Alaska State Legislature

First lady of the U.S. Jill Biden poses for a photo with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his wife Mariko in Tokyo, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Biden embarked on her first solo international trip as first lady, leading a U.S. delegation to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where the coronavirus is surging and COVID-19 infections have climbed to a six-month high. (Kyodo News via AP)

Jill Biden in Tokyo for Olympic Games, meets prime minister

By Mark Thiessen And Darlene Superville Jul. 21, 2021 08:44 AM EDT

Alaska lawmakers make masks at state Capitol optional

May. 14, 2021 07:38 PM EDT
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska legislative leaders voted Friday to make mask-wearing optional at the state Capitol and then shed their own face coverings after...

Alaska lawmakers want a say in use of federal aid money

Apr. 21, 2021 01:56 PM EDT
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska lawmakers want a say in how the state spends more than $1 billion from a new federal aid package, a year after largely ceding...

Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, speaks to reporters on Monday, March 15, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Reinbold returned to her seat on the Senate floor Monday with a new face-covering meant to comply with COVID-19 mitigation policies after Senate leaders last week took action to restrict her access to the floor and committee hearings for what they said were policy violations. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, Pool)

Alaska senator changes face covering after rules dispute

By Becky Bohrer Mar. 15, 2021 05:22 PM EDT

Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold sits in a Senate gallery on Friday, March 12, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska, with Sens. Click Bishop, left, and Bert Stedman, right, in the foreground. The Alaska Senate voted Wednesday to allow leadership to restrict access to the Capitol by Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, over violations of protocols meant to guard against COVID-19. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, Pool)

Alaska Senate leaders accommodate member over virus rules

By Becky Bohrer Mar. 12, 2021 07:46 PM EST

FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 file photo, Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska Senate voted Wednesday, March 10, 2021, to allow leadership to restrict access to the Capitol by Reinbold, who fellow lawmakers say has refused to follow measures meant to guard against COVID-19. The 18-1 vote came 51 days into a legislative session throughout which Reinbold has worn a clear face shield that legislative leaders say runs afoul of masking rules. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska Senate takes action against member over virus rules

By Becky Bohrer Mar. 10, 2021 09:42 PM EST

Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold holds a news conference outside the Senate chambers in the Alaska Capitol on Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Reinbold said she wants an apology from Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a fellow Republican, after he sent her a letter last month accusing her of misrepresenting the state's COVID-19 response. A Dunleavy spokesperson said the governor will not be retracting his letter to Reinbold. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska senator wants Dunleavy apology after scathing letter

By Becky Bohrer Mar. 04, 2021 08:18 PM EST

New COVID-19 cases related to Alaska Legislature reported

Mar. 01, 2021 05:57 PM EST
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — At least four new COVID-19 cases have been reported in recent days surrounding the Alaska Legislature, according to information from a...

A legislative aide enters the Alaska State Capitol as a worker clears snow from in front of the building on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House speaker announced on Wednesday, Feb. 24, that a House member had tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska House work disrupted after positive COVID-19 result

By Becky Bohrer Feb. 25, 2021 03:17 PM EST

Alaska governor, House member test positive for COVID-19

By Becky Bohrer Feb. 24, 2021 05:25 PM EST
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and was at his home near Wasilla with mild symptoms, his office said....

Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, sent Reinbold a letter on Feb. 18, 2021, saying she has used her position to "misrepresent" the state's COVID-19 response. Reinbold said the letter was "full of baseless accusations and complaints." (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska governor says lawmaker misrepresents virus response

By Becky Bohrer Feb. 19, 2021 08:18 PM EST

Lawmakers don't extend disaster order, ask Dunleavy for help

By Becky Bohrer Feb. 12, 2021 06:58 PM EST
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska lawmakers, facing a looming deadline and disorganization in the House, have asked Gov. Mike Dunleavy to issue a new disaster...

FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2018, file photo, Alaska state Rep. Louise Stutes, left, a Kodiak Republican, speaks with Rep. Sam Kito III, a Juneau Democrat, before the start of the Alaska legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House voted to elect Kodiak Rep. Louise Stutes as speaker Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, more than three weeks into the legislative session. Rep. Stutes, following her election, said she looked forward to uniting the 40-member House. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Alaska House elects Kodiak Republican Stutes as speaker

By Becky Bohrer Feb. 11, 2021 05:58 PM EST

Alaska Senate OKs remote voting if needed during pandemic

Feb. 03, 2021 07:28 PM EST
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Senate passed a resolution Wednesday intended to allow for remote voting if necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...

Dunleavy pitches dividend change amid legislative splits

By Becky Bohrer Jan. 21, 2021 05:59 PM EST
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed checks of nearly $5,000 to residents as part of an effort aimed at reviving the state's pandemic...

Alaska state Rep. Bart LeBon, a Fairbanks Republican, poses in a mask bearing his name outside a committee room in the state Capitol in Juneau, Alaska, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. The new Legislature is set to convene on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska Legislature to convene amid budget, virus concerns

By Becky Bohrer Jan. 18, 2021 09:11 AM EST

FILE - In this May 19, 2020, file photo, Alaska House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, left, presides over the House floor in Juneau, Alaska. Alaska lawmakers who each year relocate to a capital city accessible only by plane or boat are facing challenges in getting settled ahead of what is expected to be a difficult legislative session overshadowed by COVID-19. Speaker Edgmon, an independent from Dillingham, about 860 miles from Juneau, said pandemic concerns come at a time when lawmakers will need to make tough budget decisions. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Virus causes session housing headaches for Alaska lawmakers

By Becky Bohrer Dec. 14, 2020 12:20 PM EST

Alaska House member says virus serious after hospitalization

Nov. 16, 2020 04:54 PM EST
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — U.S. Rep. Don Young said he was hospitalized over the weekend after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and is now recovering at home in Alaska...

In this Aug. 26, 2020, photo, U.S. Rep. Don Young, an Alaska Republican, speaks during a ceremony in Anchorage, Alaska, celebrating the opening of a Lady Justice Task Force cold case office which will specialize in cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous women. Young announced Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, on Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Alaska's sole member in US House tests positive for COVID-19

By Mark Thiessen Nov. 12, 2020 04:54 PM EST

Alaska elections officials prepare for absentee ballot count

By Becky Bohrer Nov. 09, 2020 05:24 PM EST
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska election officials plan to begin counting more than 155,000 absentee and other ballots Tuesday, a week after Election Day. ...