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Anne Sears, the new lead investigator for the federally-funded Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Initiative, speaks during the annual rally at the Alaska State Capitol on May 5, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

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Hundreds gather for missing and murdered Indigenous people

More and more attention is being paid nationwide to the staggering violence rates.

State Sen. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, sat down with the Empire in Juneau on Friday, May 6, 2022, to discuss his bid for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Revak was personally close with the late Don Young, and has earned the endorsement of Young's widow. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Revak runs to replace Rep. Young

All of Alaska.

Alaska state Senate President Peter Micciche, center, looks on as lawmakers gather in front of him on the Senate floor on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A bill dealing with the annual dividend paid to residents was bumped from the Senate floor on Wednesday. Micciche said it did not have the votes to pass. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

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Alaska lawmakers struggle with dividend debate

Legislative leaders have said they see resolving the divisive debate as critical.

Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum, speaks at a news conference with Gov. Mike Dunleavy about the state's efforts to combat the increase in drug overdoses driven by the synthetic opioid fentanyl, on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Screenshot)

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Dunleavy announces efforts to combat fentanyl crisis

More avenues to get help.

Lawmakers held a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, to vote to confirm Gov. Mike Dunleavy's appointments to state boards and commissions. All nominees were confirmed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Lawmakers confirm Dunleavy appointees, work on PFD

Senate attempts to rework dividend formula.

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Senate votes to increase PCE payments

‘Fair and modest.’

The Senate Judiciary Committee moved a bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing on teams of the sex they identify with on Monday, May 2, 2022. The bill could go to a floor vote sometime this week. (Screenshot)

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Transgender sports bill ready for Senate vote

Privacy issues.

In this Sept. 1, 2015, photo, a honeybee works atop gift zinnia in Accord, N.Y. A shipment of honeybees bound from California to Alaska died after an airline re-routed them through Atlanta, then left them to sit on the tarmac during hot weather. Delta Air Lines said Friday, April 29, 2022, it is making changes to prevent a repeat of what happened last weekend. (AP Photo / Mike Groll)

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Honeybees bound for Anchorage die in airline shipping

A shipment of honeybees bound from California to Alaska died after an airline re-routed them through Atlanta, then…

Turkeys stand in a barn on turkey farm near Manson, Iowa on Aug. 10, 2015. A Colorado prison inmate has tested positive for bird flu in the first confirmed case of a human being infected with the disease that has resulted in the death of millions of chickens and turkeys. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday, April 28, 2022, that the man who tested positive had been in a pre-release program and was helping removing chickens from an infected farm. (AP Photo / Charlie Neibergall)

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State confirms 1st case of bird flu tied to recent outbreak

Alaskans can report suspected avian influenza cases at (907)375-8215 or bob.gerlach@alaska.gov.

Alaska Republican state Rep. David Eastman speaks on the floor of the Alaska House on Jan. 31, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Alaska House Republicans have removed Rep. David Eastman from their caucus, Minority Leader Cathy Tilton said Friday, April 29, 2022, citing tensions with the Wasilla Republican that have built over time. (AP File Photo/Becky Bohrer)

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House Republicans remove Eastman from caucus

The decision comes with less than three weeks left in the regular session.

From left to right: Willard Jackson, Dennis Jack and Bill Thomas, Alaska Native veterans from Southeast Alaska met with lawmakers at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, April 29, to discuss their issues getting land allotments from the federal government. Jackson and Thomas are veterans of the Vietnam War who are eligbile for land allotments, but no lands are available in Southeast Alaska, and veterans are frustrated by the lack of action. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Haaland’s visit stirs optimism for Alaska Natives, but tensions remain

Land, land, land.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a new conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 27, 2022, to call on lawmakers to pass a "substantial" Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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As end of session nears, Gov ‘optimistic’ for large PFD

“At least” $3,700.

The University of Alaska and the union representing full-time faculty across the system, including the University of Alaska Southeast, have agreed to enter into federal mediation after eight months of contract negotiations have failed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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University and faculty union head into mediation

Inflation pressures.

Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Corri Feigi, right, and Deputy Attorney General Cori Mills, announced alongside Gov. Mike Dunleavy the state was issuing lawsuits against the federal government for its failure to convey submerged lands to the state. Feige said at the conference the state's rule applied to navigable waterways including Mendenhall Lake and said motorized boats were allowed on the lake. (Screenshot)

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Dunleavy announces lawsuits over submerged lands

State rules.

Jeff Lowenfels, a former state Attorney General and avid garden writer is running for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He's in a race with 48 other candidates but he says he has the unique experience that can serve all Alaska. (Courtesy photo / Jeff Lowenfels)

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From gardener to government: Jeff Lowenfels seeks House seat

Long legal career.

Former state lawmaker from Fairbanks John Coghill was in Juneau on Friday, April 22, 2022, and is running for Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, vacated recently by the death of Don Young. Coghill faces a crowded field but says he has the experience and pragmatism to get the job done. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Former state lawmaker John Coghill says Congress needs his experience

Not long after Don Young’s death, several people reached out to John Coghill asking if he’d be interested…

FILE - 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, File)

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Haaland announces land transfers for Alaska Native veterans

An additional 27 million acres of land will be made available to Vietnam War-era veterans.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks briefly to reporters as she leaves a courthouse in New York, Feb. 14, 2022. Palin is one of 48 candidates for Alaska's lone U.S. House seat, which was held for decades by Republican Rep. Don Young, who died last month. Palin says she's serious about the run though some critics have questioned her motivations. (AP Photo / Seth Wenig)

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Palin on serving in Congress: ‘It would be all about Alaska’

Palin is among 48 candidates running for Alaska’s lone House seat.

The Alaska House of Representatives passed a bill reducing sentences for and clearing records for marijuana possession on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, a day adopted as an unofficial holiday by cannabis users. The maker of the bill said the timing was no intended. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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House passes marijuana bill on cannabis ‘holiday’

Pure coincidence.

Gregg Brelsford, an independent candidate for Alaska’s U.S. House of Representatives seat, poses for a photo on Friday, April 15, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer New)

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‘No drama’ Brelsford running for Congress

Former Republican running as an undeclared candidate touts civic experience