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A Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. On Wednesday, the United States Department of Agriculture announced its decision to exempt the nation’s largest national forest from the Roadless Rule. Proponents say the rule change will make it easier for responsible resource development while critics say it removes essential protections on critical environments. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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USDA exempts Tongass National Forest from Roadless Rule

Reactions are pouring in.

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska. (courtesy photo)

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Election 2020: A conversation with U.S. House Rep. Don Young

The congressman discusses economics, oil and the stimulus

Al Gross, right, an independent in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race, holds a document during a debate with Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan on Friday, in Anchorage. Sullivan participated remotely, as the Senate prepares to vote on President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee in Washington. (Jeff Chen / Alaska Public Media)

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Sullivan, Gross trade barbs in broadcast debate

The race has drawn national attention as the parties vie for control of the Senate.

U.S. Rep. Don Young, left, and Alyse Galvin square off in a debate for the sole Alaska house seat Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. The debate between the candidates for Alaska’s sole seat in Congress became contentious Thursday, with challenger Galvin saying she’s tired of Young misrepresenting her position on issues. (Jeff Chen / Pool Photo)

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Galvin, Young accuse each of other of lying during debate

The debate between became contentious Thursday

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire The MV Kennicott, docked at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal, was out of commission awaiting repairs on Friday. A report released by the the Alaska Marine Highway Work Group made several recommendations to make the ferry system more effective, but the ferries’ stakeholders say they’ve given up enough already.

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Reshaping recommendations roil stakeholders

How much more can you cut?

In this photo provided by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, clinical research coordinator Tammy Lewis-McCauley administers an injection to Katelyn Evans, a trial participant, as part of the hospital’s clinical trial of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center via AP)

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City offers free flu shots to bolster public health

Bring a pen.

This undated photo shows Independent candidate Al Gross. Gross, an independent running with Democratic support, is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska, a state that has long been a GOP stronghold. Across the country, Republicans are nervous about Senate seats like Sullivan's they once thought safe as Democrats hope to capitalize on President Donald Trump's unpopularity to retake the chamber. (Gross for Senate Campaign)

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Alaska Senate candidate hopes to ride Democratic wave

Republicans are nervous about Senate seats like Sen. Dan Sullivan’s they once thought safe.

A banner protesting resource extraction in the Arctic was hung from a building in downtown Juneau on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. Similar banners were hung in cities around the state and nation, part of a protest mounted by Alaska Native activists. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Banner day: Activists display anti-drilling message throughout state

A Not For Sale sign.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during an Aug. 11 news briefing. Dunleavy held his first news conference in over a month on Wednesday. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

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Dunleavy says rising case load is manageable

It’s the first one in a long time.

Emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport screening site on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. The City and Borough of Juneau raised its health alert level Tuesday as the number of cases grows locally and statewide. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Increase in COVID cases could overwhelm hospitals, experts warn

Mask now so businesses stay open later, they say.

Morning mist is seen on a late September morning near Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. The Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area is part of the Tongass National Forest. A process is underway to enact a polarizing rule change that would exempt the largest national forest from the Roadless Rule. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Alaska tribes say agency ignored Tongass exemption request

Tribal officials: The government ignored Alaska Native groups’ requests to uphold the Roadless Rule.

U.S. Marine CorpsU.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornets assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 prepare to take off from the flightline during Red Flag-Alaska 17-2 on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in 2017.

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Military leaders: Partnerships are key as Alaska’s strategic importance grows

The Alaska Native community and military must work together, commanders say

Rebecca Carrillo (Courtesy Photo)

Neighbors

Juneau woman sworn in as Philippine Honorary Consul for Alaska

The appointment was approved by the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

A screenshot of Gov. Mike Dunleavy giving his address to the Alaska Federation of Natives 2020 Annual Convention.

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Watch: Dunleavy addresses AFN

State has made strides.

A COVID-19 test sits sealed on a counter in Juneau International Airport on Oct. 12. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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3 COVID-19 cases reported among Dunleavy administration

No new cases reported as of Thursday morning.

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, and Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, in the House Chambers before a joint session in January, 2020. Speaking to the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Convention Thursday, Edgmon cited his relationship with Giessel as evidence of good bipartisanship in the legislature, but Giessel and other moderate Republicans lost their primaries to more conservative challengers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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At AFN, Edgmon stresses need for Alaska Natives in government

Every hand makes a difference.

U.S.Attorney General William Barr speaks during a roundtable discussion on Operation Legend, a federal program to help cities combat violent crime, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, in St. Louis. Barr also spoke via recorded message at the annual Alaska Federation of Natives Convention. (AP Photo / Jeff Roberson)

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Alaska Natives, law enforcement affirm partnership against public safety crisis

Partnerships, tribal authority, and reliable funding cam help strangle this crisis.

The University of Alaska Southeast Juneau campus on July 31, 2020. UAS and Willamette University College of Law recently announced a direct admissions partnership between the two schools to try and make it easier for Alaskan students to study law. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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UAS and Willamette partner for law program

$10,000 in yearly scholarship will be available.

A sign in the window of a business on South Franklin Street in downtown Juneau on April 14, 2020. State officials say additional employments payments will be sent out next week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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State says increased unemployment payments start next week

‘We’re trapped with this COVID thing.’

This photo shows an envelope containing a 2020 census letter mailed to a U.S. resident in Detroit. The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Trump administration to end the 2020 census was another case of whiplash for the census, which has faced stops from the pandemic, natural disasters and court rulings. (AP Photo / Paul Sancya, File)

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Elected officials urge census response ahead of deadline

Alaskans have until 11:59 p.m. Oct. 15.