Gov. Bill Walker

Gov. Walker hires new press secretary

Walker hires new press secretary JUNEAU EMPIRE Gov. Bill Walker will soon have a new press secretary. Austin Baird, formerly the state politics reporter for… Continue reading

Vance Fate Putman (Courtesy photo)

Gov. Walker names lobbyist as CFEC commissioner

Gov. Bill Walker has appointed a longtime lobbyist to replace Benjamin Brown as a commissioner of the state’s Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. In an emailed… Continue reading

Vance Fate Putman (Courtesy photo)

Gov. Walker reveals details of Chinese gas pipeline deal

Gov. Bill Walker on Tuesday released the details of a multibillion-dollar agreement signed between Alaska and China earlier this month and promised reporters at a… Continue reading

Walker signs landmark gas pipeline deal

Gov. Bill Walker traveled to Beijing with a president. He may be returning to Alaska with a pipeline. At 7:15 p.m. Alaska time Wednesday evening,… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker boards Air Force One on Friday morning, joining President Donald Trump for a flight to Hawaii with other governors for a discussion on issues important to the Pacific Rim. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor)

Gov. Bill Walker will travel to China with President Donald Trump

Gov. Bill Walker will be among the entourage of President Donald Trump as the president begins a trip to Asia this week. Walker told reporters… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker boards Air Force One on Friday morning, joining President Donald Trump for a flight to Hawaii with other governors for a discussion on issues important to the Pacific Rim. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor)

Gov. Bill Walker hits new low in opinion poll

Gov. Bill Walker has hit a new low in a quarterly opinion poll conducted by the national firm Morning Consult. Only 40 percent of Alaskans… Continue reading

Walker announces ‘climate team’ days after teens sue

Gov. Bill Walker billed a press conference Tuesday morning as the rollout of his strategy to address climate change. When the announcement came, it was… Continue reading

Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth, with Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jay Butler, MD, announces at the Capitol on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma LP, alleging the drugmaker used deceptive marketing tactics to push prescriptions of opioid painkillers. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

State of Alaska sues OxyContin manufacturer

The State of Alaska is suing Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, in its latest attempt to fight the opioid epidemic. The suit, filed late… Continue reading

Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth, with Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jay Butler, MD, announces at the Capitol on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma LP, alleging the drugmaker used deceptive marketing tactics to push prescriptions of opioid painkillers. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this Dec. 2015 photo, Gov. Bill Walker speaks in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Walker proposes payroll tax to fix (part of) the state deficit

To help solve Alaska’s multibillion-dollar annual deficit, Gov. Bill Walker is calling for a 1.5 percent payroll tax on everyone working in Alaska. The proposal,… Continue reading

In this Dec. 2015 photo, Gov. Bill Walker speaks in an interview at the Juneau Empire. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Bill Walker speaks to reporters during a Friday press conference in Anchorage. At left are Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth and Col. Hans Brinke, director of the Alaska State Troopers. To the right is Col. Steve Hall, director of Wildlife Troopers. (Alaska Journal of Commerce Photo)

Walker backs rollback of criminal justice reform

Gov. Bill Walker will ask legislators to toughen the state’s penalties for some minor crimes when the Alaska Legislature convenes for a special session next… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks to reporters during a Friday press conference in Anchorage. At left are Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth and Col. Hans Brinke, director of the Alaska State Troopers. To the right is Col. Steve Hall, director of Wildlife Troopers. (Alaska Journal of Commerce Photo)
Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott speak to the press after filing for re-election at the state’s election office in Juneau on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.

Walker, Mallott file for re-election

Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott will attempt to repeat the “unity ticket” in a second term. On Monday morning, both men filed… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott speak to the press after filing for re-election at the state’s election office in Juneau on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.

U.S. Attorney General has ‘serious concerns,’ but Gov. Walker stands behind legal marijuana

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has “serious questions” about Alaska’s legal marijuana industry, but Gov. Bill Walker is standing by the results of a 2014… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker, left, and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott are seen at their 2014 inauguration in Centennial Hall. Mallott said Wednesday on KINY-AM that he and Walker are running for re-election in 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Walker and Mallott will run for re-election

Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott will run for re-election together. “We have both decided that we will run again,” Mallott told KINY-AM’s… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker, left, and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott are seen at their 2014 inauguration in Centennial Hall. Mallott said Wednesday on KINY-AM that he and Walker are running for re-election in 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
In this March 21, 2016 photo, Alaska Department of Revenue Commissioner Randall Hoffbeck talks to reporters in Juneau, Alaska. Hoffbeck has announced that he is resigning to focus on ministry work. His last day will be Aug. 17, 2017. In his resignation letter, Hoffbeck says it is time for him to “complete the call to ministry God has placed on my heart.” (Rashah McChesney | The Associated Press File)

State revenue commissioner Hoffbeck will resign

After three years trying to convince Alaskans of the severity of the state’s fiscal crisis, Revenue Commissioner Randy Hoffbeck is about to try a new… Continue reading

In this March 21, 2016 photo, Alaska Department of Revenue Commissioner Randall Hoffbeck talks to reporters in Juneau, Alaska. Hoffbeck has announced that he is resigning to focus on ministry work. His last day will be Aug. 17, 2017. In his resignation letter, Hoffbeck says it is time for him to “complete the call to ministry God has placed on my heart.” (Rashah McChesney | The Associated Press File)
Gov. Bill Walker speaks during a 2014 interview in the Capitol. Walker signed the state’s $1.4 billion capital construction budget on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Walker OKs capital budget

Gov. Bill Walker signed Alaska’s capital construction budget without ceremony or vetoes Monday in the Capitol, fulfilling a promise to approve it before Aug. 1.… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker speaks during a 2014 interview in the Capitol. Walker signed the state’s $1.4 billion capital construction budget on Thursday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Bill Walker holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to announce he has invited the Senate and House leadership to meet with him to work on an agreement on Alaska’s budget crisis. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Gov. Walker proposes summit to help lawmakers fix budget

In a talk with reporters on Tuesday morning, Gov. Bill Walker renewed his determination that Alaska lawmakers should come up with a plan to solve… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, to announce he has invited the Senate and House leadership to meet with him to work on an agreement on Alaska’s budget crisis. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)