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From left to right: Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, House Majority Leader Chris Tuck, D-Anchorage, and House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, discuss messages from the Senate in the hall of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. A plan to hold the special session mostly from afar was hampered by demands from Republican Senators. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Plan for remote session stalled by lawmakers

Next meeting is Friday.

Joyce Johnson-Albert looks on as she receives an antibody infusion while lying on a bed in a trauma room at the Upper Tanana Health Center Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, in Tok, Alaska. Johnson-Albert was optimistic but also realistic. "I just hope the next few days I'll be getting a little better than now," Johnson-Albert told a reporter on the other side of a closed, sliding glass door to the treatment room two days after testing positive for COVID-19 and while receiving an antibody infusion. "It's just hard to say. You can go either way." (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)

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COVID spike pushes Alaska’s health care system to brink

One Alaska Native village knew what to do to keep out COVID-19.

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Gov names new commissioner of Department of Administration

Cabinet changes.

Christine Hill sits in the Municipality of Anchorage Assembly's chambers on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, wearing a yellow Star of David reading "do not consent" to protest the implementation of masking requirements in public places meant to curb the spread of COVID-19. (Courtesy photo / Paxson Woelber, The Alaska Landmine)

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Jewish groups say Holocaust comparisons a worrisome trend

Anchorage protest most recent, high-profile example.

Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, and House Minority Leader Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, step outside the House chambers on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, to discuss a message from the Senate. Lawmakers entered their fourth special session Monday, with a resolution to hold committee meetings remotely. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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4th special session gets off to a slow start

Lawmakers discuss making legislative work remote

Photo courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service Otis, the four-time Fat Bear Week champion, fishes at Katmai National Park on Sept. 16, 2021.

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Katmai announces its hefty champion

Otis, bear 480, was crowned this year’s winner on Tuesday.

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Anchorage FBI office launches hate crime reporting program

The program was launched across various digital, print and radio advertisements, as well as on public transportation in…

Office Max at the Nugget Mall in the Mendenhall Valley advertised Permanent Fund dividend sales on Thursday, July 2, 2020. This year's PFD will be $1,114, the Alaska Department of Revenue announced. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Revenue Department announces 2021 PFD amount

It’s a little more filling than last year.

A proposal from the Alaska Redistricting Board would substantially change Juneau's legislative districts. One of the latest proposals, seen here, would put parts of Auke Bay and the Mendenhall Valley in the same district as downtown Juneau and Douglas Island. The Northern Lynn Canal communities of Haines, Skagway and Kluckwan would be placed in the same district as the Mendenhall Valley. (Courtesy image / Alaska Redistricting Board)

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Hitting the road: Redistricting maps to be shown in local hearings

Redistricting roadshow.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced legislation to permanently exempt large ships from the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which threatened Alaska's cruise ship season this year. The PVSA puts regulations on large cruise ship vessels, like this one entering the Gastineau Channel on Aug. 22, which are critical to the local tourism industry. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Murkowski enters bill to exempt Alaska from Passenger Vessel Services Act

Legislation would let ships travel to Alaska without stopping in Canada.

Gov. Dunleavy called for Alaskans to be careful and avoid putting more demand on the perilously strained healthcare system as he announced measures to ease some of that demand during a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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State officials: Health care reinforcements are coming

State contracts short-term health care workers to buttress fatigued hospitals

Lawmakers will return to the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Sept. 24, for a fourth special session. Gov. Mike Dunleavy's office confirmed the start date of the next session will be changed from a Friday to a Monday. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Next special session to begin Monday, not Friday

Fourth special session.

The doors of the Alaska State Capitol were open Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, though the Alaska State Legislature was not in session. They will be soon, however, as Gov. Mike Dunleavy has called a fourth special session of the year. Lawmakers receive a per diem for days in session, and with so many special sessions those costs can add up. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Per diem for special sessions? It’s up to lawmakers

They have options.