Peter Segall

Meetings at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this December 19, 2020 file photo, were canceled Thursday after a member of the House of Representatives tested positive for COVID-19. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Meetings at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this December 19, 2020 file photo, were canceled Thursday after a member of the House of Representatives tested positive for COVID-19. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Stock
Stock
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy tested positive for COVID-19 his office announced Wednesday. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy tested positive for COVID-19 his office announced Wednesday. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)
Air-source heat pumps, like the one in this 2015 photo of Jake Eames, right, and David Nash installing a pump, are an example of a load-side technology that can increase energy efficiency. "Load-side technologies are absolutely key to our ability to reduce greenhouse emissions in the energy sector,” said director of energy services at Alaska Electric Light and Power Alec Mesdag.

In Juneau, going green focuses on power usage

The electricity’s already clean.

Air-source heat pumps, like the one in this 2015 photo of Jake Eames, right, and David Nash installing a pump, are an example of a load-side technology that can increase energy efficiency. "Load-side technologies are absolutely key to our ability to reduce greenhouse emissions in the energy sector,” said director of energy services at Alaska Electric Light and Power Alec Mesdag.
Katie Hurley, seen here in an undated photo from the Alaska State Legislature biography page, died at the age of 99 on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Alaska State Legislature)
Katie Hurley, seen here in an undated photo from the Alaska State Legislature biography page, died at the age of 99 on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Alaska State Legislature)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy went into self-quarantine Monday following news a close contact had tested positive for COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)

Governor quarantines following close contact

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is in quarantine following close contact on Saturday with a person who recently tested positive for COVID-19. Dunleavy was informed of the… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy went into self-quarantine Monday following news a close contact had tested positive for COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks in an interview at the Empire's offices in Juneau on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Murkowski said rare earth resources was an area Alaska could, and should, take advantage of. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks in an interview at the Empire's offices in Juneau on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Murkowski said rare earth resources was an area Alaska could, and should, take advantage of. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Speaker of the House Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, speaks with reporters on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 after lawmakers were able put together enough of a coalition to organize itself and begin legislative work. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House organizes, speaker promises to make up for lost time

Both Juneau’s representatives will chair committees for the first time.

Speaker of the House Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, speaks with reporters on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 after lawmakers were able put together enough of a coalition to organize itself and begin legislative work. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Joel Bolger speaks from behind a plexiglass encased podium to deliver the State of the Judiciary address to state lawmakers on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Despite complications posed by the pandemic, Bolger said Alaskan courts were still able to deliver services. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Bolger says Alaska’s judge selection best in U.S.

Nonpartisan selection?

Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Joel Bolger speaks from behind a plexiglass encased podium to deliver the State of the Judiciary address to state lawmakers on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Despite complications posed by the pandemic, Bolger said Alaskan courts were still able to deliver services. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire's offices on Feb. 16, 2021. Murkowski was in the capital city as part of an annual Presidents Day recess trip that typically includes an address to the Alaska State Legislature. Instead, Murkowski visited with state lawmakers at the Capitol on Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Murkowski: Bipartisanship is not dead

Trump still looms large.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire's offices on Feb. 16, 2021. Murkowski was in the capital city as part of an annual Presidents Day recess trip that typically includes an address to the Alaska State Legislature. Instead, Murkowski visited with state lawmakers at the Capitol on Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, speaks to colleagues on Friday, Feb 12, 2021. Edgmon, who served as speaker of the house in 31st Legislature, was named Monday as a co-chair of the House Finance Committee. A full list of committee assignments is expected soon. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, speaks to colleagues on Friday, Feb 12, 2021. Edgmon, who served as speaker of the house in 31st Legislature, was named Monday as a co-chair of the House Finance Committee. A full list of committee assignments is expected soon. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, speaks to Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, during an at ease in the debate over the extension of an emergency declaration on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Disaster declaration deadline looms

Running out of time, lawmakers fail to extend emergency

Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, speaks to Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, during an at ease in the debate over the extension of an emergency declaration on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 but a clear majority still hasn’t formed in the body. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 but a clear majority still hasn’t formed in the body. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The lawsuit in question stemmed from a legal opinion written by former-Attorney General Kevin Clarkson, seen here in this Jan. 30, 2019 Empire file photo with Gov. Mike Dunleavy. An Anchorage judge wrote the opinion violated collective bargaining agreements and federal labor law. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)
The lawsuit in question stemmed from a legal opinion written by former-Attorney General Kevin Clarkson, seen here in this Jan. 30, 2019 Empire file photo with Gov. Mike Dunleavy. An Anchorage judge wrote the opinion violated collective bargaining agreements and federal labor law. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)
In this file photo Bartlett Regional Hospital pharmacist Chris Sperry holds a vial of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020. Appointments are still available for the second vaccine clinic for elderly residents 65 and older on Feb. 11-12 as of Feb. 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

State announces more people eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine

Includes some 50 and older, educators and people living or working in congregate settings.

In this file photo Bartlett Regional Hospital pharmacist Chris Sperry holds a vial of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020. Appointments are still available for the second vaccine clinic for elderly residents 65 and older on Feb. 11-12 as of Feb. 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The election of  Rep. Josiah Patkotak, I-Utqiaġvik, seen here on Friday, Feb. 5, as Speaker Pro Tem is the only break so far in the deadlock in the House of Representatives. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The election of  Rep. Josiah Patkotak, I-Utqiaġvik, seen here on Friday, Feb. 5, as Speaker Pro Tem is the only break so far in the deadlock in the House of Representatives. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here speaking in this Aug. 11, 2020 file photo, will be holding a news conference this evening at 5 p.m. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here speaking in this Aug. 11, 2020 file photo, will be holding a news conference this evening at 5 p.m. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
Some buildings, like Centennial Hall, seen here on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, have been converted into facilities to help combat the coronavirus pandemic. If the state’s COVID-19 emergency declaration lapses on Feb. 15, health officials are saying it could make combating the pandemic more difficult. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

With deadline looming, some say disaster order no longer needed

Health officials say extension would help effort against ongoing pandemic.

Some buildings, like Centennial Hall, seen here on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, have been converted into facilities to help combat the coronavirus pandemic. If the state’s COVID-19 emergency declaration lapses on Feb. 15, health officials are saying it could make combating the pandemic more difficult. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Senate Finance Committee, seen here with chair Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, leading a meeting on Jan. 27, discussed Monday Gov. Mike Dunleavy's propsoal for a $1.4 billion supplemental budget. Most of that money would go to paying out a supplemental Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Senate Finance Committee, seen here with chair Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, leading a meeting on Jan. 27, discussed Monday Gov. Mike Dunleavy's propsoal for a $1.4 billion supplemental budget. Most of that money would go to paying out a supplemental Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
There's money in Gov. Mike Dunleavy's bond proposal package for projects like the one taking place at Aurora Harbor, seen here in this Nov. 5, 2020, photo, but Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, doesn't think there's enough local investment. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
There's money in Gov. Mike Dunleavy's bond proposal package for projects like the one taking place at Aurora Harbor, seen here in this Nov. 5, 2020, photo, but Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, doesn't think there's enough local investment. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)