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U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks during a meet-and-greet Oct. 12 at Louie’s Douglas Inn. The four-term Republican incumbent is being opposed by the state’s party leadership in favor of a challenger backed by former President Donald Trump, similar to the 2010 election when she won a historic write-in campaign against a Tea Part challenger that defeated her in the primary election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski swings for middle in race filled with wild pitches

Four-term U.S. senator who won 2010 write-in campaign again facing strong challenge from the right

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks during a meet-and-greet Oct. 12 at Louie’s Douglas Inn. The four-term Republican incumbent is being opposed by the state’s party leadership in favor of a challenger backed by former President Donald Trump, similar to the 2010 election when she won a historic write-in campaign against a Tea Part challenger that defeated her in the primary election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau. About 20% of the prison’s population was recently relocated to other facilities in South Central Alaska. The transfers come amid renovations to the aging facility. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

20% of prison’s population transferred amid repairs

Dozens of people incarcerated at LCCC moved to other facilities.

This photo shows Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau. About 20% of the prison’s population was recently relocated to other facilities in South Central Alaska. The transfers come amid renovations to the aging facility. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Mary Peltola, an Alaska Democrat, delivers a speech on the U.S. House floor before Thursday’s vote approving her first bill, establishing an Office of Food Security in the Department of Veterans Affairs. It passed the House by a 376-49 vote, although its fate in the Senate is undetermined. (Screenshot / U.S. House video)

Peltola leads House challengers in new fundraising reports

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, of Alaska, reported raising $2.3 million in just over three weeks in September, leaving the Democrat with a large cash advantage… Continue reading

Rep. Mary Peltola, an Alaska Democrat, delivers a speech on the U.S. House floor before Thursday’s vote approving her first bill, establishing an Office of Food Security in the Department of Veterans Affairs. It passed the House by a 376-49 vote, although its fate in the Senate is undetermined. (Screenshot / U.S. House video)
Chesbro For Alaska Pat Chesbro, the lone Democrat in the three-way race for one of Alaska’s U.S. Senate seats in the November general election, poses for her official campaign profile picture.

Chesbro says she holds the keys to victory

Democrat a longshot in U.S. Senate race, but one of her Republican opponents needs her voters to win

Chesbro For Alaska Pat Chesbro, the lone Democrat in the three-way race for one of Alaska’s U.S. Senate seats in the November general election, poses for her official campaign profile picture.
Then-Alaska State Senate President Ben Stevens, R Anchorage, talks during an interview on May 25, 2005 at the State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. Ben Stevens, a former Alaska Senate president and a son of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, died on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. He was 63. (AP Photo / David J. Sheakley)

Ben Stevens, former Alaska Senate president, dies at age 63

Ben Stevens, a former Alaska Senate president and a son of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, has died. He was 63. The Alaska State… Continue reading

Then-Alaska State Senate President Ben Stevens, R Anchorage, talks during an interview on May 25, 2005 at the State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. Ben Stevens, a former Alaska Senate president and a son of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, died on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. He was 63. (AP Photo / David J. Sheakley)
Bob Bird (left) and Lisa Parker (right) participate in a Constitutional Convention Forum at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Constitutional convention debate comes to Kenai

Alaskans will be asked on the Nov. 8 general election ballot: “Shall there be a constitutional convention?”

Bob Bird (left) and Lisa Parker (right) participate in a Constitutional Convention Forum at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelly Tshibaka, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, poses for her official campaign biography photo this spring. (Kelly For Alaska)

Tshibaka sees more than red:Trump-back candidate discusses policy goals in Senate

Weighty words ranging from seabeds to outer space.

Kelly Tshibaka, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, poses for her official campaign biography photo this spring. (Kelly For Alaska)
Alaska Federation of Natives Youths perform during the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Fairbanks. The convention, which AFN says is the largest representative annual gathering in the United States of Native peoples, is meeting in-person for the first time in two years from Oct. 20-22 in Anchorage.

AFN Convention returns with in-person event

About 6,000 people expected at three-day gathering in Anchorge featuring performances and politics

Alaska Federation of Natives Youths perform during the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Fairbanks. The convention, which AFN says is the largest representative annual gathering in the United States of Native peoples, is meeting in-person for the first time in two years from Oct. 20-22 in Anchorage.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the state Capitol on April 28, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Nearly every single Alaskan got a financial windfall amounting to more than $3,000 on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, the day the state began distributing payments from Alaska's investment fund that has been seeded with money from the state's oil riches. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Dunleavy says he’ll vote for constitutional convention

The question will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the state Capitol on April 28, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Nearly every single Alaskan got a financial windfall amounting to more than $3,000 on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, the day the state began distributing payments from Alaska's investment fund that has been seeded with money from the state's oil riches. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Forms to run for state office are displayed at the Alaska Division of Elections’ offices in Juneau in June. Candidates and organizations in statewide contests were required to file campaign finance reports on Monday, detailing their spending, expenses and cash on hand one month before the Nov 8 election. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)

Big bucks back constitutional convention opponents

D.C. group spends on ballot measure, Dunleavy has big cash advantage in governor’s race.

Forms to run for state office are displayed at the Alaska Division of Elections’ offices in Juneau in June. Candidates and organizations in statewide contests were required to file campaign finance reports on Monday, detailing their spending, expenses and cash on hand one month before the Nov 8 election. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
Screenshot / Clarise Larson More than 60 people joined in on a Zoom meeting Monday afternoon to participate in an Indigenous Language revitalization class and panel that addressed the future of Lingít, X<strong>̱</strong>aad Kíl, and Sm<strong>ʼ</strong>algya<strong>̱</strong>x.

