Site Logo
Amanda Price, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, center, is surrounded by Department of Public Safety officials during a press conference on her confirmation to the position at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

News

Department of Public Safety commissioner resigns

Price is out.

Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, speaks to Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, during an at ease in the debate over the extension of an emergency declaration on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Disaster declaration deadline looms

Running out of time, lawmakers fail to extend emergency

Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 but a clear majority still hasn’t formed in the body. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Update: Deadlock ends, state House selects a speaker

17 days of deadlock.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

News

COVID at a glance for Wednesday, Feb. 10

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

News

COVID at a glance for Thursday, Feb. 11

The most recent state and local numbers.

The lawsuit in question stemmed from a legal opinion written by former-Attorney General Kevin Clarkson, seen here in this Jan. 30, 2019 Empire file photo with Gov. Mike Dunleavy. An Anchorage judge wrote the opinion violated collective bargaining agreements and federal labor law. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

News

Judge says state broke law in order over union dues lawsuit

Damages to be paid to union.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here speaking in this Aug. 11, 2020 file photo, will be holding a news conference this evening at 5 p.m. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

News

Watch: Governor holds COVID-19 news conference

Live at 5 p.m.

The election of Rep. Josiah Patkotak, I-Utqiaġvik, seen here on Friday, Feb. 5, as Speaker Pro Tem is the only break so far in the deadlock in the House of Representatives. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Senators wait ‘patiently’

Deadlock day 17.

In this file photo Bartlett Regional Hospital pharmacist Chris Sperry holds a vial of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020. Appointments are still available for the second vaccine clinic for elderly residents 65 and older on Feb. 11-12 as of Feb. 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

News

State announces more people eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine

Includes some 50 and older, educators and people living or working in congregate settings.

COVID-19. (Courtesy Image / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

News

Report: Vigilance needed to prevent further COVID-19 deaths

DHSS releases comprehensive coronavirus casualty count for 2020

tease

News

State says spread kindness, not COVID with new campaign

#WithYouAlaska

Some buildings, like Centennial Hall, seen here on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, have been converted into facilities to help combat the coronavirus pandemic. If the state’s COVID-19 emergency declaration lapses on Feb. 15, health officials are saying it could make combating the pandemic more difficult. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

With deadline looming, some say disaster order no longer needed

Health officials say extension would help effort against ongoing pandemic.

The Senate Finance Committee, seen here with chair Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, leading a meeting on Jan. 27, discussed Monday Gov. Mike Dunleavy's propsoal for a $1.4 billion supplemental budget. Most of that money would go to paying out a supplemental Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Supplemental budget proposal asks for $1.4 billion

Most would be spent on PFD.

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, has his temperature taken inside the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 19, 2021. The high tech check-ins have become routine over the past few weeks. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

News

High tech temp check: Devices with camera, infrared scanner part of lawmakers’ routine

Have you seen these yet?

UnCruise, operating small-deck vessels like the one seen above, will be one of very few companies that can continue to operate in Alaska this summer following a surprise announcement by the Canadian government banning cruise ships in its harbors until 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

Alaska congressional delegation: Canadian cruise ban unacceptable

While small-deck cruises are still viable, their support for their heftier colleagues is ardent.

There's money in Gov. Mike Dunleavy's bond proposal package for projects like the one taking place at Aurora Harbor, seen here in this Nov. 5, 2020, photo, but Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, doesn't think there's enough local investment. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

News

Governor’s $356M bond proposal gets cool reaction from lawmakers

Legislators cautious on revisions, additions

University of Alaska interim President Pat Pitney told lawmakers the system was an economic driver for the state. The system’s regional campuses, like UA Southeast, seen here on Jan. 26, were more focused on producing graduates in fields in high demand in Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

News

University’s programs are here to stay, president says

Alaska’s system for higher education.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

News

COVID at a glance for Thursday, Feb. 4

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

News

COVID at a glance for Monday, Feb. 8

The most recent state and local numbers.

This 2020 electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - Rocky Mountain Laboratories shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells cultured in a lab. Viruses are constantly mutating, with coronavirus variants circulating around the globe. (NIAID-RML)

News

COVID at a glance for Tuesday, Feb. 9

The most recent state and local numbers.