Juneau Empire
WEATHER | Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High of 79, low of 53. B6
DEAR ABBY | A4
RAINBOW DOOR
OVER THE HILL
Revitalizing Rendezvous. C1.
Mount Roberts Run. B6.
Dueling analyses raise questions about session By BECKY BOHRER ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alaska’s attorney general said Wednesday that Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has the authority to call a special session where he wishes and the option of seeking a court order to compel rebellious lawmakers to convene in his chosen location of Wasilla. How far Dunleavy plans to
push the issue — his latest dustup with lawmakers — remains to be seen. Attorney General Kevin Clarkson’s position is at odds with that of the Legislature’s top legal adviser, Megan Wallace, who in a memo said a governor does not have the constitutional power to compel the Legislature to meet in a location other than the capital of Juneau. Clarkson told reporters the writ-
ers of the state’s constitution, if they wished, could have limited where a special session could be held but didn’t. The constitution permits the governor to call a special session and for lawmakers to call themselves into one if they can muster sufficient votes. Dunleavy called for a special session, starting July 8, in Wasilla, where he’s from. But House Speaker Bryce Edgmon and
Senate President Cathy Giessel this week said the Legislature instead plans to convene in Juneau and hold most meetings in Anchorage. Clarkson said Dunleavy asked him for his legal options. Clarkson said he could seek a court order compelling lawmakers not present in Wasilla to go there and have Alaska State Troopers roundup those who defy any such court order.
PLAY IT COOL
“I have no idea whether he’ll choose that or not,” Clarkson said. Dunleavy also possibly could join a lawsuit filed by a citizen or simply let lawmakers meet where they want, Clarkson said. Dunleavy spokesman Matt Shuckerow said Dunleavy would be able to address those issues later. SEE MEMO | Page A4
Capital City Fire/Rescue to take over sleep off program starting July 1 JUNEAU EMPIRE
warm to 80 degrees on Thursday and 82 degrees on Friday. The latter mark would set a new record for the hottest-ever June 28th in the capital city. The current recordhigh temperature is 78 degrees, set in 1983. Despite the ongoing warm spell, this month’s average temperature (54.9 degrees) is nothing too extreme: it’s 24th warmest on record and three degrees cooler than the June average on this date 15 years ago. The summer of 2004 is the hottest on record.
Capital City Fire/Rescue will take over Juneau’s sleep off program on July 1. The service, which provides field evaluation and transportation of inebriated individuals to a safe space where they can sober up, is currently housed at Bartlett Regional Hospital. The service will have a new name — CCFR CARES, or Community Assistance Response and Emergency Services — and a new location at St. Vincent de Paul on Teal Street in the former site of the thrift store. “The new identity is to better reflect our vision of how the program will serve the community,” said Fire Chief Rich Etheridge in a press release. “Managing the sleep off center will be one facet. The core purpose of CARES is to connect people with needed services, start whittling away at their challenges and barriers, and hopefully reduce their reliance on emergency services.” The supervised sleep off center will operate 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. CARES will be co-located with St. Vincent de Paul’s Community Navigator program. People who use the program will have immediate access to the navigators as well as access to bathing, laundry and clothing resources. “Relocating sleep off services from BRH to CCFR allows BRH to better focus on their core medical-related services and offer expanded substance abuse treatment programs to those in need,” said Deputy City Manager Mila Cosgrove in a press release.
SEE HEAT | Page A4
SEE SLEEP | Page A3
MICHAEL PENN | JUNEAU EMPIRE
Dallas Hamblin, 5, and Neveah Berryhill, 9, left, play in a sprinkler set up during the RALLY program at Harborview Elementary School on Wednesday.
Break out sunscreen: Heat spell here to stay Temperatures expected to hit 80 today, tomorrow By NOLIN AINSWORTH JUNEAU EMPIRE
Juneau’s temperatures climbed to 75 degrees on Tuesday, and the summery weather is expected to stick around at least until Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The Mendenhall Valley is forecasted to be slightly warmer than the downtown area, according to NWS meteorologist Wes
Adkins, but both regions are expected to reach at least 80 degrees by Friday before cooling off slightly over the weekend. “We are going for near-record temperatures,” Adkins said by phone Wednesday morning. “It looks to remain pretty warm through the end of the work week and possibly into parts of the weekend, although our confidence is lower for the weekend.” The Juneau International Airport, the city’s official measuring point, is expected to
LEGISLATION
State Suicide Prevention Council gets a 7-year extension Governor signs bill that extends term of the organization By BEN HOHENSTATT JUNEAU EMPIRE
Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that will extend the existence of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council to 2027. The council, which was created in 2001, advises the governor and legislature on suicide-related issues. It also works with communities, educators and faith groups to prevent suicide in Alaska.
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“We know for sure the council is going to be in place for the next seven years,” said acting Executive Director for the council Bev Schoonover in a phone interview after the signing. “It’s really nice to get recognized by the governor and the legislature.” The council’s expiration date without the bill was Sunday. In the past, the council has been extended three years at a time, Schoonover said. It also
typically formulates a five-year prevention plan, and Schoonover said it’s nice to have an extension that lasts past the 2018 plan. Senate Bill 10, which led to the extension, enjoyed widespread bipartisan support on its way to the governor’s desk. It was sponsored by Sen. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks, and co-sponsored by democratic and republican senators and representatives.
Dunleavy said Wednesday the work of the council is important for the health and wellness of all Alaskans, during a press conference for the bill’s signing at the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Frontier Building in Anchorage. “Suicideis not a rural problem, it’s not an urban problem,” Dunleavy said. “It’s a statewide problem. It’s an Alaskan problem.” SEE COUNCIL | Page A3
MICHAEL PENN | JUNEAU EMPIRE FILE
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during an interview with the Juneau Empire at the Capitol on Feb. 26. Wednesday he signed a bill that extends the term of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council.