Former Alaska Gov. and current congressional hopeful Sarah Palin speaks with attendees at a meet and greet event outside of Ginger’s Restaurant on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

2022 Special Primary Election live updates: Palin takes early lead

As of 10 p.m., Sarah Palin, Nick Begich, Al Gross and Mary Peltola were in the top 4

Former Alaska Gov. and current congressional hopeful Sarah Palin speaks with attendees at a meet and greet event outside of Ginger’s Restaurant on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sample special primary ballot. (Courtesy Alaska Division of Elections)

US House candidates await the end of Alaska’s first statewide election by mail

The Alaska Division of Elections expects a first round of results before 9 p.m. on Saturday

A sample special primary ballot. (Courtesy Alaska Division of Elections)
In this aerial photo provided by the BLM Alaska Fire Service, the East Fork Fire burns about 25 miles north of St. Mary’s, Alaska on June 2. The largest documented wildfire ever burning through tundra in southwest Alaska is within miles of two Alaska Native villages, prompting dozens of residents with respiratory problems to voluntarily evacuate. (Pat Johnson, BLM Alaska Fire Service via AP)

Large tundra wildfire in southwest Alaska threatens villages

Officials on Friday put the communities of St. Mary’s and Pitkas Point into “ready” status

In this aerial photo provided by the BLM Alaska Fire Service, the East Fork Fire burns about 25 miles north of St. Mary’s, Alaska on June 2. The largest documented wildfire ever burning through tundra in southwest Alaska is within miles of two Alaska Native villages, prompting dozens of residents with respiratory problems to voluntarily evacuate. (Pat Johnson, BLM Alaska Fire Service via AP)
This photo shows a return envelop for 2022 special primary. Ballots must be postmarked or received by the Alaska Division of Elections by June 11. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Judge rules against Alaska in ballot access case

A state court judge said elections officials cannot certify special primary results until visually impaired voters “are provided a full and fair opportunity to participate”

This photo shows a return envelop for 2022 special primary. Ballots must be postmarked or received by the Alaska Division of Elections by June 11. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Project Gabe, named after a young man who died of an opioid overdose, aims to bring overdose kits to the fisheries industry in the Southeast. Volunteers assembled 150 kits on Friday, June 10, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

‘This is stoppable’: Program works to bring opioid overdose kits to seafood industry

The project began with a tragic death, but proponents hope it can prevent more

Project Gabe, named after a young man who died of an opioid overdose, aims to bring overdose kits to the fisheries industry in the Southeast. Volunteers assembled 150 kits on Friday, June 10, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Houses are seen in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, April 15, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Housing prices see steep hike, report says

Low interest rates, limited inventory and the increase in prices in 2020 contributed to a tight housing market

Houses are seen in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, April 15, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of the State of Alaska Official Ballot for the June 11, 2022, Special Primary Election is photographed on May 2, 2022. (Peninsula Clarion staff)

Time nearly up to cast ballot for special primary election

All ballots for the special primary must be postmarked or physically received by the Alaska Division of Elections by June 11

A copy of the State of Alaska Official Ballot for the June 11, 2022, Special Primary Election is photographed on May 2, 2022. (Peninsula Clarion staff)
Mount Susitna is seen from Anchorage on May 26, 2022. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Developers are planning a wind-power project west of Alaska’s ‘Sleeping Lady’

Little Mount Susitna is west of Mount Susitna, known as “The Sleeping Lady” or, in Dena’ina, Dgehlishla

Mount Susitna is seen from Anchorage on May 26, 2022. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen Monday, June 6, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo and caption by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Alaska still holds millions of dollars in Russian investments

The Alaska Legislature failed to pass legislation requiring the state to sell assets in Russia

The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. are seen Monday, June 6, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo and caption by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Courtesy Photo/ City and Borough of Juneau
Dense residential housing in areas such as Douglas includes a mixture of more expensive homes occupied by long-term owners, rentals occupied by residents from various income categories and an increasing number of short-term rentals occupied by tourists.

Debate continues on short-term rentals in Juneau

Mandatory registration of Airbnb and similar rentals favored by Assembly members.

