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Jesse Bjorkman, left, and Justin Ruffridge take part in forums organized by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL ahead of the November 2022 election. Bjorkman and Ruffridge won seats in the Alaska State Senate and Alaska State House of Representatives, respectively, and are slated to begin work in Juneau on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (Composite photo)

Bjorkman, Ruffridge prepare for 1st legislative session

They will officially get to work on Jan. 17 — the first day of the 33rd Alaska Legislature’s first regular session

Jesse Bjorkman, left, and Justin Ruffridge take part in forums organized by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL ahead of the November 2022 election. Bjorkman and Ruffridge won seats in the Alaska State Senate and Alaska State House of Representatives, respectively, and are slated to begin work in Juneau on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (Composite photo)
Exxon Mobil Billings Refinery sits in Billings, Mont. Exxon Mobil’s scientists were remarkably accurate in their predictions about global warming, even as the company made public statements that contradicted its own scientists’ conclusions, a new study says. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Study: Exxon Mobil accurately predicted warming since 1970s

The Exxon-funded science was “actually astonishing” in its precision and accuracy, the study found

  • Jan 12, 2023
  • By Seth Borenstein and Cathy Bussewitz Associated Press
  • NewsState News
Exxon Mobil Billings Refinery sits in Billings, Mont. Exxon Mobil’s scientists were remarkably accurate in their predictions about global warming, even as the company made public statements that contradicted its own scientists’ conclusions, a new study says. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the state Capitol, April 28, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Dunleavy outlined proposed legislation Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, for Alaska to capitalize on carbon markets, seeking to diversify state revenues long heavily reliant on proceeds from oil. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Dunleavy pitches plan to capitalize on carbon markets

The Republican governor and members of his administration outlined the proposal at a news conference in Anchorage.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the state Capitol, April 28, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Dunleavy outlined proposed legislation Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, for Alaska to capitalize on carbon markets, seeking to diversify state revenues long heavily reliant on proceeds from oil. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Statewide cases and hospitalizations up

That makes the largest increase reported since Sept. 14

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Anthime “Baked Alaska” Gionet, who livestreamed himself storming the U.S. Capitol in Jan. 6, arrives at federal court in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Capitol riot far-right internet personality gets 60 days

Gionet incriminated himself and other rioters with the video that he streamed to a live audience of roughly 16,000 followers

Anthime “Baked Alaska” Gionet, who livestreamed himself storming the U.S. Capitol in Jan. 6, arrives at federal court in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Shawnda O’Brien, the just-departed state Director of the Division of Public Assistance, talks Dec. 27 about the problems that are resulting in months-long backlogs in processing applications for benefits commonly referred to as food stamps. Her departure as director was announced Monday following weeks of widespread media coverage about the backlog that is expected to take additional months to resolve. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Head of state’s troubled food stamps program replaced

Director of the Division of Public Assistance departs in wake of months-long backlog.

Shawnda O’Brien, the just-departed state Director of the Division of Public Assistance, talks Dec. 27 about the problems that are resulting in months-long backlogs in processing applications for benefits commonly referred to as food stamps. Her departure as director was announced Monday following weeks of widespread media coverage about the backlog that is expected to take additional months to resolve. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A sign warning of crossing moose is seen on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Study analyzes moose-vehicle collision risks, with results that could be used to improve road safety

Now a new study has quantified collisions and produced statistical analysis

A sign warning of crossing moose is seen on Kalifornsky Beach Road in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Alaska State Capitol is photographed in Juneau, Alaska. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Anchorage Democrat meets residency rules, judge says

The challenge was brought by Republican Liz Vazquez, who lost the Anchorage House race to Armstrong

The Alaska State Capitol is photographed in Juneau, Alaska. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows the TikTok icon on a phone screen. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Gov. Dunleavy bans TikTok from state devices

Alaska is the 22nd state to take action against the social media platform for perceived security risks

This photo shows the TikTok icon on a phone screen. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
In this Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 photo, a black bear checks out his surroundings in Granite Basin in Juneau, Alaska. The National Park Service is proposing a rule that would prohibit bear baiting in national preserves in Alaska, the latest in a dispute over what animal rights supporters call a cruel practice. The park service said Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 it is proposing a rule barring bear baiting in national preserves in Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Hunter bear bait ban proposed for Alaska national preserves

