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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)
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
Under heavy rain and low clouds overhead, a few hundred people gathered in Riverside Rotary Park Saturday morning to honor the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. To honor the fall of the first tower at 9:59 a.m., officers quickly raised an American flag and then lowered it to half-mast while Alyssa Fischer sang the National Anthem. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Gathering to remember: Residents, officials mark 20 years since 9/11 attacks

A rainy day didn’t keep them away.

Under heavy rain and low clouds overhead, a few hundred people gathered in Riverside Rotary Park Saturday morning to honor the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. To honor the fall of the first tower at 9:59 a.m., officers quickly raised an American flag and then lowered it to half-mast while Alyssa Fischer sang the National Anthem. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Graham, entomologist for the U.S. Forest Service, talks about the black-headed budworm outbreak in front of a spot on Mount McGinnis that shows the effects of defoliation. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Find out more about the very hungry caterpillars munching on Southeast Alaska’s hemlock trees

No need to bug out. They’re a natural part of the forest.

Elizabeth Graham, entomologist for the U.S. Forest Service, talks about the black-headed budworm outbreak in front of a spot on Mount McGinnis that shows the effects of defoliation. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire AmeriCorps members pack emergency preparedness kits for Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Tribal Emergency Operations Center as part of a day of service on Sept. 10, 2021.

AmeriCorps members help Tlingit and Haida on day of service

Members were making emergency preparedness kits for Tribal children.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire AmeriCorps members pack emergency preparedness kits for Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Tribal Emergency Operations Center as part of a day of service on Sept. 10, 2021.
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)
Sgt. Joemicheal Cristobal, Spc. Osias Passi, and Spc. Brennon Westfall, members of the Alaska Army National Guard and Task Force-Alaska, log trailer and driver information on a yard dog sheet, at a transportation yard in Roseland, Louisiana, Sept. 7, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard / Staff Sgt. Jacob Tyrrell)

Alaska National Guard lends a hand in Louisiana

A small detachment deployed down south to assist recovery from Hurricane Ida.

Sgt. Joemicheal Cristobal, Spc. Osias Passi, and Spc. Brennon Westfall, members of the Alaska Army National Guard and Task Force-Alaska, log trailer and driver information on a yard dog sheet, at a transportation yard in Roseland, Louisiana, Sept. 7, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard / Staff Sgt. Jacob Tyrrell)
Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, holds a press in front of the doors to the Senate chambers on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Reinbold requested an excusal from the state Senate until mid-January, citing the challenges of traveling to Juneau from Anchorage after she was suspended from flying on Alaska Airlines earlier this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

State senator suspended by airline seeks Senate excusal

She requested the excusal from Saturday through Jan. 15.

Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, holds a press in front of the doors to the Senate chambers on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Reinbold requested an excusal from the state Senate until mid-January, citing the challenges of traveling to Juneau from Anchorage after she was suspended from flying on Alaska Airlines earlier this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club’s 9/11 memorial, shown undergoing beautification and final preparations before the ceremony, will be the site of the organization’s ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the attacks on Saturday.

Reflection and remembrance: Ceremony planned for 9/11 20th anniversary

The memorial will honor the 20th anniversary of the attack with some new improvements.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club’s 9/11 memorial, shown undergoing beautification and final preparations before the ceremony, will be the site of the organization’s ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the attacks on Saturday.
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Friday Sept. 10, 2021

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
A yellow slime mold is an aggregation of separate cells that came together to reproduce; this one engulfs several plant stems. (Courtesy Photo / Mary F. Willson)

On the Trails: A good morning in the meadows

Yellow sun and slime mold.

A yellow slime mold is an aggregation of separate cells that came together to reproduce; this one engulfs several plant stems. (Courtesy Photo / Mary F. Willson)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML

COVID at a glance for Thursday, Sept. 9

The most recent state and local figures

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML
Photos by Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire City officials and commercial entities broke ceremonial ground Wednesday for the Riverview Senior Living community near Vintage Boulevard.

Company breaks ground on elder living facility

The facility, near Safeway, will provide more housing so elder citizens can stay in Juneau.

Photos by Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire City officials and commercial entities broke ceremonial ground Wednesday for the Riverview Senior Living community near Vintage Boulevard.
Juneau Docks and Harbors has issued a warning to boat owners to make sure their vessels are made fast and pumps functional as a large weather system is due to hit Juneau on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Autumn storm expected to bring heavy rain and wind

Docks and Harbors says to rig for a rough one.

Juneau Docks and Harbors has issued a warning to boat owners to make sure their vessels are made fast and pumps functional as a large weather system is due to hit Juneau 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)
A health care worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. There’s concern that COVID-19 vaccination could be made mandatory by businesses for activities such as travel— or employment. President Joe Biden is announcing sweeping new federal vaccine requirements affecting as many as 100 million Americans in an all-out effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations and curb the surging delta variant. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Sweeping new vaccine mandates for 100 million Americans

The order includes exceptions for workers seeking religious or medical exemptions from vaccination.

A health care worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. There’s concern that COVID-19 vaccination could be made mandatory by businesses for activities such as travel— or employment. President Joe Biden is announcing sweeping new federal vaccine requirements affecting as many as 100 million Americans in an all-out effort to increase COVID-19 vaccinations and curb the surging delta variant. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Coast Guardsmen stand in formation at Juneau International Airport as the body of Chief Petty Officer Jeffery DeRonde, who died over the weekend, is loaded on an airplane on Sept. 7, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Capital City Fire/Rescue)

Man drowns after raft overturns

The man was on the Eagle River, returning from an overnight cabin stay.

Coast Guardsmen stand in formation at Juneau International Airport as the body of Chief Petty Officer Jeffery DeRonde, who died over the weekend, is loaded on an airplane on Sept. 7, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Capital City Fire/Rescue)
This Aug. 5 picture shows Thomas Buzard, who is a candidate for an open seat on the Juneau Board of Education. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

Candidate seeks open school board seat

Buzard calls for curriculum changes, end to masking

This Aug. 5 picture shows Thomas Buzard, who is a candidate for an open seat on the Juneau Board of Education. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A worker with the Pebble Mine project digs in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska near the village of Iliamma, Alaska. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, it would seek to restart a process that could restrict mining in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, which is renowned for its salmon runs. The announcement is the latest in a long-running dispute over a proposed copper-and-gold mine in the southwest Alaska region. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)

EPA seeks to restart process that could restrict proposed Pebble Mine

The announcement is the latest in a long-running dispute.

A worker with the Pebble Mine project digs in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska near the village of Iliamma, Alaska. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, it would seek to restart a process that could restrict mining in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, which is renowned for its salmon runs. The announcement is the latest in a long-running dispute over a proposed copper-and-gold mine in the southwest Alaska region. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)