Peter Segall

This still image from Gavel Alaska shows Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum as he speaks to a Senate committee on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. Lawmakers questioned Crum on the legality of Gov. Mike Dunleavy's emergency disaster declarations and extensions. (Screenshot)
This still image from Gavel Alaska shows Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum as he speaks to a Senate committee on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. Lawmakers questioned Crum on the legality of Gov. Mike Dunleavy's emergency disaster declarations and extensions. (Screenshot)
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, seen here sitting in the Speaker's chair in the Alaska House of Representatives chamber on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, presided over yet another House session where lawmakers failed to organize. Feb. 1, marked the third straight week of deadlock in the House. Lawmakers will meet again Tuesday morning. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, seen here sitting in the Speaker's chair in the Alaska House of Representatives chamber on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, presided over yet another House session where lawmakers failed to organize. Feb. 1, marked the third straight week of deadlock in the House. Lawmakers will meet again Tuesday morning. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Republican members of the House of Representatives gather in a conference room at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, to watch the governor's State of the State address. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Republican members of the House of Representatives gather in a conference room at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, to watch the governor's State of the State address. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Staff, lawmakers and members of the press gather for the first Senate Judiciary Committee meeting of the 32nd Legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. While Senators moved ahead with work, the House of Representatives was once again unable to organize. (Peter Segall /  Juneau Empire)

Deadlock continues as senators forge ahead

Only one member of the House Coalition — a 20-member group of mostly Democrats that also includes independents and a Republican — attended Wednesday’s floor session.

Staff, lawmakers and members of the press gather for the first Senate Judiciary Committee meeting of the 32nd Legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. While Senators moved ahead with work, the House of Representatives was once again unable to organize. (Peter Segall /  Juneau Empire)
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer leaves the Alaska House of Representatives chamber Monday, Jan. 25, 2020 after presiding over yet another floor session in which lawmakers were unable to elect leadership. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer leaves the Alaska House of Representatives chamber Monday, Jan. 25, 2020 after presiding over yet another floor session in which lawmakers were unable to elect leadership. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke with the Empire in his office at the Capitol on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. He said he was hopeful about finding a path forward for the state and that he wanted better communication between the Legislature and the public. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

‘It must be done this year’: Senate president eyes fiscal plan

“We have to solve this problem.”

Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke with the Empire in his office at the Capitol on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. He said he was hopeful about finding a path forward for the state and that he wanted better communication between the Legislature and the public. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, left, leaves the Alaska House of Representatives chamber Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, with George Rauscher, R-Sutton, after a brief floor session where lawmakers failed to nominate a temporary speaker. Meyer will preside over the body until a leadership is elected. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House members optimistic, but still deadlocked

‘Not everyone stand at once here.’

Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, left, leaves the Alaska House of Representatives chamber Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, with George Rauscher, R-Sutton, after a brief floor session where lawmakers failed to nominate a temporary speaker. Meyer will preside over the body until a leadership is elected. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
New signage at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, Jan 15, 2020, reminds visitors of health mitigation strategies. Committees from the previous legislature had their final meetings Monday as the new session starts Tuesday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State will audit CARES Act funding

Public money, public information.

New signage at the Alaska State Capitol on Friday, Jan 15, 2020, reminds visitors of health mitigation strategies. Committees from the previous legislature had their final meetings Monday as the new session starts Tuesday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Increased collaboration between the University of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, and UA Fairbanks had led to greater enrollment in the university system’s fisheries programs, according to UA Interim President Pat Pitney. Making Juneau a fisheries hub was mentioned as a way of increasing enrollment and better serving the state at a UA Regents meeting Friday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

University of Alaska looks to a post-pandemic future

After a chaotic year, stability seems to have returned, and leaders are optimistic.

Increased collaboration between the University of Alaska Southeast, seen here in this October 2020 file photo, and UA Fairbanks had led to greater enrollment in the university system’s fisheries programs, according to UA Interim President Pat Pitney. Making Juneau a fisheries hub was mentioned as a way of increasing enrollment and better serving the state at a UA Regents meeting Friday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
After violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol today, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., join other senators as they return to the House chamber to continue the joint session of the House and Senate and count the Electoral College votes cast in November's election, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Murkowski on impeachment: ‘I will listen carefully’ to both sides

As for timing, the senator said, “our priority this week must be to ensure safety in Washington, D.C.”

After violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol today, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., join other senators as they return to the House chamber to continue the joint session of the House and Senate and count the Electoral College votes cast in November's election, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The entrance to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services building in downtown Juneau on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has proposed splitting the department in two to try and spread out the administrative burden, but health care workers and tribal leaders say they weren't consulted on changes and Alaska Natives will likely be negatively impacted. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Health department split would hurt Alaska Natives, leaders say

Tribal leaders say a proposal to break up the Department of Health and Social Services would worsen outcomes.

The entrance to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services building in downtown Juneau on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has proposed splitting the department in two to try and spread out the administrative burden, but health care workers and tribal leaders say they weren't consulted on changes and Alaska Natives will likely be negatively impacted. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)
In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)
President-elect Joe Biden speaks at a drive-in rally for Georgia Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, in Atlanta. The first full week of 2021 is shaping up to be one of the biggest of Biden’s presidency. And he hasn’t even taken office yet. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Murkowski, Sullivan share plan to affirm election results

Senators share thoughts ahead of unlikely flashpoint procedure.

President-elect Joe Biden speaks at a drive-in rally for Georgia Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, in Atlanta. The first full week of 2021 is shaping up to be one of the biggest of Biden’s presidency. And he hasn’t even taken office yet. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
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Douglas Island, part of the Tongass National Forest, breaks through the fog on Dec. 15, 2020.  A federal investigation found the U.S. Forest Service violated federal law in 2018 when it appropriated a $2 million grant to Alaska for input on Roadless Rule changes. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Douglas Island, part of the Tongass National Forest, breaks through the fog on Dec. 15, 2020.  A federal investigation found the U.S. Forest Service violated federal law in 2018 when it appropriated a $2 million grant to Alaska for input on Roadless Rule changes. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to local leaders at the Alaska Municipal League’s legislative conference in this February 2020 photo. Dunleavy issued a statement regarding a lawsuit out of Texas seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy: Alaska will not join Texas-led election suit

Governor said his office did not have enough time to review the facts of the case

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to local leaders at the Alaska Municipal League’s legislative conference in this February 2020 photo. Dunleavy issued a statement regarding a lawsuit out of Texas seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire File)
Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai, left, explains the recount process to DOE staff and members of the State Review Board during a recount of votes from Anchorage House District 27 where a Democratic challenger ousted a Republican incumbent by just 13 votes. Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai, left, explains the recount process to DOE staff and members of the State Review Board during a recount of votes from Anchorage House District 27 where a Democratic challenger ousted a Republican incumbent by just 13 votes. Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Health care workers help distribute flu vaccines to thousands of Juneau residents at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Local health authorities said the drive-thru clinic was a practice run for an eventual mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Health care workers help distribute flu vaccines to thousands of Juneau residents at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Local health authorities said the drive-thru clinic was a practice run for an eventual mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School was used as a polling place on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School was used as a polling place on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A man votes takes advantage of early voting at the Mendenhall Mall on Oct. 22, 2020. The FBI issued public guidance ahead of the General Election warning voters about what is and isn't federal election crime, and how to report such crimes if they're spotted. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

FBI issues guidance on election security

Trust only verified sources.

A man votes takes advantage of early voting at the Mendenhall Mall on Oct. 22, 2020. The FBI issued public guidance ahead of the General Election warning voters about what is and isn't federal election crime, and how to report such crimes if they're spotted. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)