Peter Segall

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Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, spoke to the Empire on Monday, June 14, 2021, about the final budget proposal for the state which he helped craft. Some lawmakers said they felt bullied by the budget's contents. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers decry ‘bully tactics’ in budget proposal

Legislative leverage.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, spoke to the Empire on Monday, June 14, 2021, about the final budget proposal for the state which he helped craft. Some lawmakers said they felt bullied by the budget's contents. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Biden Administration announced it would reverse a decision by the previous administration to remove the Roadless Rule from the Tongass National Forest, seen here on Sun, March 30, 2021. Conservationists praised the decision while others called it suppressing Alaska's economic opportunities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Roadless Rule announcement draws mixed reaction from Alaskans

Roadless reversal riles some.

The Biden Administration announced it would reverse a decision by the previous administration to remove the Roadless Rule from the Tongass National Forest, seen here on Sun, March 30, 2021. Conservationists praised the decision while others called it suppressing Alaska's economic opportunities. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, speaks to the first in-person meeting of the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon in over a year at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, June 10, 2021. Young told the crowd he was working toward bipartisanship but expressed frustration with opposition to the resource industry. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Energy is Alaska’s future, Young tells chamber

Just don’t say no.

U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, speaks to the first in-person meeting of the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon in over a year at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, June 10, 2021. Young told the crowd he was working toward bipartisanship but expressed frustration with opposition to the resource industry. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Chef Lionel Uddipa of Red Spruce and his team prepare a dish of seared Alaskan scallop with Red Spruce miso, shio koji, calamansi, candied kumquat and herring egg bottarga for a charity dinner highlight the seafood cuisines of Alaska and Louisiana at Forbbiden Peak Brewery on Tuesday.

Two seafood states on one plate

Sea-ing things in common.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Chef Lionel Uddipa of Red Spruce and his team prepare a dish of seared Alaskan scallop with Red Spruce miso, shio koji, calamansi, candied kumquat and herring egg bottarga for a charity dinner highlight the seafood cuisines of Alaska and Louisiana at Forbbiden Peak Brewery on Tuesday.
From left to right, Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau; Martin Stepetin Sr. and Gov. Mike Dunleavy at a signing ceremony for a bill protecting a cemetery in Funter Bay at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

‘We don’t want anyone to forget what happened here’

Bill protecting Unangax̂ cemetery signed in Juneau.

From left to right, Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau; Martin Stepetin Sr. and Gov. Mike Dunleavy at a signing ceremony for a bill protecting a cemetery in Funter Bay at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Without a budget to vote on, many lawmakers were absent from the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, June 7, 2021, as negotiations continue in committee. But even the conference committee isn’t scheduled until later in the week as deep divisions among lawmakers remain. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Divisions slow budget work as deadline looms

Two weeks left in special session.

Without a budget to vote on, many lawmakers were absent from the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, June 7, 2021, as negotiations continue in committee. But even the conference committee isn’t scheduled until later in the week as deep divisions among lawmakers remain. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The parking lots at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center were packed on Feb. 13, 2021, and plans to improve the facilities include expanding the parking lot. Those plans were criticized by residents for the impacts to the environment and a draft environmental impact statement is expected later this summer. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Federal funds go toward more analysis for visitor center area plan

Still in development.

The parking lots at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center were packed on Feb. 13, 2021, and plans to improve the facilities include expanding the parking lot. Those plans were criticized by residents for the impacts to the environment and a draft environmental impact statement is expected later this summer. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Visitors depart from the Baranoff Hotel in downtown Juneau on Thursday, June 3, 2021, just days after the typically year-round hotel reopened its doors after closing for the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers are returning, hoteliers say, but many of their rooms remain empty. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Visitor numbers rebound, but hotel vacancies remain high

Hotels, motels, nobody’s in.

Visitors depart from the Baranoff Hotel in downtown Juneau on Thursday, June 3, 2021, just days after the typically year-round hotel reopened its doors after closing for the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers are returning, hoteliers say, but many of their rooms remain empty. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Capitol was quiet on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, with several lawmakers excused even as negotiations over the state's budget continue. Lawmakers said they couldn't say when the budget might be put to a vote, but talks were moving to the more contentious items in the budget.

With nothing to vote on, many lawmakers head home

Session ends June 19.

The Alaska State Capitol was quiet on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, with several lawmakers excused even as negotiations over the state's budget continue. Lawmakers said they couldn't say when the budget might be put to a vote, but talks were moving to the more contentious items in the budget.
Members of a bicameral conference committee of lawmakers, seen here at their first meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, will meet again Wednesday, June 2. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget talks to resume Wednesday

19 days left.

