Alaska Legislature

Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, right, walks out of the Senate chambers on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, with Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Report says Alaska senator retaliated against staffer

Sen. David Wilson committed a “very serious case of retaliation,” according to a report compiled by the Alaska Legislature’s HR director and released Wednesday by… Continue reading

Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, right, walks out of the Senate chambers on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, with Sen. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire) Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Troubled Rep. Zach Fansler has not told House Majority if he will resign or not

A battery of cameras surrounded Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon on Tuesday morning, but they and the reporters behind them failed to reveal any… Continue reading

Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire) Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, is questioned by reporters about Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, at the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. Rep. Fansler has been accused of striking a woman in his hotel room last week. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this April 3, 2017 photo, 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. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy wins Juneau Republicans’ straw poll

Former state Sen. Mike Dunleavy, R-Wasilla, has won a straw poll of Republican candidates for governor. The straw poll was conducted across two gubernatorial forums… Continue reading

In this April 3, 2017 photo, 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. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Senators take a moment of silence at the Capitol on Monday, Jan, 29, 2018, in memory of three Alaskan servicemen killed in action. The senate voted in favor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 to award the Alaska Decoration of Honor to David T. Brabander, Hansen B. Kirkpatrick and Jacob M. Sims. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senate votes to award medals to three slain Alaska soldiers

The families of two men from Wasilla and one man from Skagway will receive medals awarded by the State of Alaska for military service. In… Continue reading

Senators take a moment of silence at the Capitol on Monday, Jan, 29, 2018, in memory of three Alaskan servicemen killed in action. The senate voted in favor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 to award the Alaska Decoration of Honor to David T. Brabander, Hansen B. Kirkpatrick and Jacob M. Sims. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, attends a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Capitol on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

After assault allegation, Fansler says he won’t resign. Will the legislators expel him anyway?

On Monday, the Capitol office of Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, was firmly locked. The legislator was absent from Monday morning’s House floor session, and his… Continue reading

Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, attends a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Capitol on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this Sept. 14, 2017 photo, Brandon Howard, a cofounder of Amalga Distillery, left, serves mixed drinks to Nick Thein and Terra Veler at the distillery’s tasting room at Franklin and Second Streets. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Legislature to take public testimony on distillery cocktails

The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee will hear public testimony at 10 a.m. Saturday about a proposal to allow distilleries to serve cocktails as… Continue reading

In this Sept. 14, 2017 photo, Brandon Howard, a cofounder of Amalga Distillery, left, serves mixed drinks to Nick Thein and Terra Veler at the distillery’s tasting room at Franklin and Second Streets. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Alaska Legislature considers bills to create electronic hunting, fishing licenses

Each day, in airports across Alaska, thousands of people swipe their cellphones across a scanner and board an airplane. Instead of a paper boarding pass,… Continue reading

The office of Alaska state Rep. Zach Fansler is shown in the Alaska Capitol on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Juneau. The door to the office was locked Monday morning. State House leaders have asked for Fansler’s resignation following a report in the Juneau Empire in which a woman alleged that Fansler hit her during a night of drinking. (Becky Bohrer | The Associated Press)

Experts don’t buy Rep. Fansler’s ‘BDSM kink’ defense in assault case

As the Juneau Police Department continues to investigate an alleged assault by Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, experts say Fansler’s text-message apology to the woman and… Continue reading

The office of Alaska state Rep. Zach Fansler is shown in the Alaska Capitol on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Juneau. The door to the office was locked Monday morning. State House leaders have asked for Fansler’s resignation following a report in the Juneau Empire in which a woman alleged that Fansler hit her during a night of drinking. (Becky Bohrer | The Associated Press)
John Lincoln is seen in this undated file photo from NANA Regional Corp. (Courtesy photo)

Democrats confirm Lincoln as newest House member

Democrats in the Alaska House of Representatives have confirmed John Agnaqluk Lincoln as the newest member of House. In a closed-door caucus meeting of the… Continue reading

