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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)
The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation got some rate sun on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, as Alaska's lawmakers urged the corporation's Board of Directors to divest from Russian assets in response to the invasion of Ukraine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Permanent Fund to hold Russian assets as lawmakers urge divestment

Many states are divesting.

The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation got some rate sun on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, as Alaska's lawmakers urged the corporation's Board of Directors to divest from Russian assets in response to the invasion of Ukraine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, seen here in this 2021 Empire file photo, introduced a bill Monday that would allow the federal government to seize Russian ships in American waters. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Alaska’s lawmakers seek to punish Russia

Economic punishments.

U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, seen here in this 2021 Empire file photo, introduced a bill Monday that would allow the federal government to seize Russian ships in American waters. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, speaks on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. McCave introduced bills to enact a reciprocal tax on Washington state after lawmakers in that state forwarded a bill that would tax refined fuel to Alaska and House members passed a resolution urging Washington lawmakers not to pass the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmakers push back on proposed Washington state legislation

Withdrawn fuel tax provision proves unpopular with lawmakers.

Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, speaks on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. McCave introduced bills to enact a reciprocal tax on Washington state after lawmakers in that state forwarded a bill that would tax refined fuel to Alaska and House members passed a resolution urging Washington lawmakers not to pass the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Pat Pitney was named President of the University of Alaska Friday after serving as interim president for over a year. She is the first woman to hold the position in UA's history. (Courtesy photo / University of Alaska)

Pat Pitney named UA President

After shedding interim label, she’s the first woman to hold the post.

Pat Pitney was named President of the University of Alaska Friday after serving as interim president for over a year. She is the first woman to hold the position in UA's history. (Courtesy photo / University of Alaska)
The MV Tazlina arrives in Juneau in this May 2020 photo. Federal relief dollars may be coming to the state to aide the Alaska Marine Highway System, but the unions that run the ships say workers are leaving the state. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Union reps say Alaska’s losing maritime workers

Retention is declining.

The MV Tazlina arrives in Juneau in this May 2020 photo. Federal relief dollars may be coming to the state to aide the Alaska Marine Highway System, but the unions that run the ships say workers are leaving the state. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Ukrainian servicemen sit atop armored personnel carriers driving on a road in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Alaska elected officials react to Russian invasion of Ukraine

The invasion began Wednesday evening, Alaska time after a long military buildup.

Ukrainian servicemen sit atop armored personnel carriers driving on a road in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Doug Simon with the Alaska Section of the Alaska Society of Civil Engineers gave a presentation on Alaska's infrastructure report card at the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. ASCE graded Alaska's overall infrastructure at a C-. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Engineers give Alaska’s infrastructure a C-

Workers needed.

Doug Simon with the Alaska Section of the Alaska Society of Civil Engineers gave a presentation on Alaska's infrastructure report card at the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. ASCE graded Alaska's overall infrastructure at a C-. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The front doors of the Alaska State Capitol was missing the sign notifying visitors of the building's masking requirement on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, after an early morning by lawmakers changed the rule. Masking rules have been in place since October 2020, much to the consternation of some lawmakers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Masks now optional in state Capitol

Masks since Oct. 2020.

The front doors of the Alaska State Capitol was missing the sign notifying visitors of the building's masking requirement on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, after an early morning by lawmakers changed the rule. Masking rules have been in place since October 2020, much to the consternation of some lawmakers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks to reporters in the state Capitol on Tuesday. Murkowski spoke to reporters after giving a speech to a joint session of the Legislature. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Murkowski concerned with how court may rule in abortion case

Murkowski said she respects “a woman’s right to control her choice with reproductive health

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks to reporters in the state Capitol on Tuesday. Murkowski spoke to reporters after giving a speech to a joint session of the Legislature. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, gave her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at the Capitol building in Juneau. Murkowski's speech emphasized bipartisanship and making Alaska ready for the opportunities brought by the recent infrastructure package. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski: Good things can come together with bipartisanship

Senator talks working across the aisle in annual address.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, gave her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at the Capitol building in Juneau. Murkowski's speech emphasized bipartisanship and making Alaska ready for the opportunities brought by the recent infrastructure package. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A class photo from the Sitka Industrial Training School ca. 1897-1929, shows young Alaska Native women who were taken from their homes are raised in one of Alaska's boarding schools. This week, the First Alaskans Institute is hosting a summit for survivors and others impacted by the boarding school system. (Courtesy photo / Alaska's Digital Archives)

Boarding school summit to address generational trauma

‘They will be heard.’

