Gov. Mike Dunleavy, top left, holds a press conference on his proposed budget for the State of Alaska for Fiscal Year 2022 on Dec. 11, 2020. Bottom left: Sign language interpreter Elizabeth Davidson. (Screenshot)

Dunleavy proposes direct payments to Alaskans

Budget plan includes $5,000 in Alaska Permanent Fund dividend payments in 2021 and a $350 million bond package.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, top left, holds a press conference on his proposed budget for the State of Alaska for Fiscal Year 2022 on Dec. 11, 2020. Bottom left: Sign language interpreter Elizabeth Davidson. (Screenshot)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to local leaders at the Alaska Municipal League’s legislative conference in this February 2020 photo. Dunleavy issued a statement regarding a lawsuit out of Texas seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy: Alaska will not join Texas-led election suit

Governor said his office did not have enough time to review the facts of the case

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to local leaders at the Alaska Municipal League’s legislative conference in this February 2020 photo. Dunleavy issued a statement regarding a lawsuit out of Texas seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election. (Peter Segall/ Juneau Empire File)
Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Fishery council closes federal waters in Cook Inlet to commercial salmon fishing

Fishermen, processors, elected officials warn of devastation to the fishery.

Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai, left, explains the recount process to DOE staff and members of the State Review Board during a recount of votes from Anchorage House District 27 where a Democratic challenger ousted a Republican incumbent by just 13 votes. Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai, left, explains the recount process to DOE staff and members of the State Review Board during a recount of votes from Anchorage House District 27 where a Democratic challenger ousted a Republican incumbent by just 13 votes. Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Health care workers help distribute flu vaccines to thousands of Juneau residents at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Local health authorities said the drive-thru clinic was a practice run for an eventual mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Health care workers help distribute flu vaccines to thousands of Juneau residents at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Local health authorities said the drive-thru clinic was a practice run for an eventual mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport screening site on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State addresses COVID-19 case data backlog

More than 1,600 positive cases were reported late by new commercial lab in Anchorage

Emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport screening site on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: four additional deaths tied to COVID-19

Homer has 44 new positive cases reported in one day

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
This September photo shows a sign in downtown Juneau encouraging people to get tested for COVID-19. Recent analysis shared by Alaska Department of Health and Social Services shows the majority of Alaskans have at least one underlying health condition that increases risk of serious illness from COVID-19. (Ben Hohesntatt / Juneau Empire File)

Report: Most Alaska adults have conditions that increase risk for serious illness from COVID-19

Obesity, smoking and diabetes among common health issues, according to health officials.

This September photo shows a sign in downtown Juneau encouraging people to get tested for COVID-19. Recent analysis shared by Alaska Department of Health and Social Services shows the majority of Alaskans have at least one underlying health condition that increases risk of serious illness from COVID-19. (Ben Hohesntatt / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School was used as a polling place on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School was used as a polling place on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Peter Sidmore fills out paperwork prior to voting early and in-person in the 2020 general election on Thursday, Oct. 22. Election officials said the fourth day of early voting was slower than the three days when hundreds of voters showed up to vote in person. Thursday morning, fewer than a dozen people had voted as of 8:45 a.m. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Peter Sidmore fills out paperwork prior to voting early and in-person in the 2020 general election on Thursday, Oct. 22. Election officials said the fourth day of early voting was slower than the three days when hundreds of voters showed up to vote in person. Thursday morning, fewer than a dozen people had voted as of 8:45 a.m. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, gets her temperature taken as she enters the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, May 18, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, gets her temperature taken as she enters the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, May 18, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
A Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. On Wednesday, the United States Department of Agriculture announced its decision to exempt the nation’s largest national forest from the Roadless Rule. Proponents say the rule change will make it easier for responsible resource development while critics say it removes essential protections on critical environments. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. On Wednesday, the United States Department of Agriculture announced its decision to exempt the nation’s largest national forest from the Roadless Rule. Proponents say the rule change will make it easier for responsible resource development while critics say it removes essential protections on critical environments. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. (Photo courtesy Austin McDaniel, Office of the Governor)

State stocks up on supplies to fight coronavirus

Governor says decision on whether emergency declaration will expire has not been made

Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. (Photo courtesy Austin McDaniel, Office of the Governor)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy at an Anchorage news conference on Sept. 15 (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Dunleavy: Virus in ‘acceleration phase’

The state health department reported about 880 new confirmed cases over the weekend

Gov. Mike Dunleavy at an Anchorage news conference on Sept. 15 (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
Emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport screening site on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. The City and Borough of Juneau raised its health alert level Tuesday as the number of cases grows locally and statewide. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport screening site on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. The City and Borough of Juneau raised its health alert level Tuesday as the number of cases grows locally and statewide. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A handful of flu shot options available at the QFC Pharmacy on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Flu killed 8 adults, 3 children in last year’s season

Report recommends people get flu shots this year

A handful of flu shot options available at the QFC Pharmacy on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rule recommendation met with both praise and distrust
Rule recommendation met with both praise and distrust
Sullivan: I look forward to seeing who the President nominates

Sullivan: I look forward to seeing who the President nominates

Senator says president has authority to nominate, Senate will take on confirmation responsibilities.

Sullivan: I look forward to seeing who the President nominates
Eyes turn to Alaska’s senators amid Supreme Court vacancy
Eyes turn to Alaska’s senators amid Supreme Court vacancy
Courtesy photo / Canada Border Services Agency                                 An Alaska man will appear in Canadian court on Monday after border security officers seized the 14 firearms, pictured above, alongside loaded magazines, ammunition, and other paraphernalia, at a crossing southeast of Vancouver.

Alaska man charged in Canada for smuggling firearms

There were fourteen firearms, many illegal in Canada, seized in a July incident.

Courtesy photo / Canada Border Services Agency                                 An Alaska man will appear in Canadian court on Monday after border security officers seized the 14 firearms, pictured above, alongside loaded magazines, ammunition, and other paraphernalia, at a crossing southeast of Vancouver.