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Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced his People First Initiative - a package of programs and reforms aimed at increasing public safety - at a press conference in Anchorage on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. The package of reforms is meant to address five major intersecting topics, the governor said: domestic violence and sexual assault; Missing and Murdered Indigenous People; human/sex trafficking; foster care and homelessness. (screenshot)

Dunleavy announces package of public safety measures

Programs, laws and reforms.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced his People First Initiative - a package of programs and reforms aimed at increasing public safety - at a press conference in Anchorage on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. The package of reforms is meant to address five major intersecting topics, the governor said: domestic violence and sexual assault; Missing and Murdered Indigenous People; human/sex trafficking; foster care and homelessness. (screenshot)
Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation CEO Angela Rodell speaks to the House Finance Committee on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Rodell was fired as CEO on Dec. 10 by APFC's board, a decision which has lawmakers and others asking 'why?' (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Lawmakers want answers on CEO firing at permanent fund corp

Record earnings reported.

Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation CEO Angela Rodell speaks to the House Finance Committee on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Rodell was fired as CEO on Dec. 10 by APFC's board, a decision which has lawmakers and others asking 'why?' (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Technicians at the Alaska State Crime Lab recently identified the human remains found in a shoe that washed up near the Seawalk in 2020. (Courtesy photo / Department of Public Safety)

How it works: crime lab specialist talks ID’ing human remains

Deep muscle tissue is best for identifying workable DNA.

Technicians at the Alaska State Crime Lab recently identified the human remains found in a shoe that washed up near the Seawalk in 2020. (Courtesy photo / Department of Public Safety)
Copies of the Alaska State Constitution were available outside the Lt. Governor’s office on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, but if voters choose to have a constitutional convention next year, the state’s foundational document could be re-written entirely. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Group warns of costs, time and changes from constitutional convention

You say you’ll change the constitution.

Copies of the Alaska State Constitution were available outside the Lt. Governor’s office on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, but if voters choose to have a constitutional convention next year, the state’s foundational document could be re-written entirely. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A float plane takes off over Gastineau Channel in Juneau, Alaska., on May 30, 2018. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, that he will propose a $5 million grant in his upcoming budget to support tourism marketing efforts amid the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Dunleavy proposes grant for Alaska tourism effort

Proposal part of upcoming budget.

A float plane takes off over Gastineau Channel in Juneau, Alaska., on May 30, 2018. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, that he will propose a $5 million grant in his upcoming budget to support tourism marketing efforts amid the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Cities hope to see full state budget, bolstered by federal funds

School bond debt.

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer is seen on the floor of the Alaska House on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, in Juneau, Alaska. Meyer, a Republican who oversees elections in Alaska, in November 2020, announced plans for a hand-count review of votes cast on a successful ballot initiative, which would change how elections in Alaska are conducted, casting the review as a way to calm questions that had been raised about the validity of election results. The Associated Press received emails on Nov. 30, 2021, hat were received by Meyer’s office with complaints or concerns about the election, more than a year after they were requested. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Email complaints scarce before ballot review

By Becky Bohrer Associated Press Alaska Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer last year said the issue his office seemed to be getting the most email on… Continue reading

Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer is seen on the floor of the Alaska House on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, in Juneau, Alaska. Meyer, a Republican who oversees elections in Alaska, in November 2020, announced plans for a hand-count review of votes cast on a successful ballot initiative, which would change how elections in Alaska are conducted, casting the review as a way to calm questions that had been raised about the validity of election results. The Associated Press received emails on Nov. 30, 2021, hat were received by Meyer’s office with complaints or concerns about the election, more than a year after they were requested. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Dorothy Thomson stands while giving a thumbs down as Gov. Mike Dunleavy gives his State of Alaska Address during the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. The 2019 convention was the last in-person convention as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the meeting to go digital for the second year in a row. (Eric Engman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP)

‘Relationships are key’: AFN Convention brings leaders to the table

All levels of leadership.

Dorothy Thomson stands while giving a thumbs down as Gov. Mike Dunleavy gives his State of Alaska Address during the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. The 2019 convention was the last in-person convention as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the meeting to go digital for the second year in a row. (Eric Engman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP)

Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board ousts CEO Rodell

The board that oversees Alaska’s multibillion dollar investment portfolio on Thursday removed Angela Rodell as chief executive officer. KTOO Public Media reported board members voted… Continue reading

A student pets Wilson, a therapy dog, in a hallway at French Middle School, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. The dog is one of the tools designed to relieve stresses faced by students as they return to classrooms amid the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Health officials: Youth mental health issues, suicides worsened by pandemic

Anxiety and depression.

