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An Exam Corp Lab employee, right, wears a mask as she talks with a patient lined up for COVID-19 testing in Niles, Ill. Millions of U.S. workers now have a Jan. 4 deadline to get a COVID vaccine. The federal government on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021 announced new vaccine requirements for workers at companies with more than 100 employees as well as workers at health care facilities that treat Medicare and Medicaid patients. (AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh)

Lawsuits over workplace vaccine rule focus on states’ rights

Alaska among states suing.

  • Nov 5, 2021
  • By David A. Liev, Geoff Mulvihill and Andrew Associated Press
  • Nation-World
An Exam Corp Lab employee, right, wears a mask as she talks with a patient lined up for COVID-19 testing in Niles, Ill. Millions of U.S. workers now have a Jan. 4 deadline to get a COVID vaccine. The federal government on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021 announced new vaccine requirements for workers at companies with more than 100 employees as well as workers at health care facilities that treat Medicare and Medicaid patients. (AP Photo / Nam Y. Huh)
Loren Jones addresses the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in this January 2019 photo. In October, he completed his third, three-year term on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. Term limits prevented him from running again, and he recently attended his last official meeting. But, he has no plans to slow down. Earlier this week, he answered nine questions for the Empire — one question for each year of service on the assembly. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Q&A: Jones steps back, but not away

Long-serving CBJ Assembly member plans to stay busy

Loren Jones addresses the Juneau Chamber of Commerce in this January 2019 photo. In October, he completed his third, three-year term on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly. Term limits prevented him from running again, and he recently attended his last official meeting. But, he has no plans to slow down. Earlier this week, he answered nine questions for the Empire — one question for each year of service on the assembly. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Haines-based author and Alaska’s current writer laureate will be at Hearthside Books Nugget Mall location on Sunday, Nov. 7, to read from her latest book “Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics.”

Heather Lende, Haines writer, to read from latest book in Juneau

Alaska’s writer laureate reflects on ‘difficult’ writing.

Haines-based author and Alaska’s current writer laureate will be at Hearthside Books Nugget Mall location on Sunday, Nov. 7, to read from her latest book “Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics.”
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Opinion: Build back a better Congress

The importance of reaching across the aisle.

  • Nov 5, 2021
  • By Rich Moniak
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In this Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, photo provided by Primary Health Medical Group, Ben Weiss, 10, gets a COVID-19 vaccine at Primary Health Medical Group in Meridian, Idaho. (Tracy Morris/Primary Health Medical Group via AP)

Officials recommend vaccination ahead of holidays

Safe holiday gatherings.

In this Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, photo provided by Primary Health Medical Group, Ben Weiss, 10, gets a COVID-19 vaccine at Primary Health Medical Group in Meridian, Idaho. (Tracy Morris/Primary Health Medical Group via AP)
The Healing Hand Foundation is holding a black tie dinner honoring Ethel Lund, a pioneer in tribal healthcare, on her 90th birthday as it fundraises for a new scholarship. (Courtesy photo / HHF)

Nonprofit holding 90th birthday gala for tribal health care trailblazer

The gala is funraising for a scholarship for other prospective Alaska Native healthcare workers.

The Healing Hand Foundation is holding a black tie dinner honoring Ethel Lund, a pioneer in tribal healthcare, on her 90th birthday as it fundraises for a new scholarship. (Courtesy photo / HHF)
The Celebrity Millennium sails into the Port of Juneau early on the morning of July 26, 2021. During this voyage, onboard purchases were exempt from the City and Borough of Juneau’s sales tax. However, a new ordinance winding through the City Assembly could change that for next year. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

City seeks to tax onboard purchases

“An issue of tax fairness”

The Celebrity Millennium sails into the Port of Juneau early on the morning of July 26, 2021. During this voyage, onboard purchases were exempt from the City and Borough of Juneau’s sales tax. However, a new ordinance winding through the City Assembly could change that for next year. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File) This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

City considers whether to weigh in on state revenue options

City leaders generally oppose a statewide sales tax

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File) This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol on Sept. 24, 2021. State lawmakers are expected to consider ways to raise revenue when they begin meeting again. Leaders in the City and Borough are considering whether to go on record with a preference for how state officials proceed in the quest to raise money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Police are seeking information about a 29-year-old man after his family reported him missing on Saturday. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)

Police seeking information on missing man

The 29-year-old hasn’t been seen for several weeks.

