News

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Members of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific picket in front of the Auke Bay Terminal on Thursday. The union called a strike on Wednesday over failed negotiations with Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration.

Ferry workers strike continues; State says strike ‘illegal’

Ferry workers strike, and the state strikes back

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Members of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific picket in front of the Auke Bay Terminal on Thursday. The union called a strike on Wednesday over failed negotiations with Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration.
House Finance Committee Co-Chairs Neal Foster, D-Nome, and Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, speaks to members of the media during an at ease in a House session at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

House votes to ‘decouple’ PFD from funding bill, but will likely be struck down by Dunleavy

It might as well be Groundhog Day.

House Finance Committee Co-Chairs Neal Foster, D-Nome, and Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, speaks to members of the media during an at ease in a House session at the Capitol on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The House was one vote short of funding the capital budget

They failed, again.

Rep. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, speaks during a House Finance Committee meeting Saturday, July 20, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)

Senate approves ‘reverse sweep’ and capital budget bill

Accounting concern is sweeping the state.

Rep. Kelly Merrick, R-Eagle River, speaks during a House Finance Committee meeting Saturday, July 20, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)

Budget wonks try to explain ‘the sweep’

Senate Finance Committee spends afternoon slogging through legal and technical details

Alaskans give heated testimony, make their voices heard on PFD

Both sides traded barbs.

Alyse Galvin

Alyse Galvin announces bid for Congress

It will be her second bid trying to unseat Don Young.

Alyse Galvin
Michael Penn | Juneau Empire University of Alaska Southeast administrators and staff applaud a speech by Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, as they watch an online meeting being held Monday at UA campuses around the state on Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget cuts.

Financial exigency delayed, but drastic changes ahead for University of Alaska

The University of Alaska of the future will not look like it does now.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire University of Alaska Southeast administrators and staff applaud a speech by Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, as they watch an online meeting being held Monday at UA campuses around the state on Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget cuts.
Over hundrend people attend a rally starting at the Capitol to protest budget vetoes by Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday, July 12, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Shame on you, 22’: Protesters march to Governor’s Mansion

Protesters rally in Juneau.

Over hundrend people attend a rally starting at the Capitol to protest budget vetoes by Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday, July 12, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, (left) leans in to listen to Rep. Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, during a Joint Session of Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Thursday to debate and vote on an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes. The vote didn’t take place.

Veto override still short on votes

Lawmakers give impassioned speeches, but don’t have the votes to override vetoes.

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, (left) leans in to listen to Rep. Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, during a Joint Session of Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Thursday to debate and vote on an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes. The vote didn’t take place.
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)
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.
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)
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.

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.
The New Old Time Chautauqua Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band Orchestra marches on the Homer Spit on July 2, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. The group visited Homer as part of a week-long tour partially funded by the Rasmuson Foundation’s Harper Arts Touring Fund, administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts — an example of state-foundation cooperation in arts funding. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Arts groups brace for program cuts, grant losses

‘It’s comparable to one of the jobs here. It’s comparable to an entire program.’

The New Old Time Chautauqua Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band Orchestra marches on the Homer Spit on July 2, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. The group visited Homer as part of a week-long tour partially funded by the Rasmuson Foundation’s Harper Arts Touring Fund, administered by the Alaska State Council on the Arts — an example of state-foundation cooperation in arts funding. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Dunleavy’s Red Pen: Governor’s vetoes take more than $400M out of budget

Here’s a run-down of what happened today.

Lindsey Bloom of Salmon State gives a speech at the “No Pebble Mine” rally. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Deadline for Pebble draft EIS comments nears

The Corps will take comments until July 1, and use them to incorporate changes into a final EIS

Lindsey Bloom of Salmon State gives a speech at the “No Pebble Mine” rally. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
This June 14, 2019, photo shows Jeremy Price, a deputy chief of staff to Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, showing reporters the cafeteria at Wasilla Middle School in Wasilla, Alaska, that would be available to lawmakers. 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, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Dunleavy pitches hometown Wasilla for special session. Here’s why some are concerned.

It would be the first time an Alaska special session has convened outside the capital.

This June 14, 2019, photo shows Jeremy Price, a deputy chief of staff to Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, showing reporters the cafeteria at Wasilla Middle School in Wasilla, Alaska, that would be available to lawmakers. 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, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Dr. Jim Johnsen, president of the University of Alaska, center, listens to Donna Arduin, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, left and Mike Barnhill, policy director for the OMB, as their continue to present Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

With state government shutdown looming, university preparing for late, reduced budget

The fiscal year starts in less than two weeks.

Dr. Jim Johnsen, president of the University of Alaska, center, listens to Donna Arduin, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, left and Mike Barnhill, policy director for the OMB, as their continue to present Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)