Ben Hohenstatt

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Gov. Mike Dunleavy gives his State of the State speech to a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature in January 2019 at the Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy expected to give State of the State address next week

The governor will likely address the Legislature Monday.

 

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, looks on as Juneau Alaska Music Matters students from Glacier Valley School and singers from Sayéik: Gastineau Community School perform “Alaska’s Flag” on Tuesday.(Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)

House provides first day fireworks while Senate takes it slow

Legislative session starts with split votes and objections.

 

House-passed bill could lead to PFAS cleanup

It needs to get past the Senate and President, too.

 

In this file photo from Sept. 15, 2016, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen makes a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents at the University of Alaska Southeast Recreation Center. Johnsen and the UA board discussed tuition increases and budget concerns Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

University of Alaska tuition to stay put for now

Option is still on the table.

In this file photo from Sept. 15, 2016, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen makes a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents at the University of Alaska Southeast Recreation Center. Johnsen and the UA board discussed tuition increases and budget concerns Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
In this July photo Ivette Naida, left, receives HIV medication from social workers from the IDEA Exchange. HIV medication is part of the reason transmission rates of the virus are low in Alaska. (AP Photo | Lynne Sladky)

Alaska has some of the highest STD rates, but the lowest HIV rates. Why?

While HIV and STD rates are different, they’re not totally unrelated.

In this July photo Ivette Naida, left, receives HIV medication from social workers from the IDEA Exchange. HIV medication is part of the reason transmission rates of the virus are low in Alaska. (AP Photo | Lynne Sladky)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol in this April 2019 photo. His speech at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference Thursday included a commitment to a smoother budget process in 2020. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy draws both protests and applause at AFN

Speech commits to smoother budget process going forward.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol in this April 2019 photo. His speech at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference Thursday included a commitment to a smoother budget process in 2020. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Alfie Price, left, and Tristen Washington, 9, perform with the Xaadaas Dagwii Dance Group for Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Indigenous Peoples Day celebrates the people, places and names that were here first

Indigenous Peoples Day speeches focus on progress.

Alfie Price, left, and Tristen Washington, 9, perform with the Xaadaas Dagwii Dance Group for Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen makes a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents at the UAS Recreation Center on Sept. 15, 2016. A declaration of financial exigency that would have allowed University of Alaska to make drastic cuts was rescinded Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

University of Alaska rescinds emergency financial declaration

The financial picture still isn’t rosy.

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen makes a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents at the UAS Recreation Center on Sept. 15, 2016. A declaration of financial exigency that would have allowed University of Alaska to make drastic cuts was rescinded Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

‘Molly of Denali’ drums up fun, cultural pride

Cartoon tells Native stories with Native voices.

About 2.5 ounces of dried marijuana in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Juneau Assembly OKs onsite pot smoking

If you want to smoke, take it outside.

About 2.5 ounces of dried marijuana in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, speaks during a House Finance Committee meeting Saturday, July 20, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)

Senate approves ‘reverse sweep’ and capital budget bill

Accounting concern is sweeping the state.

Rep. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, speaks during a House Finance Committee meeting Saturday, July 20, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, speaks against an override vote during a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature to vote on an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislators use ‘symbolic’ vote to deliver verbal smackdown to vetoes

The vote failed, but they said a lot.

Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, speaks against an override vote during a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature to vote on an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire House Finance Committee Co-Chairs Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, and Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, listen to testimony on Tuesday at the Capitol about how Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes will effect local communities around the state.

Even ‘right-leaning’ groups, bankers and builders are calling for an override

They had one message to the governor.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire House Finance Committee Co-Chairs Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, and Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, listen to testimony on Tuesday at the Capitol about how Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes will effect local communities around the state.
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Ron Lumba, of the Alaska State Capitol’s maintenance staff, adds the Majority Leader plate to the front of the office of Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, on the first day of the Second Special Session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Monday.

Special session starts with a manic Monday

All roads — and planes — may lead to Wednesday.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Ron Lumba, of the Alaska State Capitol’s maintenance staff, adds the Majority Leader plate to the front of the office of Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, on the first day of the Second Special Session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Monday.

Dunleavy’s Red Pen: Governor’s vetoes take more than $400M out of budget

Here’s a run-down of what happened today.

Judy Cavanaugh stands with others at a rally against the Pebble Mine in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Juneau office on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Rally asks senators to stop permit process funding

Public comment period ends in days.

Judy Cavanaugh stands with others at a rally against the Pebble Mine in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Juneau office on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
This map shows the varying levels of drought in Southeast Alaska, as of the week of June 6, 2019.The red portion of the map indicates extreme drought, dark orange indicates severe drought, light orange indicates moderate drought and yellow indicates abnormally dry conditions. (Courtesy Photo | U.S. Drought Monitor)

Southeast experiencing rare drought

The entirety of Southeast Alaska is in some state of drought.

This map shows the varying levels of drought in Southeast Alaska, as of the week of June 6, 2019.The red portion of the map indicates extreme drought, dark orange indicates severe drought, light orange indicates moderate drought and yellow indicates abnormally dry conditions. (Courtesy Photo | U.S. Drought Monitor)
(Unsplash | Pawel Czerwinski)

Hold music changes leave artists waiting by the telephone

Musicians surprised their tracks were cut.

(Unsplash | Pawel Czerwinski)
Daniel Firmin plays a two-song set during the Mountainside Open Mic & Art Night at The Rookery on Oct. 31, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Album review: You should hang out with ‘Buddies’

Equal parts tight EP and shaggy dog hangout album.

Daniel Firmin plays a two-song set during the Mountainside Open Mic & Art Night at The Rookery on Oct. 31, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, speaks about the House’s work on the crime bill at the canyon Monday, May 20, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Crime bill vote delayed, could more hold-ups be coming?

Legislators discuss new bill, probability of a 30-day special sessions

Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, speaks about the House’s work on the crime bill at the canyon Monday, May 20, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)