News

Reps. Clavin Schrage, I-Anchorage, left, and David Eastman, R-Wasilla, discuss a bill on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives to enact limits on individual contributions to political campaigns, on Monday, March 14, 2022. House members spent several hours debating amendments to the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House floor debate turns from election spending to security

No donations limits.

Reps. Clavin Schrage, I-Anchorage, left, and David Eastman, R-Wasilla, discuss a bill on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives to enact limits on individual contributions to political campaigns, on Monday, March 14, 2022. House members spent several hours debating amendments to the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A car is shown at a gas pump, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, at a gas station in North Miami, Fla. Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Alaska state lawmakers are moving to temporarily suspend the state's motor fuel tax as oil prices rise. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Lawmakers move to pump the brakes on motor fuel tax

.08 cents per gallon.

A car is shown at a gas pump, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, at a gas station in North Miami, Fla. Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Alaska state lawmakers are moving to temporarily suspend the state's motor fuel tax as oil prices rise. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
A state of Alaska flag flies outside the Atwood Building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, March 11, 2022. The state has issued a corrected birth certificate for Benny Benson, the teenager who won a design contest for the flag in 1927, meaning he was 14 and not 13 when came up with the design of the Big Dipper and the North Star on a simple field of blue. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Investigation finds that state flag designer was 14, not 13

The difference a year makes.

A state of Alaska flag flies outside the Atwood Building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, March 11, 2022. The state has issued a corrected birth certificate for Benny Benson, the teenager who won a design contest for the flag in 1927, meaning he was 14 and not 13 when came up with the design of the Big Dipper and the North Star on a simple field of blue. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Alaska Sen. Tom Begich, left, and Rep. Zack Fields, right, both Anchorage Democrats, joined a news conference Thursday to talk up President Joe Biden's agenda in Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Democratic state lawmakers praise Biden’s impact in Alaska

Bills’ benefits.

Alaska Sen. Tom Begich, left, and Rep. Zack Fields, right, both Anchorage Democrats, joined a news conference Thursday to talk up President Joe Biden's agenda in Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
district

Juneau lawmaker’s bills would increase per-student funding

A modest increase.

district
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)
Alaska Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce selects Edie Grunwald to be his running mate at a campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce taps Grunwald, former parole board chair, as running mate

KENAI —Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce, a hopeful for the Alaska governor’s seat, has tapped Edie Grunwald as his running mate. Pierce made the… Continue reading

Alaska Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce selects Edie Grunwald to be his running mate at a campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Sean Williams, a rookie musher from Chugiak, Alaska, takes his sled dogs through a snowstorm in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, March 5, 2022, during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The competitive start of the nearly 1,000-mile race will be held March 6, 2022, in Willow, Alaska, with the winner expected in the Bering Sea coastal town of Nome about nine days later. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Iditarod dogs pack Anchorage for race’s ceremonial start

The competitive race for mushers and their dogs starts Sunday in Willow.

Sean Williams, a rookie musher from Chugiak, Alaska, takes his sled dogs through a snowstorm in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, March 5, 2022, during the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The competitive start of the nearly 1,000-mile race will be held March 6, 2022, in Willow, Alaska, with the winner expected in the Bering Sea coastal town of Nome about nine days later. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, speaks during a rally urging the Alaska government, particularly the Permanent Fund Corporation, to divest itself from any Russian investment.

Protesters, politicians call for cutting financial ties to Russia

The governor issued a statment directing state agencies to identify and divest, if appropriate.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, speaks during a rally urging the Alaska government, particularly the Permanent Fund Corporation, to divest itself from any Russian investment.
Cap

APOC decision allows unlimited contributions to candidates

Legislative action needed.

Cap
Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, spoke to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, March 3, 2022, regarding a bill that would prevent transgender athletes from competing as the sex they identify with. (Screenshot)

Hearing held for restrictive transgender sports bill

Opponents say courts will strike it down.

Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, spoke to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, March 3, 2022, regarding a bill that would prevent transgender athletes from competing as the sex they identify with. (Screenshot)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports dozens of new COVID deaths

New deaths are reported through death certificate review each Wednesday

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
University of Alaska President Pat Pitney spoke to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 3, 2022, emphasizing the system’s importance to the state’s workforce. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

UA seeks to rebuild enrollment

UA President: Infrastructure jobs are coming, Alaskans could fill them.

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney spoke to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, March 3, 2022, emphasizing the system’s importance to the state’s workforce. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Speaker of the Alaksa House of Representatives Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, speaks to lawmakers on Jan. 18, 2022. In a statement Wednesday the House Majority Coalition announced a $1,300 boost to this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

House leadership proposes $1,300 ‘energy relief check’

Dividend amount under debate.

Speaker of the Alaksa House of Representatives Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, speaks to lawmakers on Jan. 18, 2022. In a statement Wednesday the House Majority Coalition announced a $1,300 boost to this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Andrew Britten Two Avenger Air Defense Systems sit on a flatbed trailer Feb. 25 at the Port of Anchorage for exercise Arctic Edge 2022.

Military holds major Arctic exercise across Alaska

From Juneau to the Arctic Circle, servicemembers will be practicing their cold-weather warfare.

U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Andrew Britten Two Avenger Air Defense Systems sit on a flatbed trailer Feb. 25 at the Port of Anchorage for exercise Arctic Edge 2022.
Image via labor.alaska.gov.

Wages up from a decade ago

Yearly wages rose 11% when adjusted for inflation — or approximately $5,809 annually — from 2010 to 2020

Image via labor.alaska.gov.
University of Alaska President Pat Pitney stopped by the Empire offices in Juneau on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to talk about the system's future. Mostly recovered from budget cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic, Pitney said the university is ready to start building Alaska's workforce. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Pitney: UA ready to train Alaska’s workforce

‘Getting people through the pipeline.’

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney stopped by the Empire offices in Juneau on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to talk about the system's future. Mostly recovered from budget cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic, Pitney said the university is ready to start building Alaska's workforce. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This photo composite shows Alaska’s congressional delegation, from left to right, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Rep. Don Young, all Republicans. Following President Joe Biden's State of the Union address Alaska's delegation called for increased U.S. energy development. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

Delegation urges energy production following State of the Union

Unified on Ukraine, divided elsewhere.

This photo composite shows Alaska’s congressional delegation, from left to right, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Rep. Don Young, all Republicans. Following President Joe Biden's State of the Union address Alaska's delegation called for increased U.S. energy development. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)
In this September 2019 Empire file photo, prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department are displayed. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

Alaska to receive $58M in opioid settlement

A settlement with opioid manufacturers has awarded the state of Alaska $58 million, the Department of Law announced Tuesday, as part of one of the… Continue reading

In this September 2019 Empire file photo, prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department are displayed. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)