Alaska Legislature

Overdose-reducing drug could come to schools

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has the opportunity to obtain Narcan, a brand of the drug naloxone which temporarily blocks or reverses the effects… Continue reading

Walker to call fourth special session

The Alaska Legislature will try to find a new hope in the fourth special session of the year. On Thursday morning, lawmakers were informed by… Continue reading

Cody Schaefer, left, and Shayla Smith compete against each other in a net pull at Industry Appreciation Day on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Walker celebrates industry, talks diversification

While celebrating the industries that fuel the Kenai Peninsula, Gov. Bill Walker stressed the importance of diversifying Alaska’s commerce. “You look at the career opportunities… Continue reading

Cody Schaefer, left, and Shayla Smith compete against each other in a net pull at Industry Appreciation Day on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Footing Alaska’s bill: Legislators talk about state budget

The Kenai Peninsula’s three legislators spoke Wednesday to an audience of Kenai and Soldotna Chamber of Commerce members about the legislative session that concluded last… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula gets 6 projects in capital budget

The Kenai Peninsula will get a few projects funded in the Legislature’s fiscal year 2018, the majority of which are in Seward. The Legislature approved… Continue reading

House passes $1.4B capital budget

In a one-day special session Thursday, the Alaska Legislature passed a $1.4 billion capital construction budget, then adjourned without taking action on Alaska’s larger fiscal… Continue reading

Recent high school graduates from throughout Alaska are working closely with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski through the summer internship program, which lasts until August 4 and exposes the interns to the day-to-day life in a senator’s office. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office)

Young Alaskans shadow Murkowski on Capitol Hill

From the outside, Capitol Hill seems like a hectic place this summer, but a group of ten recent Alaska high school graduates are experiencing it… Continue reading

Recent high school graduates from throughout Alaska are working closely with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski through the summer internship program, which lasts until August 4 and exposes the interns to the day-to-day life in a senator’s office. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office)

Oil tax credits re-emerge as issue for Alaska lawmakers

JUNEAU (AP) — Alaska Senate Republicans put pressure on the House Thursday to end a program that financially rewards oil exploration and production, while a… Continue reading

A janitor vacuums at the Capitol just before midnight Thursday, June 23, 2017, after both the House and Senate voted to approve a budget and keep the State of Alaska from shutting down on July 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislature averts shutdown, but more work remains

The morning after the Alaska Legislature averted a statewide shutdown, you could find more tourists than legislators in the Capitol. Though the Legislature’s second special… Continue reading

A janitor vacuums at the Capitol just before midnight Thursday, June 23, 2017, after both the House and Senate voted to approve a budget and keep the State of Alaska from shutting down on July 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Senators gather in the hallway of the Capitol on Thursday, June 22, 2017, after passing a budget that will keep that the State of Alaska from shutting down on July 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska Legislature averts shutdown with nine days to spare

With nine days to spare, the Alaska Legislature has averted a statewide government shutdown. At 1:04 p.m. Thursday afternoon, a joint House-Senate conference committee approved… Continue reading

Senators gather in the hallway of the Capitol on Thursday, June 22, 2017, after passing a budget that will keep that the State of Alaska from shutting down on July 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmakers reach deal to avert deficit, but final vote awaits

Alaska lawmakers have agreed upon a plan to avert a statewide government shutdown, but at press time Thursday, the Alaska Legislature’s various factions were struggling… Continue reading

On the docks, no sympathy for deadlocked lawmakers

Boats don’t have wheels. This may go without saying, but as Juneau commercial fisherman Brian Delay joked Friday at Don D. Statter Harbor, it’s worth… Continue reading

Sunlight exposes the front of the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

House ends special session with failed ‘Hail Mary’ on budget

It was a mic-drop moment on a trampoline. In a surprise Thursday night move, the Alaska House of Representatives attempted to avert a statewide government… Continue reading

Sunlight exposes the front of the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

State shutdown would affect every man, woman and child in Alaska — including the dead

Forget about the ferries. Reschedule your wedding. Don’t think about pull tabs. Alaska’s impending government shutdown will have a tsunami of effects across the state,… Continue reading

In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Walker warned of a potential government shutdown if the state house and senate could not reach an agreement on the state budget and several tax bills by July 3. (Erin Granger | Juneau Empire)

Walker begs lawmakers to reach compromise

A day after the Alaska House Majority rejected his compromise bid to avert a statewide government shutdown, Gov. Bill Walker said he still hopes that… Continue reading

In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Walker warned of a potential government shutdown if the state house and senate could not reach an agreement on the state budget and several tax bills by July 3. (Erin Granger | Juneau Empire)
Gov. Bill Walker walks into the Cabinet Room to present his compromise plan to the House Minority. (Courtesy photo/Office of the Governor)

House cool to Walker compromise

In a bid to avoid a state-spanning government shutdown, Gov. Bill Walker on Monday proposed a compromise to bring the Alaska Senate and Alaska House… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker walks into the Cabinet Room to present his compromise plan to the House Minority. (Courtesy photo/Office of the Governor)
This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. On Thursday, the Alaska Senate voted 17-1 to restrict the amount of opioid painkillers that may be prescribed with a single prescription. House Bill 159 now returns to the House for a procedural vote. (Associated Press file)

Senate approves overdose-fighting bill

The Alaska Senate voted Thursday to restrict the ability of doctors to prescribe opioid painkillers. House Bill 159, proposed by Gov. Bill Walker, is part… Continue reading

This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows OxyContin pills arranged for a photo at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt. On Thursday, the Alaska Senate voted 17-1 to restrict the amount of opioid painkillers that may be prescribed with a single prescription. House Bill 159 now returns to the House for a procedural vote. (Associated Press file)
State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)

Wasilla Republican asks Alaska Legislature to criminalize abortion

Wasilla Republican David Eastman has proposed a measure making abortion illegal in the state of Alaska. On Monday, Eastman introduced House Bill 250, which —… Continue reading

State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)
Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed its version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

Alaska House approves Permanent Fund plan — with strings attached

For the first time in state history, the Alaska Legislature has chosen to spend the Alaska Permanent Fund on something other than dividends. On Wednesday,… Continue reading

Gov. Bill Walker leaves the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives with his legislative liaison Darwin Peterson, center, and Communication Director Grace Jang after watching the House passed its version of Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska lawmaker wants primary elections to be more like California

The chairwoman of the powerful House Rules Committee believes she has a plan to drive Alaska politics toward the center. Her Republican critics say it’s… Continue reading

Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, speaks in the House chambers on Wednesday, April 5, 2017. Rep. LeDoux is sponsoring HB 200 that would establish a top two nonpartisan open primary election system for elective state executive and state and national legislative offices. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)