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Women members of the Alaska House of Representatives from both parties meet in the hallway of the capitol Wednesday, March 3, 2021, to discuss a vote to condemn Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, for sexists comments he made on the floor the previous week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmaker could face formal rebuke for sexist comments

Members to vote Friday.

Women members of the Alaska House of Representatives from both parties meet in the hallway of the capitol Wednesday, March 3, 2021, to discuss a vote to condemn Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, for sexists comments he made on the floor the previous week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
In this sample primary ballot released by the state, fictional candidates compete in a primary election. The candidates include a blend of fictional Republican and Democratic candidates. The August 2022 state primary election will be the first to feature open primaries. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

State begins implementing voter-approved election overhaul

Here’s how it will work.

In this sample primary ballot released by the state, fictional candidates compete in a primary election. The candidates include a blend of fictional Republican and Democratic candidates. The August 2022 state primary election will be the first to feature open primaries. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Judy Cavanaugh stands with others at a rally against the Pebble Mine in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Juneau office in June 2019. The Army Corps of Engineers has accepted a request for administrative appeal filed by Pebble Limited Partnership. A similar effort by the state was reject, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

2 Pebble appeals, 2 different outcomes

Governor says states appeal rejected, but partnership appeal moves forward.

Judy Cavanaugh stands with others at a rally against the Pebble Mine in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Juneau office in June 2019. The Army Corps of Engineers has accepted a request for administrative appeal filed by Pebble Limited Partnership. A similar effort by the state was reject, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink address members of the media during a remote press conference on Monday, March 1 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

State to receive 8,900 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Alaska continues to lead the nation in vaccine rollout

Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink address members of the media during a remote press conference on Monday, March 1 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Members of the Alaska House of Representatives gather for a Finance Committee meeting on Monday, March 1, 2021 even after a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19. Meetings were canceled last week after Rep. Mike Cronk, R-Tok, tested positive. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Work continues even with new cases at the Capitol

“Hell or high water.”

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives gather for a Finance Committee meeting on Monday, March 1, 2021 even after a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19. Meetings were canceled last week after Rep. Mike Cronk, R-Tok, tested positive. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released by the state last year sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. A shortened session last year meant the bill, announced by Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, didn’t make it through the last Legislature. But there’s a new bill, nearly the same as the old bill, working its way through the Senate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Reworked reading bill gets 2nd act in Legislature

Still a ways to go.

A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released by the state last year sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. A shortened session last year meant the bill, announced by Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, didn’t make it through the last Legislature. But there’s a new bill, nearly the same as the old bill, working its way through the Senate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire An investigation into a complaint from an inmate at Lemon Creek Correctional Center, shown above, exposed issues with the Alaska Department of Corrections Dental Services Program.

Report: Overhaul needed for DOC’s dental program

An investigation finds the corrections department ‘unreasonably delayed’ care for an inmate

Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire An investigation into a complaint from an inmate at Lemon Creek Correctional Center, shown above, exposed issues with the Alaska Department of Corrections Dental Services Program.
A legislative aide enters the Alaska State Capitol as a worker clears snow from in front of the building on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House speaker announced on Wednesday, Feb. 24, that a House member had tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

House disrupted after positive COVID-19 test

Alaska House Republicans identified the lawmaker as Rep. Mike Cronk of Tok, a member of their caucus.

A legislative aide enters the Alaska State Capitol as a worker clears snow from in front of the building on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House speaker announced on Wednesday, Feb. 24, that a House member had tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at an Anchorage news conference on Dec. 11, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Governor tests positive for virus

Dunleavy had been in quarantine since learning Sunday.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at an Anchorage news conference on Dec. 11, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
State health officials address members of the media during a virtual press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 24 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

State to receive over 100,000 doses for March

The 103,120 figure is comparable to the allocations Alaska received for December, January and February combined.

State health officials address members of the media during a virtual press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 24 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Air-source heat pumps, like the one in this 2015 photo of Jake Eames, right, and David Nash installing a pump, are an example of a load-side technology that can increase energy efficiency. "Load-side technologies are absolutely key to our ability to reduce greenhouse emissions in the energy sector,” said director of energy services at Alaska Electric Light and Power Alec Mesdag.

In Juneau, going green focuses on power usage

The electricity’s already clean.

