Home

The Senate Finance Committee, seen here with chair Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, leading a meeting on Jan. 27, discussed Monday Gov. Mike Dunleavy's propsoal for a $1.4 billion supplemental budget. Most of that money would go to paying out a supplemental Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Supplemental budget proposal asks for $1.4 billion

Most would be spent on PFD.

The Senate Finance Committee, seen here with chair Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, leading a meeting on Jan. 27, discussed Monday Gov. Mike Dunleavy's propsoal for a $1.4 billion supplemental budget. Most of that money would go to paying out a supplemental Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
People play on the frozen Twin Lakes on Saturday, Feb. 6. A high pressure system in Canada is sending temperatures through the floor for the next week, according to the National Weather Service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Cool under pressure: High pressure system torpedoes temperatures

What’s cooler than being cool? Ice cold.

People play on the frozen Twin Lakes on Saturday, Feb. 6. A high pressure system in Canada is sending temperatures through the floor for the next week, according to the National Weather Service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, flying an MH-60 Jayhawk like the one above, rescued a backcountry skier who was attacked by a bear outside of Haines on Feb. 6, 2021. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)

Coast Guard rescues skier mauled by bear near Haines

The man is currently in stable condition at Bartlett Regional Hospital.

A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, flying an MH-60 Jayhawk like the one above, rescued a backcountry skier who was attacked by a bear outside of Haines on Feb. 6, 2021. (Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios | U.S. Coast Guard)
This photo shows a sign outside the Division of Motor Vehicles office in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Closing an Alaska DMV office has a cost beyond dollars

Closing state-operated DMV offices hurts seniors, disable people and people with lower incomes.

  • Feb 8, 2021
  • By Peter Zuyus
This photo shows a sign outside the Division of Motor Vehicles office in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Grandpa Mickey Prescott celebrates his 80th birthday via Zoom in 2020. (Vivian Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
Capital City Weekly

Planet Alaska: Plans A through Z

While some look to the groundhog for signs of spring, I look to plants.

Grandpa Mickey Prescott celebrates his 80th birthday via Zoom in 2020. (Vivian Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
This combination of photos shows people riding bicycles in New York's Times Square, left, on April 29, 2020, and in Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Ala., March 12, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. The human loss from the pandemic isn’t going to be reflected in the U.S. population count used for divvying up congressional seats among the states. And that could save a congressional seat for New York but cost Alabama one. (AP Photo)

Calendar timing means virus deaths won’t be seen in census

Mid-March deaths won’t show in population figures that determine representation in Congress.

This combination of photos shows people riding bicycles in New York's Times Square, left, on April 29, 2020, and in Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Ala., March 12, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. The human loss from the pandemic isn’t going to be reflected in the U.S. population count used for divvying up congressional seats among the states. And that could save a congressional seat for New York but cost Alabama one. (AP Photo)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, has his temperature taken inside the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 19, 2021. The high tech check-ins have become routine over the past few weeks. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

High tech temp check: Devices with camera, infrared scanner part of lawmakers’ routine

Have you seen these yet?

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, has his temperature taken inside the Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 19, 2021. The high tech check-ins have become routine over the past few weeks. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
There's money in Gov. Mike Dunleavy's bond proposal package for projects like the one taking place at Aurora Harbor, seen here in this Nov. 5, 2020, photo, but Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, doesn't think there's enough local investment. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Governor’s $356M bond proposal gets cool reaction from lawmakers

Legislators cautious on revisions, additions

There's money in Gov. Mike Dunleavy's bond proposal package for projects like the one taking place at Aurora Harbor, seen here in this Nov. 5, 2020, photo, but Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, doesn't think there's enough local investment. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
UnCruise, operating small-deck vessels like the one seen above, will be one of very few companies that can continue to operate in Alaska this summer following a surprise announcement by the Canadian government banning cruise ships in its harbors until 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Alaska congressional delegation: Canadian cruise ban unacceptable

While small-deck cruises are still viable, their support for their heftier colleagues is ardent.

