News

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs House Bill 2001 at his office in Anchorage on Monday, August 19, 2019. (Courtesy photo)

Governor signs off on $1,600 PFD, calls for third special session

Dunleavy says remainder of PFD will be sole focus for next special session.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs House Bill 2001 at his office in Anchorage on Monday, August 19, 2019. (Courtesy photo)
Dunleavy reverses decision to veto early education funds

Dunleavy reverses decision to veto early education funds

Dunleavy says he won’t veto Head Start, Pre-K from HB 2001

Dunleavy reverses decision to veto early education funds
Dunleavy signs ‘step-down’ compact with University of Alaska

Dunleavy signs ‘step-down’ compact with University of Alaska

Plan will introduce cuts over three years rather than one

Dunleavy signs ‘step-down’ compact with University of Alaska
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska

Senator Sullivan visits Juneau

Sullivan stops by the Empire to talk bills

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska
courtesy photo Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the signing ceremony at the Alaska Association of General Contractors in Anchorage on Thursday.

Dunleavy signs capital budget into law, vetoes funds

Sweep is reversed and capital budget is passed but $34 million is vetoed

courtesy photo Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the signing ceremony at the Alaska Association of General Contractors in Anchorage on Thursday.
In this Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019 photo, Sen. Chris Birch, R-Anchorage, listens to other senators during a Senate session at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. Birch, a former state House member who also served on the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Anchorage assemblies, has died, his family said in a statement Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. He was 68. Birch died Wednesday, Aug. 7 of a torn or ruptured aorta after experiencing chest pains and being taken to an Anchorage hospital, the family said. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Republican state Sen. Chris Birch dies

Birch was elected to the Anchorage Senate seat that had been held by Republican Kevin Meyer.

In this Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019 photo, Sen. Chris Birch, R-Anchorage, listens to other senators during a Senate session at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. Birch, a former state House member who also served on the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Anchorage assemblies, has died, his family said in a statement Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. He was 68. Birch died Wednesday, Aug. 7 of a torn or ruptured aorta after experiencing chest pains and being taken to an Anchorage hospital, the family said. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Juneau residents line up outside of the Planet Alaska Gallery to sign an application petition to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Recall campaign makes progress

Campaign website claims 10K signatures gathered.

Juneau residents line up outside of the Planet Alaska Gallery to sign an application petition to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The last bill of the special session will go to Dunleavy today

The last bill of the special session will go to Dunleavy today

Final bill to go to governor.

The last bill of the special session will go to Dunleavy today
Recall Dunleavy supporters hold signs at a Recall Dunleavy rally held on Aug. 1, 2019, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong)

Recall Dunleavy effort starts with statewide rallies on Thursday

In Homer, a steady stream of voters lined up to sign recall applications.

Recall Dunleavy supporters hold signs at a Recall Dunleavy rally held on Aug. 1, 2019, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong)
Board of Regents votes to consolidate UA system

Board of Regents votes to consolidate UA system

UA regents move to bring universities under one roof.

Board of Regents votes to consolidate UA system
Backed by members of the Juneau Filipino community’s Ati-Atihan musical group, members of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific march along Main Street in support of their continued strike against the Alaska Marine Highway System on Monday, July 29, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘We want to go back to work’: Ferry strike ongoing

Day 6 of the strike.

Backed by members of the Juneau Filipino community’s Ati-Atihan musical group, members of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific march along Main Street in support of their continued strike against the Alaska Marine Highway System on Monday, July 29, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sen. David Wilson offers an amendment to the operating budget at the Capitol on Monday, July 29, 2019. Sen. Wilson’s amendment would pay $1,400 as part two of an Alaskan permanent fund dividend. It was voted down. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

House passes capital budget, reverses sweep, approves veto restoration

House and Senate pass legislation on to Dunleavy’s desk

Sen. David Wilson offers an amendment to the operating budget at the Capitol on Monday, July 29, 2019. Sen. Wilson’s amendment would pay $1,400 as part two of an Alaskan permanent fund dividend. It was voted down. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, speaks in favor of HB 2002 on a reconsideration vote at the Capitol on Monday, July 22,2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

House to meet on Monday for crucial vote

House (and state) holds its breath for Monday’s vote.

Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, speaks in favor of HB 2002 on a reconsideration vote at the Capitol on Monday, July 22,2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
how the office performs “sweeps” of unspent money in various government accounts during a Senate Finance meeting at the Capitol on Thursday, July 18, 2019. Donna Arduin, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, right, watches in the background. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislature moves PFD, capital budget bills forward, but veto threat looms

Bills are moving, but there’s no guarantee they’ll get past the governor.

how the office performs “sweeps” of unspent money in various government accounts during a Senate Finance meeting at the Capitol on Thursday, July 18, 2019. Donna Arduin, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, right, watches in the background. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Members of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific picket in front of the Auke Bay Terminal on Thursday. The union called a strike on Wednesday over failed negotiations with Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration.

Ferry workers strike continues; State says strike ‘illegal’

Ferry workers strike, and the state strikes back

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Members of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific picket in front of the Auke Bay Terminal on Thursday. The union called a strike on Wednesday over failed negotiations with Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration.
House Finance Committee Co-Chairs Neal Foster, D-Nome, and Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, speaks to members of the media during an at ease in a House session at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

House votes to ‘decouple’ PFD from funding bill, but will likely be struck down by Dunleavy

It might as well be Groundhog Day.

House Finance Committee Co-Chairs Neal Foster, D-Nome, and Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, speaks to members of the media during an at ease in a House session at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The House was one vote short of funding the capital budget

The House was one vote short of funding the capital budget

They failed, again.

The House was one vote short of funding the capital budget
Rep. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, speaks during a House Finance Committee meeting Saturday, July 20, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)

Senate approves ‘reverse sweep’ and capital budget bill

Accounting concern is sweeping the state.

Rep. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, speaks during a House Finance Committee meeting Saturday, July 20, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)
Budget wonks try to explain ‘the sweep’

Budget wonks try to explain ‘the sweep’

Senate Finance Committee spends afternoon slogging through legal and technical details

Budget wonks try to explain ‘the sweep’
Alaskans give heated testimony, make their voices heard on PFD

Alaskans give heated testimony, make their voices heard on PFD

Both sides traded barbs.

Alaskans give heated testimony, make their voices heard on PFD