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Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, speaks against an override vote during a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature to vote on an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislators use ‘symbolic’ vote to deliver verbal smackdown to vetoes

The vote failed, but they said a lot.

Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, speaks against an override vote during a Joint Session of the Alaska Legislature to vote on an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion Annie Cromwell of Anchorage brings in a sockeye salmon while dipnetting on the north beach in Kenai in June 2017.

Dipnetting is here!

The dipnet fishery opened Wednesday and will run through July 31.

Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion Annie Cromwell of Anchorage brings in a sockeye salmon while dipnetting on the north beach in Kenai in June 2017.
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire House Finance Committee Co-Chairs Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, and Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, listen to testimony on Tuesday at the Capitol about how Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes will effect local communities around the state.

Even ‘right-leaning’ groups, bankers and builders are calling for an override

They had one message to the governor.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire House Finance Committee Co-Chairs Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, and Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, listen to testimony on Tuesday at the Capitol about how Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes will effect local communities around the state.
Resonant Rogues perform at Soldotna Creek Park during the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Week 6 of Soldotna music series kicks off with energetic group

The 2019 Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series has seen an explosion in attendance this summer.

Resonant Rogues perform at Soldotna Creek Park during the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Lawmakers meet in a gym at Wasilla Middle School, where a legislative session was held Monday, in Wasilla. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

With Legislature fractured, override vote uncertain

Dueling sessions.

Lawmakers meet in a gym at Wasilla Middle School, where a legislative session was held Monday, in Wasilla. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Photo by Michael Armstrong / Homer News Women draped in black sit down Tuesday at WKFL Park in Homer as part of a statewide art intervention to protest Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a $2.8 million state appropriation to the Alaska State Council on the Arts. They also supported a general override of Dunleavy’s vetoes that will affect funding for the University of Alaska, public radio and other programs.

Homer artists protest Dunleavy veto

About 10 people draped in black a sculpture by artist Sean Derry in front of the Kachemak Bay Campus

Photo by Michael Armstrong / Homer News Women draped in black sit down Tuesday at WKFL Park in Homer as part of a statewide art intervention to protest Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a $2.8 million state appropriation to the Alaska State Council on the Arts. They also supported a general override of Dunleavy’s vetoes that will affect funding for the University of Alaska, public radio and other programs.
Scoop the Oilers mascot helps the police direct traffic during the 2019 July 4th parade in Kenai. The city hit an all-time high of 89 degrees. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Fourth of July heat breaks records in Kenai

The previously recorded all-time high for Kenai was 87 degrees.

Scoop the Oilers mascot helps the police direct traffic during the 2019 July 4th parade in Kenai. The city hit an all-time high of 89 degrees. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Emergency Services respond to the scene of a drowning on the Moose River Monday evening in Sterling . (Photo courtesy Sonya Childs)

Woman drowns in Moose River Monday night

The woman was seen disappearing under the water near the Izaak Walton Campground in Sterling.

Central Emergency Services respond to the scene of a drowning on the Moose River Monday evening in Sterling . (Photo courtesy Sonya Childs)
Flying over western Alaska, home to numerous Yup’ik communities, April 15, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Budget cuts leave Village Public Safety Officer Program on shaky ground

On June 28, the same day U.S. Attorney General William Barr declared a law enforcement emergency in rural Alaska, and made more than $10 million… Continue reading

Flying over western Alaska, home to numerous Yup’ik communities, April 15, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Students, Claira and Aliya, put their robot to the test in one of the many challenges in the Lego robotics UAA College of Engineering Summer Engineering Academies, on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at the Kenai Peninsula College near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Local students learn robotics with Legos

The camp offers a series of weeklong, hands-on instructional sessions for students.

Students, Claira and Aliya, put their robot to the test in one of the many challenges in the Lego robotics UAA College of Engineering Summer Engineering Academies, on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at the Kenai Peninsula College near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Swan Lake Fire prompts open fire ban in state and national parks on the peninsula

Swan Lake Fire prompts open fire ban in state and national parks on the peninsula

After a brief period of slowed growth, the Swan Lake Fire flared up again on Monday — reaching 99,086 acres, according to an update from… Continue reading

Swan Lake Fire prompts open fire ban in state and national parks on the peninsula
Public safety briefs for July 10, 2019

Public safety briefs for July 10, 2019

Read the latest reports.

