James Brooks

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Legislature to help families of slain police, firefighters

In 2011, Brandy Johnson spoke with her husband, Scott Johnson, about retiring. He had 20 years in the state employee retirement system and was eligible… Continue reading

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Death by a thousand cuts’: University bracing for the worst

Students will pay higher tuition. There will be fewer classes and fewer professors. Campus buildings will be shut down, sold or leased. If the Alaska… Continue reading

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Gov. Bill Walker holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to announce he has invited the Senate and House leadership to meet with him to work on an agreement on Alaska’s budget crisis. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gov. Walker proposes summit to help lawmakers fix budget

In a talk with reporters on Tuesday morning, Gov. Bill Walker renewed his determination that Alaska lawmakers should come up with a plan to solve… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to announce he has invited the Senate and House leadership to meet with him to work on an agreement on Alaska’s budget crisis. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Fifty Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian groups dressed in traditional regalia take part in the Grand Entrance Processional down Willoughby Street from Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to Centennial Hall to kickoff the four days of Celebration in June 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Lawmakers ask Christopher Columbus to share calendar

Christopher Columbus didn’t meet an empty continent. The state of Alaska will now recognize that fact. On Sunday, the Alaska Senate voted 18-1 to approve… Continue reading

Fifty Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian groups dressed in traditional regalia take part in the Grand Entrance Processional down Willoughby Street from Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to Centennial Hall to kickoff the four days of Celebration in June 2016. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

House approves income tax

It was tax day. On April 15, the Alaska House of Representatives voted 22-17 to impose Alaska’s first income tax in 37 years. Juneau’s two… Continue reading

Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A resident of the home for four years, Woodman was being visited by Carol Schriver, left. After outcry from the community, state senators are now asking Gov. Bill Walker to save the Pioneer Homes. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senators ask governor to save Pioneer Homes

The Alaska Senate is calling on Gov. Bill Walker to save the Pioneer Homes in Juneau and Palmer from the Senate’s own cuts. In a… Continue reading

Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday. Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Juneau Pioneers’ Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Alaska Senate’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A resident of the home for four years, Woodman was being visited by Carol Schriver, left. After outcry from the community, state senators are now asking Gov. Bill Walker to save the Pioneer Homes. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senators ready to negotiate fiscal fix

When it comes to fixing Alaska’s $2.8 billion deficit, nothing is written in stone. Not even a bill that both the Alaska House and Senate… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed their version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The bill would draw from the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund to address Alaska’s $2.7 billion funding gap, and cap the Permanent Fund Dividend at $1,250 for the next two years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska House votes to lower Permanent Fund Dividend

For the first time in state history, the Alaska Legislature has chosen to spend the Alaska Permanent Fund on something other than dividends. On Wednesday,… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed their version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. The bill would draw from the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund to address Alaska’s $2.7 billion funding gap, and cap the Permanent Fund Dividend at $1,250 for the next two years. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Former Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski is traveling the state at the request of current Gov. Bill Walker to promote a railway connecting Alaska to Canadian rails. Murkowski is holding a Rails to Resources informational packet his office produced in June 2000 when he was a U.S. Senator for Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Frank Murkowski tries to revive dream of rail link to Canada

Frank Murkowski has never lost his railroad dream. Now, he has another chance to make it reality. In March, the former governor and U.S. Senator… Continue reading

Former Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski is traveling the state at the request of current Gov. Bill Walker to promote a railway connecting Alaska to Canadian rails. Murkowski is holding a Rails to Resources informational packet his office produced in June 2000 when he was a U.S. Senator for Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Luann McVey, left, and Laura Stats sit in the mostly vacant public seating area after giving their public testimony on SB 26 to the House Finance Committee at the Capitol on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Income tax, Permanent Fund spending plan advance toward vote

The Alaska House of Representatives will soon vote on the 49th state’s first income tax since 1980 and a plan to use the earnings of… Continue reading

Luann McVey, left, and Laura Stats sit in the mostly vacant public seating area after giving their public testimony on SB 26 to the House Finance Committee at the Capitol on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Pioneer Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Legislature’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A resident of the home for four years, Woodman was being visited by Carol Schriver, left. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senate budget cuts threaten to close Juneau, Palmer Pioneer Home

Marion Rider has lived in Alaska since 1960. The Alaska Senate may leave her homeless. Included within the Republican-led Senate’s proposal for $276 million in… Continue reading

Juneau Pioneer Home resident Phyllis Woodman, right, talks about the grief caused by the Legislature’s proposed budget cuts to the home’s residents and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. A resident of the home for four years, Woodman was being visited by Carol Schriver, left. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers won’t change how they disclose conflicts of interest

Downtown Juneau’s delegate to the Legislature has helped defeat a proposal for greater transparency in the Alaska Legislature. Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, joined 18… Continue reading

House votes for oil industry to help resolve deficit

House votes for oil industry to help resolve deficit

When it comes to solving Alaska’s $2.8 billion deficit, the Alaska House of Representatives is asking the oil industry to pitch in. It isn’t clear… Continue reading

House votes for oil industry to help resolve deficit

Senate votes to rollback justice reform

Many of Alaska’s first-time criminals may face tougher sentences under a bill approved Friday by the Alaska Senate. In a 19-1 vote, lawmakers approved Senate… Continue reading

Senate slashes millions from schools, university and health care

If the Alaska Senate gets its way, Alaskans can expect fewer teachers, less ferry service, fewer criminal prosecutors, fewer Alaska State Troopers and a much… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmaker wants primary elections to be more like California

The chairwoman of the powerful House Rules Committee believes she has a plan to drive Alaska politics toward the center. Her Republican critics say it’s… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
House wavers on income tax

House wavers on income tax

Does the Alaska House of Representatives have the votes to approve Alaska’s first income tax since 1980? “We’re working on it,” Speaker of the House… Continue reading

House wavers on income tax

Will Uber soon be allowed in Alaska?

A bill authorizing Uber, Lyft and similar companies to operate in Alaska is headed to a vote of the House of Representatives. The Alaska House… Continue reading

Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, right, listens to David Teal, fiscal analyst for the Alaska Legislature, during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol on Monday, April 3, 2017. Sen. Dunleavy offered amendments to the operating budget bill to cut funding for public broadcasting and significantly reduced funding for the Alaska Marine Highway system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senate plan slashes education, university, transportation, health services

The Alaska Senate has proposed slashing the state’s public education system, university system, department of transportation, and health care. The Senate Finance Committee on Monday… Continue reading

Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, right, listens to David Teal, fiscal analyst for the Alaska Legislature, during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol on Monday, April 3, 2017. Sen. Dunleavy offered amendments to the operating budget bill to cut funding for public broadcasting and significantly reduced funding for the Alaska Marine Highway system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Lemon Creek Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. The Alaska Senate advanced a criminal justice reform rollback on Monday that could have untold costs for the prison system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Criminal justice reform rollback nears a vote in the Senate

A bill allowing judges to impose tougher sentences for many crimes is advancing toward a vote in the Alaska Senate. The Alaska Senate Finance Committee… Continue reading

Lemon Creek Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. The Alaska Senate advanced a criminal justice reform rollback on Monday that could have untold costs for the prison system. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)