News

Newly elected Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, speaks with Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, after being unanimously elected to the position on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire, Pool)

Senate organizes, elects Micciche as president

Legislature is stalled.

 

Alaska State Parks logo. (Image courtesy Alaska State Parks)

Deadline nears to comment on state parks management plan

The public has until Friday to make comments on the plan that manages the Kachemak Bay State Park and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park. The… Continue reading

 

j

Ed Sniffen appointed as Attorney General

Acting AG since August.

 

Porcupine caribou graze in the Arctic National Refuge. (Malkolm Boothroyd)

Trump team issues Arctic refuge leases

JUNEAU — The U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday said it has issued leases covering nearly 685 square miles in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife… Continue reading

Porcupine caribou graze in the Arctic National Refuge. (Malkolm Boothroyd)
photo by James Brooks/Anchorage Daily News, Pool Members of the Alaska House of Representatives take their oaths of office on Tuesday, Jan. 19, in the Alaska State Capitol at Juneau. Members were allowed to remove their COVID-19 masks as they took the oath.

State House remains unorganized after first day

They’ll try again Wednesday.

photo by James Brooks/Anchorage Daily News, Pool Members of the Alaska House of Representatives take their oaths of office on Tuesday, Jan. 19, in the Alaska State Capitol at Juneau. Members were allowed to remove their COVID-19 masks as they took the oath.
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

First Homer resident death tied to COVID-19 reported

State reports 24 new resident COVID-19 deaths, 167 new cases Wednesday

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Lawmakers weren’t at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Friday, but the House Finance Committee met electronically to discuss Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget.

New revenue or no service, lawmakers weigh options

Time is short.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Lawmakers weren’t at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Friday, but the House Finance Committee met electronically to discuss Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget.
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 296 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reported 296 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, eight of which are among nonresidents. The state reported… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
South Peninsula Pharmacist Jill Kort holds up a vial of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 shortly after it arrived at the hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Seniors 65 and older can sign up for vaccines at South Peninsula Hospital at noon Monday

State opens up vaccine opportunity early for Alaskans 65 and older

South Peninsula Pharmacist Jill Kort holds up a vial of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 shortly after it arrived at the hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
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)

Dunleavy pushes budget in virtual town hall

Dunleavy’s budget would draw about $6 billion from the Permanent Fund’s Earnings Reserve Account

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)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 353 new COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths

Cases on Kenai Peninsula continue downward trend

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Family practice physician Christina Tuomi, D.O., (right) gets Homer’s first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Emergency Department nurse Steve Hughes (left) on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. Tuomi has been the hospital’s medical lead throughout the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)

Almost 2,900 seniors on southern Kenai Peninsula can start getting vaccine soon

State opens up vaccine opportunity early for Alaskans 65 and older.

Family practice physician Christina Tuomi, D.O., (right) gets Homer’s first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Emergency Department nurse Steve Hughes (left) on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. Tuomi has been the hospital’s medical lead throughout the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 374 new COVID-19 cases, 2 new deaths

Positivity rate statewide continues to drop

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
(Courtesy photo / Alaska Department of Corrections)

State reports 5th inmate COVID-19 death

The department did not identify the man.

(Courtesy photo / Alaska Department of Corrections)
Family practice physician Christina Tuomi, D.O., (right) gets Homer's first dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine from Emergency Department nurse Steve Hughes (left) on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. Tuomi has been the hospital's medical lead throughout the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)

Vaccine rollout continues throughout state, on peninsula

12,202 total COVID-19 vaccinations had been given in Alaska as of Sunday

Family practice physician Christina Tuomi, D.O., (right) gets Homer's first dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine from Emergency Department nurse Steve Hughes (left) on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. Tuomi has been the hospital's medical lead throughout the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19 cases dropping on southern Kenai Peninsula

Cases dropped from 92 to 74 in 14-day average reports.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Screen capture Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum speaks in a Zoom meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, in Anchorage.

Governor proposes big change for Alaska Department of Health and Social Services

And then there were two?

Screen capture Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum speaks in a Zoom meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, in Anchorage.
South Peninsula Pharmacist Jill Kort holds up a vial of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 shortly after it arrived at the hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Homer

Inoculation of hospital staff and long term care residents begins Thursday

South Peninsula Pharmacist Jill Kort holds up a vial of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 shortly after it arrived at the hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Division of Elections staff conducted an audit of the ballots for Measure 2 at the division’s offices at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. DOE announced the audit found no changes from the original count and the results remained the same as originally certified. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Ballot Measure 2 audit shows no changes

Alaska’s election comes out clean.

Division of Elections staff conducted an audit of the ballots for Measure 2 at the division’s offices at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. DOE announced the audit found no changes from the original count and the results remained the same as originally certified. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
This map shows the boundaries of Kachemak Bay State Park and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park. (Image courtesy Alaska Department of Natural Resources, KBSP and KBSWP management plan)

DNR seeks comment on state parks management plan

Proposal to phase out Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery draws ire

This map shows the boundaries of Kachemak Bay State Park and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park. (Image courtesy Alaska Department of Natural Resources, KBSP and KBSWP management plan)
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