Wire Service

Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Imagine the comfort of Jesus’ promise of heaven

Earlier this month, former president Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100. While factors like double-digit inflation, high unemployment and the Iran Hostage Crisis… Continue reading

Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
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)
The Dalton Highway winds through the Jim River and Prospect Creek valleys in northern Alaska, where an official thermometer registered Alaska’s all-time low of minus 80 degrees F on Jan. 23, 1971. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Dangerous cold across the land

In late January 2025, meteorologists from the National Weather Service Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, are predicting “dangerously cold temperatures and wind chill values… Continue reading

The Dalton Highway winds through the Jim River and Prospect Creek valleys in northern Alaska, where an official thermometer registered Alaska’s all-time low of minus 80 degrees F on Jan. 23, 1971. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
The future U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, the service’s newest icebreaker, near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

The Juneau-bound icebreaker has design problems and a history of failure. It’s America’s latest military vessel.

Aiviq builders gave more than $7M in political donations since 2012; Coast Guard purchased vessel under pressure from Congress.

The future U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis, the service’s newest icebreaker, near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
A voter in Alaska’s special U.S. House primary election drops their ballot into a box on Saturday, June 11, 2022 as a poll worker observes. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Election reforms are on the agenda for Alaska lawmakers this year

Gov. Mike Dunleavy introduced bill through House; Senate majority is expected to introduce its own.

A voter in Alaska’s special U.S. House primary election drops their ballot into a box on Saturday, June 11, 2022 as a poll worker observes. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about new Trump administration policies at a news conference Wednesday in his Anchorage office. Behind him are Attorney General Treg Taylor and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle. Dunleavy and administration officials said President Trump’s reversals of Biden administration environmental policies will benefit Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Gov. Dunleavy and administration officials applaud Trump’s Alaska policies

Executive orders will enable more drilling, mining and other resource development.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about new Trump administration policies at a news conference Wednesday in his Anchorage office. Behind him are Attorney General Treg Taylor and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle. Dunleavy and administration officials said President Trump’s reversals of Biden administration environmental policies will benefit Alaska. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Photo provided by Maeve Wolf

Sustainable Alaska: From grief to action

How awe and environmental engagement help students navigate climate anxiety

Photo provided by Maeve Wolf
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)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Monday, Jan. 20, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / 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)
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Monday. (Chang W. Lee / The New York Times)

Here are Trump’s day-one executive orders

President Trump on Monday began issuing a barrage of executive orders, kicking off his presidency with a muscular use of power intended to signal a… Continue reading

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Monday. (Chang W. Lee / The New York Times)
Naturalists try to identify a small plant — answering the “Who” question, with others to follow. (Photo by Mary Anne Slemmons)

On the Trails: Naturalists ask many questions

Curious naturalists can ask different kinds of questions about what we see. The most basic kinds consist of the usual, descriptive Who/What/When/Where/How? For instance, some… Continue reading

Naturalists try to identify a small plant — answering the “Who” question, with others to follow. (Photo by Mary Anne Slemmons)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Police calls for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Aurora forecast through the week of Jan. 25

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute and available online, along with more data, at www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast. The listings below will… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Passengers wait in security lines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. (Port of Seattle photo)

Measles warning issued by CBJ after Kenai-area resident traveling through Sea-Tac tests positive

Infected person was at Seattle airport Jan. 10, took nighttime Alaska Airlines flight to Anchorage.

Passengers wait in security lines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. (Port of Seattle photo)
Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (right) listens to Katherine George-Byrd ahead of Saturday’s bombardment apology ceremony. George-Byrd, a Kiks’adi clan mother, talked to the senator about the at.óow on the table before them. At.óow are clan items that provide a connection between current clan members and their ancestors. (Sam Pausman / Wrangell Sentinel)

U.S. Army delivers historic apology for 1869 Wrangell bombardment; three of seven clans accept

Unlike Kake and Angoon apologies, some in Wrangell reject military’s words and seek further reparations.

Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (right) listens to Katherine George-Byrd ahead of Saturday’s bombardment apology ceremony. George-Byrd, a Kiks’adi clan mother, talked to the senator about the at.óow on the table before them. At.óow are clan items that provide a connection between current clan members and their ancestors. (Sam Pausman / Wrangell Sentinel)
Caesar salad ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking For Pleasure: Restaurant-style Caesar salad

When I go to a fine restaurant and Caesar salad is on the menu, it is usually the first thing I order. When I was… Continue reading

Caesar salad ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)