JUNEAU — In between floor sessions in the chambers of the Alaska House, Rep. Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, could be found on in the parking lot behind the Capitol, sunglasses on and shirt untucked, barbecuing shrimp on a charcoal grill perched on a truck’s tailgate.

Elsewhere in the building, Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, spent Tuesday morning writing his newsletter and answering emails from constituents. As a worker packed up a staffer’s computer, the senator worried that his machine could be next.

JUNEAU — While a budget battle is simmering between the state House and Senate, threatening to send the Legislature into overtime, many Alaskans in the capital city expressed ambivalence toward — or complete ignorance of — the gridlock.

Spencer Thomas, 22, of Juneau, said he could see the legislative session going past Sunday, and the 90-day legal limit set for it to meet, to get work done. “But if they don’t,” he said, “then it’s sure not worth it.”

JUNEAU — Alaska is the latest state to weigh in on a long-running argument: If you’re old enough to fight and die for your country, you should be old enough to drink a beer.

An Alaska lawmaker who served in Vietnam is pushing a bill that would allow active-duty service members under 21 to drink alcohol as long as they could produce an armed forces identification card. Those under 19 — Alaska’s smoking age — would be allowed to buy tobacco products.

JUNEAU — Lawmakers on the House Education Committee on Wednesday approved a bill mandating that students learn the nation’s founding documents before graduating high school. It passed only after a testing requirement was removed from the proposal.

Bill sponsor Rep. Wes Keller, R-Wasilla, said he hoped the bill would improve student’s understanding of civics by requiring them to be taught and tested on the nation’s founding documents.