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This undated photos shows National Day of Mourning plaque on Cole's Hill in Plymouth, Mass, where since 1970 Indigenous groups have gathered to mourn the history of colonization in North America. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the traditional "First Thanksgiving " in 1621, but for many Indigenous people, including Alaska Natives, the holiday is a somber one. (Courtesy photo / Creative commons)

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Thanksgiving has somber context for Indigenous Americans

New narratives.

State Rep. David Eastman sits at his desk on the Alaska House floor in Juneau, Alaska, on March 5, 2020. Dozens of West Point graduates have demanded state Rep. Eastman resign from office over his ties to a right wing extremist group, saying his affiliation has betrayed the values of the U.S. Military Academy he attended. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

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70 West Point graduates call on Eastman to resign

ANCHORAGE — Dozens of West Point graduates have demanded state Rep. David Eastman resign from office over his…

The Wrangell Institute was one of many residential schools in Alaska dedicated to involuntarily teaching the Indigenous people of the state European ways of living, forcibly breaking them from their own Alaska Native cultures. (Courtesy photo / National Park Service)

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Churches respond to revelations about residential schools

That acknowledgement is taking a number of forms, varying by institution.

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Alaska man pleads not guilty to threatening 2 US senators

If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.

The entrance to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in the Tongass National Forest was covered in snow on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, a day after federal authorities announced the next step in restoring the 2001 Roadless Rule on the forest. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Feds put freeze on Roadless Rule rollback

On the Roadless Rule again.

In this Empire file photo, Juneau citizen Mary Ellen Yadao signs her name to vote in the City and Borough of Juneau Municipal Election on Oct. 6, 2020. Speaking to a panel of cybersecurity experts Thursday, Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer said the state is taking advantage of federal resources to bolster election security. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

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Lt Gov talks cybersecurity, election planning

Trust is key.

FILE - A woman stands next to an antenna at an NYU base camp at the Helheim glacier in Greenland on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. In an effort to combat climate change and help develop Arctic communities, the Department of Energy Wednesday announced it was seeking to develop new sustainable energy projects in Alaska. (AP Photo / Felipe Dana)

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Feds promote Arctic energy innovation

Living laboratory.

In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, it would seek to restart a process that could restrict mining in Alaska's Bristol Bay region, which is renowned for its salmon runs. The announcement is the latest in a long-running dispute over a proposed copper-and-gold mine in the southwest Alaska region. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)

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EPA sets timeline to weigh next steps related to Pebble Mine

Here’s when we ‘May’ know more.

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2016, file photo, a marijuana bud is seen before harvest at a rural area near Corvallis, Ore. Alaska Marijuana Industry Association President Lacy Wilcox said federal legalization could potentially hurt Alaska's cannabis cultivators who could lose out to other states such as Oregon where production is cheaper. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky, File)

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Young supports bill to end federal marijuana prohibition

Start the conversation.

The Tazlina was docked at the Auke Bay ferry terminal on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. It is one of 10 vessels in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet. Alaska’s Congressional delegation has said a recently passed infrastructure bill will bring money to the state’s ferries, but until then some communities are still seeing gaps in service over the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Gaps in ferry service remains as new board takes shape

Infstructure bill bonus.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, speaks to reporters after filing for re-election Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at the Division of Elections office in Anchorage, Alaska, setting up a race against a primary challenger endorsed by former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

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Murkowski makes candidacy official

‘A feud from outside.’

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks at an Anchorage news conference on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, to discuss the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package soon to be signed into law by President Joe Biden. (Screenshot)

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‘It is a win for Alaska’ Murkowski touts bipartisan infrastructure bill

Bipartisan bill.

The final proposed map for legislative districts in the Alaska House of Representatives from the Alaska Redistricting Board and set to be finalized Nov. 10, but the once-a-decade process has always faced litigation. (Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board)

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Redistricting board draws fire for senate pairings

Lawsuits are expected.

This photo Pride flags. A bipartisan, interfaith group of Alaskans are advocating for federal protections for LGBTQ people. The group, which includes over 40 organizations, says the time is right for the U.S. Congress to pass the Equality Act, which would bar discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation or gender identity when it comes to public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit and the jury system. (Cecilie Johnson / Unsplash)

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Alaskans throw support behind federal LGBTQ protections

Over 40 organizations and congregations stump for equality legislation.

Rona

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State reports 53 COVID-19 deaths

Fifty among residents, three among nonresidents.

Haines-based author and Alaska’s current writer laureate will be at Hearthside Books Nugget Mall location on Sunday, Nov. 7, to read from her latest book “Of Bears and Ballots: An Alaskan Adventure in Small-Town Politics.”

Neighbors

Heather Lende, Haines writer, to read from latest book in Juneau

Alaska’s writer laureate reflects on ‘difficult’ writing.

In this Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, photo provided by Primary Health Medical Group, Ben Weiss, 10, gets a COVID-19 vaccine at Primary Health Medical Group in Meridian, Idaho. (Tracy Morris/Primary Health Medical Group via AP)

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Officials recommend vaccination ahead of holidays

Safe holiday gatherings.

A voter fills out their ballot in the Thunder Mountain High School gymnasium during the 2020 general election. With more than a year to go before the 2022 election, spending is ramping up. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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Statewide campaign coffers are filling up

Lots more to come.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)

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Judge grants request to expand medication abortion providers

The ruling came on an injunction request by Planned Parenthood.

Screenshot 
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to a Western Governors Association workshop held in Ketchikan on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Dunleavy gave the opening remarks Tuesday and said President Joe Biden’s policies were hurting Alaska.

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Dunleavy criticizes Biden policies during multistate conference

Familiar remarks.