Alaska Legislature

Electronic cigarette equipment lines the shelves at 5150 Vapes on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Smoking ban moving through committees, as divisive as ever

The debate over whether smoking should be banned in Alaska workplaces is as divisive as ever, despite several years of amendments and discussion. Senate Bill… Continue reading

Electronic cigarette equipment lines the shelves at 5150 Vapes on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
In this Dec. 25, 2015 file photo, Central Emergency Services employees and volunteers and their families gather for a Christmas Day potluck at Station 1 in Soldotna, Alaska. The central station, which handles the majority of the calls for the fire and emergency service area, was originally built in 1957 and last renovated in 1981. The service area is now seeking state funding to reconstruct or relocate the station. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

CES, Anchor Point ask state for funds for new fire stations

The peninsula’s busiest emergency services department is looking to relocate its main fire station. Central Emergency Services serves the majority of the Kenai Peninsula’s population,… Continue reading

In this Dec. 25, 2015 file photo, Central Emergency Services employees and volunteers and their families gather for a Christmas Day potluck at Station 1 in Soldotna, Alaska. The central station, which handles the majority of the calls for the fire and emergency service area, was originally built in 1957 and last renovated in 1981. The service area is now seeking state funding to reconstruct or relocate the station. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
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Quiet wires: Alaska illegally fails to report its wiretaps to public

The Alaska Department of Law is failing to disclose when it taps the phone of an Alaskans, the Empire has learned through a public records… Continue reading

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Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, D-Anchorage, left, and Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, deliver a message to Gov. Bill Walker that the House is open for business on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. Legislators returned to Alaska’s Capitol to open the Second Session of the 30th Legislature on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Guardedly optimistic, Alaska Legislature starts second regular session

After the Girl Scouts and the Juneau-Douglas High School choir, two senators walked into the chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives with an air… Continue reading

Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, D-Anchorage, left, and Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, deliver a message to Gov. Bill Walker that the House is open for business on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. Legislators returned to Alaska’s Capitol to open the Second Session of the 30th Legislature on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Setnetters make their way back to the beach near a site on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Bill would authorize east side setnet permit buyback

The Legislature is set to consider a buyback program for commercial fishing permits in Cook Inlet’s east side setnet fishery. The east side setnet fishery… Continue reading

Setnetters make their way back to the beach near a site on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Rep. Sam Kito, D-Juneau, Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau and Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, answer questions from Juneau area residents about legislative priorities during a townhall meeting at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau legislators ‘worried’ about upcoming session

Juneau’s three-person delegation to the Alaska Legislature told a well-attended town hall meeting Thursday night that they are worried about what will and will not… Continue reading

Rep. Sam Kito, D-Juneau, Sen. Dennis Egan, D-Juneau and Rep. Justin Parish, D-Juneau, answer questions from Juneau area residents about legislative priorities during a townhall meeting at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Mike Navarre, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, speaks about the need for a stable fiscal plan for the state to the attendees at the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s Industry Outlook Forum on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

In new state role, Navarre’s message about fiscal plan remains the same

The commissioner of Alaska’s Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development is making rounds of the state, advocating for a stable fiscal plan. Mike Navarre,… Continue reading

Mike Navarre, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, speaks about the need for a stable fiscal plan for the state to the attendees at the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s Industry Outlook Forum on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Bill Walker (right) speaks to Rep. Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski) before the beginning of a joint luncheon of the Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Walker visited Kenai on Tuesday to address the chambers of commerce with updates about the Alaska LNG Project. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Governor’s budget includes paying off tax credits, payroll tax

Gov. Bill Walker is asking the Alaska Legislature to again consider new taxes to help support state spending in Fiscal Year 2019. The governor’s office… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker (right) speaks to Rep. Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski) before the beginning of a joint luncheon of the Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Walker visited Kenai on Tuesday to address the chambers of commerce with updates about the Alaska LNG Project. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at a luncheon Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Giessel spoke about Senate Bill 112, a comprehensive workers’ compensation reform bill, which was introduced last session and will go before the Legislature again this upcoming January. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Legislature to consider worker’s comp overhaul

A bill before the Legislature in the upcoming session would overhaul workers’ compensation to lessen the overall cost of the program in the state. Senate… Continue reading

Sen. Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at a luncheon Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Giessel spoke about Senate Bill 112, a comprehensive workers’ compensation reform bill, which was introduced last session and will go before the Legislature again this upcoming January. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula legislators preview next session

With a month until legislators head back to Juneau for the next regular session, the House and Senate majorities are as far apart as last… Continue reading

Walker touts trade relations with China after gasline talks

Gov. Bill Walker is hopeful the inroads his administration has made with top-level officials in the Chinese government through cooperation on the Alaska LNG Project… Continue reading

A look at the changes in SB54

One week ago, Gov. Bill Walker signed Senate Bill 54 after an extended special session. Crafted by lawmakers in response to a statewide crime wave,… Continue reading

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file

Legislators launch secret internal investigation

The Alaska Legislature’s internal Legislative Council is opening an internal investigation, but after a six-hour closed-door meeting, lawmakers on Tuesday refused to reveal the subject… Continue reading

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file

Budget cuts hit prosecutors hard

To see how state budget cuts are affecting Alaska’s legal system, head to Juneau’s courthouse and search the court calendar for misdemeanor drug crimes. You’ll… Continue reading

Special legislative session staggers toward end

JUNEAU — The special legislative session is staggering toward its end scheduled for Tuesday, with a small contingent of lawmakers holding so-called technical sessions to… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 6, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Anchorage Republicans seek to move Legislature from Juneau

A pair of Anchorage Republicans have announced their intentions to begin raising money for a 2020 ballot initiative that seeks to move the Alaska Legislature… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 6, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska State Troopers investigate man who threatened lawmakers for ‘coddling the guilty’

House floor debates over Senate Bill 54 enter their fourth day today after a tumultuous weekend that saw the Speaker of the House warn Alaska… Continue reading

Alaska House starts voting on rollback of criminal justice reform

As voting began Saturday morning on floor amendments to Senate Bill 54, members of the Alaska House of Representatives found themselves divided into two camps.… Continue reading

Analysis: ‘0 percent’ chance Legislature addresses deficit this year

On taxes, the gap between the coalition majority that runs the Alaska House of Representatives and the predominantly Republican Senate Majority can literally be measured… Continue reading

Alaska mayors again plead for Legislature to fix deficit

For the past two years, mayors across Alaska have pleaded for the Alaska Legislature to do something — anything — to solve the state’s multibillion-dollar… Continue reading