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Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speaks to Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, before a floor session to debate a bill over a disaster declaration in the state on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The debate would take lawmakers into the evening Wednesday, as over 40 amendments were submitted on the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Disaster debate drags out in Senate

Even if bill advances, governor might not sign it.

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Rep Young announces reelection bid

He’s Congress’ longest-ever-serving Republican member.

An Arizona man was arrested for his role bringing large quantities of methamphetamine to Fairbanks between 2019 and 2020 according to a Department of Justice news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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Arizona man arrested for trafficking 60 pounds of meth to Fairbanks

The scale indicates it could be part of a larger operation.

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Report recommends public database for police use of force

Mental health issues stand out.

The Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro is moored at the cutter’s homeport of Kodiak, Alaska, April 24, 2021. The Douglas Munro was decommissioned during a ceremony following 49-years of service. (Chief Petty Officer Matt Masaschi / U.S. Coast Guard)

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Coast Guard decommissions cutter Douglas Munro

The vessel has been in service since 1971 and undertaken many high-profile rescues and operations.

In this September 2019 photo, then-Alaska Department of Administration Commissioner Kelly Tshibaka addresses reporters in Anchorage, Alaska. Tshibaka a candidate for U.S. Senate in Alaska previously wrote articles in support of an organization that espoused gay conversion therapy, questioned the integrity of elections and described the “Twilight” books and movies as evil. Many of the past articles, blogs and posts from candidate Tshibaka have been deleted but some are available through archived internet pages, as first reported Tuesday, April 27, 2021, by CNN. The CNN article, Tshibaka said in an email to The Associated Press, “is just proof that our campaign is gaining momentum, which has Lisa Murkowski and her allies scared to death. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

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Senate candidate shadowed by anti-gay article, election post

She previously wrote articles in support of an organization that espoused gay conversion therapy.

Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, holds a news conference in front of the doors to the Senate chambers on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Reinbold has been banned from Alaska Airlines flights for refusing to comply with the airline’s mask [policy. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Airline bans Reinbold for violating mask rules

Alaska Airlines has banned an Alaska state senator for refusing to follow mask requirements.

The Alaska State Capitol remained closed to the public on Monday, April 26, 2021, but with high rates of vaccinations among staff, lawmakers have relaxed some of the health rules in place since the start of the session in January. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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With vaccines available, lawmakers relax rules at Capitol

Returning to normal.

Rear Adm. Nathan A. Moore, new commander for Coast Guard District 17, holds a fortune from a fortune cookie that reads "Blessed is that man who has found his work." Moore said he received the fortune on his first day in Juneau and he found it fitting as he was poised to take his new post. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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‘You’ve got the helm’: District 17 changes command

New commander says he has found his work.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a press conference promoting tourism on April 9, 2021. Dunleavy posted a video to social media saying he had received a COVID-19 vaccine, and urged Alaskans to do the same. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Dunleavy urges to Alaskans to vaccinate

Sleeves up for summer.

From left to right, Reps. Neal Foster, D-Nome, Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, and Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, speak to reporters on Thursday, April 22, 2021. As the end of the legislative session approaches, some lawmakers are trying to speed up work on the budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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House passes school funding, sets sights on federal aid

Bill moves to the Senate.

Alaska Airlines and SkyNRG formed a partnership to advance sustainable aviation fuel made from municipal solid waste, the airline announced, as part of its steps towards making the airline a net-zero emissions industry. (Courtesy photo / Alaska Airlines)

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Net-zero emissions, cleaner fuel… and planes that run on waste?

Alaska Airlines announces environmental commitments and efforts.

Rachel Saylor / Tanana Chiefs Conference In this undated photo provided by the, shows PJ Simon, chief and chairman of the Tanana Chiefs Conference in Fairbanks, Alaska, displays a COVID-19 vaccination sticker.

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Alaska tribal health groups distribute vaccine far and wide

Alaska’s highest vaccination rates have been in some of its remotest, hardest-to-access communities.

In this photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigator Clint Crookshanks, left, and member Jennifer Homendy stand near the site of some of the wreckage of the DHC-2 Beaver, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, that was involved in a midair collision near Ketchikan, Alaska, a couple of days earlier. The pilots of two Alaskan sightseeing planes that collided in midair couldn’t see the other aircraft because airplane structures or a passenger blocked their views, and they didn’t get electronic alerts about close aircraft because safety systems weren’t working properly. That’s what the staff of the National Transportation Safety board found in their investigation. (Peter Knudson / NTSB)

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Pilot views obstructed, alerts missing in 2019 plane crash near Ketchikan

Collission occurred near Ketchikan.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a news conference on April 9, 2021, to promote the state’s tourism industry, announced Tuesday Alaska was joining Florida’s lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for preventing cruise ship sailings. Dunleavy had said at the conference joining the suit was a possibility. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Alaska joins Florida lawsuit over cruise ship pause

CDC stands by decision.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, removes her face mask Monday moments after being removed from her committee chairmanship.

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Senator removed as chair of Judiciary Committee

Multiple incidents, mostly around masking, led to the decision.

Juneauites enjoyed the sun on the downtown waterfront on Friday, April 16, 2021, but the city would normally be gearing up for cruise season. Gov. Mike Dunleavy released a proposal Friday for using more the $1 billion in federal relief money meant to boost local economies and update local infrastructure. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Dunleavy unveils proposals for over $1 billion in federal aid

Waiting for further guidance.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, shown here on April 9, held a news conference in Anchorage on April 16, 2021 announcing his office’s plans for supporting tourism in Alaska going forward. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Free vaccines for tourists: Governor talks future of tourism industry

The governor wants $150 million to aid the tourism industry.

A man holds a U.S. and a rainbow flag outside the Supreme Court in Washington in 2015 after the court legalized gay marriage nationwide. Court documents show the state of Alaska for years maintains a discriminatory policy that denied some same-sex spouses benefits by wrongly claiming gay marriage was not recognized in Alaska, long after courts ordered they be recognized. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

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Alaska denied benefits to gay couples despite court rulings

Division staff listed about 40 people who were denied.

Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, speaks to reporters at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 15, 2021, about a bill of his to reform Alaska's elections. An earlier version of the bill drew sharp criticism but Shower says his bill is not meant to be partisan. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Polarizing election reform bill reintroduced with changes

Bill gets another run.