Site Logo
Members of the Alaska State Legislature introduce themselves before a mock floor session for new lawmakers in the House chambers of the state Capitol on Friday. Most of the 19 new members, the most since 1984, are going through three days of orientation before the session starts Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

‘Freshmen 19’ bring unusual heft to Capitol

Class of incoming lawmakers includes many with legislative experience.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Lisa X’unyéil Worl, a longtime advocate for education and other issues, asks Juneau’s legislative delegation about the prospects for public broadcasting funding from the state during a town hall meeting Wednesday evening at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School.

News

Local lawmakers say there are ‘no simple answers’ ahead of session

However, Juneau’s delegation expresses optimism for progress on health, safety and education.

tease

News

State Supreme Court to hear arguments in residency case

The Alaska Supreme Court plans to hear arguments on Friday.

Teaser

News

Anchorage Democrat meets residency rules, judge says

“The result of the November 2022 election is accepted…”

Lawmakers, staff and other workers inside the The Alaska State Capitol are preparing this week for the upcoming session of the Alaska State Legislature that starts Jan. 17, including the release of the first round of prefile bills published Monday by the Legislative Affairs Agency. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Election changes dominate first round of legislative bills

Ranked choice voting, security are hot topics; state pensions, ‘capital move’ among repeat proposals.

A cycle rickshaw passes the North State Office Building parking garage located on Willoughby Avenue in downtown Juneau in September. A $30 million request to pay for upgrades to the parking garage tied for first on a list of requests for state legislative funding as ranked by Juneau Assembly members. Assembly Member Alicia Hughes-Skandijs said expanding parking there can free up other downtown space for housing and other development, which is a top overall goal of city leaders. The parking upgrade is officially ranked second on the list since a request to further development of the Pederson Hill Subdivision had a higher ranking on last year’s priority list. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

City, school district draft legislative priorties

Assembly members rank housing projects high, while school board opts for new tactic of broader goals

Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, sits in the House on April 29, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Eastman, accused of violating the state constitution's disloyalty clause over his lifetime membership in Oath Keepers, has not condemned the organization in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S Capitol. "No, I generally don't condemn groups," Eastman, a Wasilla Republican, said during his bench hearing on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, his second day on the witness stand. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer, File)

News

Judge rules Eastman eligible to hold office

The judge’s order is on hold pending a possible appeal.

The Assembly Building is seen on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, in downtown Juneau, Alaska. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

News

Legislature votes $6.6M for legislative housing near Capitol

A House-Senate committee of the Alaska Legislature has approved spending $6.6 million to renovate a downtown Juneau office…

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire State Rep. Andi Story chats with Tawnya Kreft at her office in the Alaska State Capitol during the Juneau legislative delegation’s holiday open house Thursday afternoon.

News

Holiday cheer as the legislative session nears

Residents chat and snack with Juneau’s delegation during open house at Capitol.

FILE - Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, sits in the House on April 29, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Eastman, accused of violating the state constitution's disloyalty clause over his lifetime membership in Oath Keepers, has not condemned the organization in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S Capitol. "No, I generally don't condemn groups," Eastman, a Wasilla Republican, said during his bench hearing on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, his second day on the witness stand. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

News

Alaska lawmaker won’t condemn Oath Keepers in Capitol riot

“No, I generally don’t condemn groups.”

Alaska Republican state Rep. David Eastman, standing, speaks on the House floor on Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Juneau. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

News

Case against state lawmaker with Oath Keepers ties moves to trial

Trial is slated to begin Monday.

A state court judge is weighing whether to allow a case to proceed to trial that alleges that Rep. David Eastman's ties to the far-right Oath Keepers group disqualifies him from holding office. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

News

Judge weighs how to proceed on case against Eastman

He said he would aim to issue a ruling by Friday.

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. Pending recounts could determine who will spend time in the building as part of the new state Legislature. Recounts in two Anchorage-area legislative races are scheduled to take place this week, a top state elections official said Tuesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

News

Recounts set for 2 Alaska legislative races

Senate District E race and the House District 15 race.

Alaska State Rep. David Eastman, a Wasilla Republican, is shown seated on the House floor on April 29 in Juneau. His district seat is among those whose fate is unknown, due to a pending lawsuit challenging his eligibility because of his membership in Proud Boys. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

News

New playfield, but familiar waiting game for new state House majority

Three pending races among unknowns that may again drag fight out for months.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, left, gives a legislative proclamation to former longtime Juneau Assembly member Loren Jones, following Kiehl’s speech at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce’s weekly luncheon Thursday at the Juneau Moose Family Center.

News

Cloudy economy, but sunnier political outlook lie ahead for lawmakers, Kiehl says

Juneau’s state senator tells Chamber of Commerce bipartisan majority a key to meaningful action

The Alaska State Capitol awaits a legislators forming new majority coalitions and the return of Gov. Mike Dunleavy after the winners of the general election were announced Wednesday. The Senate will have a 17-member bipartisan ruling coalition, while the House arrangement remains uncertain due to at least one likely recount and questions about partisan alignments. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

News

Bipartisan majority formed for new state Senate

Eight Republicans join nine Democrats after many years of Republican rule

Then-Alaska State Senate President Ben Stevens, R Anchorage, talks during an interview on May 25, 2005 at the State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. Ben Stevens, a former Alaska Senate president and a son of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, died on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. He was 63. (AP Photo / David J. Sheakley)

News

Ben Stevens, former Alaska Senate president, dies at age 63

Ben Stevens, a former Alaska Senate president and a son of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, has…

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. building in Juneau is scheduled to be the site where the board of trustees will select a new executive director on Monday, following the investigation into the firing of former CEO Angela Rodell last December being presented to state lawmakers on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Investigators: Permanent Fund CEO’s firing legal but departed from policy

Trustees acted legally, despite not following official policy, and governor didn’t influence decision

Alaska Rep. Victor Kohring, R-Wasilla, is led into the Federal Court Room for arraignment in Juneau, Alaska on Friday, May 4, 2007. Kohring, a former Alaska lawmaker who was caught up in a corruption scandal that roiled the state Legislature more than 15 years ago, has died in a vehicle crash. (AP File Photo / Chris Miller)

News

Former Alaska lawmaker Kohring dies in vehicle crash

Car crash occurred Tuesday evening, according to troopers.

In this Jan. 17, 2017, photo state Rep. Dean Westlake, D-Kotzebue, talks with another legislator during a break in the opening session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau, Alaska. The son of the former Alaska lawmaker faces charges of manslaughter and evidence tampering in death of his father, according to charging documents. Tallon Westlake was arrested over the weekend. An online court records system did not show an attorney Monday, Aug. 22, 2022 who could speak on his behalf. The charging documents are dated Sunday. (AP File Photo / Mark Thiessen)

News

Son of ex-Alaska lawmaker faces charges in father’s death

He was arrested over the weekend.