UnCruise, operating small-deck vessels like the one seen above, will be one of very few companies that can continue to operate in Alaska this summer following a surprise announcement by the Canadian government banning cruise ships in its harbors until 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
tease

Opinion: Now isn’t the time to abolish the filibuster

Doing away with it treats only a symptom of partisan dysfunction. And now is the wrong time.

  • Feb 5, 2021
  • By Rich Moniak
tease
t

Alaska Science Forum: Were blue beads in the tundra the first U.S. import from Europe?

They predate the arrival of Columbus by a few decades

t
A lab scientist processes upper respiratory samples from patients suspected of having COVID-19 at the Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Palo Alto, Calif. Two new cases were confirmed in Juneau School District on Feb. 4, 2021, prompting quarantines of possible contacts. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)

Two new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Juneau School District

Basketball teams, elementary school class are quarantining.

A lab scientist processes upper respiratory samples from patients suspected of having COVID-19 at the Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Palo Alto, Calif. Two new cases were confirmed in Juneau School District on Feb. 4, 2021, prompting quarantines of possible contacts. (AP Photo / Noah Berger)
A fishing vessel is drawfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau's downtown harbor in September 2014. On Thursday, Canada announced a ban on cruise vessels in Canadian waters through February 2022. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

‘Devestating decision’: Locals react to Canada’s cruise ban

The announcement was made Thursday.

A fishing vessel is drawfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau's downtown harbor in September 2014. On Thursday, Canada announced a ban on cruise vessels in Canadian waters through February 2022. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department in September 2019.The drop box gives residents a safe place to disposed of their unused prescription narcotics. The state announced on Thursday it will receive more than $1 million as part of a settlement with a consulting firm accused of “turbocharging” the opioid epidemic. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska to receive over $1.3M from opioid settlement

More than 47 states, 5 territories, and D.C. are part of the settlement.

Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department in September 2019.The drop box gives residents a safe place to disposed of their unused prescription narcotics. The state announced on Thursday it will receive more than $1 million as part of a settlement with a consulting firm accused of “turbocharging” the opioid epidemic. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Members of the House of Representatives leave the chamber Wednesday, Feb. 3,. after failing to elect a temporary speaker, part of a deadlock that was broken Thursday, when Rep. Josiah Patkotak was elected Speaker Pro Tem. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State House picks temporary speaker

One step closer.

Members of the House of Representatives leave the chamber Wednesday, Feb. 3,. after failing to elect a temporary speaker, part of a deadlock that was broken Thursday, when Rep. Josiah Patkotak was elected Speaker Pro Tem. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
tease

Sustainable Alaska: Crossing this pandemic’s finish line will take team work

We need to hold out just a little while longer.

tease
University of Alaska interim President Pat Pitney told lawmakers the system was an economic driver for the state. The system’s regional campuses, like UA Southeast, seen here on Jan. 26, were more focused on producing graduates in fields in high demand in Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

University’s programs are here to stay, president says

Alaska’s system for higher education.

University of Alaska interim President Pat Pitney told lawmakers the system was an economic driver for the state. The system’s regional campuses, like UA Southeast, seen here on Jan. 26, were more focused on producing graduates in fields in high demand in Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star steams under the aurora borealis during its current Arctic deployment patrolling the maritime boundary with Russia. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo / Petty Officer 1st Class Cynthia Oldham)

Coast Guard icebreaker continues Arctic training, security operations

The crew is honing the trade of operating in the harshest waters on earth.

Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star steams under the aurora borealis during its current Arctic deployment patrolling the maritime boundary with Russia. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo / Petty Officer 1st Class Cynthia Oldham)
This Jan. 8, 2021, photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. The Alaska Senate on Wednesday OK’d a resolution that would allow remote voting, if necessary, during the pandemic. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

State senate approves remote voting resolution

Presiding officers could OK attending session via videoconference.

This Jan. 8, 2021, photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. The Alaska Senate on Wednesday OK’d a resolution that would allow remote voting, if necessary, during the pandemic. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
A pair of ravens cast a wary eye about on the downtown waterfront as snow falls across Juneau on Feb. 3, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Heavy snow precedes a sunny end to the week

But forecasters expect a snowy weekend.

A pair of ravens cast a wary eye about on the downtown waterfront as snow falls across Juneau on Feb. 3, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)