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A floor session of the Alaska House of Representatives was canceled on Monday, March 28, 2022, after some lawmakers refused to wear face masks in the chamber. House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, reinstated the masking rule for the floor after several members of the body tested positive for COVID-19. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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COVID cases, mask debates delay House

Lawmaker absences push back timeline for budget bill

Screenshot A map from the Bureau of Land Management shows lands that may be available for selection by Alaska Native veterans from the Vietnam War-era. Veterans have been waiting a long time to be able to select lands, and some have expressed frustration at the length of the process.

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Land selection process for Alaska Native veterans moves ahead, but slowly

Still a long time coming.

Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board A map from the Alaska Redistricting Board shows proposed House Districts in Anchorage, two of which were the subject of a lawsuit against the board for their being paired together in a single senate seat.The Alaska Supreme Court Ruled Friday the board acted unconstitutionally in one of its Senate district pairings.

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Alaska Supreme Court says redistricting board acted unconstitutionally

A tight timeline.

A would-be voter considers the candidates on a sample ballot released by the state of Alaska in March 2021. The Alaska Division of Elections has announced the dates for the special elections to select a replacement for Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who died recently. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

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Filing opens for election to fill US House seat

Filing deadline is April 1.

Attorney for the State of Alaska Matthew Singer defends the Alaska Redistricting Board to the Alaska Supreme Court on Friday, March 18, 2022. The Court will return a decision on the state’s new electoral districts by April 1. (Screenshot)

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Alaska Supreme Court takes up redistricting case

A decision is expected by April 1.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, talks with a reporter after attending at an event to celebrate the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Washington. Murkowski spoke the the Alaska House of Representatives Special Committee on Tribal Affairs Thursday about what the bill means for Alaska. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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Alaskans laud Violence Against Women Act reauthorization

Reauthorization will create pilot program for Alaskan tribal courts

The House Finance Committee hears a presentation from Department of Revenue Chief Economist Dan Stickle on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. It was a busy day at the Alaska State Capitol Wednesday with both the House of Representatives and the Senate passing multiple bills. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Senate passes bill banning vaccine requirements

House debates on campaign contribution goes late again

AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee A car is shown at a gas pump Jan. 21 at a station in North Miami, Fla. Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Alaska state lawmakers are moving to temporarily suspend the state’s motor fuel tax as oil prices rise.

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Lawmakers move to pump the brakes on motor fuel tax

.08 cents per gallon.

Reps. Clavin Schrage, I-Anchorage, left, and David Eastman, R-Wasilla, discuss a bill on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives to enact limits on individual contributions to political campaigns, on Monday, March 14, 2022. House members spent several hours debating amendments to the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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House floor debate turns from election spending to security

No donations limits.

The Wooshkeetaan Kootéeyaa totem pole was re-installed at its new home in the atrium of the State Office Building on Friday, March 11, 2022. Workers from Alaska Electric Light and Power helped install the pole. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Totem pole rededication ceremony emphasizes tradition, togetherness

“It represents history.”

President Joe Biden announces that along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, the U.S. will move to revoke “most favored nation” trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Friday, March 11, 2022, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

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Alaska lawmakers applaud ban on Russian seafood

Alcohol, seafood and diamonds.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Alaska Sen. Tom Begich, left, and Rep. Zack Fields, right, both Anchorage Democrats, joined a news conference Thursday to talk up President Joe Biden’s agenda in Alaska.

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Democratic state lawmakers praise Biden’s impact in Alaska

Officials cite COVID relief and infrastructure benefits

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file This file photo shows the mill facility at the Kensington Gold Mine on Oct. 14, 2019. A new study from the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage tries to imagine what the state’s mining industry could look like in 20 years.

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Economists explore mining’s future in Alaska

Study envisions scenarios for mining in 20 years

Cap

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APOC decision allows unlimited contributions to candidates

Legislative action needed.

Screenshot In this screenshot of Gavel Alaska, Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, spoke to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, March 3, 2022, regarding a bill that would prevent transgender athletes from competing as the sex they identify with.

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Hearing held for restrictive transgender sports bill

Opponents say courts will strike it down.

Speaker of the Alaksa House of Representatives Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, speaks to lawmakers on Jan. 18, 2022. In a statement Wednesday the House Majority Coalition announced a $1,300 boost to this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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House leadership proposes $1,300 ‘energy relief check’

Dividend amount under debate.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire University of Alaska President Pat Pitney speaks to the Juneau Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Thursday, emphasizing the system’s importance to the state’s workforce.

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UA seeks to rebuild enrollment

UA President: Infrastructure jobs are coming, Alaskans could fill them.

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney stopped by the Empire offices in Juneau on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to talk about the system’s future. Mostly recovered from budget cuts and the COVID-19 pandemic, Pitney said the university is ready to start building Alaska’s workforce. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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Pitney: UA ready to train Alaska’s workforce

‘Getting people through the pipeline.’

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file This photo composite shows Alaska’s congressional delegation, from left to right, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Rep. Don Young, all Republicans. Following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Alaska’s delegation called for increased U.S. energy development.

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Delegation urges energy production following State of the Union

Alaska’s lawmakers say energy is unused weapon

In this September 2019 Empire file photo, prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department are displayed. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

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Alaska to receive $58M in opioid settlement

15% of the $58 million — roughly $8.7 million — will go to the nine political subdivisions in…