The agency will be taking public comments on the proposal

In this Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 photo, a black bear checks out his surroundings in Granite Basin in Juneau, Alaska. The National Park Service is proposing a rule that would prohibit bear baiting in national preserves in Alaska, the latest in a dispute over what animal rights supporters call a cruel practice. The park service said Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 it is proposing a rule barring bear baiting in national preserves in Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
A sign welcomes travelers to the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State population stagnates; peninsula sees small growth

Population of Alaska remained almost unchanged from July 2021 to July 2022

A sign welcomes travelers to the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Chunks of ice float on Mendenhall Lake in front of the Mendenhall Glacier on Monday, May 30, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A study of all of the world’s 215,000 glaciers published on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, finds even if with the unlikely minimum warming of only a few tenths of a degrees more, the world will lose nearly half its glaciers by the end of the century. With the warming we’re now on track to get, the world will lose two-thirds of its glaciers and overall glacier mass will drop by one-third while sea level rises 4.5 inches just from melting glaciers. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Study: Two-thirds of glaciers on track to disappear by 2100

The study in Thursday’s journal Science examined all of the globe’s 215,000 land-based glaciers

Chunks of ice float on Mendenhall Lake in front of the Mendenhall Glacier on Monday, May 30, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A study of all of the world’s 215,000 glaciers published on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, finds even if with the unlikely minimum warming of only a few tenths of a degrees more, the world will lose nearly half its glaciers by the end of the century. With the warming we’re now on track to get, the world will lose two-thirds of its glaciers and overall glacier mass will drop by one-third while sea level rises 4.5 inches just from melting glaciers. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Students smile as they walk to their classes for the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast. The University of Alaska is set to receive 360,000 acres of federal land within the next four years, set in motion by a clause included in the recently passed $1.7 trillion federal spending bill. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

University of Alaska set to receive 360,000 acres of federal land

The transfer was set in motion by a clause included in the recently passed $1.7 trillion federal spending bill

Students smile as they walk to their classes for the first day of fall semester at the University of Alaska Southeast. The University of Alaska is set to receive 360,000 acres of federal land within the next four years, set in motion by a clause included in the recently passed $1.7 trillion federal spending bill. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Hospitalizations down, borough cases spike

Early Tuesday, the state reported that a data issue had delayed the update of hospitalization info since Dec. 14

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, sits in the House on April 29, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Man who challenged lawmaker eligibility won’t appeal

His attorneys argued that the division failed to investigate Eastman’s eligibility under the so-called disloyalty clause of the state constitution

Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, sits in the House on April 29, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
A humpback whale breaches near Juneau, Alaska. (Heidi Pearson/ NOAA/NMFS)

The role of whales as carbon sinks explored in new paper

University of Alaska Southeast biologist was lead author on the paper

A humpback whale breaches near Juneau, Alaska. (Heidi Pearson/ NOAA/NMFS)
A school bus sits in the parking lot of the University of Southeast Alaska Tech Center downtown. In the fall of 2024, a new commercial driver’s license education training program is expected to be offered at the campus. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

UAS to establish Juneau-based CDL program amid driver shortage

New program could put driver shortage in the rear-view mirror.

A school bus sits in the parking lot of the University of Southeast Alaska Tech Center downtown. In the fall of 2024, a new commercial driver’s license education training program is expected to be offered at the campus. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Hospitalizations steady; cases down statewide

40 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, sits in the House on April 29 in Juneau . (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer, File)

Oath Keepers seek to overthrow government, judge says, but First Amendment protects Eastman

The Wasilla Republican had been accused of violating the Alaska Constitution’s disloyalty clause with his Oath Keepers membership

Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, sits in the House on April 29 in Juneau . (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer, File)
The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program conducts a preflight checklist before the Asteroid Bounce campaign Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Gakona, Alaska, as temperatures hit 40 below. The mission is slated for Dec. 27. (Photo courtesy UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta)

Alaska research site to send radio signal to asteroid

The purpose of the experiment is to probe the interior of the asteroid

The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program conducts a preflight checklist before the Asteroid Bounce campaign Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Gakona, Alaska, as temperatures hit 40 below. The mission is slated for Dec. 27. (Photo courtesy UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta)