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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)

Census data for state show population gains and losses

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

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)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Judge orders release of Power Cost Equalization funds

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

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
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.

Governor, law enforcement agencies announce DNA collection initiative

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

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.
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)

Alaska’s senators part of bipartisan push for big bill

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

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)
An Idaho man was indicted and arrested for charges dealing with creating child pornography in Haines in late July, according to a Department of Justice news release. (Courtesy photo / DOJ)

Idaho man arrested on charges of sexually exploiting children in Haines

He was arrested in Idaho in late July and awaits extradition to Alaska.

An Idaho man was indicted and arrested for charges dealing with creating child pornography in Haines in late July, according to a Department of Justice news release. (Courtesy photo / DOJ)
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)

Reduced visibility hampers Alaska plane wreckage effort

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

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)
A Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter like the one in this June 19 photo, rescued two plane crash survivors 40 miles southeast of Ketchikan on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Coast Guard rescues two from plane crash

No casualties resulted from the crash, which occurred on takeoff.

A Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter like the one in this June 19 photo, rescued two plane crash survivors 40 miles southeast of Ketchikan on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Environmentalists in Southeast Alaska are hoping to renew a push for action on pollution of transboundary waters flowing from Canada into the U.S. South of the Juneau, heavy metals run out of the Tulsequah Chief mine opening and down to holding ponds next to the Tulsequah River Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. Leakage from those ponds can be seen entering the river that flows into the Taku River down stream. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Resolution urges action on transboundary pollution

‘Coming at us quickly.’

Environmentalists in Southeast Alaska are hoping to renew a push for action on pollution of transboundary waters flowing from Canada into the U.S. South of the Juneau, heavy metals run out of the Tulsequah Chief mine opening and down to holding ponds next to the Tulsequah River Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. Leakage from those ponds can be seen entering the river that flows into the Taku River down stream. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel land and disembark from a Hughes 369D helicopter on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at Temsco Helicopters Inc in Ketchikan, Alaska. The KVRS, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers and U.S. Forest Service responded to a radio beacon alert from a downed Southeast Aviation de Havilland Beaver float plane that was carrying five passengers from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, according to Coast Guard, Holland America and KVRS information. The sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)

Coast Guard: 6 dead in sightseeing plane crash

Emergency beacon near Alaska’s Misty Fjords National Monument.

Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel land and disembark from a Hughes 369D helicopter on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at Temsco Helicopters Inc in Ketchikan, Alaska. The KVRS, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers and U.S. Forest Service responded to a radio beacon alert from a downed Southeast Aviation de Havilland Beaver float plane that was carrying five passengers from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, according to Coast Guard, Holland America and KVRS information. The sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)
In this webcam image is the Pavlof Volcano in a state of eruption with episodic low-level ash emissions on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Three remote Alaska volcanos are each in a state of eruption, one producing lava and the other two blowing steam and ash. So far, no small communities near any of the three have been impacted, Chris Waythomas, a geologist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, said Thursday. (Alaska Volcano Observatory)

3 erupting Alaska volcanoes spitting lava or ash clouds

Three remote Alaska volcanoes are in various states of eruption

In this webcam image is the Pavlof Volcano in a state of eruption with episodic low-level ash emissions on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Three remote Alaska volcanos are each in a state of eruption, one producing lava and the other two blowing steam and ash. So far, no small communities near any of the three have been impacted, Chris Waythomas, a geologist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, said Thursday. (Alaska Volcano Observatory)
State health officials are again urging Alaskan who haven’t to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are widely available in Alaska, as seen in this Aug. 5 photo, showing a sign advertising free shots. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Officials again urge vaccinations as COVID cases rise

Vax up, mask up.

State health officials are again urging Alaskan who haven’t to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccines are widely available in Alaska, as seen in this Aug. 5 photo, showing a sign advertising free shots. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A map from the Alaska Energy Authority showing all the communities in Alaska eligible for the Power Cost Equalization program which subsidizes power costs in rural areas. Funding for the program has been caught up in year-to-year budget battles and lawmakers are hopeful they can address the issue in the next special session of the Alaska State Legislature. (Courtesy image / Alaska Energy Authority)

Lawmakers want to amend call to special session

Lots of public testimony.

A map from the Alaska Energy Authority showing all the communities in Alaska eligible for the Power Cost Equalization program which subsidizes power costs in rural areas. Funding for the program has been caught up in year-to-year budget battles and lawmakers are hopeful they can address the issue in the next special session of the Alaska State Legislature. (Courtesy image / Alaska Energy Authority)
This undated aerial photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a herd of caribou on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. The Biden administration is suspending oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as it reviews the environmental impacts of drilling in the remote region.(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

US will review oil and gas leasing program in Alaska refuge

Interior secretary said she found “multiple legal deficiencies” in a prior review

This undated aerial photo provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a herd of caribou on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska. The Biden administration is suspending oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as it reviews the environmental impacts of drilling in the remote region.(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Lawmakers will be back at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this file photo, on Aug. 16, and after spending several weeks on background hearings and public testimony, members of the work group say they're ready to get into solutions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Fiscal working group readies for policy proposals

Making progress.

Lawmakers will be back at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this file photo, on Aug. 16, and after spending several weeks on background hearings and public testimony, members of the work group say they're ready to get into solutions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Aaron Sousa / Unsplash The federal moratorium on evictions ended Saturday, and though rent-relief dollars are still being sent out there’s some concerns the number of evictions could rise.

Eviction moratorium ends, state and local leaders wait and see

Rent relief is flowing, but it’s too soon to tell if evictions will spike

Aaron Sousa / Unsplash The federal moratorium on evictions ended Saturday, and though rent-relief dollars are still being sent out there’s some concerns the number of evictions could rise.
In this Oct. 14, 2020 photo, housing activists erect a sign in Swampscott, Mass. A federal freeze on most evictions is set to expire soon. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Will Alaska financing program ease eviction woes?

Federal moratorium on evictions is expiring.

In this Oct. 14, 2020 photo, housing activists erect a sign in Swampscott, Mass. A federal freeze on most evictions is set to expire soon. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
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Panel rules some state limits on candidate contributions unconstitutional

In a 2-1 decision, the panel struck down certain contribution limits.

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Capitol

Gov moves special session start date

Session to begin Aug. 16, after lawmakers request delay.

Capitol
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Constitution bars Alaska attorney general case, judge says

Judge says lawsuit over effective date clause is an action by the governor against the Legislature.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
A line of cars evacuates the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska on July 28, 2021, after a tsunami warning was issued following a magnitude 8.2 earthquake. The tsunami warning for much of Alaska’s southern coast was canceled when the biggest wave, of just over a half foot, was recorded in Old Harbor. Alaska. (Sarah Knapp / Homer News)

Alaska quake produces prolonged shaking, small tsunami

The National Tsunami Warning Center canceled the warnings early Thursday.

A line of cars evacuates the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska on July 28, 2021, after a tsunami warning was issued following a magnitude 8.2 earthquake. The tsunami warning for much of Alaska’s southern coast was canceled when the biggest wave, of just over a half foot, was recorded in Old Harbor. Alaska. (Sarah Knapp / Homer News)