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U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. In his annual address to state lawmakers, Sullivan was highly critical of the environmentally-focused policies of the Biden Administration and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who's visiting Alaska this week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Sullivan has harsh words for Haaland, White House in annual address

Senator urges feds to “unleash” Alaska’s energy.

Alaska U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan speaks to reporters after addressing a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Sullivan said he is supporting fellow Republican, Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, in her reelection bid this year but said he has not yet endorsed a candidate in Alaska’s U.S. House race. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

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Sullivan says he hasn’t endorsed yet in Alaska’s House race

By Becky Bohrer

Hiring signs in the windows of businesses in downtown Juneau on Monday, April 18, 2022. Over a million passengers are expected to arrive aboard large cruise ships this summer, and local business say its been a challenge finding enough workers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Cruise ships are returning to Juneau, will seasonal workers?

Businesses cite disruption, housing in challenging hiring market.

In this photo made available by the U.S. Air Force, two Air Force F-35A Lighting IIs assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing fly over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, April 14, 2022. The final two F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jets have arrived at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, completing the full complement of 54 aircraft. Col. David “Ajax” Berkland of the 354 Fighter Wing at Eielson called it “a really significant day for us in terms of the buildup of Eielson Air Force Base.” (Senior Airman Jose Miguel Tamondong / U.S. Air Force via AP)

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Arrival of final 2 F-35s completes complement at Alaska base

FAIRBANKS — The final two F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jets have arrived at Eielson Air Force Base near…

A Forest Service fire crew gets brief during an operation. Fire crews from Alaska are frequently deployed to the Lower 48 to help combat wildfires that are growing larger and closer to urban areas in many cases. (Courtesy photo / Parker Anders)

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Into the fire: Alaska’s wildlands firefighters eye coming dry season

Alaska’s wildlands firefighters lend a hand where needed nationwide.

In a photo provided by the NFL, Indianapolis Colts' Kenny Moore smiles near Fairbanks, Alaska, April 5, 2022, during the 2022 NFL-USO Tour. Moore was awestruck by the conditions military members must battle. And by their resolve and resourcefulness — things any pro athlete can identify with. (NFL)

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USO Tour for NFL players includes ice fishing, moose sighting

Ice fishing, moose and F-35s.

UAS

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House passes bill to protect higher education funding

A month left in session.

This image available under the Creative Commons license shows the outline of the state of Alaska filled with the pattern of the state flag. The state on Thursday reported a modest population growth between April 2020 and July 2021. It's the first time since 2016 the state has reported a population increase. (

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Alaska Redistricting Board adopts new maps after court order

The Alaska Redistricting Board adopted the plan, 3-2.

Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, spoke with the Empire in his office at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, after the Alaska State Senate passed the Alaska Reads Act, a bill he originially introduced with Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Senate passes comprehensive reading bill

‘A good chance.”

Former member of the Alaska House of Representatives Les Gara was in Juneau on Friday, April 8, 2022, and met with the Empire to talk about what sets him apart from the other candidates in the race for governor. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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In governor’s race, Gara says he stands apart

Equality of opportunity.

Kelly Tshibaka, left, a Republican, smiles as she officially files to run in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race, Monday, April 11, 2022, while her husband, Niki Tshibaka, looks on at the Division of Elections office in Anchorage, Alaska. Eleven other candidates have signed up so far in the Senate race, including incumbent U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, also a Republican. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

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Trump-backed Tshibaka officially files for Senate run

Tshibaka will face off against Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who drew Tshibaka’s aim during a news conference.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy - seen here speaking with reporters in the Cabinet Room at the Alaska State Capitol on March 8, 2022 - spoke to the Empire recently about his approach to government after having served as Alaska's chief executive. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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A Q&A with Gov. Mike Dunleavy

‘You work the hand your dealt with.’

The Alaska House of Representatives passed the state's operating and mental health budget bills on Saturday, April 9, 2022, after a week of marathon floor sessions tackling amendments. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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House passes operating, mental health budgets, fails to pass effective date, reverse sweep

On to the Senate.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, leave the chamber after a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 10, 2017. A rural Alaska man who threatened to kill both of Alaska’s U.S. senators in a series of profanity-laden messages left at their congressional offices will be sentenced Friday, April 8, 2022. Jay Allen Johnson, who said he was too old and ill to carry out his threats, partially blamed his behavior on the mixture of pain medications and alcohol and the isolation that was prevalent during the five-month span of 2021 when he left the threatening voicemails. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)

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Delta Junction man gets 32 months for threatening to kill senators

He was also fined $5,000, ordered to serve three years of supervised release

This photo shows a stack of pocket constitutions at the Alaska State Capitol. A broad coalition has formed in opposition to a potential State Constitution Convention. Alaskans are asked every 10 years on ballots whether a convention should be held. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Coalition to oppose constitutional convention grows

A lot could change.

The Alaska House of Representatives spent three days in floor sessions at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, and on Thursday finished working through the 87 amendments submitted to the state's operating budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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House finalizes budget amendments, set to vote on Saturday

Three days of debate.

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Lawsuit challenges state’s campaign disclosure rules

Rules were part of a ballot measure that overhauled Alaska’s elections system.

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives spent most of the day on the floor on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, working their way through the more than 80 amendments submitted to the state's budget bill. By Wednesday afternoon lawmakers had worked through more than 50 but passed only two; $50,000 for ice road maintenance and exempting the state's Mediciad program from covering abortions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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House passes amendment to exempt state Medicaid program from covering abortions

More amendments to come.

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)

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Interior Secretary Haaland to visit Alaska this month

Planned stops: Anchorage, Fairbanks and King Cove.

A proposed map from Alaska Redistricting Board member Melanie Bahnke shows possible pairings of Alaska House of Representatives districts in Anchorage for the Alaska State Senate. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled last month the board acted unconstitutionally in its proposals and issued an April 15 deadline to present acceptable maps. (Screenshot)

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Redistricting board takes public input on potential fixes

Court-friendly maps.