Celebrating learning on Indigenous Peoples Day

Community leaders talk future of Indigenous Southeast Alaska languages

Screenshot / Clarise Larson More than 60 people joined in on a Zoom meeting Monday afternoon to participate in an Indigenous Language revitalization class and panel that addressed the future of Lingít, X<strong>̱</strong>aad Kíl, and Sm<strong>ʼ</strong>algya<strong>̱</strong>x.
Heidi Drygas, who is running for lieutenant governor, and Bill Walker, who is running for governor, smile outside the Juneau Empire’s offices after an interview this week. Walker said he’s hopeful voters will understand his decision to draw from the Alaska Permanent Fund to fund state government. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Walker hopes voters willing to accept hard truths

Former independent governor seeking office again after “I threw myself on the Permanent Fund grenade. ”

Heidi Drygas, who is running for lieutenant governor, and Bill Walker, who is running for governor, smile outside the Juneau Empire’s offices after an interview this week. Walker said he’s hopeful voters will understand his decision to draw from the Alaska Permanent Fund to fund state government. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A map shows more than 50 proposed cabin projects in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests the U.S. Forest Service is considering using $14.4 million in federal funds. About half of the projects are expected to be approved, with the public able to comment online about their preferences until Oct. 31. (U.S. Forest Service)

Cabin fever fueled by Forest Service funds

More than 50 proposed new Alaska sites, half in Tongass, draw strong opinions.

A map shows more than 50 proposed cabin projects in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests the U.S. Forest Service is considering using $14.4 million in federal funds. About half of the projects are expected to be approved, with the public able to comment online about their preferences until Oct. 31. (U.S. Forest Service)
Fat Bear Week bracket (Photo courtesy Katmai National Park & Preserve)

Survival of the fattest: Voters decide on the heftiest Katmai brown bear

Voters decide on the heftiest Katmai brown bear

Fat Bear Week bracket (Photo courtesy Katmai National Park & Preserve)
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Les Gara, left, discusses hospitality industry issues during a forum Wednesday with independent candidate Bill Walker, right, at Louie’s Douglas Inn. The forum was hosted by the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association, with the organization’s president and CEO Sarah Oates acting as the moderator. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Walker, Gara get into a bar debate

Candidates for governor talk about serving, shortages and ships during industry forum in Juneau

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Les Gara, left, discusses hospitality industry issues during a forum Wednesday with independent candidate Bill Walker, right, at Louie’s Douglas Inn. The forum was hosted by the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association, with the organization’s president and CEO Sarah Oates acting as the moderator. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A bald eagle looks toward the Mendenhall Glacier near the visitor center on Tuesday. The U.S. Forest Service is proposing expanding a ban on mining and other mineral resource extraction activities from an area on the glacier a short distance from the existing face to several hundred yards inward, extending outward to the mountainsides along both sides. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Forest Service seeks input on expanding mineral extraction ban near glacier

Forest Service seeks input on expanding mineral extraction ban in recreation area

A bald eagle looks toward the Mendenhall Glacier near the visitor center on Tuesday. The U.S. Forest Service is proposing expanding a ban on mining and other mineral resource extraction activities from an area on the glacier a short distance from the existing face to several hundred yards inward, extending outward to the mountainsides along both sides. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Melanie Hardin, right, greets the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.’s Board of Trustees before her interview for the APFC’s executive director’s job Monday in Juneau, (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Permanent Fund board picks new executive director

Trustees work overtime selecting from three candidates after interviews Monday

Melanie Hardin, right, greets the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.’s Board of Trustees before her interview for the APFC’s executive director’s job Monday in Juneau, (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Mary Peltola, an Alaska Democrat, delivers a speech on the U.S. House floor before Thursday’s vote approving her first bill, establishing an Office of Food Security in the Department of Veterans Affairs. It passed the House by a 376-49 vote, although its fate in the Senate is undetermined. (Screenshot from official U.S. House video)

Poll: Peltola’s a popular pol

Food for vets bill passes House, pollster says she is “the most popular figure in Alaska right now.”

Rep. Mary Peltola, an Alaska Democrat, delivers a speech on the U.S. House floor before Thursday’s vote approving her first bill, establishing an Office of Food Security in the Department of Veterans Affairs. It passed the House by a 376-49 vote, although its fate in the Senate is undetermined. (Screenshot from official U.S. House video)
A parking sign awaits the new executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund at its Juneau headquarters, Three finalists will be interviewed for the job during a public meeting Monday by the fund’s board of trustees, who are expected to deliberate and announce the new director immediately afterward. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Interviews, selection of new Permanent Fund CEO set for Monday

Three finalists seeking to manage $73.7B fund to appear before trustees at public meeting in Juneau

A parking sign awaits the new executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund at its Juneau headquarters, Three finalists will be interviewed for the job during a public meeting Monday by the fund’s board of trustees, who are expected to deliberate and announce the new director immediately afterward. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. building in Juneau is scheduled to be the site where the board of trustees will select a new executive director on Monday, following the investigation into the firing of former CEO Angela Rodell last December being presented to state lawmakers on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Investigators: Permanent Fund CEO’s firing legal but departed from policy

Trustees acted legally, despite not following official policy, and governor didn’t influence decision

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. building in Juneau is scheduled to be the site where the board of trustees will select a new executive director on Monday, following the investigation into the firing of former CEO Angela Rodell last December being presented to state lawmakers on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)