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House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, listens to representatives debate a COVID-19 disaster declaration on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers clash on how to manage pandemic

Disaster debate shows deep divisions.

House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, listens to representatives debate a COVID-19 disaster declaration on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A panel of state and local experts answered questions and encouraged COVID-19 vaccinations during a moderated online discussion Wednesday evening. Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, encouraged all eligible Alaskans to get vaccinated as soon as possible to end the pandemic. Here, department of Veterans Affairs nurse Regina McComber applies a bandage to David Summers’ arm on the morning of March 13, 2021. Summers was among the veterans who were vaccinated at a VA clinic in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

An ounce of prevention through a shot in the arm

Experts gather to talk COVID vaccines, answer local questions.

A panel of state and local experts answered questions and encouraged COVID-19 vaccinations during a moderated online discussion Wednesday evening. Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, encouraged all eligible Alaskans to get vaccinated as soon as possible to end the pandemic. Here, department of Veterans Affairs nurse Regina McComber applies a bandage to David Summers’ arm on the morning of March 13, 2021. Summers was among the veterans who were vaccinated at a VA clinic in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
Passengers at the Juneau International Airport make their way past signage notifying the public about the state’s travel restrictions on Monday, Nov. 15, 2020. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services released a request for information seeking to determine interest among potential contractors to provide a one-dose vaccine to interested travelers in a secure section of the airports in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks and Ketchikan. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska health department floats idea of airport vaccinations

Could vaccines be coming to Alaska’s busiest airports?

Passengers at the Juneau International Airport make their way past signage notifying the public about the state’s travel restrictions on Monday, Nov. 15, 2020. Alaska Department of Health and Social Services released a request for information seeking to determine interest among potential contractors to provide a one-dose vaccine to interested travelers in a secure section of the airports in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks and Ketchikan. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Thursday, March 25, 2021

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

  • Mar 25, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
Sens. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, left and Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, questioned acting Attorney General Treg Taylor about the administration’s approach to legal matters at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 23, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

AG defends pandemic emergency orders during hearing

Liberties can be limited.

Sens. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, left and Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, questioned acting Attorney General Treg Taylor about the administration’s approach to legal matters at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 23, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

COVID at a glance for Wednesday, March 24

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)
Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss checks someone in during a vaccine clinic held at a school district facility. The district will hold in-house clinics for any Juneau resident between 16 and 18 on April 9. (Courtesy photo / Juneau School District)

School district announces student-focused vaccine clinics

The clinic is open for any 16+ child in Juneau, not just school district students.

Juneau School District Superintendent Bridget Weiss checks someone in during a vaccine clinic held at a school district facility. The district will hold in-house clinics for any Juneau resident between 16 and 18 on April 9. (Courtesy photo / Juneau School District)
The sign for the Department of Motor Vehicles in Juneau on March 18, 2021. Had a proposal to close six rural DMVs gone through, Juneau woud be the closest DMV for residents in Haines, who aren't able to drive there. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Public pushback puts pause on DMV proposal

I want my DMV.

The sign for the Department of Motor Vehicles in Juneau on March 18, 2021. Had a proposal to close six rural DMVs gone through, Juneau woud be the closest DMV for residents in Haines, who aren't able to drive there. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a rig and supply vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, off the cost of Louisiana. Thirteen states sued the Biden administration Wednesday, March 24, 2021 to end a suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water and to reschedule canceled sales of offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska waters and western states. The Republican-leaning states, led by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, seek a court order ending the moratorium imposed after Democratic President Joe Biden signed executive orders on climate change on Jan. 27. (AP Photo / Gerald Herbert)

States sue to undo Biden pause on oil and gas lease sales

Thirteen states, including Alaska, sued the Biden administration Wednesday.

