News

Associated Press President Joe Biden speaks about the bipartisan infrastructure bill from the East Room of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.

$1 trillion infrastructure plan passes Senate

Efforts to advance the legislation were spearheaded by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Associated Press President Joe Biden speaks about the bipartisan infrastructure bill from the East Room of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel land and disembark from a Hughes 369D helicopter on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at Temsco Helicopters Inc in Ketchikan, Alaska. The KVRS, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers and U.S. Forest Service responded to a radio beacon alert from a downed Southeast Aviation de Havilland Beaver float plane that was carrying five passengers from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, according to Coast Guard, Holland America and KVRS information. The sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP)

Poor weather hampers recovery of Southeast plane crash victims

The plane crashed Thursday as the pilot was returning five passengers to Ketchikan from Misty Fjords National Monument.

  • Aug 7, 2021
  • By Becky Bohrer and Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • NewsState News
Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel land and disembark from a Hughes 369D helicopter on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at Temsco Helicopters Inc in Ketchikan, Alaska. The KVRS, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers and U.S. Forest Service responded to a radio beacon alert from a downed Southeast Aviation de Havilland Beaver float plane that was carrying five passengers from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, according to Coast Guard, Holland America and KVRS information. The sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP)
In this webcam image provided by the Alaska Volcano Observatory, is the Pavlof Volcano in a state of eruption with episodic low-level ash emissions on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Three remote Alaska volcanos are each in a state of eruption, one producing lava and the other two blowing steam and ash. So far, no small communities near any of the three have been impacted, Chris Waythomas, a geologist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, said Thursday. (Alaska Volcano Observatory via AP)

3 volcanoes spitting lava or ash clouds

Webcams on Thursday clearly showed episodic low-level ash emissions from Pavlof Volcano.

In this webcam image provided by the Alaska Volcano Observatory, is the Pavlof Volcano in a state of eruption with episodic low-level ash emissions on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Three remote Alaska volcanos are each in a state of eruption, one producing lava and the other two blowing steam and ash. So far, no small communities near any of the three have been impacted, Chris Waythomas, a geologist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, said Thursday. (Alaska Volcano Observatory via AP)
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, speaks during a news conference at the offices of Denver Water Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Haaland hasn’t made decision on King Cove land exchange

King Cove residents have long sought a land connection through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to Cold Bay.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, speaks during a news conference at the offices of Denver Water Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A sign by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center shows where to vote on Aug. 21, 2018, for the Diamond Ridge, Homer, Alaska, precinct. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Federal appeals court nixes some caps for Alaska campaign contributions

The decision struck down a $500-a-year limit on individual contributions to non-party groups and the $3,000-a-year cap on total nonresident donations.

A sign by the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center shows where to vote on Aug. 21, 2018, for the Diamond Ridge, Homer, Alaska, precinct. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Screenshot (dps.alaska.gov)

State launches crime tip app

AKtips can be downloaded for free on the Google Play Store and the iOS App Store and accessed online.

Screenshot (dps.alaska.gov)
Lawmakers will be back at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this file photo, on Aug. 16, and after spending several weeks on background hearings and public testimony, members of the work group say they’re ready to get into solutions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Fiscal working group readies for policy proposals

Making progress.

Lawmakers will be back at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this file photo, on Aug. 16, and after spending several weeks on background hearings and public testimony, members of the work group say they’re ready to get into solutions. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Rico Worl, foreground left, dances during a ceremony on Friday, July 30, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska, that marked the release of a stamp he created for the U.S. Postal Service. Worl, an Alaska Native artist, has said he hopes the Raven Story stamp will be a gateway for people to learn about his Tlingit culture. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska Native artist creates stamp for Postal Service

A ceremony marking the release of Worl’s Raven Story stamp was held Friday in Juneau.

Rico Worl, foreground left, dances during a ceremony on Friday, July 30, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska, that marked the release of a stamp he created for the U.S. Postal Service. Worl, an Alaska Native artist, has said he hopes the Raven Story stamp will be a gateway for people to learn about his Tlingit culture. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna is now offering COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A choice between getting COVID or getting the vaccine’

Officials encourage vaccines as cases climb and more die of the virus

A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna is now offering COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File Coeur Alaska will likely be able to expand their facilities at the Kensington Gold Mine including the tailing treatment facility, seen in this October 2019 photo, after the U.S. Forest Service announced it intends to approve the company’s proposal to extend the mine’s life by 10 years. Operations were expected to end in 2023 under a plan approved in 2005.

Forest Service set to approve Kensington expansion

Objections period is open.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File Coeur Alaska will likely be able to expand their facilities at the Kensington Gold Mine including the tailing treatment facility, seen in this October 2019 photo, after the U.S. Forest Service announced it intends to approve the company’s proposal to extend the mine’s life by 10 years. Operations were expected to end in 2023 under a plan approved in 2005.
Two hikers, third and fourth from the right, were rescued after being stranded on Mt. Roberts Wednesday evening by rapidly changing weather. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Mountain Rescue)

2 hikers stranded by weather rescued off Mount Roberts

Juneau’s mercurial weather left them high, but not dry.

