bill to aid health care hiring

Workers are strained.

Lawmakers at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this Jun. 7, file photo, heard a bill that would make it easier for hospitals to hire workers from other states on Tuesday, with only a week left in the Legislature's third special session of the year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Unable to hold the usual Labor Day picnic, members of Juneau's Central Labor Council decided to hold a donation drive at Saviko Park instead. According to CLC President Kirk Perisich, seen here at right bringing donated clothes to be sorted on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, donations had piled up within the first 20 minutes. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Labor of love: Unions collect for local service organizations

Labor Day donation drive.

Unable to hold the usual Labor Day picnic, members of Juneau's Central Labor Council decided to hold a donation drive at Saviko Park instead. According to CLC President Kirk Perisich, seen here at right bringing donated clothes to be sorted on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, donations had piled up within the first 20 minutes. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Alaska House of Representatives consult staff during an at ease during floor debate on Aug. 31, 2021, in the middle of the Alaska State Legislature’s third special session of the year. Gov. Mike Dunleavy said another session is likely, but didn’t say when or where it would be held. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Governor, lawmakers say another special session likely

‘Contemplating the venue.’

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives consult staff during an at ease during floor debate on Aug. 31, 2021, in the middle of the Alaska State Legislature’s third special session of the year. Gov. Mike Dunleavy said another session is likely, but didn’t say when or where it would be held. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
An ICU nurse, moves electrical cords for medical machines, outside the room of a patient suffering from COVID-19, in an intensive care unit at the Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, La. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a nurse staffing crisis that is forcing many U.S. hospitals to pay top dollar to get the help they need to handle the crush of patients this summer. (AP Photo/ Gerald Herbert)

Gov amends session to allow lawmakers to tackle COVID

‘Move at the speed of trust.’

An ICU nurse, moves electrical cords for medical machines, outside the room of a patient suffering from COVID-19, in an intensive care unit at the Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, La. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a nurse staffing crisis that is forcing many U.S. hospitals to pay top dollar to get the help they need to handle the crush of patients this summer. (AP Photo/ Gerald Herbert)
Sens. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, center, and Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, right, put questions to Office of Management and Budget Director Neil Steininger during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. The Legislature's third special session of the year is dealing mostly with budget issues despite having been called to bring resolution to the state's fiscal deficit. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Governor adds amendments to budget bill

Maybe another session.

Sens. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, center, and Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, right, put questions to Office of Management and Budget Director Neil Steininger during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. The Legislature's third special session of the year is dealing mostly with budget issues despite having been called to bring resolution to the state's fiscal deficit. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A plane lands at Juneau International Airport on May 25, 2021, as the number of travelers in the state started to rise after the lockdowns of 2020. Travel numbers are not back up to their pre-pandemic levels, but they are increasing according to local travel authorities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

After steep decline, transportation numbers are slowly taking off again

Passengers are coming back by boat, plane and bus, but not yet at pre-pandemic numbers.

A plane lands at Juneau International Airport on May 25, 2021, as the number of travelers in the state started to rise after the lockdowns of 2020. Travel numbers are not back up to their pre-pandemic levels, but they are increasing according to local travel authorities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, center, leaves the House chambers on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 following marathon floor sessions that morning and Monday night. The House passed an appropriations bill but not before members of the minority voiced deep objections. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House passes budget bill, calls for $1,100 PFD

Fractious floor sessions.

House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, center, leaves the House chambers on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 following marathon floor sessions that morning and Monday night. The House passed an appropriations bill but not before members of the minority voiced deep objections. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
From left to right, House Majority Leader Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage; House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla and Reps. Mike Prax, R-North Pole; Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski and George Rauscher, R-Sutton, speak on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives following a floor session on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. Lawmakers found themselves debating familiar topics as they worked through amendments to a budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House budget debate stretches into evening

Dividend divisions.

From left to right, House Majority Leader Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage; House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla and Reps. Mike Prax, R-North Pole; Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski and George Rauscher, R-Sutton, speak on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives following a floor session on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021. Lawmakers found themselves debating familiar topics as they worked through amendments to a budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, speaks with Reps. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, and Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, as members of the House Republican Minority failed to show up for floor session. Divisions over the pace and direction of the special session has delayed legislative work. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Divisions delay work as lawmakers trade blame

Hopes for work group.

House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, speaks with Reps. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, and Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, as members of the House Republican Minority failed to show up for floor session. Divisions over the pace and direction of the special session has delayed legislative work. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at an Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday the state was taking steps to help Alaska's hospitals deal with the strain of a spike in COVID-19 cases. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

State expedites health care hiring process to help staff strained hospitals

Pandemic burnout.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at an Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday the state was taking steps to help Alaska's hospitals deal with the strain of a spike in COVID-19 cases. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered the release of certain state funds Wednesday, including for the Alaska Performance Scholarship, which helps Alaskans pay for things like classes at the University of Alaska Southeast, shown in this October 2020 file photo. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

State releases scholarship, medical school program funding

Scholarships and public health.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered the release of certain state funds Wednesday, including for the Alaska Performance Scholarship, which helps Alaskans pay for things like classes at the University of Alaska Southeast, shown in this October 2020 file photo. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
House Sergeant-At-Arms Micaela Brader waits for member of the Alaska House of Representatives to arrive for a floor session on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. Despite several calls to a floor session, members of the House Republican Minority never arrived, causing a delay in legislative business. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Legislative work stalled by House divisions

Divisions and delays.

House Sergeant-At-Arms Micaela Brader waits for member of the Alaska House of Representatives to arrive for a floor session on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. Despite several calls to a floor session, members of the House Republican Minority never arrived, causing a delay in legislative business. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Staff at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this July 28 photo, are feeling stressed after 18 months of a pandemic, according to hospital CEO Rose Lawhorne, who said that depsite the challenges the hospital is still ready to provide services.

Local officials say health infrastructure remains strong

National supplies strained.

Staff at Bartlett Regional Hospital, shown in this July 28 photo, are feeling stressed after 18 months of a pandemic, according to hospital CEO Rose Lawhorne, who said that depsite the challenges the hospital is still ready to provide services.
Rep. Ivy Sponholz, D-Anchorage, left, listens as Legislative Finance Director Alexei Painter gives a presentation to the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Lawmakers have less than 30 days to try and both complete the state's budget and find resolution on the state's long term fiscal problems. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Legislators aim to finish budget, find fiscal solutions

Less than 30 days.

Rep. Ivy Sponholz, D-Anchorage, left, listens as Legislative Finance Director Alexei Painter gives a presentation to the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Lawmakers have less than 30 days to try and both complete the state's budget and find resolution on the state's long term fiscal problems. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Travelers check their cellphones near a sign promoting COVID-19 vaccinations in the Juneau International Airport on Thursday. Federal officials are recommending a booster shot for the COVID-19 vaccine, and local health authorities say the rollout will likely be similar to the initial vaccine distribution. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City, state officials plan for September vaccine boosters

Federal details not yet released.

Travelers check their cellphones near a sign promoting COVID-19 vaccinations in the Juneau International Airport on Thursday. Federal officials are recommending a booster shot for the COVID-19 vaccine, and local health authorities say the rollout will likely be similar to the initial vaccine distribution. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)