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Members of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific picket in front of the Auke Bay Terminal on Thursday, July 25, 2019. The union called a strike on Wednesday over failed negotiations with Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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Ferry workers strike continues; State says strike ‘illegal’

Ferry workers strike, and the state strikes back

Members of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific picket in front of the Auke Bay Terminal on Thursday, July 25, 2019. The union called a strike on Wednesday over failed negotiations with Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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Bill Roth / Anchorage Daily News Nimeron Mike was hired as a village police officer in his hometown of Stebbins even though he is a registered sex offender who served six years behind bars. Mike worked as a cop from Dec. 31 to March 29.

At least 14 Alaska cities have public safety officers with criminal records

ANCHORAGE — At least 14 cities in Alaska have employed police officers whose criminal records should have prevented them from being hired under state law,… Continue reading

Bill Roth / Anchorage Daily News Nimeron Mike was hired as a village police officer in his hometown of Stebbins even though he is a registered sex offender who served six years behind bars. Mike worked as a cop from Dec. 31 to March 29.
The University of Alaska Board of Regents meets in an emergency meeting in Anchorage, Alaska Monday, July 22, 2019. Regents voted 10-1 to declare a financial exigency, allowing administrators to expedite layoffs of tenured faculty in the face of severe budget issues. (AP Photo/Dan Joling)

Financial crisis opens University of Alaska up to layoffs

ANCHORAGE — The University of Alaska Board of Regents decided Monday they could no longer wait to see if the Alaska Legislature will bail them… Continue reading

The University of Alaska Board of Regents meets in an emergency meeting in Anchorage, Alaska Monday, July 22, 2019. Regents voted 10-1 to declare a financial exigency, allowing administrators to expedite layoffs of tenured faculty in the face of severe budget issues. (AP Photo/Dan Joling)
Lawmakers talk among themselves during a break of a joint session of the Alaska Legislature Thursday, July 11, 2019, in Juneau, Alaska. Lawmakers are meeting for a second day to consider overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes, but still don’t have the needed 45 votes as about a third of lawmakers continue to meet in Wasilla instead of Juneau. (Michael Penn/The Juneau Empire via AP)

Efforts to override vetoes quashed

Without enough lawmakers in Juneau, legislators look to next steps

Lawmakers talk among themselves during a break of a joint session of the Alaska Legislature Thursday, July 11, 2019, in Juneau, Alaska. Lawmakers are meeting for a second day to consider overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes, but still don’t have the needed 45 votes as about a third of lawmakers continue to meet in Wasilla instead of Juneau. (Michael Penn/The Juneau Empire via AP)

Alaskans give heated testimony, make their voices heard on PFD

Both sides traded barbs.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Alyse Galvin, indpendent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, right, speaks with Marilyn Orr during a “town-hall-style coffee and conversation” at 60 Degrees North Coffee and Tea on Sept. 14, 2018. Galvin is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Don Young.

Alyse Galvin announces bid for Congress

It will be her second bid trying to unseat Don Young.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire Alyse Galvin, indpendent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, right, speaks with Marilyn Orr during a “town-hall-style coffee and conversation” at 60 Degrees North Coffee and Tea on Sept. 14, 2018. Galvin is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Don Young.
The University of Alaska has started a new Facebook page, UA Strong, for Alaskans to follow the state budget process, and learn about the impacts of proposed cuts on the University of Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Financial exigency delayed, but drastic changes ahead for University of Alaska

The University of Alaska of the future will not look like it does now.

The University of Alaska has started a new Facebook page, UA Strong, for Alaskans to follow the state budget process, and learn about the impacts of proposed cuts on the University of Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole

Wilson leaves Alaska House Majority

She left voluntarily.

Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole
Lawmakers talk among themselves during a break of a joint session of the Alaska Legislature Thursday, July 11, 2019, in Juneau, Alaska. Lawmakers are meeting for a second day to consider overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes, but still don’t have the needed 45 votes as about a third of lawmakers continue to meet in Wasilla instead of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Legislature ends efforts to overturn budget vetoes

Faint hopes turns into grim planning.

Lawmakers talk among themselves during a break of a joint session of the Alaska Legislature Thursday, July 11, 2019, in Juneau, Alaska. Lawmakers are meeting for a second day to consider overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetoes, but still don’t have the needed 45 votes as about a third of lawmakers continue to meet in Wasilla instead of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
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)
Hundreds attend a rally in front of the Capitol calling for an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetos on the first day of the Second Special Session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Monday, July 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

“Override! Override! Override!’ Hundreds turn out in Juneau to protest Dunleavy’s vetoes

The response was overwhelming.

Hundreds attend a rally in front of the Capitol calling for an override of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget vetos on the first day of the Second Special Session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Monday, July 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Flying over western Alaska, home to numerous Yup’ik communities, April 15, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Budget cuts leave Village Public Safety Officer Program on shaky ground

On June 28, the same day U.S. Attorney General William Barr declared a law enforcement emergency in rural Alaska, and made more than $10 million… Continue reading

Flying over western Alaska, home to numerous Yup’ik communities, April 15, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Furlough notices sent to University of Aalaska staff members

Furlough notices were being sent Monday to about 2,500 University of Alaska staff, part of the fallout of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of $130 million… Continue reading

‘Everything is on the table’

Facing $135M budget cut, university contemplates drastic action

The New Old Time Chautauqua Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band Orchestra marches on the Homer Spit on July 2, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. The group visited Homer as part of a week-long tour partially funded by the Rasmuson Foundation’s Harper Arts Touring Fund, administed by the Alaska State Council on the Arts — an example of state-foundation cooperation in arts funding. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Elimination of arts council would affect local, state programs

In the list of 182 line-item vetoes released last Friday by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, one didn’t make his press office’s“items of interest” tally. Buried in… Continue reading

The New Old Time Chautauqua Fighting Instruments of Karma Marching Chamber Band Orchestra marches on the Homer Spit on July 2, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. The group visited Homer as part of a week-long tour partially funded by the Rasmuson Foundation’s Harper Arts Touring Fund, administed by the Alaska State Council on the Arts — an example of state-foundation cooperation in arts funding. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Deadline for comments on Pebble draft environmental impact statement approaching

The deadline to submit comments on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Pebble Mine project is Monday, July 1. The draft EIS… Continue reading

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)
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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)
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Lawmakers reject Wasilla as site for special session

Lawmakers considers it their right to determine the location.

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