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Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Protesters critical of the cruise ship industry gathered Monday on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol, the same day the first large ship of the season arrived in Juneau. Demonstrators said the industry had a poor environmental record and called on the state to continue to Ocean Rangers program, a voter-approved initiative which put state monitors aboard ships to ensure compliance with state regulations.

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Protesters call for more enforcement of environmental regulations aboard ships

As cruise ships return, some residents remain wary.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Former state lawmaker from Fairbanks John Coghill was in Juneau on Friday, April 22, 2022, and is running for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, vacated recently by the death of Don Young. Coghill faces a crowded field but says he has the experience and pragmatism to get the job done.

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Former state lawmaker John Coghill says Congress needs his experience

Fairbanks lawmaker says record shows pragmatism, bipartisanship

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The Alaska House of Representatives passed a bill reducing sentences for and clearing records for marijuana possession on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, a day adopted as an unofficial holiday by cannabis users. The maker of the bill said the timing was not intended.

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House passes marijuana bill on cannabis ‘holiday’

Bill reduces penalties and clears possession records

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. In his annual address to state lawmakers, Sullivan was highly critical of the environmentally focused policies of the Biden Administration and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who’s visiting Alaska this week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Sullivan gives annual address to Legislature

The senator had harsh words for Haaland, White House

UAS The Alaska State Capitol seen on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

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House passes bill to protect higher education funding

Bills aims to exempt scholarships from annual ‘sweep’ debate

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, spoke with the Empire in his office at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, after the Alaska State Senate passed the Alaska Reads Act, a bill he originially introduced with Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2020.

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Senate passes comprehensive reading bill

The legislation is designed to increase the student reading outcomes by third grade

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file Gov. Mike Dunleavy — seen here speaking with reporters in the Cabinet Room at the Alaska State Capitol on March 8, 2022 — spoke to the Empire recently about his approach to government after having served as Alaska’s chief executive.

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A Q&A with Gov. Mike Dunleavy

‘You work the hand your dealt with.’

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The Alaska House of Representatives passed the state’s operating and mental health budget bills Saturday after a week of marathon floor sessions tackling amendments.

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House passes operating, mental health budgets, fails to pass effective date, reverse sweep

On to the Senate.

The Alaska House of Representatives spent three days in floor sessions at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, and on Thursday finished working through the 87 amendments submitted to the state’s operating budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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House finalizes budget amendments, set to vote on Saturday

Only six of 87 amendments approved

This photo shows a stack of pocket constitutions at the Alaska State Capitol. A broad coalition has formed in opposition to a potential State Constitution Convention. Alaskans are asked every 10 years on ballots whether a convention should be held. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Coalition to oppose constitutional convention grows

Group emphasizes bipartisan opposition to convention

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Members of the Alaska House of Representatives spent most of the day on the floor on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, working their way through the more than 80 amendments submitted to the state’s budget bill. By Wednesday afternoon lawmakers had worked through more than 50 but passed only two; $50,000 for ice road maintenance and exempting the state’s Mediciad program from covering abortions.

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House passes amendment to exempt state Medicaid program from covering abortions

Similar amendments have been found unconstitutional

A proposed map from Alaska Redistricting Board member Melanie Bahnke shows possible pairings of Alaska House of Representatives districts in Anchorage for the Alaska State Senate. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled last month the board acted unconstitutionally in its proposals and issued an April 15 deadline to present acceptable maps. (Screenshot)

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Redistricting board takes public input on potential fixes

Court-friendly maps.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file Members of the Alaska House of Representatives has 87 amendments submitted to the state’s operating budget bill and intends to spend the rest of the week in floor session working through them.

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House begins debate on 87 amendments to budget bill

Several of the amendments considered offered various amounts for Alaska Permanent Fund dividends

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The Alaska House of Representatives votes on Monday to adopt a finance committee substitute of the state’s operating budget bill, allowing for amendments to be submitted.

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As floor sessions return, House sets to work on budget

Additional budget items.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small speaks at a news conference at the Alaska State Library and Museum on Thursday, March 31, 2022, to announce roughly $9 million in development grants to 25 programs throughout Southeast Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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USDA announces $9M investment in 25 Southeast programs

Grants are meant to diversify local economies

State and municipal public safety employees gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Captiol on Thursday, March 31, 2022, to urge senators to act on a bill to rework the state’s pension system for police, fire fighters and other public safety employees. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Public safety employees promote pension plan

Police, firefighters urge action on bill for defined benefits for pensions

Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, speaks on the floor of the Alaska Senate on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in favor of a bill that would prohibit discrimination against people for wearing their natural hairstyles in schools and workplaces. The bill passed with only one nay vote. (Screenshot)

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Natural hairstyles bill passes Senate

Bill prohibits dress codes restricting natural hairstyles in schools, workplaces

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The chamber of the Alaska House of Represenatives was empty on Wednesday after floor sessions in the body were canceled as three Republican lawmakers refuse to comply with masking requirements reinstated amid an outbreak of COVID-19 among House members and their staff.

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House cancels floor sessions until next week

Some lawmakers refuse to comply with temporarily reinstated masking requirements

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson smiles during a meeting with Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, March 28, 2022. Following Judge Jackson’s confirmation hearing last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee meets today to begin moving her nomination to the floor but Republicans on the panel are expected to delay the process.

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Alaska’s senators say minds aren’t made up as Jackson’s confirmation pushes ahead

No Republican senators have signaled support for Jackson

A notice board at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, shows the cancellation of the House of Representatives floor session for that morning. For the second day running the House has canceled floor sessions over disagreements between caucuses over masking rules amid an outbreak of COVID-19 among some lawmakers and their staff. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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House again cancels floor session amid masking debate

Some lawmakers resist mask requirements amid COVID-19 outbreak