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Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on June 17, 2021. Murkowski continues to have a substantial cash advantage over her opponent backed by former President Donald Trump, who has vowed revenge on the incumbent Alaska Republican. Murkowski brought in more than $1.5 million in the three-month period ending March 31, 2022, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The quarterly reports were due Friday, April 15. Murkowski ended the quarter with $5.2 million cash on hand with no debt. (Evelyn Hockstein / Pool Photo)

Murkowski maintains cash advantage over Tshibaka

Trump bump doesn’t close the gap.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on June 17, 2021. Murkowski continues to have a substantial cash advantage over her opponent backed by former President Donald Trump, who has vowed revenge on the incumbent Alaska Republican. Murkowski brought in more than $1.5 million in the three-month period ending March 31, 2022, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The quarterly reports were due Friday, April 15. Murkowski ended the quarter with $5.2 million cash on hand with no debt. (Evelyn Hockstein / Pool Photo)
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is sworn in for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee March 21, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

Jackson confirmed as first Black female high court justice

Jackson will be just the third Black justice, after Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas.

  • Apr 7, 2022
  • By Mary Clare Jalonick and Mark Sherman Associated Press
  • NewsNation-World
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is sworn in for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee March 21, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)
In this April 23, 2021 photo, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaks during a news briefing at the White House in Washington. Secretary Haaland vowed on her first day on the job to ensure Native American tribes have opportunities to speak with her and the agencies she oversees. Native American and Alaska Native groups are seeing change under Haaland but some remain frustrated with the pace of action. (AP Photo / Evan Vucci)

Interior Secretary Haaland to visit Alaska this month

Planned stops: Anchorage, Fairbanks and King Cove.

In this April 23, 2021 photo, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaks during a news briefing at the White House in Washington. Secretary Haaland vowed on her first day on the job to ensure Native American tribes have opportunities to speak with her and the agencies she oversees. Native American and Alaska Native groups are seeing change under Haaland but some remain frustrated with the pace of action. (AP Photo / Evan Vucci)
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, walks to meet Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., on Capitol Hill, Monday, April 4, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Murkowski announces support for confirmation of Jackson to Supreme Court

She joins two other high-profile Republican senators who said they would support Jackson.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, walks to meet Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., on Capitol Hill, Monday, April 4, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Pedestrians wearing protective masks walk along Broadway in the SoHo district of New York, Friday, March 4, 2022. COVID-19 hospitalization numbers have plunged to their lowest levels since the early days of the pandemic, offering a much needed break to health care workers and patients alike following the omicron surge. (AP Photo / John Minchillo)

Number of COVID patients in U.S. hospitals reaches record low

Hospitalization numbers have plunged to their lowest levels since the early days of the pandemic.

Pedestrians wearing protective masks walk along Broadway in the SoHo district of New York, Friday, March 4, 2022. COVID-19 hospitalization numbers have plunged to their lowest levels since the early days of the pandemic, offering a much needed break to health care workers and patients alike following the omicron surge. (AP Photo / John Minchillo)
U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small speaks at a news conference at the Alaska State Library and Museum on Thursday, March 31, 2022, to announce roughly $9 million in development grants to 25 programs throughout Southeast Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

USDA announces $9M investment in 25 Southeast programs

A different approach.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small speaks at a news conference at the Alaska State Library and Museum on Thursday, March 31, 2022, to announce roughly $9 million in development grants to 25 programs throughout Southeast Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Passengers disembark from the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship Monday, March 16, 2020, in Charleston, S.C. Federal officials are dropping a health warning that they have attached to sailing on cruise ships since the start of the pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday, March 30, 2022 that they will leave it up to vacationers to decide whether they feel safe getting on a ship. (AP Photo / Mic Smith)

CDC drops COVID-19 health warning for cruise ship travelers

Cruise-ship operators welcomed Wednesday’s announcement.

Passengers disembark from the Carnival Sunshine cruise ship Monday, March 16, 2020, in Charleston, S.C. Federal officials are dropping a health warning that they have attached to sailing on cruise ships since the start of the pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday, March 30, 2022 that they will leave it up to vacationers to decide whether they feel safe getting on a ship. (AP Photo / Mic Smith)
House Chaplain Margaret G. Kibben speaks during a ceremony for the late Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, as he lies in state in Statuary Hall, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the Capitol in Washington. Young, the longest-serving member of Alaska's congressional delegation, died Friday, March 18, 2022. He was 88. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)

His absence will leave Congress less colorful and certainly less punctual

“His absence will leave Congress less colorful and certainly less punctual…”

House Chaplain Margaret G. Kibben speaks during a ceremony for the late Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, as he lies in state in Statuary Hall, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the Capitol in Washington. Young, the longest-serving member of Alaska's congressional delegation, died Friday, March 18, 2022. He was 88. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)
A would-be voter considers the candidates on a sample ballot released by the state of Alaska in March 2021. The Alaska Division of Elections has announced the dates for the special elections to select a replacement for Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who died recently. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Filing for special election to fill House seat officially open

Filing deadline is April 1.

