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This May 2020 photo shows an open sign illuminated on a Juneau business. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Tamika L. Ledbetter announced on Friday the state will stop participating next month in a federal program that provides an extra $300 a week in unemployment aid. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

State to stop $300 weekly federal unemployment aid boost

It’s “time to help people get back to work.”

This May 2020 photo shows an open sign illuminated on a Juneau business. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Tamika L. Ledbetter announced on Friday the state will stop participating next month in a federal program that provides an extra $300 a week in unemployment aid. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gave his annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on May 3, 2021, but some Democratic lawmakers said the speech brought the partisanship of Washington D.C. to Alaska.

In letter, Alaska Democrats say Sullivan brought D.C. partisanship to Juneau

Not what Alaskans do.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gave his annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on May 3, 2021, but some Democratic lawmakers said the speech brought the partisanship of Washington D.C. to Alaska.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, said at this Wednesday, May 12, 2021 news conference there may be a special session of the Alaska Legislautre. On Thursday he officially called two, one for late May and one for early August. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy calls special sessions for budget, relief funds

Backlog of work.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, said at this Wednesday, May 12, 2021 news conference there may be a special session of the Alaska Legislautre. On Thursday he officially called two, one for late May and one for early August. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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State Senate majority leader’s bill would bar transgender girls from female sports

Bill would require participation in a sport to be based on the participant’s sex assigned at birth.

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Gov. Mike Dunleavy made changes to a proposed constitutional amendment in a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, he hopes will set the state on a better fiscal path. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy makes changes to Permanent Fund proposal

Gov says proposal is first step to better fiscal future

Gov. Mike Dunleavy made changes to a proposed constitutional amendment in a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, he hopes will set the state on a better fiscal path. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
In this May 9 photo, Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about tourism at the Wings Airways Hangar in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

WATCH: Governor talks future of the Permanent Fund

It’s scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m.

In this May 9 photo, Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about tourism at the Wings Airways Hangar in Juneau. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
Then-Gov. Sean Parnell speaks during an interview at the governor's mansion in July 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Former governor selected to lead UAA

Begins in June.

Then-Gov. Sean Parnell speaks during an interview at the governor's mansion in July 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, speaks to his concerns about Gov. Mike Dunleavy's appointment of Treg Taylor of Attorney General during a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers confirm attorney general, commissioners

Boards and commissions.

Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, speaks to his concerns about Gov. Mike Dunleavy's appointment of Treg Taylor of Attorney General during a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes, a Kodiak Republican, looks out on the floor of the Alaska House on Monday, May 10, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House on Monday resumed debate on a version of the state operating budget. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer, Pool)

House passes budget; dividend amount unsettled

By Becky Bohrer Associated Press The Alaska House passed a version of the state operating budget Monday that leaves for later debate over how much… Continue reading

Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes, a Kodiak Republican, looks out on the floor of the Alaska House on Monday, May 10, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House on Monday resumed debate on a version of the state operating budget. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer, Pool)
Lawmakers took a brief break from an all-day floor session Monday, May 10, 2021, when a plexiglass divider around a lawmakers desk fell over. Debate on the state's operating budget bill covered a range of political issues beyond just funding. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Budget bill becomes partisan battleground

All day debate.

Lawmakers took a brief break from an all-day floor session Monday, May 10, 2021, when a plexiglass divider around a lawmakers desk fell over. Debate on the state's operating budget bill covered a range of political issues beyond just funding. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska House of Representatives, seen here on Friday, May 7, 2021, is scheduled to meet early Monday morning to finalize budget bills before the end of the legislative session in about two weeks. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Speaker: House to pass budget Monday, special session likely

They’re meeting early on Monday.

The Alaska House of Representatives, seen here on Friday, May 7, 2021, is scheduled to meet early Monday morning to finalize budget bills before the end of the legislative session in about two weeks. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Data from the Alaska State Department of Epidemiology on Thursday, May 6, 2021 show the media usage of respondents in a survey about COVID-19 information. The report notes that this is about general media usage, not just as it pertains to COVID-19. (Courtesy Image / Alaska State Department of Epidemiology)

Survey: Friends, family most trusted among vaccine hesitant

The study analyzed the subset group of those surveyed who were not planning to get vaccinated, but who were open to learning more about the shots

Data from the Alaska State Department of Epidemiology on Thursday, May 6, 2021 show the media usage of respondents in a survey about COVID-19 information. The report notes that this is about general media usage, not just as it pertains to COVID-19. (Courtesy Image / Alaska State Department of Epidemiology)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

State court system offline after cybersecurity incident

No ransom message received.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Alaska Native Vietnam War veterans James Lindoff (left) and George Bennett drape a ceremonial blanket over Gov. Mike Dunleavy during a news conference on Wednesday. Dunleavy is proposing a program allowing Alaska Native veterans to exchange federal land for state lands potentially closer to their homes.

Gov proposes land exchange for Vietnam-era Alaska Native veterans

Righting an old wrong.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire Alaska Native Vietnam War veterans James Lindoff (left) and George Bennett drape a ceremonial blanket over Gov. Mike Dunleavy during a news conference on Wednesday. Dunleavy is proposing a program allowing Alaska Native veterans to exchange federal land for state lands potentially closer to their homes.
House Minority Leader Rep. Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, seen here speaking with Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, speak in the hall of the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 16, 2021, said the minority caucus is working on proposals for the annual Permanent Fund Dividend. The Legislature is approaching the end of the session, but has yet to allocate an amount for a PFD. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

As budget work continues, PFD question remains

A dividend divide.

House Minority Leader Rep. Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, seen here speaking with Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, speak in the hall of the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 16, 2021, said the minority caucus is working on proposals for the annual Permanent Fund Dividend. The Legislature is approaching the end of the session, but has yet to allocate an amount for a PFD. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A page in the Alaska House of Representatives hands out copies of a budget bill over 100 pages long on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire

With May 19 goal in mind, lawmakers speed up work

Saturday sessions.

A page in the Alaska House of Representatives hands out copies of a budget bill over 100 pages long on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Members of the Alaska House of Representatives spent hours in floor sessions Saturday and Sunday inside the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Monday, April 26, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House moves budget back to committee

More time to talk.

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives spent hours in floor sessions Saturday and Sunday inside the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Monday, April 26, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, listens as residents discuss a levee they have concerns with on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Hyder, Alaska. Hyder was among the Southeast Alaska communities that Dunleavy visited as part of a one-day trip. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)

Dunleavy’s travel signals move to return to normalcy

Have Gov. will travel.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, listens as residents discuss a levee they have concerns with on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Hyder, Alaska. Hyder was among the Southeast Alaska communities that Dunleavy visited as part of a one-day trip. (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer)
Dozens of amendments to a bill extending the state's disaster declaration are laid out on a table outside the Senate chambers on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Lawmakers eventually passed the bill, but didn't adjourned until late in the evening. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire.)

Lawmakers pass disaster bill, wait for governor

Disaster disagreement.

Dozens of amendments to a bill extending the state's disaster declaration are laid out on a table outside the Senate chambers on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Lawmakers eventually passed the bill, but didn't adjourned until late in the evening. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire.)
Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speaks to Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, before a floor session to debate a bill over a disaster declaration in the state on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The debate would take lawmakers into the evening Wednesday, as over 40 amendments were submitted on the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Disaster debate drags out in Senate

Even if bill advances, governor might not sign it.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speaks to Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, before a floor session to debate a bill over a disaster declaration in the state on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The debate would take lawmakers into the evening Wednesday, as over 40 amendments were submitted on the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)