Air-source heat pumps, like the one in this 2015 photo of Jake Eames, right, and David Nash installing a pump, are an example of a load-side technology that can increase energy efficiency. "Load-side technologies are absolutely key to our ability to reduce greenhouse emissions in the energy sector,” said director of energy services at Alaska Electric Light and Power Alec Mesdag.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy went into self-quarantine Monday following news a close contact had tested positive for COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)

Governor quarantines following close contact

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is in quarantine following close contact on Saturday with a person who recently tested positive for COVID-19. Dunleavy was informed of the… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy went into self-quarantine Monday following news a close contact had tested positive for COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)
Katie Hurley, seen here in an undated photo from the Alaska State Legislature biography page, died at the age of 99 on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Alaska State Legislature)

‘Grande Dame’ of Alaska politics, dies at 99

“Extraordinary Alaskan.”

Katie Hurley, seen here in an undated photo from the Alaska State Legislature biography page, died at the age of 99 on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Alaska State Legislature)
Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, sent Reinbold a letter on Feb. 18, 2021, saying she has used her position to “misrepresent” the state’s COVID-19 response. Reinbold said the letter was “full of baseless accusations and complaints.” (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Dunleavy: Reinbold misrepresents virus response

Dunleavy said his administration will no longer respond to or participate in hearings led by the senator.

Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, sent Reinbold a letter on Feb. 18, 2021, saying she has used her position to “misrepresent” the state’s COVID-19 response. Reinbold said the letter was “full of baseless accusations and complaints.” (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Becky Bohrer / Associated Press Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes speaks to Rep. Bryce Edgmon on the House floor on Thursday, in Juneau. The House, which has struggled to organize, on Thursday adopted a report setting out committee assignments, a month into the legislative session.

Alaska House organizes, but questions remain about function

Stutes earlier in the week had declared her caucus “21 strong.”

Becky Bohrer / Associated Press Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes speaks to Rep. Bryce Edgmon on the House floor on Thursday, in Juneau. The House, which has struggled to organize, on Thursday adopted a report setting out committee assignments, a month into the legislative session.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Judge rules against governor on appointments

The decision by Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg came in a case brought in late December by the Legislative Council

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Joel Bolger speaks from behind a plexiglass encased podium to deliver the State of the Judiciary address to state lawmakers on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Despite complications posed by the pandemic, Bolger said Alaskan courts were still able to deliver services. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Bolger says Alaska’s judge selection best in U.S.

Nonpartisan selection?

Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Joel Bolger speaks from behind a plexiglass encased podium to deliver the State of the Judiciary address to state lawmakers on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Despite complications posed by the pandemic, Bolger said Alaskan courts were still able to deliver services. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
In this Oct. 28, 2016, photo provided by the Maniilaq Association, Alex Whiting, left, and Cyrus Harris, right, are observed by Chris Sannito, second from left, and Brian Himelbloom, third from left, of the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center as they trim and clean seal blubber in Kotzebue, Alaska. In January 2021, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation approved seal oil to be served at a Maniilaq elder care home, believed to be a first for seal oil in the U.S. (Maniilaq Association via AP)

Cultural ‘big deal’: Seal oil makes menu at Alaska care home

Seal oil is back on the menu for Inupiat elders.

In this Oct. 28, 2016, photo provided by the Maniilaq Association, Alex Whiting, left, and Cyrus Harris, right, are observed by Chris Sannito, second from left, and Brian Himelbloom, third from left, of the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center as they trim and clean seal blubber in Kotzebue, Alaska. In January 2021, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation approved seal oil to be served at a Maniilaq elder care home, believed to be a first for seal oil in the U.S. (Maniilaq Association via AP)
Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, speaks to colleagues on Friday, Feb 12, 2021. Edgmon, who served as speaker of the house in 31st Legislature, was named Monday as a co-chair of the House Finance Committee. A full list of committee assignments is expected soon. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House on verge of organizing

Not quite there yet.

Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, speaks to colleagues on Friday, Feb 12, 2021. Edgmon, who served as speaker of the house in 31st Legislature, was named Monday as a co-chair of the House Finance Committee. A full list of committee assignments is expected soon. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at an Anchorage news conference on Dec. 11, 2020. In a Sunday news conference, Dunleavy discussed the end of Alaska’s longtime COVID-19 disaster declaration and what it means for the state’s response to the virus. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Governor confident in state’s ability to respond to virus without disaster declaration

“This sun-setting of the declaration is no cause for alarm”

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at an Anchorage news conference on Dec. 11, 2020. In a Sunday news conference, Dunleavy discussed the end of Alaska’s longtime COVID-19 disaster declaration and what it means for the state’s response to the virus. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)