A would-be voter considers the candidates on a sample ballot released by the state of Alaska in March 2021. The Alaska Division of Elections has announced the dates for the special elections to select a replacement for Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who died recently. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
U.S. Rep. Don Young answers a reporter's question after filing paperwork for reelection at the Alaska Division of Elections in Anchorage, Alaska. Young, the longest-serving member of Alaska’s congressional delegation, died Friday, March 18, 2022. He was 88. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Special election for House seat begins to take shape

Begich and Constant will run for seat previously filled by Young.

U.S. Rep. Don Young answers a reporter's question after filing paperwork for reelection at the Alaska Division of Elections in Anchorage, Alaska. Young, the longest-serving member of Alaska’s congressional delegation, died Friday, March 18, 2022. He was 88. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Rep. Don Young smiles during a sit-down in the Juneau Empire's offices last June. Young died on Friday, according to the longtime U.S. representative's office. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Don Young dies at 88

On his way home to Alaska.

Rep. Don Young smiles during a sit-down in the Juneau Empire's offices last June. Young died on Friday, according to the longtime U.S. representative's office. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File In this April 24, 2015, filephoto, a worker empties oilfield wastewater from a tank truck into storage tanks on Carl and Justin Johnson’s ranch near Crossroads, N.M. Labor shortages, supply problems and volatile prices have made oil companies cautious about new drilling even as U.S. politicians push for increased production.

Ukraine war ups pressure for US oil; industry faces hurdles

Rhetoric about quickly ramping up U.S. crude output is at odds with the industry’s reality.

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File In this April 24, 2015, filephoto, a worker empties oilfield wastewater from a tank truck into storage tanks on Carl and Justin Johnson’s ranch near Crossroads, N.M. Labor shortages, supply problems and volatile prices have made oil companies cautious about new drilling even as U.S. politicians push for increased production.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, talks with a reporter after attending at an event to celebrate the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Washington. Murkowski spoke the the Alaska House of Representatives Special Committee on Tribal Affairs Thursday about what the bill means for Alaska. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Alaskans laud Violence Against Women Act reauthorization

‘Extraordinary step forward.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, talks with a reporter after attending at an event to celebrate the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Washington. Murkowski spoke the the Alaska House of Representatives Special Committee on Tribal Affairs Thursday about what the bill means for Alaska. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland speaks with reporters while standing outside the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument in Jackson, Miss., on Feb. 15, 2022. The Interior Department is on the verge of releasing a report on its investigation into the federal government’s past oversight of Native American boarding schools. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the report will come out next month. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Haaland: Report on Indigenous boarding schools expected soon

The Interior Department is on the verge of releasing a report.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland speaks with reporters while standing outside the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument in Jackson, Miss., on Feb. 15, 2022. The Interior Department is on the verge of releasing a report on its investigation into the federal government’s past oversight of Native American boarding schools. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the report will come out next month. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
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Senate approves bill to make daylight saving time permanent

The Sunshine Protection Act would mean no more changing clocks twice a year.

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The Association of Alaska School Boards won a $100,000 grant to develop resources to more closely involve families in the education process from the Carnegie Corporation on Tuesday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Education advocacy organization earns major grant

It’ll help develop resources to help teachers work with families to improve educational outcomes.

The Association of Alaska School Boards won a $100,000 grant to develop resources to more closely involve families in the education process from the Carnegie Corporation on Tuesday. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Sunlight shines on the U.S. Capitol dome on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Murkowski highlights spending bill’s impact on Alaska

Senator tours earmarks’ return, VAWA reauthorization and aid for Ukraine.

Sunlight shines on the U.S. Capitol dome on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
President Joe Biden announces that along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, the U.S. will move to revoke "most favored nation" trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Friday, March 11, 2022, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Alaska lawmakers applaud ban on Russian seafood

Alcohol, seafood and diamonds.

President Joe Biden announces that along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, the U.S. will move to revoke "most favored nation" trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Friday, March 11, 2022, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
This Empire file photo shows the mill facility at the Kensington Gold Mine on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. A new study from the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage tries to imagine what the state's mining industry could look like in 20 years. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire file)

Economists explore mining’s future in Alaska

A lot of variables.

This Empire file photo shows the mill facility at the Kensington Gold Mine on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. A new study from the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage tries to imagine what the state's mining industry could look like in 20 years. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire file)
At a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, Gov. Mike Dunleavy outlined his plan to have the state divest its assets from Russia. The disruption in the global market could be beneficial to Alaska, the governor said, if it is able to develop its resources. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Alaska pushes ahead with Russian divestment

Costs likely to increase

At a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, Gov. Mike Dunleavy outlined his plan to have the state divest its assets from Russia. The disruption in the global market could be beneficial to Alaska, the governor said, if it is able to develop its resources. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)