This photo shows a rig and supply vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, off the cost of Louisiana. Thirteen states sued the Biden administration Wednesday, March 24, 2021 to end a suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water and to reschedule canceled sales of offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska waters and western states. The Republican-leaning states, led by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, seek a court order ending the moratorium imposed after Democratic President Joe Biden signed executive orders on climate change on Jan. 27. (AP Photo / Gerald Herbert)
The author and Fairbanks resident Harrison Gottschling return to the truck after taking a caribou in the interior over spring break last week. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Cold weather caribou

I had been cold before, but not this type of cold.

The author and Fairbanks resident Harrison Gottschling return to the truck after taking a caribou in the interior over spring break last week. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
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Capital City Weekly

Writers’ Weir: Elders Comparing the Views from Their Crypts

A poem by Dan Branch.

teasers
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)

Police calls for Wednesday, March 24, 2021

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

  • Mar 24, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
Has it always been a police car? (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire)
This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

COVID at a glance for Tuesday, March 23

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)
Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé player Tias Carney looks to pass to Lope Elizarde during the first half in the boys’ varsity Region V basketball championship against Ketchikan High School at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)

Boys basketball team members eye independent tournament

The team, unaffiliated with the school district, would travel to California to compete.

Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé player Tias Carney looks to pass to Lope Elizarde during the first half in the boys’ varsity Region V basketball championship against Ketchikan High School at Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday, March 20, 2021. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)
The shelves at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank were full on Feb. 18, 2021, as food banks around the state have been working hard to meet extra demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but starting in April its possible the state could lose $8 million a month in federal food stamp benefits. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Looming benefit loss causes food security concerns

Two bills are being considered to keep increased food stamp benefits.

The shelves at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank were full on Feb. 18, 2021, as food banks around the state have been working hard to meet extra demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but starting in April its possible the state could lose $8 million a month in federal food stamp benefits. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a moon snail nest at Institute Beach in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: Searching for moon snail nests

Even the moon snail is an ancient fellow traveler on this planet.

This photo shows a moon snail nest at Institute Beach in Wrangell. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
The City and Borough of Juneau is working to correct violations that occurred at two of their three wastewater treatment facilities between 2015 and 2019. Many of the violations occurred during a summer construction project at the Juneau-Douglas facility, which was accepting wastewater from cruise ships during the construction process. A number of effluent violations were reported from that timeframe. Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)

Wastewater treatment violations result in fines

Juneau to pay $64,000 and undertake corrective actions

The City and Borough of Juneau is working to correct violations that occurred at two of their three wastewater treatment facilities between 2015 and 2019. Many of the violations occurred during a summer construction project at the Juneau-Douglas facility, which was accepting wastewater from cruise ships during the construction process. A number of effluent violations were reported from that timeframe. Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, right, pulls into the AJ Dock in Juneau in September 2018. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire File)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the federal coronavirus response on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)

White House drops Interior nominee after Murkowski objects

Tommy Beaudreau, who grew up in Alaska, is expected as new nominee.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the federal coronavirus response on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)
After months of discussion, the board of education gathered via Zoom late last week to finalize the district’s fiscal year 2021-2022 operating budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

School board OKs funds for teaching supplies, finalizes budget

An additional $5.5 million in federal money coming soon

After months of discussion, the board of education gathered via Zoom late last week to finalize the district’s fiscal year 2021-2022 operating budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
European starlings are among the birds that add fresh, green-leafy, nonstructural material to theirs nests. In general, the added greenery is from species that have aromatic leaves, rich in volatile compounds; these plants are a highly non-random, carefully selected portion of the plants available in the nesting habitat. (Mick Thompson / Flickr)

On The Trails: Greenery in avian nests

Behavior is less well-known to non-ornithologists.

European starlings are among the birds that add fresh, green-leafy, nonstructural material to theirs nests. In general, the added greenery is from species that have aromatic leaves, rich in volatile compounds; these plants are a highly non-random, carefully selected portion of the plants available in the nesting habitat. (Mick Thompson / Flickr)