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Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file Service from ferries like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020, have become unreliable for coastal communities as year-to-year planning leads to high levels of uncertainty, according to coastal lawmakers.

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Lack of planning hampers AMHS, lawmakers say

Uncertainty hurts business.

The Department of Health and Social Services, its headquarters seen here in Juneau on Monday, March 8, 2021, could be split into two departments by an executive order from the governor. However, some lawmakers have raised concern about the legality of the order, saying it could lead to costly litigation. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Lawmakers question whether proposed department split is legal

Governor maintains executive order is within his powers, others are less sure.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, chairs a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Stedman, who’s chaired the finance committee through multiple legislatures, said time is running out to fix the state’s finances. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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‘Time is running out’: Lawmaker warns of state finances

“The longer it takes to fix this, my concern is the smaller the dividend will be for the…

AP Photo/Becky Bohrer Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold holds a news conference outside the Senate chambers in the Alaska Capitol on Thursday, in Juneau. Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold holds a news conference outside the Senate chambers in the Alaska Capitol on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Reinbold said she wants an apology from Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a fellow Republican, after he sent her a letter last month accusing her of misrepresenting the state’s COVID-19 response. A Dunleavy spokesperson said the governor will not be retracting his letter to Reinbold. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

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Reinbold wants Dunleavy apology after scathing letter

Reinbold has held hearings highlighting views of those who question the usefulness of masks.

Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink addresses members of the media during a remote press conference on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

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Zink: Stay vigilant with COVID mitigation

Some parts of Alaska are experiencing increased COVID transmission

In this sample primary ballot released by the state, fictional candidates compete in a primary election. The candidates include a blend of fictional Republican and Democratic candidates. The August 2022 state primary election will be the first to feature open primaries. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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State begins implementing voter-approved election overhaul

Here’s how it will work.

Women members of the Alaska House of Representatives from both parties meet in the hallway of the capitol Wednesday, March 3, 2021, to discuss a vote to condemn Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, for sexists comments he made on the floor the previous week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Lawmaker could face formal rebuke for sexist comments

Members to vote Friday.

Judy Cavanaugh stands with others at a rally against the Pebble Mine in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Juneau office in June 2019. The Army Corps of Engineers has accepted a request for administrative appeal filed by Pebble Limited Partnership. A similar effort by the state was reject, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in a news release. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

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2 Pebble appeals, 2 different outcomes

Governor says states appeal rejected, but partnership appeal moves forward.

A magnet promoting the Alaska Reads Act released by the state last year sits atop a stack of Alaskan-authored and Alaska-centric books. A shortened session last year meant the bill, announced by Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, didn’t make it through the last Legislature. But there’s a new bill, nearly the same as the old bill, working its way through the Senate. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

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Reworked reading bill gets 2nd act in Legislature

Still a ways to go.

Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink address members of the media during a remote press conference on Monday, March 1 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

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State to receive 8,900 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine

Alaska continues to lead the nation in vaccine rollout

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives gather for a Finance Committee meeting on Monday, March 1, 2021 even after a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19. Meetings were canceled last week after Rep. Mike Cronk, R-Tok, tested positive. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Work continues even with new cases at the Capitol

“Hell or high water.”

Michael S. Lockett | Juneau Empire An investigation into a complaint from an inmate at Lemon Creek Correctional Center, shown above, exposed issues with the Alaska Department of Corrections Dental Services Program.

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Report: Overhaul needed for DOC’s dental program

An investigation finds the corrections department ‘unreasonably delayed’ care for an inmate

A legislative aide enters the Alaska State Capitol as a worker clears snow from in front of the building on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House speaker announced on Wednesday, Feb. 24, that a House member had tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

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House disrupted after positive COVID-19 test

Alaska House Republicans identified the lawmaker as Rep. Mike Cronk of Tok, a member of their caucus.

State health officials address members of the media during a virtual press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 24 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

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State to receive over 100,000 doses for March

The 103,120 figure is comparable to the allocations Alaska received for December, January and February combined.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at an Anchorage news conference on Dec. 11, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

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Governor tests positive for virus

Dunleavy had been in quarantine since learning Sunday.

Air-source heat pumps, like the one in this 2015 photo of Jake Eames, right, and David Nash installing a pump, are an example of a load-side technology that can increase energy efficiency. "Load-side technologies are absolutely key to our ability to reduce greenhouse emissions in the energy sector,” said director of energy services at Alaska Electric Light and Power Alec Mesdag.

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In Juneau, going green focuses on power usage

The electricity’s already clean.

Katie Hurley, seen here in an undated photo from the Alaska State Legislature biography page, died at the age of 99 on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Alaska State Legislature)

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‘Grande Dame’ of Alaska politics, dies at 99

“Extraordinary Alaskan.”

Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy went into self-quarantine Monday following news a close contact had tested positive for COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)

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Governor quarantines following close contact

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is in quarantine following close contact on Saturday with a person who recently tested positive…

Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, sent Reinbold a letter on Feb. 18, 2021, saying she has used her position to “misrepresent” the state’s COVID-19 response. Reinbold said the letter was “full of baseless accusations and complaints.” (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

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Dunleavy: Reinbold misrepresents virus response

Dunleavy said his administration will no longer respond to or participate in hearings led by the senator.

Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Joel Bolger speaks from behind a plexiglass encased podium to deliver the State of the Judiciary address to state lawmakers on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Despite complications posed by the pandemic, Bolger said Alaskan courts were still able to deliver services. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Bolger says Alaska’s judge selection best in U.S.

Nonpartisan selection?