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Peter Segall

Demonstrators gather outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Friday, June 24, 2022. The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years, a decision by its conservative majority to overturn the court’s landmark abortion cases. (AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana)

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Alaskans react to Supreme Court overturn of Roe v. Wade

The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion.

Forms to run for state office are available at the Alaska Division of Elections' offices in Juneau on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, the deadline for potential candidates to file. The state's new voting system has led to a large number of Alaskans running for office this year. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Alaska’s elections are packed as filing deadline passes

Many races are hotly contested, others not at all

A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. Lawmakers passed the Alaska Reads Act on the last day of the legislative session, but several members of the House of Representatives were upset with the bill, and the way it was passed. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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In last-minute move, Legislature passes early reading overhaul

Rural lawmakers push back on Alaska Reads Act

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks with reporters Thursday about the state’s budget at the Alaska State Capitol. Dunleavy said lawmakers had sent a complete budget, and that there was no need for a special session.

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Dunleavy: No need for special session

Governor calls budget “complete”

Lawmakers from both bodies of the Alaska State Legislature mingle in the halls of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, the last day of the legislative session, following the Senate’s passing of the state’s budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Senate agrees to budget, House has until midnight

With hours left in session, House members remain divided

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, chair of the bicameral conference committee tasked with hammering out differences in the state’s budget bill, signs the committee report as members finished their work on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire

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Committee compromises on PFD in budget plan

Members of the conference committee agreed Tuesday to a payment of about $3,800

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Senate effectively kills restrictive transgender sports bill

Bipartisan group of senators votes to table controversial bill

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Candidate for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives Tara Sweeney, a Republican, was in Juneau on Monday and sat down with the Empire for an interview. Sweeney said the three main pillars of her campaign are the economy, jobs and healthy communities.

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Sweeney cites experience in run for Congress

GOP candidate touts her history of government-related work

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Members of the Alaska House of Representatives on Saturday rejected the budget bill passed by the Senate earlier in the week. The bill will now go to a bicameral committee for negotiations, but the end of the legislative session is Wednesday.

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House votes down Senate’s budget as end of session nears

State budget now goes to negotiating committee

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Alaskans for Better Government members La quen náay Liz Medicine Crow, Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson and ‘Wáahlaal Gidáak Barbara Blake embrace on the floor of the Alaska State Senate following the passage of House Bill 123, a bill to formally recognize the state’s 229 federally recognized tribes.

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Tribal recognition bill clears Senate, nears finish line

Senators say recognition of tribes was overdue

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Members of the House Majority Coalition spent most of Friday, May 13, 2022, in caucus meetings at the Alaska State Capitol, discussing how to proceed with a large budget bill some have called irresponsible. With a thin majority in the House of Representatives, there’s a possibility the budget could pass.

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State budget work stretches into weekend

Sessions have been delayed and canceled since Wednesday

A floor session of the Alaska House of Representatives was delayed Thursday, May 12, 2022, as lawmakers discussed in private how to move forward with a packed budget bill passed by the Alaska Senate. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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With thin margins in the House, floor debate is delayed

Delayed to the call.

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Senate tables restrictive transgender sports bill

Debate will continue.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Senate Finance Committee Co-chair Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speak with Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, during an all-day debate on the state’s budget on the floor of the Alaska State Senate on Tuesday, May 9, 2022.

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Senate OKs budget with $5,600 payments to Alaskans

Senators add nearly $1 billion in amendments

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire State Sen. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, sat down with the Empire in Juneau on Friday to discuss his bid for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Revak was personally close with the late Don Young, and has earned the endorsement of Young’s widow.

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Revak runs to replace Rep. Young

State senator wants to follow in Young’s footsteps.

Courtesy photo / Dasha Pearson Dasha Pearson, second from right, with her sister Natalia Dontsova, center, and father Alexander Dontsov, second from right, in Seattle on March 8, 2022. Pearson’s family fled Ukraine when the war started, and now they and other displaced Ukrainians are trying to find a home in Alaska.

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Fleeing war, Ukrainians are finding a home in Alaska

Many have family, others just can’t go home

Lawmakers held a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, to vote to confirm Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s appointments to state boards and commissions. All nominees were confirmed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Lawmakers confirm Dunleavy appointees, work on PFD

Senate attempts to rework dividend formula

The Senate Judiciary Committee moved a bill that would ban transgender student athletes from competing on teams of the sex they identify with on Monday, May 2, 2022. The bill could go to a floor vote sometime this week. (Screenshot)

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Transgender sports bill ready for Senate vote

Senate Bill was moved out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire From left to right: Willard Jackson, Dennis Jack and Bill Thomas, Alaska Native veterans from Southeast Alaska who met with lawmakers at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, April 29, to discuss their issues getting land allotments from the federal government. Jackson and Thomas are veterans of the Vietnam War who are eligbile for land allotments, but no lands are available in Southeast Alaska, and veterans are frustrated by the lack of action.

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Haaland’s visit stirs optimism for Alaska Natives, but tensions remain

Access to lands remains a critical issue

Courtesy photo / Jeff Lowenfels Jeff Lowenfels, a former state Attorney General and avid garden writer is running for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He’s in a race with 48 other candidates but he says he has the unique experience that can serve all Alaska.

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From gardener to government: Jeff Lowenfels seeks House seat

Former lawyer and avid garden writer says he knows Alaska like no other