Alaska Legislature

Opinion: The time is now to elect a majority in the Alaska House

Opinion: The time is now to elect a majority in the Alaska House

Valuable dollars are being wasted.

Opinion: The time is now to elect a majority in the Alaska House
Opinion: Gov. Dunleavy is ‘out of step’ with Alaska families, businesses

Opinion: Gov. Dunleavy is ‘out of step’ with Alaska families, businesses

We can’t legislate away our financial obligations.

Opinion: Gov. Dunleavy is ‘out of step’ with Alaska families, businesses
Capitol Live: Dunleavy budget would require eliminating 1,300 university positions, president says
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Capitol Live: Dunleavy budget would require eliminating 1,300 university positions, president says

Live updates from inside the Capitol.

Capitol Live: Dunleavy budget would require eliminating 1,300 university positions, president says
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Opinion: With release of Dunleavy’s budget, it’s time to listen to Alaskans

Opinion: With release of Dunleavy’s budget, it’s time to listen to Alaskans

Sen. Mia Costello wants to hear from you.

Opinion: With release of Dunleavy’s budget, it’s time to listen to Alaskans
Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, speaks during a House of Representatives floor session on Tuesday. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Local lawmakers hoping for bipartisan, strong majority

The governor’s late budget is a factor in the standstill.

Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, speaks during a House of Representatives floor session on Tuesday. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, center, answers a question as Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, left, and Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, wait their turn during a standing-room only town hall meeting at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s legislators express concern about state jobs leaving town

Jobs have already been leaving in recent years.

Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, center, answers a question as Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, left, and Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, wait their turn during a standing-room only town hall meeting at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
House surprised with unexpected speaker nomination

House surprised with unexpected speaker nomination

Speaker nominations fail, again.

House surprised with unexpected speaker nomination
Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers the State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2019 in the Alaska Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislators brace for unknowns of Dunleavy’s budget

The budget comes out Wednesday.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers the State of the State address on Jan. 22, 2019 in the Alaska Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Photos: The Best Dressed at the Alaska State Capitol

Photos: The Best Dressed at the Alaska State Capitol

The budget may be boring but the outfits aren’t.

Photos: The Best Dressed at the Alaska State Capitol
Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, and Rep. Dave Talerico, R-Healy, sit next to each other after Knopp voted not to confirm Talerico as Speaker of the House on Tuesday. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Capitol Live: Knopp speaks about ‘shock and awe’ of floor session

Stay up to date with live updates from inside the Capitol.

Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, and Rep. Dave Talerico, R-Healy, sit next to each other after Knopp voted not to confirm Talerico as Speaker of the House on Tuesday. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
House Speaker Jim Duncan, D-Juneau, confers with Majority Leader Russ Meekins on Feb. 3, 1981, after the 22-day gridlock over House organization was broken late the previous afternoon following a series of parliamentary maneuvers. (Mark Kelley | Juneau Empire File)

Key legislator in 1981 House gridlock offers advice for current reps

The two are quite different sessions.

House Speaker Jim Duncan, D-Juneau, confers with Majority Leader Russ Meekins on Feb. 3, 1981, after the 22-day gridlock over House organization was broken late the previous afternoon following a series of parliamentary maneuvers. (Mark Kelley | Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

No-bid contract for psychiatric institute raises questions

A previous report advised against privatizing the institute.

The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, receives a kiss from his daughter, Adara, before Kiehl is sworn in on the first day of the 31st Session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau senator proposes first legislation

It continues a theme from his days on Juneau’s Assembly.

Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, receives a kiss from his daughter, Adara, before Kiehl is sworn in on the first day of the 31st Session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Andy Jones, Director of the Department of Health and Social Services’ Office of Substance Misuse, right, speak about the fiscal impacts of the opioids on the state along with Michael Duxbury, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, center, and Laura Brooks, Director of Health and Rehabilitation for the Department of Corrections, in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The opioid crisis costs Alaska more than $1B per year, and it’s going to keep being costly

The cost of an epidemic.

Andy Jones, Director of the Department of Health and Social Services’ Office of Substance Misuse, right, speak about the fiscal impacts of the opioids on the state along with Michael Duxbury, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, center, and Laura Brooks, Director of Health and Rehabilitation for the Department of Corrections, in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Gray-Jackson hoping Black History Bill passes this month

Gray-Jackson hoping Black History Bill passes this month

Honoring African-American contributions.

Gray-Jackson hoping Black History Bill passes this month
Capitol Live: Economy to take a hit, no matter the budget outcome

Capitol Live: Economy to take a hit, no matter the budget outcome

Live updates from inside the Alaska State Capitol.

Capitol Live: Economy to take a hit, no matter the budget outcome
Here’s a look at what Dunleavy’s four new crime bills would do

Here’s a look at what Dunleavy’s four new crime bills would do

The bills address sex crimes, pretrial processes, parole and prison sentences.

Here’s a look at what Dunleavy’s four new crime bills would do
House Republicans Cathy Tilton, left, David Talerico, center, and Lance Pruitt speak to the press outside the House chambers after Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s State of the State speech on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gov’s crime message resonates, but Juneau lawmakers hesitant about constitutional amendments

Most everyone agreed on Dunleavy’s take on public safety.

House Republicans Cathy Tilton, left, David Talerico, center, and Lance Pruitt speak to the press outside the House chambers after Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s State of the State speech on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Tall promises, short details: Senate Democrats concerned about budget

Tall promises, short details: Senate Democrats concerned about budget

Lawmakers caution constituents of inevitable budget cuts.

Tall promises, short details: Senate Democrats concerned about budget
School buses drop students off at Thunder Mountain High School on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gov’s bills includes $20M slash to education

The money was already approved.

School buses drop students off at Thunder Mountain High School on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)