Public safety briefs for July 10, 2019
A map shows the extent of the Swan Lake Fire as of Monday, July 8, 2019, which has grown to 96,889 acres on the Kenai Peninsula. (Courtesy Northwest Incident Management Team)

Swan Lake Fire expansion slows over weekend

The fire is 96,889 acres and moving into higher elevations.

A map shows the extent of the Swan Lake Fire as of Monday, July 8, 2019, which has grown to 96,889 acres on the Kenai Peninsula. (Courtesy Northwest Incident Management Team)
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Ron Lumba, of the Alaska State Capitol’s maintenance staff, adds the Majority Leader plate to the front of the office of Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, on the first day of the Second Special Session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Monday.

Special session starts with a manic Monday

All roads — and planes — may lead to Wednesday.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Ron Lumba, of the Alaska State Capitol’s maintenance staff, adds the Majority Leader plate to the front of the office of Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, on the first day of the Second Special Session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Monday.
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Hundreds attend a rally in front of the Capitol calling for an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes on the first day of the Second Special Session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Monday.

“Override! Override! Override!’ Hundreds turn out in Juneau to protest Dunleavy’s vetoes

The response was overwhelming.

  • Jul 8, 2019
  • By Peter Segall Juneau Empire
  • State News
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Hundreds attend a rally in front of the Capitol calling for an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes on the first day of the Second Special Session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Monday.
A Pacific sleeper shark is being held at the Alaska SeaLife Center while a research team studies the bottom-dwelling fish, in Seward , Monday. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, Alaska)

Alaska SeaLife Center brings in Pacific sleeper shark for studying

The shark is a close relative of the Greenland shark, which can live hundreds of years.

A Pacific sleeper shark is being held at the Alaska SeaLife Center while a research team studies the bottom-dwelling fish, in Seward , Monday. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, Alaska)
This June 14, 2019 file photo shows Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy leading state and local officials out of Wasilla Middle School in Wasilla, Alaska, to a news conference. State lawmakers have rejected Dunleavy’s suggested location for a special session. House Speaker Bryce Edgmon and Senate President Cathy Giessel issued a joint statement Monday, June 24, 2019 saying they will convene July 8 in Juneau and hold most hearings in Anchorage. Dunleavy had called the session for Wasilla, his hometown and conservative base.(AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Wasilla or Juneau? Disagreement over special session locale

Lawmakers commit to different cities

  • Jul 6, 2019
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
This June 14, 2019 file photo shows Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy leading state and local officials out of Wasilla Middle School in Wasilla, Alaska, to a news conference. State lawmakers have rejected Dunleavy’s suggested location for a special session. House Speaker Bryce Edgmon and Senate President Cathy Giessel issued a joint statement Monday, June 24, 2019 saying they will convene July 8 in Juneau and hold most hearings in Anchorage. Dunleavy had called the session for Wasilla, his hometown and conservative base.(AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Public safety briefs for July 7, 2019

Public safety briefs for July 7, 2019

Read the latest reports

Public safety briefs for July 7, 2019
Court reports for July 7, 2019

Court reports for July 7, 2019

Read the latest reports

Court reports for July 7, 2019
This June 14 photo shows a Wasilla sign on the outskirts of Wasilla. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has called lawmakers into special session in Wasilla beginning July 8, but some lawmakers have expressed concerns over security and logistics with the location more than 500 miles from the state capital of Juneau. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Where will your lawmaker be Monday morning?

Local lawmakers are divided on where to go

This June 14 photo shows a Wasilla sign on the outskirts of Wasilla. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has called lawmakers into special session in Wasilla beginning July 8, but some lawmakers have expressed concerns over security and logistics with the location more than 500 miles from the state capital of Juneau. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)