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A sign invites visitors into the Alaska State Capitol building on Monday, June 21, 2021. Lawmakers will begin their second special session of the year Wednesday after Gov. Mike Dunleavy sent the state’s budget bill back to lawmakers saying it lacked critical components. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Courts asked to clarify budget dispute

Shutdown remains possible.

A sign invites visitors into the Alaska State Capitol building on Monday, June 21, 2021. Lawmakers will begin their second special session of the year Wednesday after Gov. Mike Dunleavy sent the state’s budget bill back to lawmakers saying it lacked critical components. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML

COVID at a glance for Monday, June 21

The most recent state and local figures.

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML
Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel underwent water rescue training at the floatplane pond Sunday at Juneau International Airport. Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire

CCFR conducts water rescue training near airport

Hands-on training is necessary to keep skills sharp and personnel ready.

Capital City Fire/Rescue personnel underwent water rescue training at the floatplane pond Sunday at Juneau International Airport. Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Firefighter medic Andy Tighe snaps a photo of the breakaway plus-class cruise ship Norwegian Bliss while Captain Tracy Mettler operates a fireboat in the Tongass Narrows in Ketchikan, Alaska, on June 4, 2018. President Joe Biden signed into law Monday, May 24, 2021, legislation that opens a door for resumed cruise ship travel to Alaska after the pandemic last year scrapped sailings. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)

Alaska’s cruise season ‘good to go’

Ships expected late July.

Firefighter medic Andy Tighe snaps a photo of the breakaway plus-class cruise ship Norwegian Bliss while Captain Tracy Mettler operates a fireboat in the Tongass Narrows in Ketchikan, Alaska, on June 4, 2018. President Joe Biden signed into law Monday, May 24, 2021, legislation that opens a door for resumed cruise ship travel to Alaska after the pandemic last year scrapped sailings. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in August, Juneau teacher Kelly Stewart will be the interim assistant principal, district officials announced on Friday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Local teacher named assistant principal at TMHS

Kelly Stewart accepts interim role

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in August, Juneau teacher Kelly Stewart will be the interim assistant principal, district officials announced on Friday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Police investigate the scene of an early morning fatal shooting along Gambell Street between Fourth Avenue and Fifth Avenue near downtown Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday, June 19, 2021. (Bill Roth / Anchorage Daily News)

Anchorage shooting kills 1, wounds 4 others, police say

Police say shooting happened early Saturday morning.

  • Jun 19, 2021
  • Associated Press
Police investigate the scene of an early morning fatal shooting along Gambell Street between Fourth Avenue and Fifth Avenue near downtown Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday, June 19, 2021. (Bill Roth / Anchorage Daily News)
Dozens of vendors and thousands of people were on hand for the 11th Juneau Maritime Festival held Saturday, June 19, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau has a merry time at outdoor festival

11th Maritime Festival among first major in-person events in the city since the pandemic.

Dozens of vendors and thousands of people were on hand for the 11th Juneau Maritime Festival held Saturday, June 19, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A recently released map by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shows the vast areas of low data speeds and access by broadband users across Alaska and the rest of the U.S. (Screenshot)

White House laying groundwork for improved internet infrastructure

In Alaska, providers are looking at their own improvments to access.

A recently released map by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shows the vast areas of low data speeds and access by broadband users across Alaska and the rest of the U.S. (Screenshot)
Artist and UAF professor emeritus Kes Woodward in a stand of exotic trees on the Fairbanks campus. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Visit to an exotic tree plantation in Alaska

The two-acre exotic tree plantation is part of a much-larger “boreal arboretum” on the UAF campus.

Artist and UAF professor emeritus Kes Woodward in a stand of exotic trees on the Fairbanks campus. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes (center), along with leaders of the House majority coalition, Rep. Bryce Edgmon (left) and Rep. Kelly Merrick (right) speak to reporters on the final day of a special legislative session on Friday. The special legislative session limped toward a bitter end Friday, with Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and House majority leaders sharply disagreeing over the adequacy of the budget passed by lawmakers earlier this week. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Special session ends with budget disagreement, call for another session

‘One heck of a week.’

Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes (center), along with leaders of the House majority coalition, Rep. Bryce Edgmon (left) and Rep. Kelly Merrick (right) speak to reporters on the final day of a special legislative session on Friday. The special legislative session limped toward a bitter end Friday, with Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and House majority leaders sharply disagreeing over the adequacy of the budget passed by lawmakers earlier this week. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)

Appeals court panel orders review of EPA decision in Alaska

Review concerns decision to withdraw proposed restrictions on large-scale mining near Bristol Bay.

In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)
Then-Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, recently appointed as vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, speaks during Coast Guard District 17 Change of Command ceremony on April 23, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

New Coast Guard vice commandant takes the reins

Fagan became the first woman to hold the rank of admiral in the Coast Guard.

Then-Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, recently appointed as vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, speaks during Coast Guard District 17 Change of Command ceremony on April 23, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft assigned to the 25th Fighter Squadron taxi during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 21-02 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 14, 2021. (Tech. Sgt. Peter Thompson / U.S. Air Force)

Air Force kicks off major multinational exercise in Alaska

More than 100 aircraft from three countries will be involved.

A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft assigned to the 25th Fighter Squadron taxi during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 21-02 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 14, 2021. (Tech. Sgt. Peter Thompson / U.S. Air Force)
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)

Police calls for Friday, June 18, 2021

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

  • Jun 18, 2021
  • Juneau Empire
  • Crime
It's a police car until you look closely and see the details don't quite match. (Juneau Empire File / Michael Penn)
Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire A proposal by the Juneau Off-Road Association to build a hardened trail and campground in the Montana Creek area generated 280 public comments. The majority of comments submitted to the state opposed the plan. A sign marks the end of the road in the area on June 17, 2021.

Proposed Montana Creek Access Road generates almost 500 pages of comments

Users of the Montana Creek area have a lot to say.

Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire A proposal by the Juneau Off-Road Association to build a hardened trail and campground in the Montana Creek area generated 280 public comments. The majority of comments submitted to the state opposed the plan. A sign marks the end of the road in the area on June 17, 2021.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy held a press conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, June 17, 2021, to say he was ready to call lawmakers into yet another special session if they didn't rectify issues with the budget passed earlier this week by Friday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy calls on lawmakers to solve budget conflict

Another special session could be coming.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy held a press conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, June 17, 2021, to say he was ready to call lawmakers into yet another special session if they didn't rectify issues with the budget passed earlier this week by Friday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
In this April photo, Tommy Beaudreau, of Alaska, appears before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on his nomination to be deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior, at the Capitol in Washington. The Senate easily confirmed former Obama administration official Tommy Beaudreau as deputy secretary at the Interior Department, a rare bipartisan moment in an increasingly bitter fight over President Joe Biden's policies on energy production and climate change. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate GOP hails new Interior deputy as ‘voice of reason’

Appointee, who grew up in Alaska, was easily confirmed.

In this April photo, Tommy Beaudreau, of Alaska, appears before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on his nomination to be deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior, at the Capitol in Washington. The Senate easily confirmed former Obama administration official Tommy Beaudreau as deputy secretary at the Interior Department, a rare bipartisan moment in an increasingly bitter fight over President Joe Biden's policies on energy production and climate change. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
This June 10 photo shows Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The governor is holding a news conference on Thursday to address the spending plan recently passed by the Legislature. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Watch: Dunleavy holds budget news conference

It’s slated for 2:45 p.m. Thursday.

This June 10 photo shows Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The governor is holding a news conference on Thursday to address the spending plan recently passed by the Legislature. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in the fall, John Luhrs will serve as the interim principal. The search for a new assistant principal continues. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Interim principal named at TMHS

Veteran educator John Luhrs will step into the post

Thunder Mountain High School on April 18, 2021. When school resumes in the fall, John Luhrs will serve as the interim principal. The search for a new assistant principal continues. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML

COVID at a glance for Wednesday, June 16

The most recent state and local figures.

This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML