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A Forest Service fire crew gets brief during an operation. Fire crews from Alaska are frequently deployed to the Lower 48 to help combat wildfires that are growing larger and closer to urban areas in many cases. (Courtesy photo / Parker Anders)

Into the fire: Alaska’s wildlands firefighters eye coming dry season

Alaska’s wildlands firefighters lend a hand where needed nationwide.

A Forest Service fire crew gets brief during an operation. Fire crews from Alaska are frequently deployed to the Lower 48 to help combat wildfires that are growing larger and closer to urban areas in many cases. (Courtesy photo / Parker Anders)
Michael Patz, raised in Juneau, stands on the ice in front of the icebreaker S.A. Agulhas II next to a sign showing the location of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s vessel, the Endurance, in this March 2022 photo. The ship was rediscovered March 5, 2022, by searchers aboard the icebreaker. (Courtesy photo/Michael Patz)

‘My interest was in the adventure’: Man from Juneau talks role in finding long-lost ship near Antarctica

Cold ice, clear water and lots of sealife.

Michael Patz, raised in Juneau, stands on the ice in front of the icebreaker S.A. Agulhas II next to a sign showing the location of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s vessel, the Endurance, in this March 2022 photo. The ship was rediscovered March 5, 2022, by searchers aboard the icebreaker. (Courtesy photo/Michael Patz)
Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah, left, who say they will vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic nomination to the Supreme Court, smile as they greet each other outside the chamber, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Murkowski continues to have a substantial cash advantage over her opponent backed by former President Donald Trump, who has vowed revenge on the incumbent Alaska Republican. Murkowski brought in more than $1.5 million in the three-month period ending March 31, 2022, according to Federal Election Commission filings. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Murkowski maintains cash advantage over Trump-backed hopeful

Republican Kelly Tshibaka, who is challenging Murkowski, raised $673,383 during the last quarter

Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah, left, who say they will vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic nomination to the Supreme Court, smile as they greet each other outside the chamber, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Murkowski continues to have a substantial cash advantage over her opponent backed by former President Donald Trump, who has vowed revenge on the incumbent Alaska Republican. Murkowski brought in more than $1.5 million in the three-month period ending March 31, 2022, according to Federal Election Commission filings. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
UAS The Alaska State Capitol seen on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

House passes bill to protect higher education funding

Bills aims to exempt scholarships from annual ‘sweep’ debate

UAS The Alaska State Capitol seen on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, spoke with the Empire in his office at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, after the Alaska State Senate passed the Alaska Reads Act, a bill he originially introduced with Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2020.

Senate passes comprehensive reading bill

The legislation is designed to increase the student reading outcomes by third grade

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, spoke with the Empire in his office at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, after the Alaska State Senate passed the Alaska Reads Act, a bill he originially introduced with Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2020.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The Alaska House of Representatives passed the state’s operating and mental health budget bills Saturday after a week of marathon floor sessions tackling amendments.

House passes operating, mental health budgets, fails to pass effective date, reverse sweep

On to the Senate.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The Alaska House of Representatives passed the state’s operating and mental health budget bills Saturday after a week of marathon floor sessions tackling amendments.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file Gov. Mike Dunleavy — seen here speaking with reporters in the Cabinet Room at the Alaska State Capitol on March 8, 2022 — spoke to the Empire recently about his approach to government after having served as Alaska’s chief executive.

A Q&A with Gov. Mike Dunleavy

‘You work the hand your dealt with.’

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file Gov. Mike Dunleavy — seen here speaking with reporters in the Cabinet Room at the Alaska State Capitol on March 8, 2022 — spoke to the Empire recently about his approach to government after having served as Alaska’s chief executive.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, leave the chamber after a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 10, 2017. A rural Alaska man who threatened to kill both of Alaska’s U.S. senators in a series of profanity-laden messages left at their congressional offices will be sentenced Friday, April 8, 2022. Jay Allen Johnson, who said he was too old and ill to carry out his threats, partially blamed his behavior on the mixture of pain medications and alcohol and the isolation that was prevalent during the five-month span of 2021 when he left the threatening voicemails. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Alaska man gets 32 months for threatening to kill senators

Jay Allen Johnson was also fined $5,000, ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, leave the chamber after a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 10, 2017. A rural Alaska man who threatened to kill both of Alaska’s U.S. senators in a series of profanity-laden messages left at their congressional offices will be sentenced Friday, April 8, 2022. Jay Allen Johnson, who said he was too old and ill to carry out his threats, partially blamed his behavior on the mixture of pain medications and alcohol and the isolation that was prevalent during the five-month span of 2021 when he left the threatening voicemails. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
This photo shows a stack of pocket constitutions at the Alaska State Capitol. A broad coalition has formed in opposition to a potential State Constitution Convention. Alaskans are asked every 10 years on ballots whether a convention should be held. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Coalition to oppose constitutional convention grows

Group emphasizes bipartisan opposition to convention

This photo shows a stack of pocket constitutions at the Alaska State Capitol. A broad coalition has formed in opposition to a potential State Constitution Convention. Alaskans are asked every 10 years on ballots whether a convention should be held. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
A would-be voter considers the candidates on a sample ballot released by the state of Alaska in March 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Lawsuit challenges Alaska campaign disclosure rules

