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Chief Justice Daniel E. Winfree, right, is sword in by Justice Dario Borghesan in Anchorage on July 1, 2021. Winfree will take over after former Chief Justice Joel Bolger retired earlier this year. (Courtesy photo/Alaska Court System)

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State Supreme Court has new Chief Justice

Governor announces appointment to high court.

A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna is now offering COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

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‘A choice between getting COVID or getting the vaccine’

Officials encourage vaccines as cases climb and more die of the virus

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here speaking at a Jun 17, 2021 news conference at the Alaska State Capitol, announced $215 million in vetoes to the state budget Thursday, and called on lawmakers to come together to solve the state's fiscal issues. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

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Gov announces $215M in vetoes —lawmakers’ per diem payments, PFD are among cuts

Announcement prompts strong pushback.

In this photo provided by the Alaska Division of Forestry, smoke from the Munson Creek Fire rises behind the Chena Hot Springs Resort as guests watch from the outdoor rock pool near Fairbanks, Alaska, on Monday, July 5, 2021. Authorities on Monday advised residents and guests at an Alaska hot springs resort to evacuate immediately after a nearby wildfire intensified. The Fairbanks North Star Borough issued the evacuation order when the fire reached a point less than a mile behind Chena Hot Springs. (Alaska Division of Forestry via AP)

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Firefighters defend resort from advancing wildfire

Flames were about 100 yards from the resort, where crews were spraying water on buildings.

Alaska State Capitol

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Lawmakers announce PFD working group

First meeting Wednesday.

A warning by Facebook content moderators denoting sensitive content is superimposed on a post shared by Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham, R-Kenai-Soldotna. Gillham shared a post comparing media and medical professionals to Nazi-era war criminals on his Facebook page on June 21, 2021. (Screenshot)

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Kenai lawmaker shares photo comparing media and medical officials to Nazi war criminals

Republican Ron Gillham represents the Kenai-Soldotna area in the Alaska State House of Representatives.

Members of the House Republican Minority Caucus talk amongst themselves during an at ease on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday, June 28, 2021. House members reached a deal on an operating budget and avoided a government shutdown but members of the minority said they had been repeatedly pushed out of the process. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

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Lawmakers pass budget again; send to Gov ahead of shutdown deadline

More work and a work group ahead.

AP Photo / Charles Dharapak Then-Democratic presidential hopeful and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel speaks at the “Take Back America” political conference in Washington, in this June 2007 photo.

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Mike Gravel, former US senator for Alaska, dies at 91

He read the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional Record.

Gavin Hunt, 13, receives his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the walk-in clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna, Alaska on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

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Both doses ‘critically important’ as Delta variant spreads

In Alaska, there have been a total of 13 delta cases detected, with nine of them spotted in…

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

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Peninsula remains in low alert level for COVID-19 cases

Alaska, peninsula remain in low alert level.

Firefighter medic Andy Tighe snaps a photo of the breakaway plus-class cruise ship Norwegian Bliss while Captain Tracy Mettler operates a fireboat in the Tongass Narrows in Ketchikan, Alaska, on June 4, 2018. President Joe Biden signed into law Monday, May 24, 2021, legislation that opens a door for resumed cruise ship travel to Alaska after the pandemic last year scrapped sailings. (Dustin Safranek / Ketchikan Daily News)

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Alaska’s cruise season ‘good to go’

Ships expected late July.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

News

Peninsula remains in low alert level for COVID-19 cases

Alaska, peninsula remain in low alert level.

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, talks during an interview in the Empire's offices. During the conversation, Young discussed ongoing infrastructure bill negotiations, the Arctic's strategic importance to the U.S. and why he's seeking a 26th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

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The Empire sits down with Rep Young

We hit some of the wavetops of Young’s recent work.