Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin reacts as she leaves a courthouse in New York, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. Palin lost her libel lawsuit against The New York Times on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, when a jury rejected her claim that the newspaper maliciously damaged her reputation by erroneously linking her campaign rhetoric to a mass shooting. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Judge defends move to toss Palin’s libel case against NYT

U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff said he was unfamiliar with the term “push notifications”

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin reacts as she leaves a courthouse in New York, Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. Palin lost her libel lawsuit against The New York Times on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, when a jury rejected her claim that the newspaper maliciously damaged her reputation by erroneously linking her campaign rhetoric to a mass shooting. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation got some rate sun on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, as Alaska’s lawmakers urged the corporation’s Board of Directors to divest from Russian assets in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
The offices of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation got some rate sun on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, as Alaska’s lawmakers urged the corporation’s Board of Directors to divest from Russian assets in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Image via labor.alaska.gov.

Wages up from a decade ago

Yearly wages rose 11% when adjusted for inflation — or approximately $5,809 annually — from 2010 to 2020

Image via labor.alaska.gov.
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)

Alaska to receive $58M in opioid settlement

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

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)
President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington. (Saul Loeb, Pool via AP)

Biden vows to check Russian aggression, fight inflation

“Too many families are struggling to keep up with the bills,” Biden said.

  • Mar 1, 2022
  • By ZEKE MILLER and COLLEEN LONG Associated Press
  • State News
President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington. (Saul Loeb, Pool via AP)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

As COVID cases fall statewide, hospital feels relief

COVID cases have been plummeting in Alaska since mid-January

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a board meeting on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a board meeting on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Viktor Tkachenko, who moved to Alaska from Ukraine last year, holds a sign asking NATO for assistance defeating Russian airpower at a protest against the war Saturday in Marine Park.

Juneau rallies for Ukraine

Opponents of the Russian invasion of Ukraine gathered Saturday

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Viktor Tkachenko, who moved to Alaska from Ukraine last year, holds a sign asking NATO for assistance defeating Russian airpower at a protest against the war Saturday in Marine Park.
Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara)

Borough seeks to fill planning commission vacancies

Two new commissioners took their seats for the Monday night meeting

Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara)
The Kenai Peninsula’s Community Level is shown as medium on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled new metrics to assess COVID-19 risk level last week. (cdc.gov)

State COVID cases declining

The new cases come days after new masking guidelines were issued by the CDC

The Kenai Peninsula’s Community Level is shown as medium on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled new metrics to assess COVID-19 risk level last week. (cdc.gov)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Driftwood Charters vessel rescues man who floated into Cook Inlet on iceberg

Man rescued after floating in Cook Inlet on iceberg

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on February 26, 2019 in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on February 26, 2019 in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on Feb. 26, 2019 in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on Feb. 26, 2019 in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on February 26, 2019 in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on February 26, 2019 in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Pat Pitney was named President of the University of Alaska Friday after serving as interim president for over a year. She is the first woman to hold the position in UA’s history. (Courtesy photo / University of Alaska)

Pat Pitney named UA President

After shedding interim label, she’s the first woman to hold the post.

Pat Pitney was named President of the University of Alaska Friday after serving as interim president for over a year. She is the first woman to hold the position in UA’s history. (Courtesy photo / University of Alaska)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks to reporters in the state Capitol on on Feb. 22, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats say they are hoping for a bipartisan vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Murkowski among senators to watch as Supreme Court fight unfolds

President Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks to reporters in the state Capitol on on Feb. 22, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats say they are hoping for a bipartisan vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is currently working on a study for a second crossing across the Gastineau Channel, seen here on Aug. 22, 2021, to North Douglas Island. The public outreach portion of the study is set to begin in May, according to DOT.

Federal funds could pay for a 2nd crossing to Douglas Island

With infrastructure in focus, a decades-old idea is getting another shot

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is currently working on a study for a second crossing across the Gastineau Channel, seen here on Aug. 22, 2021, to North Douglas Island. The public outreach portion of the study is set to begin in May, according to DOT.