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A student pets Wilson, a therapy dog, in a hallway at French Middle School, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. The dog is one of the tools designed to relieve stresses faced by students as they return to classrooms amid the ongoing pandemic. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Health officials: Youth mental health issues, suicides worsened by pandemic

Anxiety and depression.

Dorothy Thomson stands while giving a thumbs down as Gov. Mike Dunleavy gives his State of Alaska Address during the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. The 2019 convention was the last in-person convention as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the meeting to go digital for the second year in a row. (Eric Engman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP)

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‘Relationships are key’: AFN Convention brings leaders to the table

This year’s convention will look back on 50 years of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy spoke with reporters at the Alaska Governor's Mansion on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, before greeting guests for the traditional Christmas open house. The event was suspended last year due to COVID-19 but was back this year with limited health mitigation rules in place. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Juneauites fill Governor’s Mansion as annual open house returns

Kids more interested in cookies than governor.

This February 2020 file photo shows the Alaska state flag on the bow of the MV Matanuska at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. The infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress includes significant funding for the ferry system, but coastal communities are still feeling the pinch of reduced service. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Infrastructure act will boost ferries, but winter service still sparse

New funds, old problems.

Nick Begich III, seen here in this undated photo, is challenging Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives saying Alaska needs new energy in Washington D.C. (Courtesy photo / Alaskans for Nick Begich)

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Nick Begich III touts fiscal conservatism in US House race

GOP candidate challenges Young’s record

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation building in October 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Study: PFD increases spending on kids among low-income families

New study looks at PFD spending by parents

Rep. Chris Kurka, R-Wasilla, leaves the chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday, March 19, 2021, after an hour of delays concerning the wording on his mask. On Monday, Kurka announced he was running for governor in 2022. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Wasilla rep announces gubernatorial bid

Kurka said he was motivated to run by a sense of betrayal from Dunleavy.

This undated photos shows National Day of Mourning plaque on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, Mass, where since 1970 Indigenous groups have gathered to mourn the history of colonization in North America. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the traditional “First Thanksgiving ” in 1621, but for many Indigenous people, including Alaska Natives, the holiday is a somber one. (Courtesy photo / Creative commons)

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Thanksgiving has somber context for Indigenous Americans

New narratives.

A woman stands next to an antenna at an NYU base camp at the Helheim glacier in Greenland on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. In an effort to combat climate change and help develop Arctic communities, the Department of Energy Wednesday announced it was seeking to develop new sustainable energy projects in Alaska. (AP Photo / Felipe Dana)

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Feds promote Arctic energy innovation

Living laboratory.

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2016, file photo, a marijuana bud is seen before harvest at a rural area near Corvallis, Ore. Alaska Marijuana Industry Association President Lacy Wilcox said federal legalization could potentially hurt Alaska's cannabis cultivators who could lose out to other states such as Oregon where production is cheaper. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky, File)

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Young supports bill to end federal marijuana prohibition

Start the conversation.

U.S. Coast Guard veteran Jim Wilcox Sr. strikes a replica of the Liberty Bell in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Nov. 11, 2021, during an Armistice Day celebration hosted by Veteran’s for Peace. The local VFP chapter holds bell ringings annually on Nov. 11, which is also Veterans Day, to remember all the lives lost to war and to call for world peace. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Remembering the costs of war, veterans ring bell for peace

Celebrating Armistice Day, Veterans for Peace honors those lost in wars.

A voter fills out their ballot in the Thunder Mountain High School gymnasium during the 2020 general election. With more than a year to go before the 2022 election, spending is ramping up. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

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Statewide campaign coffers are filling up

Incumbents are flush with cash, but challengers are growing

Screenshot Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to a Western Governors Association workshop held in Ketchikan on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. Dunleavy gave the opening remarks Tuesday and said President Joe Biden’s policies were hurting Alaska.

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Dunleavy criticizes Biden policies during multistate conference

In remarks before Ketchikan meeting, gov says Biden ‘canceled’ state projects.

The Alaska Permanent Fund saw record earnings this year and lawmakers are deeply divided about what to do with the earnings. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Permanent fund earnings were record-breaking, but annual draws are average

Record earnings.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Gov. Mike Dunleavy criticized state lawmakers at a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2022, for the lack of progress made during the fourth special session of the year. Dunleavy had called lawmakers to Juneau to work towards resolving the state’s long term fiscal issues but deep divisions stalled work.

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Dunleavy, Republicans, decry lack of special session action

Sessions ends Tuesday.

Students from Angoon donned their regalia on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, for the 139th anniversary of the bombardment of Angoon by the U.S. Navy. Despite the violence, Angoon residents say the fact the village remains is a testament to their endurance. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Remembering and rebuilding: Angoon residents commemorate 139 years since bombardment

‘We’re still here.”

Cap

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Last week of special session looks light

Slow session.

This October 2020 file photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast Campus, which doesn't currently have a broad COVID-19 vaccine mandate but UA President Pat Pitney said Monday one would have to come eventually. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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UA president: No systemwide mandate for now, but vaccine requirement coming

It’s coming.

Informal floor sessions were held this week at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Sept. 24, 2021, but committee meetings were held remotely as many lawmakers have returned home. But only the House of Representatives was busy as the Senate was stalled by COVID-positive senators. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Senate is stalled while House gets to work

Two weeks left.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Several members of the Alaska House of Representatives were absent form a floor session Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, but after a quiet first week lawmakers are scheduled to hold committee meetings through the end of the week.

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COVID cases delay Senate

Still slow going.