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The Department of Health and Social Services, its headquarters seen here in Juneau on Monday, March 8, 2021, could be split into two departments by an executive order from the governor. However, some lawmakers have raised concern about the legality of the order, saying it could lead to costly litigation. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers question whether proposed department split is legal

Governor maintains executive order is within his powers, others are less sure.

The Department of Health and Social Services, its headquarters seen here in Juneau on Monday, March 8, 2021, could be split into two departments by an executive order from the governor. However, some lawmakers have raised concern about the legality of the order, saying it could lead to costly litigation. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
State health officials address members of the media during a remote press conference on Monday, March 8 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

Zink: CDC news ‘exciting’

Alaska continues to lead the nation in vaccine rollout

State health officials address members of the media during a remote press conference on Monday, March 8 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: 94 new cases yesterday

337 cases were reported over the past three days

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Benjamin Jackinsky (left) and Sarah O’Brien work at Already Read on Friday, Feb. 19 in Kenai, Alaska.

Shoppers make the most of program to boost Kenai business

598 people have already participated in Kenai’s shop local program.

Benjamin Jackinsky (left) and Sarah O’Brien work at Already Read on Friday, Feb. 19 in Kenai, Alaska.
Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai, assembly urge US Commerce Secretary to veto EEZ closure

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to reccomend the closure last December.

Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kim Lofstedt casts her vote early in Alaska’s Primary Election at Kenai City Hall on Aug. 17, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to acquire accessible voting equipment

The acquisition will be in response to allegations of discrimination by a voter

Kim Lofstedt casts her vote early in Alaska’s Primary Election at Kenai City Hall on Aug. 17, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File In this March 11, 2012, file photo, Dallas Seavey pulls in to the checkpoint in Unalakleet, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Pandemic forces route change, other precautions for Iditarod

This year’s Iditarod will be marked by pandemic precautions, a route change, no spectators and the smallest field of competitors in decades.

  • Mar 6, 2021
  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Pess
Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File In this March 11, 2012, file photo, Dallas Seavey pulls in to the checkpoint in Unalakleet, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More than 1 in 4 Alaskans 16 and older have 1 vaccine dose

Alaska continues to lead the nation in vaccine rollout

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, chairs a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Stedman, who’s chaired the finance committee through multiple legislatures, said time is running out to fix the state’s finances. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

‘Time is running out’: Lawmaker warns of state finances

“The longer it takes to fix this, my concern is the smaller the dividend will be for the people.”

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, chairs a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Stedman, who’s chaired the finance committee through multiple legislatures, said time is running out to fix the state’s finances. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
AP Photo/Becky Bohrer Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold holds a news conference outside the Senate chambers in the Alaska Capitol on Thursday, in Juneau. Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold holds a news conference outside the Senate chambers in the Alaska Capitol on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Reinbold said she wants an apology from Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a fellow Republican, after he sent her a letter last month accusing her of misrepresenting the state’s COVID-19 response. A Dunleavy spokesperson said the governor will not be retracting his letter to Reinbold. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Reinbold wants Dunleavy apology after scathing letter

Reinbold has held hearings highlighting views of those who question the usefulness of masks.

AP Photo/Becky Bohrer Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold holds a news conference outside the Senate chambers in the Alaska Capitol on Thursday, in Juneau. Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold holds a news conference outside the Senate chambers in the Alaska Capitol on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Reinbold said she wants an apology from Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a fellow Republican, after he sent her a letter last month accusing her of misrepresenting the state’s COVID-19 response. A Dunleavy spokesperson said the governor will not be retracting his letter to Reinbold. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink addresses members of the media during a remote press conference on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

Zink: Stay vigilant with COVID mitigation

Some parts of Alaska are experiencing increased COVID transmission

Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink addresses members of the media during a remote press conference on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai debates future of utility lenience

The city’s disaster declaration is set to expire at the end of this month

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center Computer rendering of the Rocky Coast Discovery Pool exhibit opening at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward spring 2021.

SeaLife Center to unveil revamped touch pool

The exhibit has been in development since 2017

Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center Computer rendering of the Rocky Coast Discovery Pool exhibit opening at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward spring 2021.
Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., listens during the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on her nomination to be Interior secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Some Republican senators labeled Haaland “radical” over her calls to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and address climate change, and said that could hurt rural America and major oil and gas-producing states. The label of Haaland as a “radical” by Republican lawmakers is getting pushback from Native Americans. (Jim Watson / Pool Photo)

Senate energy panel backs Haaland for interior secretary

Murkowski was the lone Republican to support Haaland.

  • Mar 4, 2021
  • By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press
Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M., listens during the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on her nomination to be Interior secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Some Republican senators labeled Haaland “radical” over her calls to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and address climate change, and said that could hurt rural America and major oil and gas-producing states. The label of Haaland as a “radical” by Republican lawmakers is getting pushback from Native Americans. (Jim Watson / Pool Photo)
University of Alaska Board of Regents member Andy Teuber listens to a discussion during a meeting at UAA on Sept. 12, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for an overdue helicopter piloted by Teuber who is the former head of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Teuber had resigned last week after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him which he denied. Teuber left Anchorage about 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in a black and white Robinson R66 helicopter en route to Kodiak Island. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Coast Guard ends search for helicopter in waters off Alaska

Andy Teuber, 52, former head of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, left Anchorage about 2 p.m. Tuesday.

  • Mar 3, 2021
  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press
University of Alaska Board of Regents member Andy Teuber listens to a discussion during a meeting at UAA on Sept. 12, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska. The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for an overdue helicopter piloted by Teuber who is the former head of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Teuber had resigned last week after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him which he denied. Teuber left Anchorage about 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in a black and white Robinson R66 helicopter en route to Kodiak Island. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Assembly Member Tyson Cox speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough extends disaster declaration

Large-scale clinics hosted in part by the borough can vaccinate hundreds in one day

Assembly Member Tyson Cox speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
EMT Jason Tauriainen administers a COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, Jan. 23 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of the Nikiski Senior Center)

More people eligible to receive COVID vaccine

Alaska continues to lead the nation in vaccine rollout

EMT Jason Tauriainen administers a COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, Jan. 23 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of the Nikiski Senior Center)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander (left) and Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel present their 2021 “State of the City” address on Wednesday in Kenai.

Kenai saw increase in sales tax revenue in 2020

The city saw growth all four quarters in 2020

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander (left) and Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel present their 2021 “State of the City” address on Wednesday in Kenai.
A phone screen displays a message warning of a potential spam call. Alaska Department of Public Safety warns of a new scam involving text messages sent to the family members of missing people. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Department of Public Safety warns of scam targeting families of missing people

Scammers trawl social media for info, according to the department.

  • Mar 3, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
A phone screen displays a message warning of a potential spam call. Alaska Department of Public Safety warns of a new scam involving text messages sent to the family members of missing people. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Women members of the Alaska House of Representatives from both parties meet in the hallway of the capitol Wednesday, March 3, 2021, to discuss a vote to condemn Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, for sexists comments he made on the floor the previous week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmaker could face formal rebuke for sexist comments

Members to vote Friday.

Women members of the Alaska House of Representatives from both parties meet in the hallway of the capitol Wednesday, March 3, 2021, to discuss a vote to condemn Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, for sexists comments he made on the floor the previous week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)