Peter Segall

Mike Wiley, left, and daughter Megan Bishop serve a customer at their store, Ben Franklin Store, in downtown Juneau on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. The city extended its mask mandate at a meeting Monday, but Wiley and Bishop said they'd ask customers to wear a mask regardless of the mandate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Juneau extends mask mandate

Vaccines have arrived, but vigilance remains important, city officials said.

Mike Wiley, left, and daughter Megan Bishop serve a customer at their store, Ben Franklin Store, in downtown Juneau on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. The city extended its mask mandate at a meeting Monday, but Wiley and Bishop said they'd ask customers to wear a mask regardless of the mandate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Lawmakers will return to the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Nov. 4, 2020, in January but the Legislature remains deeply divided, and new leadership has yet to emerge in either the House or Senate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers cautious of governor’s budget

Reactions mixed to big proposals.

Lawmakers will return to the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Nov. 4, 2020, in January but the Legislature remains deeply divided, and new leadership has yet to emerge in either the House or Senate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Division of Elections staff conducted an audit of the ballots for Measure 2 at the division's offices at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. DOE announced the audit found no changes from the original count and the results remained the same as originally certified. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Ballot Measure 2 audit shows no changes

Alaska’s election comes out clean.

Division of Elections staff conducted an audit of the ballots for Measure 2 at the division's offices at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. DOE announced the audit found no changes from the original count and the results remained the same as originally certified. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Tailings Treatment Facility at Kensington Gold Mine, seen here on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, will need to be expanded in order for the mine to operate for another 10 years. Environmentalists are concerned about pollutants from the mine contaminating local waters. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
The Tailings Treatment Facility at Kensington Gold Mine, seen here on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, will need to be expanded in order for the mine to operate for another 10 years. Environmentalists are concerned about pollutants from the mine contaminating local waters. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy and his administration released a proposed budget Friday, Dec. 11. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Dunleavy proposes budget for ‘unprecedented’ times

“A Path Forward for Fiscal Year 2022.”

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and his administration released a proposed budget Friday, Dec. 11. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
A pharmacist labels syringes in a clean room where doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be handled, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, at Mount Sinai Queens hospital in New York. The hospital expects to receive doses once a vaccine gets the emergency green light by U.S. regulators. (AP Photo / Mark Lennihan)

Advisory panel endorses widespread use of new COVID-19 vaccine

Backing comes same day new disaster declaration is announced

A pharmacist labels syringes in a clean room where doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be handled, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, at Mount Sinai Queens hospital in New York. The hospital expects to receive doses once a vaccine gets the emergency green light by U.S. regulators. (AP Photo / Mark Lennihan)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to local leaders at the Alaska Municipal League’s legislative conference in this February 2020 photo. Dunleavy issued a statement regarding a lawsuit out of Texas seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy: Alaska will not join Texas-led election suit

Governor said his office did not have enough time to review the facts of the case

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to local leaders at the Alaska Municipal League’s legislative conference in this February 2020 photo. Dunleavy issued a statement regarding a lawsuit out of Texas seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire File)
Mike Tobin of environmental group 350Juneau demonstrated outside the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation building on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. APFC's Board of Trustees were having their quarterly meeting inside and group members submitted testimony urging divestment from fossil fuels and other assets potentially impacted by climate change. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Protesters: Oil is not where the money is

An unexpected boost from New York.

Mike Tobin of environmental group 350Juneau demonstrated outside the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation building on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. APFC's Board of Trustees were having their quarterly meeting inside and group members submitted testimony urging divestment from fossil fuels and other assets potentially impacted by climate change. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy's Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, as the U.K. health authorities rolled out a national mass vaccination program.  U.K. regulators said Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020, that people who have a “significant history’’ of allergic reactions shouldn’t receive the new Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine while they investigate two adverse reactions that occurred on the first day of the country’s mass vaccination program.  (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)
A nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy's Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, as the U.K. health authorities rolled out a national mass vaccination program.  U.K. regulators said Wednesday Dec. 9, 2020, that people who have a “significant history’’ of allergic reactions shouldn’t receive the new Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine while they investigate two adverse reactions that occurred on the first day of the country’s mass vaccination program.  (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)
The Juneau School District building and Harborview Elementary School, seen here on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, will have students back in classes in January. The district released its schedule for students to return Tuesday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau School District building and Harborview Elementary School, seen here on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, will have students back in classes in January. The district released its schedule for students to return Tuesday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The property at 9290 Hurlock Avenue near the intersection of Egan Drive and Mendenhall Loop Road was vacant Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, but a group of nonprofit organizations are partnering to try and turn the site into a youth homeless center. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

City considers proposed youth homeless center

There’s a need, but are there funds?

The property at 9290 Hurlock Avenue near the intersection of Egan Drive and Mendenhall Loop Road was vacant Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, but a group of nonprofit organizations are partnering to try and turn the site into a youth homeless center. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Personal-use fireworks are technically illegal in the City and Borough of Juneau but officials have been allowing their use. The Assembly expressed a desire to change the laws regarding fireworks to be more in line with the city's policy. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Personal-use fireworks are technically illegal in the City and Borough of Juneau but officials have been allowing their use. The Assembly expressed a desire to change the laws regarding fireworks to be more in line with the city's policy. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
In this undated photo issued by the University of Oxford, a volunteer is administered the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, in Oxford, England. Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said Monday Nov. 23, 2020, that late-stage trials showed its coronavirus vaccine was up to 90% effective, giving public health officials hope they may soon have access to a vaccine that is cheaper and easier to distribute than some of its rivals. (University of Oxford / John Cairns)
In this undated photo issued by the University of Oxford, a volunteer is administered the coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, in Oxford, England. Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said Monday Nov. 23, 2020, that late-stage trials showed its coronavirus vaccine was up to 90% effective, giving public health officials hope they may soon have access to a vaccine that is cheaper and easier to distribute than some of its rivals. (University of Oxford / John Cairns)
Jacob Walker

Empire welcomes new advertising rep

You might see a familiar face behind the front desk at the Juneau Empire. Jake Walker joined the Empire to fill the role of inside… Continue reading

Jacob Walker
Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai, left, explains the recount process to DOE staff and members of the State Review Board during a recount of votes from Anchorage House District 27 where a Democratic challenger ousted a Republican incumbent by just 13 votes. Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai, left, explains the recount process to DOE staff and members of the State Review Board during a recount of votes from Anchorage House District 27 where a Democratic challenger ousted a Republican incumbent by just 13 votes. Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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A conceptual drawing shows a possible use for Norwegian Cruise Line's property on Egan Drive. This drawing shows the property with NCL's largest ship, the Bliss, shown for scale. (Courtesy image / MRV Architects)
A conceptual drawing shows a possible use for Norwegian Cruise Line's property on Egan Drive. This drawing shows the property with NCL's largest ship, the Bliss, shown for scale. (Courtesy image / MRV Architects)
stickers
stickers
Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, speaks during the House Finance Committee meeting as they work on SB 128, the Permanent Fund spending bill, in the Bill Ray Center in 2016. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, speaks during the House Finance Committee meeting as they work on SB 128, the Permanent Fund spending bill, in the Bill Ray Center in 2016. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
The Juneau School District building and Harborview Elementary School on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. The district's funding is stable for this year according to the Board of Education, but next year's budget depends on the Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau School District building and Harborview Elementary School on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. The district's funding is stable for this year according to the Board of Education, but next year's budget depends on the Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)