Courtesy Photo/ City and Borough of Juneau
Dense residential housing in areas such as Douglas includes a mixture of more expensive homes occupied by long-term owners, rentals occupied by residents from various income categories and an increasing number of short-term rentals occupied by tourists.
In this photo provided by Regal Air, musher Sebastien Dos Santos Borges, of France, and sled dog Leon arrive in Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday, June 4, 2022, after being reunited. The Iditarod Trail Committee says Leon went missing in March during the nearly 1,000-mile race across Alaska before being found three months later after covering nearly 150 miles. Leon was expected to see a veterinarian in the coming days and needs a health certificate before he can fly back to France, Iditarod spokesperson Shannon Markley said. (Rebecca Clark/Regal Air via AP)

Iditarod dog found months after disappearing from checkpoint

Leon went missing in March after what the trail committee said was his “escape” from the Ruby checkpoint

In this photo provided by Regal Air, musher Sebastien Dos Santos Borges, of France, and sled dog Leon arrive in Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday, June 4, 2022, after being reunited. The Iditarod Trail Committee says Leon went missing in March during the nearly 1,000-mile race across Alaska before being found three months later after covering nearly 150 miles. Leon was expected to see a veterinarian in the coming days and needs a health certificate before he can fly back to France, Iditarod spokesperson Shannon Markley said. (Rebecca Clark/Regal Air via AP)
A bull moose stands in Nunavaugaluk Lake, October of 1997. The moose population in the nearby Togiak National Wildlife Refuge has boomed over the past three decades. (Photo by Andy Aderman/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via Alaska Beacon)

Moose population boom, linked to climate change, inspires some hunting changes

The changes in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge fit a wider pattern of wildlife shifts that affect subsistence users

A bull moose stands in Nunavaugaluk Lake, October of 1997. The moose population in the nearby Togiak National Wildlife Refuge has boomed over the past three decades. (Photo by Andy Aderman/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via Alaska Beacon)
Republican Tara Sweeney, right, speaks Monday, May 16, 2022, at a forum in Juneau, Alaska, that was also attended by three other Republican candidates for Alaska’s U.S. House seat, including John Coghill, left. Sweeney and Coghill are among 48 candidates in a June 11 special primary for the House seat left vacant by the death earlier this year of Republican Rep. Don Young. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska’s unusual House primary draws Palin, Santa, 46 others

Many are relative unknowns or political novices

Republican Tara Sweeney, right, speaks Monday, May 16, 2022, at a forum in Juneau, Alaska, that was also attended by three other Republican candidates for Alaska’s U.S. House seat, including John Coghill, left. Sweeney and Coghill are among 48 candidates in a June 11 special primary for the House seat left vacant by the death earlier this year of Republican Rep. Don Young. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
A classroom is seen at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Can public funds be used for private school classes? Education department isn’t sure

‘Any effort to divert public funds to private schools is a blatantly unconstitutional act’ says opponent to the practice

A classroom is seen at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State COVID 14- day case count up slightly

Alaska reported a 16% total increase over the last 14 days

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Residents line the Sterling Highway, in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office to oppose the Pebble Mine on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Activists: Pebble plan should be just a first step in protecting Bristol Bay

Additional protections could come through congressional action or conservation easements or similar land designations

Residents line the Sterling Highway, in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office to oppose the Pebble Mine on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche, left, and Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, right, meet with reporters in Micciche’s office in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska, after the Legislature ended its regular session. Micciche, a Republican, said last month that he is not seeking reelection this year and Begich, a Democrat, announced Thursday, June, 2, 2022 that he is likely to withdraw his candidacy next week. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Alaska Senate minority leader doesn’t plan to run this year

Ten Alaska state lawmakers do not plan to seek reelection this year

Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche, left, and Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, right, meet with reporters in Micciche’s office in the early morning hours of Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska, after the Legislature ended its regular session. Micciche, a Republican, said last month that he is not seeking reelection this year and Begich, a Democrat, announced Thursday, June, 2, 2022 that he is likely to withdraw his candidacy next week. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Red fox kits stand in the tall grass on St. Matthew Island in July of 2019. Alaska has recorded its first fox infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, and the wildlife veterinarian with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that young foxes and other young scavenging mammals are liley to be more susceptible to infections. (Photo by Rachel Richardson/USGS Alaska Science Center)

Red fox is 1st documented Alaska mammal infected with current strain of avian influenza

The infection was confirmed last week, according to state officials

Red fox kits stand in the tall grass on St. Matthew Island in July of 2019. Alaska has recorded its first fox infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, and the wildlife veterinarian with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that young foxes and other young scavenging mammals are liley to be more susceptible to infections. (Photo by Rachel Richardson/USGS Alaska Science Center)
Forms to run for state office are available at the Alaska Division of Elections' offices in Juneau on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, the deadline for potential candidates to file. The state's new voting system has led to a large number of Alaskans running for office this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Alaska’s elections are packed as filing deadline passes

Many races are hotly contested, others not at all

Forms to run for state office are available at the Alaska Division of Elections' offices in Juneau on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, the deadline for potential candidates to file. The state's new voting system has led to a large number of Alaskans running for office this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Bill Ritter, former governor of Colorado and founder of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University, promotes bipartisanship in his opening address on May 24 at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Nonpartisan solutions promoted for energy and climate problems, but not everyone is on board

Splits along partisan lines and disagreements over natural gas emerge at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference

Bill Ritter, former governor of Colorado and founder of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University, promotes bipartisanship in his opening address on May 24 at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)