John Lincoln is seen in this undated file photo from NANA Regional Corp. (Courtesy photo)
Governor candidate Scott Hawkins delivers his introduction during a GOP candidate forum at the Prospector Hotel on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Three Mikes and a Scott’: Republican gubernatorial candidates gather in Juneau

Juneau Republicans got their first look at their options for governor and lieutenant this year as the Juneau Republican Women hosted an hourlong lunchtime forum… Continue reading

Governor candidate Scott Hawkins delivers his introduction during a GOP candidate forum at the Prospector Hotel on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Steaming chicken sizzler with noodles (123rf.com Stock Photo)

The first bill to pass the Legislature this year allows restaurants to donate leftovers to charity

A coalition of Democrats, independents and Republicans controls the Alaska House of Representatives, but the first bill passed by the Alaska Legislature in 2018 has… Continue reading

Steaming chicken sizzler with noodles (123rf.com Stock Photo)

Walker selects Kotzebue man for vacant Alaska House seat

Hours before the deadline set by state law, Gov. Bill Walker selected John Agnaqluk Lincoln for a vacant position in the Alaska House of Representatives.… Continue reading

This text message exchange, provided by a woman alleging an attack by Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, shows Fansler’s attempt to apologize on the morning after the incident. (Courtesy photo)

Beaten by a legislator: Juneau woman accuses lawmaker of violent attack

Local police and the Alaska Department of Law are investigating an Alaska state lawmaker for allegedly hitting a woman and rupturing her eardrum during a… Continue reading

This text message exchange, provided by a woman alleging an attack by Rep. Zach Fansler, D-Bethel, shows Fansler’s attempt to apologize on the morning after the incident. (Courtesy photo)
In this screengrab from Chinese state TV on Nov. 9, 2017, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker and others in Beijing sign a $43 billion development agreement for a trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline.

Gas pipeline work on track, leaders tell legislators

House lawmakers on Wednesday said they remain cautiously optimistic about the future of a trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline following a presentation by the leaders of… Continue reading

In this screengrab from Chinese state TV on Nov. 9, 2017, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker and others in Beijing sign a $43 billion development agreement for a trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline.
Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, speaks during an interview Tuesday, about his bill, SB 63, to prohibit smoking in public places. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Smoking ban may again be foiled by one legislator

A bill to ban smoking in bars and restaurants across Alaska has wide support in the Alaska Legislature, but the measure’s fate will again be… Continue reading

Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, speaks during an interview Tuesday, about his bill, SB 63, to prohibit smoking in public places. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska auditors recommend dissolving state’s tourism marketing board

When is a tourist like a fish? A new state audit has recommended an end to the state’s tourism marketing board as the state prepares… Continue reading

Here’s what’s going on in the Capitol this week

The Alaska Legislature will begin to crack open the state budget and start the debate about how to pay for it as lawmakers enter the… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks during his State of the State address before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Senate President Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, left, and Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, watch from the Speakers desk in the background. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

In State of the State, Walker promotes self-sufficiency as solution to Alaska’s problems

With allusions to grit, determination and self-reliance, Gov. Bill Walker delivered his annual State of the State address to Alaskans on Thursday night in the… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks during his State of the State address before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Senate President Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, left, and Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, watch from the Speakers desk in the background. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Two of Juneau’s three lawmakers may not run for re-election

Two of Juneau’s three lawmakers may not run for re-election

Two of three Juneau lawmakers in the Alaska Legislature may not run for re-election this year. Rep. Sam Kito III, D-Juneau, told the Empire he… Continue reading

Two of Juneau’s three lawmakers may not run for re-election
Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, D-Anchorage, left, and Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, deliver a message to Gov. Bill Walker that the House is open for business on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. Legislators returned to Alaska’s Capitol to open the Second Session of the 30th Legislature on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Guardedly optimistic, Alaska Legislature starts second regular session

After the Girl Scouts and the Juneau-Douglas High School choir, two senators walked into the chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives with an air… Continue reading

Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, D-Anchorage, left, and Rep. Chuck Kopp, R-Anchorage, deliver a message to Gov. Bill Walker that the House is open for business on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. Legislators returned to Alaska’s Capitol to open the Second Session of the 30th Legislature on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)