Alaska Legislature

Sunlight exposes the front of the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

House ends special session with failed ‘Hail Mary’ on budget

It was a mic-drop moment on a trampoline. In a surprise Thursday night move, the Alaska House of Representatives attempted to avert a statewide government… Continue reading

Sunlight exposes the front of the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

House votes for higher dividend, but deal is far from complete

The Alaska House of Representatives has voted to approve a $2,200 Permanent Fund Dividend for this fall, a sign that it is abandoning a long-term… Continue reading

House committee reverses Senate, plans to keep natural gas pipeline funded

The Alaska House of Representatives hasn’t given up on the idea of a trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline. On Sunday, members of the House’s finance committee… Continue reading

Protesters hold signs during the AFL-CIO rally in front of the Alaska Capitol on Sunday. Participants chanted for the Alaska Legislature to pass and fund a state budget. James Brooks | Juneau Empire

Alaskans appear apathetic as statewide shutdown approaches

The chants were audible for blocks around: “Do your jobs!/So I can do mine!” The trouble was that there weren’t many people to hear them.… Continue reading

Protesters hold signs during the AFL-CIO rally in front of the Alaska Capitol on Sunday. Participants chanted for the Alaska Legislature to pass and fund a state budget. James Brooks | Juneau Empire

State shutdown would affect every man, woman and child in Alaska — including the dead

Forget about the ferries. Reschedule your wedding. Don’t think about pull tabs. Alaska’s impending government shutdown will have a tsunami of effects across the state,… Continue reading

As salmon defenders gather, more signs of a 2018 fish fight

There are more signs that the hook has been set for Alaska’s biggest fisheries fight in a decade. As members of the North Pacific Fisheries… Continue reading

In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Walker warned of a potential government shutdown if the state house and senate could not reach an agreement on the state budget and several tax bills by July 3. (Erin Granger | Juneau Empire)

Walker begs lawmakers to reach compromise

A day after the Alaska House Majority rejected his compromise bid to avert a statewide government shutdown, Gov. Bill Walker said he still hopes that… Continue reading

In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Walker warned of a potential government shutdown if the state house and senate could not reach an agreement on the state budget and several tax bills by July 3. (Erin Granger | Juneau Empire)

Labor unions plan rallies in bid to avert government shutdown

The state’s labor unions are planning rallies across Alaska on Sunday in an effort to avoid a statewide government shutdown. The “Keep Alaska Open For… Continue reading

House rejects compromise

In a bid to avoid a state-spanning government shutdown, Gov. Bill Walker on Monday proposed a compromise to bring the Alaska Senate and Alaska House… Continue reading

Rena Miller, communications director for the Senate Majority Caucus, left, tells Alaska reporters that a press conference called by the Caucus has been cancelled at the Capitol on Friday, June 2, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Walker: Legislature in stalemate

Calling the Alaska Legislature’s current situation a “stalemate,” Gov. Bill Walker has announced that he will make a bid to avert a pending shutdown of… Continue reading

Rena Miller, communications director for the Senate Majority Caucus, left, tells Alaska reporters that a press conference called by the Caucus has been cancelled at the Capitol on Friday, June 2, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. On Thursday, the Alaska Senate voted 17-1 to restrict the amount of opioid painkillers that may be prescribed with a single prescription. House Bill 159 now returns to the House for a procedural vote. (Associated Press file)

Senate approves overdose-fighting bill

The Alaska Senate voted Thursday to restrict the ability of doctors to prescribe opioid painkillers. House Bill 159, proposed by Gov. Bill Walker, is part… Continue reading

This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. On Thursday, the Alaska Senate voted 17-1 to restrict the amount of opioid painkillers that may be prescribed with a single prescription. House Bill 159 now returns to the House for a procedural vote. (Associated Press file)
Sara Chambers, Deputy Director of the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing at the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, left, and Dr. Jay C. Butler, Chief Medical Officer for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, speak about an opioids bill in front of the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska Senate prepares final vote on governor’s bid to fight drug overdoses

The Alaska Senate is preparing to take a final vote on a plan from Gov. Bill Walker to fight a wave of opioid addiction in… Continue reading

Sara Chambers, Deputy Director of the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing at the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, left, and Dr. Jay C. Butler, Chief Medical Officer for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, speak about an opioids bill in front of the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Will Muldoon, a data processing technician for the state of Alaska, boxes printed pink slip letters at a printing facility in the State Office Building on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. The letters will be sent to state employees on Thursday, June 1, if the legislature fails to pass a budget by then. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska’s shutdown doom is now one month away

The letters came off the printer on Tuesday afternoon with the regularity of a ticking clock. There is now one month remaining before Alaska’s state… Continue reading

Will Muldoon, a data processing technician for the state of Alaska, boxes printed pink slip letters at a printing facility in the State Office Building on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. The letters will be sent to state employees on Thursday, June 1, if the legislature fails to pass a budget by then. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislature approves some fixes to last year’s criminal justice reform

Alaska’s prosecutors, police and rape victims are getting some extra help from the Alaska Legislature. In one of its final actions of the regular session,… Continue reading

Salmon defenders propose 2018 ballot initative, predict huge fish fight

Salmon defenders propose 2018 ballot initative, predict huge fish fight

A group of the state’s staunchest salmon defenders is proposing a ballot initiative that seeks to strengthen legal protections for Alaska’s fish-bearing streams and rivers.… Continue reading

Salmon defenders propose 2018 ballot initative, predict huge fish fight
Gov. Bill Walker signs a special session proclamation Wednesday night, May 17, 2017 in his office on the third floor of the Alaska Capitol (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)

Gov. Walker calls lawmakers into special session

The Alaska Legislature is headed into a special session. On Wednesday night, the Alaska House of Representatives and Alaska Senate adjourned the first regular session… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker signs a special session proclamation Wednesday night, May 17, 2017 in his office on the third floor of the Alaska Capitol (James Brooks | Juneau Empire)
Legislature allows Uber, Lyft to operate in Alaska

Legislature allows Uber, Lyft to operate in Alaska

Alaska’s future with Uber is in the hands of Gov. Bill Walker. On Wednesday, the Alaska Senate voted unanimously to approve House Bill 132, which… Continue reading

Legislature allows Uber, Lyft to operate in Alaska
In this March 30, 2012, photo, Drew Phoenix, left, speaks to a reporter in Anchorage. (Rachel D’Oro | Associated Press File)

Legislature rejects transgender man for Human Rights Commission

The Alaska Legislature has refused to confirm the appointment of a transgender Fairbanks man to the state’s human rights commission. The Legislature, meeting in joint… Continue reading

In this March 30, 2012, photo, Drew Phoenix, left, speaks to a reporter in Anchorage. (Rachel D’Oro | Associated Press File)

Alaska lawmakers ask themselves: How much longer?

Wednesday is the 121st and final day of the Alaska Legislature’s 2017 regular session. There’s more to come. Despite four months of work, lawmakers have… Continue reading

State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)

Wasilla Republican asks Alaska Legislature to criminalize abortion

Wasilla Republican David Eastman has proposed a measure making abortion illegal in the state of Alaska. On Monday, Eastman introduced House Bill 250, which ─… Continue reading

State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)