The disclosure rules were part of a ballot measure that overhauled Alaska’s elections system

A would-be voter considers the candidates on a sample ballot released by the state of Alaska in March 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
The Alaska House of Representatives spent three days in floor sessions at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, and on Thursday finished working through the 87 amendments submitted to the state’s operating budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House finalizes budget amendments, set to vote on Saturday

Only six of 87 amendments approved

The Alaska House of Representatives spent three days in floor sessions at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, and on Thursday finished working through the 87 amendments submitted to the state’s operating budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID hospitalizations down from last week

Officials recommend all eligible Alaskans be up to date on their COVID vaccines to minimize the impact on communities

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Members of the Alaska House of Representatives spent most of the day on the floor on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, working their way through the more than 80 amendments submitted to the state’s budget bill. By Wednesday afternoon lawmakers had worked through more than 50 but passed only two; $50,000 for ice road maintenance and exempting the state’s Mediciad program from covering abortions.

House passes amendment to exempt state Medicaid program from covering abortions

Similar amendments have been found unconstitutional

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Members of the Alaska House of Representatives spent most of the day on the floor on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, working their way through the more than 80 amendments submitted to the state’s budget bill. By Wednesday afternoon lawmakers had worked through more than 50 but passed only two; $50,000 for ice road maintenance and exempting the state’s Mediciad program from covering abortions.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file Members of the Alaska House of Representatives has 87 amendments submitted to the state’s operating budget bill and intends to spend the rest of the week in floor session working through them.

House begins debate on 87 amendments to budget bill

Several of the amendments considered offered various amounts for Alaska Permanent Fund dividends

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file Members of the Alaska House of Representatives has 87 amendments submitted to the state’s operating budget bill and intends to spend the rest of the week in floor session working through them.
A proposed map from Alaska Redistricting Board member Melanie Bahnke shows possible pairings of Alaska House of Representatives districts in Anchorage for the Alaska State Senate. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled last month the board acted unconstitutionally in its proposals and issued an April 15 deadline to present acceptable maps. (Screenshot)

Redistricting board takes public input on potential fixes

Court-friendly maps.

A proposed map from Alaska Redistricting Board member Melanie Bahnke shows possible pairings of Alaska House of Representatives districts in Anchorage for the Alaska State Senate. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled last month the board acted unconstitutionally in its proposals and issued an April 15 deadline to present acceptable maps. (Screenshot)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP) Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Alaska’s leadership lauds Young at memorial

The longest-serving Republican in the history of the U.S. House died March 18

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP) Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, appears with then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally at the Iowa State University on Jan. 19, 2016, in Ames, Iowa. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has picked up a prized endorsement in her bid in an extremely crowded field to fill the unexpired term of the late U.S. Rep. Don Young. Former President Donald Trump backed Palin on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in a statement from his political action committee. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Trump endorses Palin in bid for Alaska’s sole House seat

A total of 51 candidates signed up by the Friday deadline to run in a special primary following Young’s death

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, appears with then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally at the Iowa State University on Jan. 19, 2016, in Ames, Iowa. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has picked up a prized endorsement in her bid in an extremely crowded field to fill the unexpired term of the late U.S. Rep. Don Young. Former President Donald Trump backed Palin on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in a statement from his political action committee. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The Alaska House of Representatives votes on Monday to adopt a finance committee substitute of the state’s operating budget bill, allowing for amendments to be submitted.

As floor sessions return, House sets to work on budget

Additional budget items.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The Alaska House of Representatives votes on Monday to adopt a finance committee substitute of the state’s operating budget bill, allowing for amendments to be submitted.
Soldotna resident Karyn Griffin, seen here, has joined the list of candidates vying for Alaska’s newly vacant seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat was formerly held by Rep. Don Young, who died March 18, 2022, after nearly 50 years in office. (Photo courtesy Karyn Griffin)

Soldotna resident joins bid for US House seat

Karyn Griffin said she is mostly running to raise awareness about different issues

Soldotna resident Karyn Griffin, seen here, has joined the list of candidates vying for Alaska’s newly vacant seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat was formerly held by Rep. Don Young, who died March 18, 2022, after nearly 50 years in office. (Photo courtesy Karyn Griffin)
A.J. Wilson, 17, DeAndre Pittman, 16, and Elora Johnson, 16, eat lunch Thursday in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cafeteria. They, like many students, agree the free meals available during the pandemic are worth continuing if funding can be found after it ends June 30, but they are likely to look off-campus for food if they are required to pay for school lunches again. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

With federal funding ending, full-priced school lunches could be on the menu for many students next year

District hopes to continue offering free breakfast, ‘reasonably priced’ lunches

A.J. Wilson, 17, DeAndre Pittman, 16, and Elora Johnson, 16, eat lunch Thursday in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cafeteria. They, like many students, agree the free meals available during the pandemic are worth continuing if funding can be found after it ends June 30, but they are likely to look off-campus for food if they are required to pay for school lunches again. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)