Ben Hohenstatt

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Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, seen in this July 2019 photo was selected to serve on a nine-member Alaska Marine Highway Reshaping Work Group by Senate President Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage. Whether he will be appointed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy remains to be seen.

Who will shape ferries’ future?

Deadline is tomorrow.

 

Governor extends open invitation to mining industry

Open for business.

 

In this file photo, the Alaska Marine Highway System ferries LeConte, left, Malaspina and Tazlina, hidden from view, are tied up at the Auke Bay Terminal in July 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Ferry Emergency: Six of the state’s 11 ferries are out of service

The Aurora is the latest heading for layup.

 

In this file photo from Sept. 15, 2016, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen makes a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents at the University of Alaska Southeast Recreation Center. Johnsen and the UA board discussed tuition increases and budget concerns Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

University of Alaska tuition to stay put for now

Option is still on the table.

In this file photo from Sept. 15, 2016, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen makes a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents at the University of Alaska Southeast Recreation Center. Johnsen and the UA board discussed tuition increases and budget concerns Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Cash only? Bill could change the way Southeast’s marijuana businesses work

SAFE Banking Act might be the end of cash-only operations.

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 A declaration of financial exigency that would have allowed University of Alaska to make drastic cuts was rescinded Tuesday.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 A declaration of financial exigency that would have allowed University of Alaska to make drastic cuts was rescinded Tuesday.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)
John Vercessi, left, and Dave Bell man the picket line for the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific at the Alaska Marine Highway System’s Auke Bay Terminal on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. Vercessi works as a seaman on the MV LeConte and Bell is a relief boatswain. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Ferry work stoppages stretch to seventh day

Striker ready to trade picket line for regular work.

John Vercessi, left, and Dave Bell man the picket line for the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific at the Alaska Marine Highway System’s Auke Bay Terminal on Tuesday, July 30, 2019. Vercessi works as a seaman on the MV LeConte and Bell is a relief boatswain. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
About 2.5 ounces of dried marijuana in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Puff, puff passed: Juneau Assembly OKs onsite pot smoking

If you want to smoke, take it outside.

About 2.5 ounces of dried marijuana in Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
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)
David Teal, director of Legislative Finance, gives a FY20 Budget update to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislative finance director points out potential ‘nightmare’ scenario

Time to fear the sweeper?

David Teal, director of Legislative Finance, gives a FY20 Budget update to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference to announce more than $400 million in line-item vetoes to the Legislature-approve budget, Friday, June 28, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)

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

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

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference to announce more than $400 million in line-item vetoes to the Legislature-approve budget, Friday, June 28, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)
Judy Cavanaugh stands with others at a rally against the Pebble Mine in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Juneau office on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Video

Pebble Mine opposition: Wrong mine for the wrong place

Public comment period ends in days.

Judy Cavanaugh stands with others at a rally against the Pebble Mine in front of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Juneau office on Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Video
Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, speaks about his bill to allow residents to donate their Permanent Fund Dividend back to the state’s general fund during a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Monday, April 15, 2019 in Juneau, Alaska. Anne Weske, Director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, right, also spoke to the committee. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Proposed bill suggests new way to send PFD money to state coffers

People could decide to keep or donate money.

Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, speaks about his bill to allow residents to donate their Permanent Fund Dividend back to the state’s general fund during a Senate Finance Committee meeting on Monday, April 15, 2019 in Juneau, Alaska. Anne Weske, Director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, right, also spoke to the committee. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Report finds states could share more public school information

Accessibility remains a goal for annual public reports

Myrna Gardner, tribal partnership specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau, said Alaska’s low census response rate is costing the state millions every year during a presentation at Southeast Housing Summit, Thursday, March 14, 2019. *Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)

Low census response loses Alaska billions of dollars

Money left on the table.

Myrna Gardner, tribal partnership specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau, said Alaska’s low census response rate is costing the state millions every year during a presentation at Southeast Housing Summit, Thursday, March 14, 2019. *Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)
Arts

Alaska Native weaving project honors survivors of violence

Family thread runs through endeavor.

In this file photo, a king salmon lies in a net at Auke Bay. (Bjorn Dihle | For the Juneau Empire)

Second-worst chinook forecast since ‘95 for Taku River

Numbers released last week by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game forecast “very low” numbers of chinook salmon will spawn this summer on the… Continue reading

In this file photo, a king salmon lies in a net at Auke Bay. (Bjorn Dihle | For the Juneau Empire)