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A sign on the door of the state labor department office in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, May 22, 2020, shows the office is closed to the public through the end of May. A report released by the department Friday showed the number of jobs in Alaska in April was down sharply compared to April 2019 amid coronavirus concerns. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Alaska’s April job numbers are down sharply

Alaska had 42,200 fewer jobs in April than a year earlier.

A sign on the door of the state labor department office in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, May 22, 2020, shows the office is closed to the public through the end of May. A report released by the department Friday showed the number of jobs in Alaska in April was down sharply compared to April 2019 amid coronavirus concerns. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a Friday, March 27, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

Governor’s team expands on new guidelines, PFD

With Alaska’s businesses and most other public entities set to reopen at full capacity on Friday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy and his administration are launching a… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a Friday, March 27, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

After nearly a month, CARES Act funding is heading out

Uncertainty remains.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a press conference on May 11, 2020, in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Austin McDaniel courtesy Office of the Governor)

PFD checks to go out starting July 1

The new payment schedule moves up distribution from Oct. 1 when the checks are usually sent.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a press conference on May 11, 2020, in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Austin McDaniel courtesy Office of the Governor)
Peter Segall | Juneau Empire Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, speaks about ratifying Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s appropriations of federal funds on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)

Representatives leave Capitol while Senate finishes business

Things are moving fast.

Peter Segall | Juneau Empire Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, speaks about ratifying Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s appropriations of federal funds on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire)
A sign at the Pratt Museum’s nature trail on May 15, 2020, in Homer, Alaska, is part of the City of Homer’s campaign to increase awareness of precautions to take during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Governor announces major reopening of Alaska

Phase three takes effect at 8 a.m. Friday at the start of the Memorial Day weekend.

A sign at the Pratt Museum’s nature trail on May 15, 2020, in Homer, Alaska, is part of the City of Homer’s campaign to increase awareness of precautions to take during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Alaska state Rep. Jennifer Johnston, an Anchorage Republican, gets her temperature taken by Roy Johnston, a captain with Capital City Fire/Rescue, at the state Capitol on Monday, May 18, 2020, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska Legislature planned to reconvene Monday to address use of federal coronavirus relief funds, with protocols in place aimed at guarding against the virus. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Lawmakers reconvene with virus protocols

The protocols, released by the Legislative Affairs Agency, say legislators may refuse screening.

Alaska state Rep. Jennifer Johnston, an Anchorage Republican, gets her temperature taken by Roy Johnston, a captain with Capital City Fire/Rescue, at the state Capitol on Monday, May 18, 2020, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska Legislature planned to reconvene Monday to address use of federal coronavirus relief funds, with protocols in place aimed at guarding against the virus. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Signs on May 7, 2020, along the Sterling Highway by St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Homer, Alaska, and put up by the South Kenai Peninsula Resiliency Coalition offer encouragement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The signs read “Physical distancing can be hard. Everyday connections are so important. How can you make someone smile today?” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Sixth Homer resident tests positive

State extends mandatory quarantine for visitors, updates commercial fishing guidelines

Signs on May 7, 2020, along the Sterling Highway by St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Homer, Alaska, and put up by the South Kenai Peninsula Resiliency Coalition offer encouragement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The signs read “Physical distancing can be hard. Everyday connections are so important. How can you make someone smile today?” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Courtesy photo | Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy Gov. Mike Dunleavy at a press conference in Anchorage on Monday, May 11, 2020. Dunleavy had hoped to send out federal funds using a limited legal process, saying expediency was key. But a Juneau man’s lawsuit is calling lawmakers back to the Capitol.

Lawsuit brings lawmakers back to Juneau

They want to OK funding by Wednesday.

Courtesy photo | Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy Gov. Mike Dunleavy at a press conference in Anchorage on Monday, May 11, 2020. Dunleavy had hoped to send out federal funds using a limited legal process, saying expediency was key. But a Juneau man’s lawsuit is calling lawmakers back to the Capitol.
A sample death certificate from “Vital Statistics Reporting Guidance,” an April 2020 report by the Centers for Disease Control on how to record COVID-19 in deaths shows a hypothetical scenario for a woman who died of acute respiratory distress syndrome. (Illustration courtesy CDC)

How are COVID-19 deaths recorded? A crash course on death certificates

State experts provide clarification on how deaths are reported during coronavirus pandemic

A sample death certificate from “Vital Statistics Reporting Guidance,” an April 2020 report by the Centers for Disease Control on how to record COVID-19 in deaths shows a hypothetical scenario for a woman who died of acute respiratory distress syndrome. (Illustration courtesy CDC)
Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, speaks during a May 11, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

Seasonal worker has COVID-19 in Dillingham; 5th Homer resident tests positive

State extends mandatory quarantine for visitors, updates commercial fishing guidelines

Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, speaks during a May 11, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

Fishing charters ask for modified regulations during COVID-19 pandemic

Fishing charters are currently allowed to operate at 50% capacity with people from different households.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Monday, Aug. 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

New bills could bring more coronavirus relief money, spending flexibility

A change is gonna come.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Monday, Aug. 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
COVID-19. (CDC)

2 new COVID-19 cases in Juneau

Juneau has reported new cases of COVID-19 for the first time since the middle of April. The City and Borough of Juneau and the Alaska… Continue reading

COVID-19. (CDC)
The City and Borough of Juneau is expecting $53 million in federal relief, but what it can be used on is still not entirely clear. The Assembly Finance Committee is meeting to discuss the funds Wednesday evening. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)

CARES Act money is coming, but use is still unclear

Congress could change the rules.

The City and Borough of Juneau is expecting $53 million in federal relief, but what it can be used on is still not entirely clear. The Assembly Finance Committee is meeting to discuss the funds Wednesday evening. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)
Byron Mallott In this Sept. 21, 2015, file photo, Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott addresses a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Mallott, who served as Alaska’s lieutenant governor as part of a “unity ticket” with former Gov. Bill Walker, died Friday, May 8, 2020. He was 77. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Former Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott dies at 77

Mallott died Friday.

Byron Mallott In this Sept. 21, 2015, file photo, Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott addresses a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Mallott, who served as Alaska’s lieutenant governor as part of a “unity ticket” with former Gov. Bill Walker, died Friday, May 8, 2020. He was 77. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
COVID-19. (CDC)

Only new COVID-19 case is a Kenai woman

Updated state guidelines hash out face coverings

COVID-19. (CDC)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a Friday, May 1, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

3 new COVID-19 cases all from Anchorage

Updated state guidelines hash out face coverings

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a Friday, May 1, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
Lawmakers could be headed back to Juneau if the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee doesn’t approve the governor’s plans for allocating federal COVID-19 relief money. Some legislators say there are legal complications with the process chosen by the governor. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)

Lawmakers scrap critical meeting on relief funds

It’s been postponed to Monday

Lawmakers could be headed back to Juneau if the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee doesn’t approve the governor’s plans for allocating federal COVID-19 relief money. Some legislators say there are legal complications with the process chosen by the governor. (Peter Segall | Juneau Empire File)
COVID-19. (CDC)

Anchor Point man is 10th Alaskan to die from COVID-19

In addition to this 10th death, the state reported one new case of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

COVID-19. (CDC)