Two hikers, third and fourth from the right, were rescued after being stranded on Mt. Roberts Wednesday evening by rapidly changing weather. (Courtesy photo / Juneau Mountain Rescue)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a ceremony for Alaska Native Veterans from the Vietnam era at the Walter Soboleff Building in downtown Juneau on May 5, 2021. Dunleavy announced the state filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Biden administration for what Dunleavy says is illegally keeping restrictions in place on federal lands in Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State sues feds over continuing land restrictions

Veteran lands available, DOI says.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a ceremony for Alaska Native Veterans from the Vietnam era at the Walter Soboleff Building in downtown Juneau on May 5, 2021. Dunleavy announced the state filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Biden administration for what Dunleavy says is illegally keeping restrictions in place on federal lands in Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
In this Sept. 5, 2019, file photo, Meda DeWitt, left, Vic Fischer, middle, and Aaron Welterlen, leaders of an effort to recall Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, lead about 50 volunteers in a march to the Alaska Division of Elections office in Anchorage, Alaska. The group opposed to Dunleavy has yet to gather enough signatures to force a recall election, nearly two years after launching and with just over a year before the 2022 primary election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Dunleavy recall lacks signatures nearly 2 years in

The last update on the recall group’s website is dated April 26 and showed 57,897 signatures collected.

In this Sept. 5, 2019, file photo, Meda DeWitt, left, Vic Fischer, middle, and Aaron Welterlen, leaders of an effort to recall Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, lead about 50 volunteers in a march to the Alaska Division of Elections office in Anchorage, Alaska. The group opposed to Dunleavy has yet to gather enough signatures to force a recall election, nearly two years after launching and with just over a year before the 2022 primary election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Another special session is scheduled to start Aug. 2, 2021, at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this Empire file photo. But some lawmakers said Wednesday August may be too soon, and suggest that date may change. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Fiscal working group members set lofty goals, say time is needed

Cautious optimism.

Another special session is scheduled to start Aug. 2, 2021, at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here in this Empire file photo. But some lawmakers said Wednesday August may be too soon, and suggest that date may change. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Courtesy photo / Alaska Court System Chief Justice Daniel E. Winfree, right, is sword in by Justice Dario Borghesan in Anchorage on July 1. Winfree will take over after former Chief Justice Joel Bolger retired earlier this year.

State Supreme Court has new Chief Justice

Governor announces appointment to high court.

Courtesy photo / Alaska Court System Chief Justice Daniel E. Winfree, right, is sword in by Justice Dario Borghesan in Anchorage on July 1. Winfree will take over after former Chief Justice Joel Bolger retired earlier this year.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks June 17, 2021 news conference at the Alaska State Capitol. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire file)

Dunleavy OKs earnings transfer after veto error

Dunleavy last week said one of his more significant vetoes was the $4 billion transfer.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks June 17, 2021 news conference at the Alaska State Capitol. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire file)
Alaska Division of Forestry via Associated Press Smoke from the Munson Creek Fire rises behind the Chena Hot Springs Resort as guests watch from the outdoor rock pool near Fairbanks, on Monday. Authorities on Monday advised residents and guests to evacuate immediately after a nearby wildfire intensified. The Fairbanks North Star Borough issued the evacuation order when the fire reached a point less than a mile behind Chena Hot Springs.

Firefighters defend resort from advancing wildfire

Flames were about 100 yards from the resort, where crews were spraying water on buildings.

Alaska Division of Forestry via Associated Press Smoke from the Munson Creek Fire rises behind the Chena Hot Springs Resort as guests watch from the outdoor rock pool near Fairbanks, on Monday. Authorities on Monday advised residents and guests to evacuate immediately after a nearby wildfire intensified. The Fairbanks North Star Borough issued the evacuation order when the fire reached a point less than a mile behind Chena Hot Springs.
Marijuana leaves (Clarion file)

Health official picked for state marijuana regulatory board

Eliza Muse’s appointment to the Marijuana Control Board’s public health seat was effective June 25.

Marijuana leaves (Clarion file)
Volunteers from the Juneau Raptor Center cared for this eaglet, who was found on the ground near Angoon and named Pearl. Local volunteers rescued the raptor and Alaska Seaplanes transported him to Juneau where volunteers fed him, administered fluids, and created a kennel with shredded paper to increase his comfort. Pearl is now at the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka. (Courtesy Photo/Juneau Raptor Center)

Putting ‘Fourth’ effort: It was a busy holiday weekend for Juneau Raptor Center

It was a busy holiday weekend for Juneau Raptor Center

Volunteers from the Juneau Raptor Center cared for this eaglet, who was found on the ground near Angoon and named Pearl. Local volunteers rescued the raptor and Alaska Seaplanes transported him to Juneau where volunteers fed him, administered fluids, and created a kennel with shredded paper to increase his comfort. Pearl is now at the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka. (Courtesy Photo/Juneau Raptor Center)
A sign directing people to the Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

3 new COVID deaths reported; officials encourage vaccines as delta variant spreads

On Friday, the state announced another 108 COVID cases, which included seven on the Kenai Peninsula.

A sign directing people to the Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)