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The Alaska Redistricting Board's decision to pair District 21 (teal) and District 22 (purple) into one senate district is the subject of a lawsuit from East Anchorage residents of District 21. An Anchorage Superior Court heard the first arguments in that case on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, part of several lawsuits against the Redistricting Board that have been consolidated into a single case. (Screenshot / Alaska Redistricting Board)

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First arguments heard in Redistricting Board lawsuits

Arguments resume Monday.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, speaks to the Empire in his office of the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Begich introduced the Alaska Reads Act with Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2020, but despite strong bipartisan support, disruptions from COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the bill’s progression. But Begich is confident this will be the year a reading bill passes the Legislature. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Years in the making, lawmakers hopeful reading bill will pass

Bipartisan support for bill.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The Alaska State Capitol building seen on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022 in Juneau, Alaska.

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State lawmakers face proposed salary hike, allowance limits

A commission voted 3-1 to raise the base salary from $50,400 a year to $64,000

Former Alaska Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Bakalar speaks a news conference on Jan. 10, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska, after she sued the state. A federal judge on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, ruled that Bakalar was wrongfully terminated by the then-new administration of Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy for violating her freedom of speech rights. (AP File Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

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Judge sides with attorney who alleged wrongful firing

Alaska judge says the firing violated free speech and associational rights under the U.S. and state constitutions.

Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce is photographed at the Kenai Peninsula Clarion office in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 25, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

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Pierce joins race for governor

The borough mayor notified local officials in an email Thursday

Members of the Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce listen to a briefing by Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan during a joint luncheon at the Soldotna Sports Complex on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

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Sullivan reports in from D.C.

The senator touched on infrastructure, voting rights, defense spending and the pandemic

Former Alaska lawmaker Jason Grenn holds an Alaska Division of Elections brochure explaining ranked choice voting at his office in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. Grenn was sponsor of a ballot initiative passed by Alaska voters in 2020 that would end party primaries and send the top four vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to the general election, where ranked-choice voting would determine a consensus winner. The model is unique among states and viewed by supporters as a way to encourage civility and cooperation among elected officials. The Alaska Supreme Court is set to hear arguments over the system Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

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Election overhaul in Alaska aimed at reducing partisanship

The model is unique among states.

From left to right: Anna DeVolld, Rachel Sallaffie, John Green, Carl Schrader and Nona Safra were honored at an awards ceremony in Anchorage on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, by Gov. and First Lady Dunleavy. Schrader, a Juneau resident, was honored for his work in hospice care. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

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Dunleavy appoints peninsula residents to boards, commissions

Volunteer of the Year Safra is appointed to Commission on Aging

Signatures for a ballot initiative to have the State of Alaska recognize the 229 federally-recognized tribal governments were submitted to Division of Elections offices in Anchorage Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. The campaign was able to collect 56,230 signatures - well over the minimum requirement - meaning Alaskan voters will likely see the initiative on the November ballot. (Courtesy photo / Alaskans for Better Government)

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Campaigners submit over 56,000 signatures for tribal recognition initiative

State has 60 days to reply.

The next session of the Alaska State Legislature will begin next week at the Capitol building in Juneau, seen here on Jan. 10, 2022, and lawmakers have already filed dozens of new bills for consideration. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Juneau lawmakers’ prefiled bills seek state services stability

Session starts Tuesday.

Chair of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Board of Trustees Craig Richards answers questions from the bicameral Legislative Budget and Audit Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2022. The committee called Richards and other members of the board to answer questions about the December firing of APFC CEO Angela Rodell, who has claimed her termination was politically motivated. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Permanent Fund Corp. board members defend CEO firing

A tense start to session.

House Speaker Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, gave a stern warning about decorum to members of the Alaska House of Representatives on the first day of the legislative session on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022. Last year the Legislature was so divided it took a full regular session and four special sessions before work was completed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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First day of session brings familiar tensions to Legislature

Many bills, not much time.

AP Photo / Becky Bohrer Sightseeing buses and tourists are seen at a pullout popular for taking in views of North America’s tallest peak, Denali, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, on Aug. 26, 2016.

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Bridge proposed along section of slumping Denali park road

Landslides in the area go back decades but usually required maintenance every two to three years