A student pets Wilson, a therapy dog, in a hallway at French Middle School, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. The dog is one of the tools designed to relieve stresses faced by students as they return to classrooms amid the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy spoke with reporters at the Alaska Governor's Mansion on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, before greeting guests for the traditional Christmas open house. The event was suspended last year due to COVID-19 but was back this year with limited health mitigation rules in place. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Juneauites fill Governor’s Mansion as annual open house returns

Kids more interested in cookies than governor.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy spoke with reporters at the Alaska Governor's Mansion on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, before greeting guests for the traditional Christmas open house. The event was suspended last year due to COVID-19 but was back this year with limited health mitigation rules in place. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
An Alaska Seaplanes Pilatus PC-12 sits on the tarmac at Yakutat Airport on Dec. 5, 2021, a charter flight to help stranded travelers leave after an airport instrument failure prevented any commercial flights from reaching the small city. The National Weather Service is currently working on fixing the problem. (Courtesy photo / Norton Gregory)

Yakutat airport weather instrument malfunction strands travelers

Without the dead sensor, commercial flights can’t land there, severely limiting travel options.

An Alaska Seaplanes Pilatus PC-12 sits on the tarmac at Yakutat Airport on Dec. 5, 2021, a charter flight to help stranded travelers leave after an airport instrument failure prevented any commercial flights from reaching the small city. The National Weather Service is currently working on fixing the problem. (Courtesy photo / Norton Gregory)
A joint investigation between the FBI and Canadian law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of a Canadian man for cybercrimes on Nov. 30, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Canadian man indicted in international cybercrime case

His attacks targeted State of Alaska computers as well as Canadian ones.

A joint investigation between the FBI and Canadian law enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of a Canadian man for cybercrimes on Nov. 30, 2021. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Astronaut Candidate Deniz Burnham, of ASCAN Class of 2021, poses for an official photo on Dec. 3, 2021. (Robert Markowitz / NASA)

‘Find a passion and stay the course’: Burnham joins newest group of astronauts

From the Last Frontier to the Final Frontier.

Astronaut Candidate Deniz Burnham, of ASCAN Class of 2021, poses for an official photo on Dec. 3, 2021. (Robert Markowitz / NASA)
This February 2020 file photo shows the Alaska state flag on the bow of the MV Matanuska at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. The infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress includes significant funding for the ferry system, but coastal communities are still feeling the pinch of reduced service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Infrastructure bill will boost ferries, but winter service still sparse

New funds, old problems.

This February 2020 file photo shows the Alaska state flag on the bow of the MV Matanuska at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. The infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress includes significant funding for the ferry system, but coastal communities are still feeling the pinch of reduced service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
This photo provided by NASA shows its 2021 astronaut candidate class, announced on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. The 10 candidates stand for a photo at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Dec. 3, 2021. From left are U.S. Air Force Maj. Nichole Ayers, Christopher Williams, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. (retired.) Luke Delaney, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jessica Wittner, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Anil Menon, U.S. Air Force Maj. Marcos Berríos, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jack Hathaway, Christina Birch, U.S. Navy Lt. Deniz Burnham, and Andre Douglas. (Robert Markowitz / NASA)

NASA’s 10 new astronauts: pilots, doctor, physicist, cyclist

An Alaskan is among those selected.

This photo provided by NASA shows its 2021 astronaut candidate class, announced on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. The 10 candidates stand for a photo at the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Dec. 3, 2021. From left are U.S. Air Force Maj. Nichole Ayers, Christopher Williams, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. (retired.) Luke Delaney, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jessica Wittner, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Anil Menon, U.S. Air Force Maj. Marcos Berríos, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jack Hathaway, Christina Birch, U.S. Navy Lt. Deniz Burnham, and Andre Douglas. (Robert Markowitz / NASA)
This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)

State begins process of replacing ferry Tustumena

The state also has other plans for updating the marine highway.

This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)
Coast Guardsmen and state employees load the Together Tree bound for the Alaska Governor’s Mansion on a truck on Nov. 29, 2021. The annual open house at the governor's mansion is back this year, after having been suspended last year due to COVID-19. (USCG photo / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)

Christmas open house at governor’s mansion returns

Open to all.

Coast Guardsmen and state employees load the Together Tree bound for the Alaska Governor’s Mansion on a truck on Nov. 29, 2021. The annual open house at the governor's mansion is back this year, after having been suspended last year due to COVID-19. (USCG photo / Petty Officer 2nd Class Lexie Preston)
A flu shot is administered at a free vaccine clinic in Juneau on Nov. 23, 2021, and on Thursday health officials nationwide urged people to get inoculated for both COVID-19 and the flu ahead of the holiday season. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Health officials push vaccines, boosters to combat variant

A lot of unknowns.

A flu shot is administered at a free vaccine clinic in Juneau on Nov. 23, 2021, and on Thursday health officials nationwide urged people to get inoculated for both COVID-19 and the flu ahead of the holiday season. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
AP Photo / Jae C. Hong Air China flight crew members in hazmat suits walk through the arrivals area Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport. The U.S. on Wednesday reported its first case of the omicron variant.

Biden to announce testing, booster expansion

Announcement Thursday.

AP Photo / Jae C. Hong Air China flight crew members in hazmat suits walk through the arrivals area Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport. The U.S. on Wednesday reported its first case of the omicron variant.