Members of a bicameral conference committee of lawmakers, seen here at their first meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, will meet again Wednesday, June 2. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
COVID-19 vaccines, like these seen at a March 13, 2021 Department of Veteran’s Affairs vaccine clinic, will be available at Alaska three main airports and open to anyone who wants one. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Vaccines for visitors: Shots now available at 3 Alaska airports

Ages 12 and up.

COVID-19 vaccines, like these seen at a March 13, 2021 Department of Veteran’s Affairs vaccine clinic, will be available at Alaska three main airports and open to anyone who wants one. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire In this November 2019 photo, former Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, tells his favorite Walter Soboleff stories during a celebration of Soboleff at the Walter Soboleff Center on Walter Soboleff Day.

Albert Kookesh, Alaska Native leader, dies at 72

Condolences are coming in.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire In this November 2019 photo, former Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, tells his favorite Walter Soboleff stories during a celebration of Soboleff at the Walter Soboleff Center on Walter Soboleff Day.
The Alaska State Capitol was quiet on Friday, May 28, 2021, as several lawmakers returned to their home districts for the Memorial Day weekend. Negotiations on the state's budget won't begin again until Tuesday, June 1. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Divided Legislature takes holiday break

Special session ends June 19.

The Alaska State Capitol was quiet on Friday, May 28, 2021, as several lawmakers returned to their home districts for the Memorial Day weekend. Negotiations on the state's budget won't begin again until Tuesday, June 1. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Members of a bicameral conference committee of lawmakers, seen here at their first meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, met again Thursday to negotiate the final version of the state's budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget committee adjourns until after holiday

Lengthy process.

Members of a bicameral conference committee of lawmakers, seen here at their first meeting on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, met again Thursday to negotiate the final version of the state's budget. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, at center, chairs the first meeting of a bicameral conference committee tasked with negotiating the state's final budget bill in the Senate Finance Committee chambers on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Lawmakers had said they wanted to finish before Memorial Day, but Foster said that didn't seem like a possibility. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget negotiations begin, will likely continue into June

One day at a time.

Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, at center, chairs the first meeting of a bicameral conference committee tasked with negotiating the state's final budget bill in the Senate Finance Committee chambers on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Lawmakers had said they wanted to finish before Memorial Day, but Foster said that didn't seem like a possibility. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Juneauites walking the Airport Dike Trail, seen here on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, probably won’t see the monitoring wells being installed in the area around the Juneau International Airport to test for contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS chemicals. Ground water testing is set to take place over the next few years. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City testing for PFAS in soil, groundwater around airport

Multi-year process.

Juneauites walking the Airport Dike Trail, seen here on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, probably won’t see the monitoring wells being installed in the area around the Juneau International Airport to test for contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS chemicals. Ground water testing is set to take place over the next few years. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
From left to right: Sens. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau; Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak; Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, and Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speak on the floor of the Alaska Senate on Monday, May 24, 2021, the first day of one of two special sessions called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers: Budget negotiations to begin Wednesday

Buttoning up the budget.

From left to right: Sens. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau; Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak; Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, and Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speak on the floor of the Alaska Senate on Monday, May 24, 2021, the first day of one of two special sessions called by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Proclamations from Gov. Mike Dunleavy calling special sessions of the Alaska State Legislature for late May and early August were posted in the otherwise quiet office of the House Clerk on Friday, May 21, 2021. The first special session has started but the Capitol building was quiet as most of the work before lawmakers will take place in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Special session begins, aims to solve Alaska’s fiscal deficit for good

Get ready in May for August.

Proclamations from Gov. Mike Dunleavy calling special sessions of the Alaska State Legislature for late May and early August were posted in the otherwise quiet office of the House Clerk on Friday, May 21, 2021. The first special session has started but the Capitol building was quiet as most of the work before lawmakers will take place in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
House Speaker Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, left, and House Finance Committee co-chair Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, speak with reporters at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 20, 2021. The Alaska State Legislature worked until past midnight Wednesday on the state’s budget bill which will now be negotiated in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget bill goes to committee for deliberation

Changes to be made.

House Speaker Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, left, and House Finance Committee co-chair Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, speak with reporters at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, May 20, 2021. The Alaska State Legislature worked until past midnight Wednesday on the state’s budget bill which will now be negotiated in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke to reporters in his office on Thursday, May 20, 2021, to discuss next steps after the Senate debated the state budget until just before midnight the night before. Senators voted for a Permanent Fund Dividend of $2,300, the largest in history, but negotiations with the House of Representatives are still to come. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Senate votes for $2,300 PFD, but the amount could change

It would be the largest PFD in state history.

Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke to reporters in his office on Thursday, May 20, 2021, to discuss next steps after the Senate debated the state budget until just before midnight the night before. Senators voted for a Permanent Fund Dividend of $2,300, the largest in history, but negotiations with the House of Representatives are still to come. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)