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Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered the release of certain state funds Wednesday, including for the Alaska Performance Scholarship, which helps Alaskans pay for things like classes at the University of Alaska Southeast, shown in this October 2020 file photo. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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State releases scholarship, medical school program funding

Scholarships and public health.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at an Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday the state was taking steps to help Alaska's hospitals deal with the strain of a spike in COVID-19 cases. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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State expedites health care hiring process to help staff strained hospitals

Pandemic burnout.

The campaign to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced it was stopping the effort with a gubernatorial race looming next year. The Recall Dunleavy group said that as of Saturday it had gathered 62,373 signatures, shy of the 71,252 needed to trigger a recall vote. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Effort to recall Dunleavy dropped after 2-year push

The recall effort took off in 2019.

House Sergeant-At-Arms Micaela Brader waits for member of the Alaska House of Representatives to arrive for a floor session on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. Despite several calls to a floor session, members of the House Republican Minority never arrived, causing a delay in legislative business. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Legislative work stalled by House divisions

Divisions and delays.

Rep. Ivy Sponholz, D-Anchorage, left, listens as Legislative Finance Director Alexei Painter gives a presentation to the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. Lawmakers have less than 30 days to try and both complete the state's budget and find resolution on the state's long term fiscal problems. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Legislators aim to finish budget, find fiscal solutions

Less than 30 days.

FILE - This Jan. 29, 2014 file photo shows former Denver Broncos offensive lineman and ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth in New York. Schlereth returned home to Alaska this week to encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Service High alumnus made a halftime appearance Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 at West High, where his alma mater squared off against the West Eagles. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)

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Ex-NFL player Mark Schlereth urges Alaskans to get vaccine

“I just want to encourage everybody to do your part.”

A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

News

Officials debunk COVID vaccine misinformation

State doctors say ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine aren’t effective at treating COVID-19.

FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2019, file photo, Kelly Tshibaka speaks to reporters in Anchorage. Law enforcement officials have completed their investigation whether Tshibaka, a U.S. Senate candidate and former State of Alaska official, illegally obtained a fishing license for a sportfishing event two years ago, and turned it over to a special prosecutorial branch of the Department of Law, an official said Thursday, Aug. 19. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

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Prosecutors vet US Senate candidate’s fishing license case

It’s been turned over to a special prosecutorial branch of the Department of Law

Travelers check their cellphones near a sign promoting COVID-19 vaccinations in the Juneau International Airport on Thursday. Federal officials are recommending a booster shot for the COVID-19 vaccine, and local health authorities say the rollout will likely be similar to the initial vaccine distribution. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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City, state officials plan for September vaccine boosters

Federal details not yet released.

(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Dunleavy adds bill for PFD to session agenda

Senators applaud move.

A donor gives blood at the Blood Bank of Alaska’s Juneau center on Aug. 18, 2021. The BBA is currently experiencing critical shortages of multiple blood types statewide. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Alaska blood bank faces critical shortages of multiple blood types

Pandemic conditions, summer and trauma rates all add to the need.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)

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Judge throws out Trump-era approvals for Willow Project

The Trump administration approved the project, and the Biden administration defended it in court.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds up a graph showing the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund during a new conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. Lawmakers have asked the governor to amend the call of the special session, allowing them to address the budget which remains only partially funded. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Lawmakers, governor spar over direction of special session

Lawmakers return to the capital city.

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File The Alaska State Capitol.

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Dividend size is a sticking point for special session

Debate over the check size in recent years has become politically charged and overshadowed issues.

The Power Cost Equalization program works with regional electrical utilities like the Inside Passage Electrical Cooperative, seen here on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, to provide subsidies to bring down electricity rates in rural Alaska. Payments for the program had been tied up by legislative deadlock but a Anchorage Superior Court Case Thursday said the money could be released. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Court ruling brings relief, but concern remains for PCE

‘Pleased with the ruling.’

This photo shows an envelope containing a 2020 census letter mailed to a U.S. resident. On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the state of Ohio that tried to get the U.S. Census Bureau to provide data used for drawing congressional and legislative districts ahead of its planned release. (AP Photo / Matt Rourke)

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Census data for state show population gains and losses

Mat-Su Borough population gew by over 20%..

Gavel (Courtesy photo)

News

Judge orders release of Power Cost Equalization funds

Superior court judge bars state from sweeping the nearly $1.2 billion PCE Fund.

This May 30 photo shows a view aboard the MV LeConte. The Alaska Marine Highway System is poised to benefit from a massive spending plan with bipartisan backing. The $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed the Senate on Tuesday. The bill, a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda, now heads to the House. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Alaska’s senators part of bipartisan push for big bill

Both voted for the ‘historic’ $1T infrastructure plan.

Screenshot Deputy attorney general John Skidmore of the Alaska Department of Law speaks during a news conference about a new DNA collection initiative being undertaken by the state on Aug. 10, 2021.

News

Governor, law enforcement agencies announce DNA collection initiative

The effort will prioritize getting samples from violent or sex offenders.

This Aug. 5, 2021, photo provided by Lee LaFollette shows a de Havilland Beaver aircraft departing the Port of Ketchikan, Alaska. Foggy, reduced-visibility conditions have delayed efforts to recover the wreckage of a sightseeing plane that crashed in southeast Alaska, killing six people. Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region, says the agency had hoped to recover the wreckage Sunday. But he says those efforts were called off due to poor conditions. He says the crew planned to try again on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Lee LaFollette via AP)

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Reduced visibility hampers Alaska plane wreckage effort

Foggy and reduced visibility conditions delayed efforts to recover the wreckage.