A class photo from the Sitka Industrial Training School ca. 1897-1929, shows young Alaska Native women who were taken from their homes are raised in one of Alaska's boarding schools. This week, the First Alaskans Institute is hosting a summit for survivors and others impacted by the boarding school system. (Courtesy photo / Alaska's Digital Archives)
Senate Finance Committee members Sens. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, and Natasha Von Imhof, R-Anchorage, listen to public testimony for bills related to the Permanent Fund Dividend on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. The majority of callers accused lawmakers of stealing PFD money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

PFD formula proposals provoke strong public reaction

Familiar arguments.

Senate Finance Committee members Sens. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, and Natasha Von Imhof, R-Anchorage, listen to public testimony for bills related to the Permanent Fund Dividend on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. The majority of callers accused lawmakers of stealing PFD money. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
State Rep. Ron Gillham speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Kenai Municipal Airport on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai area rep introduces raft of education-focused bills

One bill targets critical race theory; another would create state scholarships for private schools.

State Rep. Ron Gillham speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Kenai Municipal Airport on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Courtesy Photo / The White House The White House, heavily renovated over the years, has been the home of America’s presidents for most of the country’s history.

Quiz: Alaska and its history with the presidents

How much do you know about the state’s relationship with the commander-in-chief?

Courtesy Photo / The White House The White House, heavily renovated over the years, has been the home of America’s presidents for most of the country’s history.
Senators and members of the House of Representatives gather in the House Chamber for Gov. Mike Dunleavy's State of the State speech on Jan. 25, 2022. Both the House and Senate Chambers are located on the second floor of the Alaska State Capitol building. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Get to know your Capitol

Take a look around.

Senators and members of the House of Representatives gather in the House Chamber for Gov. Mike Dunleavy's State of the State speech on Jan. 25, 2022. Both the House and Senate Chambers are located on the second floor of the Alaska State Capitol building. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Copies of the Alaska State Constitution are available outside the lieutenant governor's office on the third floor of the Alaska State Capitol. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Constitutional convention could change everything, or nothing

This article appears in the Juneau Empire’s Guide to the 2022 Alaska State Legislature. Legislative impasse over the past few years has led some in… Continue reading

Copies of the Alaska State Constitution are available outside the lieutenant governor's office on the third floor of the Alaska State Capitol. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A student walks across the campus of the University of Alaska Southeast in this Feb. 4, 2021 file photo. An Anchorage Superior Court ruled Thursday against a group of UA students who had sued the state over funding for higher education scholarship programs. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Students appeal Superior Court ruling on higher education funds

Supreme Court to weigh in.

A student walks across the campus of the University of Alaska Southeast in this Feb. 4, 2021 file photo. An Anchorage Superior Court ruled Thursday against a group of UA students who had sued the state over funding for higher education scholarship programs. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Dan Newman, left, the founder of Alaska Premier Auctions and Appraisers, and Nick Cline, a business partner, pose Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska, with the "Americus Australis," thought to be one the largest gem-quality opals in existence. The gem will be offered at auction Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, with an opening bid set at $125,000 (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Alaska auction to feature huge opal stashed away for years

The opal is larger than a brick and is broken into two piece.

Dan Newman, left, the founder of Alaska Premier Auctions and Appraisers, and Nick Cline, a business partner, pose Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska, with the "Americus Australis," thought to be one the largest gem-quality opals in existence. The gem will be offered at auction Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, with an opening bid set at $125,000 (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Christopher Constant, a Democrat, announced on Thursday he will seek Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Courtesy Photo)

Anchorage Assembly member announces US House bid for Alaska

Democrat enters House race fray.

Christopher Constant, a Democrat, announced on Thursday he will seek Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Courtesy Photo)