Police are seeking information about a 29-year-old man after his family reported him missing on Saturday. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Police Department)
A voter fills out their ballot in the Thunder Mountain High School gymnasium during the 2020 general election. With more than a year to go before the 2022 election, spending is ramping up. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Statewide campaign coffers are filling up

Lots more to come.

A voter fills out their ballot in the Thunder Mountain High School gymnasium during the 2020 general election. With more than a year to go before the 2022 election, spending is ramping up. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Judge grants request to expand medication abortion providers

The ruling came on an injunction request by Planned Parenthood.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City and Borough of Juneau assembly members agreed to provide $2.88 from the General Fund to Docks and Harbors to purchase a parcel of land located between Harris and Aurora Harbors downtown. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire File)

Docks and Harbors to buy land

It’s cheaper to buy than rent

This March 2020 photo shows Juneau’s City Hall. At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, City and Borough of Juneau assembly members agreed to provide $2.88 from the General Fund to Docks and Harbors to purchase a parcel of land located between Harris and Aurora Harbors downtown. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire File)
State Rep. Zack Fields

Alaska, more than any other state, needs COP26 to be successful

Make no mistake: We cannot “avoid” climate change.

  • Nov 3, 2021
  • By Zack Fields
State Rep. Zack Fields
A 50-year-old man was arrested in Fred Meyer on Tuesday afternoon for threatening behavior, said a police spokesperson. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Man arrested for threatening behavior in Fred Meyer

The man was yelling and swinging a baseball bat in the air.

A 50-year-old man was arrested in Fred Meyer on Tuesday afternoon for threatening behavior, said a police spokesperson. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Update: Delivery of late editions again delayed by weather

Mechanical issues, weather cause delays.

  • Nov 3, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire Currently, the privately owned Franklin Street dock shown in this Nov. 1 photo is Juneau’s only electrified dock. Plans are underway to electrify two city-owned cruise ship docks. In addition to electrifying city-owned docks, more electric docks may be on the horizon for Juneau, as Norwegian Cruise Lines eyes electrification for the cruise ship dock the company seeks to build on their waterfront property on Egan Drive.

Study sheds light on electrifying cruise ship docks

City leaders await federal announcement of grant award

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire Currently, the privately owned Franklin Street dock shown in this Nov. 1 photo is Juneau’s only electrified dock. Plans are underway to electrify two city-owned cruise ship docks. In addition to electrifying city-owned docks, more electric docks may be on the horizon for Juneau, as Norwegian Cruise Lines eyes electrification for the cruise ship dock the company seeks to build on their waterfront property on Egan Drive.
This photo provided by Pfizer shows kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Puurs, Belgium. (Pfizer)

US gives final clearance to COVID-19 shots for kids 5 to 11

By Lauran Neergaard and Mike Stobbe AP Medical Writers U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a milestone… Continue reading

This photo provided by Pfizer shows kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Puurs, Belgium. (Pfizer)
Screenshot Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to a Western Governors Association workshop held in Ketchikan on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Dunleavy gave the opening remarks Tuesday and said President Joe Biden’s policies were hurting Alaska.

Dunleavy criticizes Biden policies during multistate conference

Familiar remarks.

Screenshot Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to a Western Governors Association workshop held in Ketchikan on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Dunleavy gave the opening remarks Tuesday and said President Joe Biden’s policies were hurting Alaska.
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Village president: Shooter surrendered in Kake with no injuries reported

More details to come.

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Local officials and dignitaries prepare to ceremonially break ground on the Teal Street Center, a multi-tenant building housing a number of nonprofit and tribal services for Southeast residents next to the Glory Hall on Nov. 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Nonprofit services center breaks groundGlory Hall holds grand opening

The Teal Street Center is scheduled to open its doors next autumn or winter.

Local officials and dignitaries prepare to ceremonially break ground on the Teal Street Center, a multi-tenant building housing a number of nonprofit and tribal services for Southeast residents next to the Glory Hall on Nov. 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)