Opinion

The White House in Washington, Jan. 28, 2025. A federal judge said on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, that she intended to temporarily block the Trump administration from imposing a sweeping freeze on trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans, adding to the pushback against an effort by the White House’s Office and Management and Budget. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

My Turn: A plea for Alaska’s delegation to actively oppose political coup occurring in D.C.

An open letter to Alaska’s Congressional delegation: I am a 40-year resident of the State of Alaska and an 83-year resident of the United States… Continue reading

 

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) questions Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday morning, Jan. 14, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Opinion: Sen. Sullivan doesn’t know the meaning of leadership

Last Wednesday, Sen. Dan Sullivan should have been prepared for questions about President Donald Trump’s pardons of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. After all, he referred… Continue reading

 

(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: In the spirit of McKinley, a new name for Juneau

Here is a modest proposal for making Juneau great again. As we all know, our town was named after a miner, Joe Juneau. But Joe… Continue reading

 

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, following his inauguration as the 47th president. Legal experts said the president was testing the boundaries of executive power with aggressive orders designed to stop the country from transitioning to renewable energy. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Opinion: Sen. McConnell, not God, made Trump’s retribution presidency possible

I’m not at all impressed by President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at maximizing the development and production of Alaska’s natural recourses. I think the… Continue reading

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, following his inauguration as the 47th president. Legal experts said the president was testing the boundaries of executive power with aggressive orders designed to stop the country from transitioning to renewable energy. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
Juneau Assembly members confer with city administrative leaders during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Nov 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Community affordability takes a back seat to Assembly spending

Less than four months ago, Juneau voters approved a $10 million bond for wastewater facility upgrades and a $12.75 million public safety communications bond. At… Continue reading

Juneau Assembly members confer with city administrative leaders during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Nov 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Informing the Public?

The recent Los Angeles area firestorms have created their own media circus with lots of finger-pointing, partisan blaming, and attempts at obfuscation or deflection. Since… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Bins of old PFAS-containing firefighting foams are seen on Oct. 24, 2024, at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport fire department headquarters. The PFAS foams are due to be removed and sent to a treatment facility. The airport, like all other state-operated airports, is to switch to non-PFAS firefighting foams by the start of 2025, under a new state law. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Opinion: A change for safer attire: PFAS Alternatives Act 2023

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, are man-made synthetic chemicals with substantial fire and water-resistant properties. While many PFAS reached consumer goods markets… Continue reading

Bins of old PFAS-containing firefighting foams are seen on Oct. 24, 2024, at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport fire department headquarters. The PFAS foams are due to be removed and sent to a treatment facility. The airport, like all other state-operated airports, is to switch to non-PFAS firefighting foams by the start of 2025, under a new state law. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Attendees are seated during former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, on Jan. 9, 2025. Pictures shared on social media by the vice president and by the Carter Center prominently showed other past presidents in attendance. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)

Opinion: Karen Pence’s silent act of conscience

Last week at Jimmy Carter’s funeral, President-elect Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama were seated next to each other and appeared to engage in… Continue reading

Attendees are seated during former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, on Jan. 9, 2025. Pictures shared on social media by the vice president and by the Carter Center prominently showed other past presidents in attendance. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)
The Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc hatchery. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Fisheries Proposal 156 jeopardizes Juneau sport fishing and salmon

The Board of Fisheries will meet in Ketchikan Jan. 28–Feb. 9 to consider Southeast proposals, including Proposal 156 which calls for a 25% reduction in… Continue reading

The Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc hatchery. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Alaska State Capitol is seen in partial morning sun on May 10, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Opinion: Attacking Biden is not the answer for Alaska — leadership is

Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s transition report to the Trump administration accuses the Biden administration of carrying out a four-year assault on Alaska’s economy and that the… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen in partial morning sun on May 10, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska State Capitol is seen in partial morning sun on May 10, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Opinion: Attacking Biden is not the answer for Alaska — leadership is

Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s transition report to the Trump administration accuses the Biden administration of carrying out a four-year assault on Alaska’s economy and that the… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol is seen in partial morning sun on May 10, 2024. (Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Congress holds a joint session to certify the election results of 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 6, 2025. President-elect Donald J. Trump has waffled on his preferences for how his party tackles his agenda, adding to the uncertainty for Republicans. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)

Opinion: The moral imperative of our time

Last week, the Washington Post, censored a political cartoon by Pulitzer Prize winner Ann Telnaes. It depicted Jeff Bezos, the Amazon billionaire and owner of… Continue reading

Congress holds a joint session to certify the election results of 2024 on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 6, 2025. President-elect Donald J. Trump has waffled on his preferences for how his party tackles his agenda, adding to the uncertainty for Republicans. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
A view from the mountainside at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)

Opinion: New report demonstrates how Eaglecrest Ski Area can be self-supporting

A recently released report by the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) provides insight into efforts to increase summertime revenues at Juneau’s city-owned ski area… Continue reading

A view from the mountainside at Eaglecrest Ski Area. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Social Security law restores payments Congress took from public workers

The news media has been wrongly depicting the social security fix to the Wage Equalization Program (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) as increasing Social… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Appreciative of Win Gruening’s columns, even if not always in agreement

In his Dec. 28 column Win Gruening reflected on his ten years writing biweekly commentaries for the Empire, and commented on how lucky Juneau is… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski addresses the Alaska State Legislature in February of 2023 at the Alaska State Capitol. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Alaska delegation deserves kudos for new Social Security law

The Social Security legislation just now signed into law brings a significant economic benefit to Alaska. Our Alaska delegation to Congress deserves recognition for it.… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski addresses the Alaska State Legislature in February of 2023 at the Alaska State Capitol. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
A Chinook salmon is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS)

My Turn: Efforts to protect salmon, environment are to benefit a wide spectrum of interests

Tom Conner’s recent My Turn criticizing SalmonState was a messy mashup of insults and misinformation that read suspiciously like talking points whipped up by a… Continue reading

A Chinook salmon is seen in an undated photo. (Photo by Ryan Hagerty/USFWS)
The headwaters of the Ambler River in the Noatak National Preserve of Alaska, near where a proposed access road would end, are seen in an undated photo. (Ken Hill/National Park Service)

My Turn: Alaska’s responsible resource development is under threat

By Tom Conner Oil, mining, and fisheries have long been the bedrock of our state’s economy, bringing not only thousands of in-state jobs and billions… Continue reading

The headwaters of the Ambler River in the Noatak National Preserve of Alaska, near where a proposed access road would end, are seen in an undated photo. (Ken Hill/National Park Service)
(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)

My Turn: Alaska fisheries management is on an historical threshold

Alaska has a governor who habitually makes appointments to governing boards of individuals who have what should be disqualifying conflicts of interest. For fisheries, this… Continue reading

(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)
Rep.-elect Nick Begich III of Alaska is scheduled to be sworn in Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Lip service to the Constitution

On Monday, Nick Begich III will be sworn in as Alaska’s congressman at large. But the oath he takes won’t mean much unless he’s willing… Continue reading

Rep.-elect Nick Begich III of Alaska is scheduled to be sworn in Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)