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SEITC Chair Rob Sanderson Jr., center, and Reuben George, of the Sacred Trust, Tsleil-Waututh Nation at the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission meeting at the Lummi Reservation in Ferndale, Wash. (Courtesy photo | Jeff Gibbs)

Indigenous meeting declares ‘salmon emergency’

Meeting of tribes from US and Canada calls for action.

SEITC Chair Rob Sanderson Jr., center, and Reuben George, of the Sacred Trust, Tsleil-Waututh Nation at the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission meeting at the Lummi Reservation in Ferndale, Wash. (Courtesy photo | Jeff Gibbs)
Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press LGBT supporters gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in Washington. The Supreme Court heard arguments in its first cases on LGBT rights since the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy was a voice for gay rights while his successor, Brett Kavanaugh, is regarded as more conservative.

LGBT Alaskans closely watching US Supreme Court hearings

Ruling could change definition of workplace discrimination.

Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press LGBT supporters gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in Washington. The Supreme Court heard arguments in its first cases on LGBT rights since the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy was a voice for gay rights while his successor, Brett Kavanaugh, is regarded as more conservative.

Recall campaign is ready for a fight

Legal team has some heavy hitters.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File In this Empire file photo, Rep. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, listens to Kathryn Monfreda, bureau chief of the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Statewide Services, as she presents the Uniform Crime Reporting Annual Report to House members during an informational meeting at the Capitol on Feb. 5.

Breaking: Gov wants third special session once Senate seat is filled

The session would be to allocate the remainder of the PFD.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File In this Empire file photo, Rep. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, listens to Kathryn Monfreda, bureau chief of the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Statewide Services, as she presents the Uniform Crime Reporting Annual Report to House members during an informational meeting at the Capitol on Feb. 5.
In this Empire File photo, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, listens as Attorney General Kevin Clarkson describes three constitutional amendments that would be a foundation of his administration’s fiscal plan during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Governor Dunleavy announces executive order regarding union employee dues

Employess must opt in.

In this Empire File photo, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, listens as Attorney General Kevin Clarkson describes three constitutional amendments that would be a foundation of his administration’s fiscal plan during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
A downed spruce tree sits near the East Glacier Trail at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in this June 2014 photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Judge blocks logging in the Tongass, for now

Old growth, new logging.

A downed spruce tree sits near the East Glacier Trail at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in this June 2014 photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

State files lawsuit against public employee union

State says its about First Amendment.

In this file photo from Jan. 29, Office of Management and Budget Director Donna Arduin presents the governor’s supplemental budget to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

State’s budget director Arduin is out

New director to be named soon.

In this file photo from Jan. 29, Office of Management and Budget Director Donna Arduin presents the governor’s supplemental budget to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner gives a thumbs up outside the Supreme Court, Wednesday, June 27, 2018 in Washington. From left are, Liberty Justice Center’s Director of Litigation Jacob Huebert, plaintiff Mark Janus, Rauner, and Liberty Justice Center founder and chairman John Tillman. The Supreme Court ruled that government workers can’t be forced to contribute to labor unions that represent them in collective bargaining, dealing a serious financial blow to organized labor. (AP Photo | Andrew Harnik)

‘We’re going to fight them all the way’: Alaska union plans to fight legal ruling over dues

The attorney general is calling for stricter rules for union dues.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner gives a thumbs up outside the Supreme Court, Wednesday, June 27, 2018 in Washington. From left are, Liberty Justice Center’s Director of Litigation Jacob Huebert, plaintiff Mark Janus, Rauner, and Liberty Justice Center founder and chairman John Tillman. The Supreme Court ruled that government workers can’t be forced to contribute to labor unions that represent them in collective bargaining, dealing a serious financial blow to organized labor. (AP Photo | Andrew Harnik)

One-two punch: Planned Parenthood in Alaska loses state and federal funding

The organization will no longer receive Title X funds.

In this Tuesday, April 9, 2019 photo, Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Governor reluctant to consider oil taxes

Will taxes might cause companies to leave?

In this Tuesday, April 9, 2019 photo, Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference at the Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen makes a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents at the UAS Recreation Center on Sept. 15, 2016. A declaration of financial exigency that would have allowed University of Alaska to make drastic cuts was rescinded Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

University of Alaska rescinds emergency financial declaration

The financial picture still isn’t rosy.

University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen makes a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents at the UAS Recreation Center on Sept. 15, 2016. A declaration of financial exigency that would have allowed University of Alaska to make drastic cuts was rescinded Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs House Bill 2001 at his office in Anchorage on Monday, August 19, 2019. (Courtesy photo)

Governor signs off on $1,600 PFD, calls for third special session

Dunleavy says remainder of PFD will be sole focus for next special session.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs House Bill 2001 at his office in Anchorage on Monday, August 19, 2019. (Courtesy photo)

Dunleavy reverses decision to veto early education funds

Dunleavy says he won’t veto Head Start, Pre-K from HB 2001

Dunleavy signs ‘step-down’ compact with University of Alaska

Plan will introduce cuts over three years rather than one

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska

Senator Sullivan visits Juneau

Sullivan stops by the Empire to talk bills

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska
courtesy photo Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the signing ceremony at the Alaska Association of General Contractors in Anchorage on Thursday.

Dunleavy signs capital budget into law, vetoes funds

Sweep is reversed and capital budget is passed but $34 million is vetoed

courtesy photo Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the signing ceremony at the Alaska Association of General Contractors in Anchorage on Thursday.
In this Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019 photo, Sen. Chris Birch, R-Anchorage, listens to other senators during a Senate session at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. Birch, a former state House member who also served on the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Anchorage assemblies, has died, his family said in a statement Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. He was 68. Birch died Wednesday, Aug. 7 of a torn or ruptured aorta after experiencing chest pains and being taken to an Anchorage hospital, the family said. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Republican state Sen. Chris Birch dies

Birch was elected to the Anchorage Senate seat that had been held by Republican Kevin Meyer.

In this Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019 photo, Sen. Chris Birch, R-Anchorage, listens to other senators during a Senate session at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. Birch, a former state House member who also served on the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Anchorage assemblies, has died, his family said in a statement Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019. He was 68. Birch died Wednesday, Aug. 7 of a torn or ruptured aorta after experiencing chest pains and being taken to an Anchorage hospital, the family said. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Juneau residents line up outside of the Planet Alaska Gallery to sign an application petition to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Recall campaign makes progress

Campaign website claims 10K signatures gathered.

Juneau residents line up outside of the Planet Alaska Gallery to sign an application petition to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The last bill of the special session will go to Dunleavy today

Final bill to go to governor.