Wire Service

The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Alaska needs to be a smart shopper for taxes

Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry, you’ll make too many wrong choices

The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)
Peggy Ann McConnochie (Courtesy)

My Turn: A closer look at ‘guiding principles’

Some of the assumptions behind those headings raise some red flags for me

Peggy Ann McConnochie (Courtesy)
Photo by Martin Truffer
The 18,008-foot Mount St. Elias rises above Malaspina Glacier and Sitkagi Lagoon (water body center left) in 2021.

Alaska Science Forum: The long fade of Alaska’s largest glacier

SITKAGI BLUFFS — While paddling a glacial lake complete with icebergs and milky blue water, I dipped my left hand, then tasted my fingers. Salty.… Continue reading

Photo by Martin Truffer
The 18,008-foot Mount St. Elias rises above Malaspina Glacier and Sitkagi Lagoon (water body center left) in 2021.
The northern lights are pictured near the Mendenhall Glacier on Sept. 3, 2025. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)

Weekly Wonder: Chasing the aurora

She’s hard to find, and even trickier to photograph

The northern lights are pictured near the Mendenhall Glacier on Sept. 3, 2025. (Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire)
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Ships in port, Sept. 10-13

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule. Capacity figures in parenthesis were pulled from cruise lines’ websites. Wednesday, Sept. 10… Continue reading

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Calendar, Sept. 10-13

Submissions to this calendar can be sent to editor@juneauempire.com. They should include the date, time, location, short summary of the event, a website and/or social… Continue reading

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Ships in port, Sept. 6-10

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2025 schedule. Capacity figures in parenthesis were pulled from cruise lines’ websites. Saturday, Sept. 6… Continue reading

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Brooke L. Rollins

Opinion: The Trump administration is reviving timber production in Southeast Alaska

Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is charting a new course

Brooke L. Rollins
Derived from the best-selling Audible audiobook “Midnight Son,” by James Dommek Jr., a new documentary on Hulu, “Blood & Myth,” follows Dommek’s investigation into a series of shocking violent crimes that shatter a remote Native village in Northern Alaska. (Courtesy of Disney/via Alaska Beacon)

Film explores clash of Native culture, Western justice

New documentary, “Blood & Myth,” relates to 2012 shootings and woman’s death that convicted Iñupiaq man blamed on encounter with “little people”

Derived from the best-selling Audible audiobook “Midnight Son,” by James Dommek Jr., a new documentary on Hulu, “Blood & Myth,” follows Dommek’s investigation into a series of shocking violent crimes that shatter a remote Native village in Northern Alaska. (Courtesy of Disney/via Alaska Beacon)
Photo provided by Alexander Dolitsky
Alexander Dolitsky participates in a traditional Jewish blessing, in which two leather boxes (tefillins) are secured around a person’s head and arm, at Hearthside Books in the Merchant Wharf Mall in downtown Juneau, August 2025.

From whispers in Kiev to shofar blasts in Juneau

Certainly, one would not refuse an offer of such a sincere blessing

Photo provided by Alexander Dolitsky
Alexander Dolitsky participates in a traditional Jewish blessing, in which two leather boxes (tefillins) are secured around a person’s head and arm, at Hearthside Books in the Merchant Wharf Mall in downtown Juneau, August 2025.
Joe Geldhof. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Yes, yes and no is the way to go this October

The best way to make Juneau more affordable is to adopt the two sensible ballot measures put forward by the Affordable Juneau Coalition

Joe Geldhof. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The Roadless Rule doesn’t have to be controversial

Regulations aren’t needed to prevent roadbuilding on landforms such as the sprawling Juneau and Stikine icefields

The Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Win Gruening (courtesy)

My Turn: Juneau taxpayers pay the price for no growth mindset

Economic growth, measured by an increase in income, employment, and a broader and thus healthier tax base, would help make Juneau more affordable.

Win Gruening (courtesy)
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Police calls, Sept. 1-2

This report contains public information available to the Empire from law enforcement and public safety agencies. This report includes arrest and citation information, not conviction… Continue reading

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The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Artic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)

Coast Guard issues contract for major icebreaker port expansion in Seattle

The budget package also included $300 million for port construction in Juneau to support the newly commissioned Coast Guard icebreaker Storis

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Artic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)
Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire
From left, Assembly candidates Wade Bryson, Nano Brooks, Greg Smith and Ella Adkison participate in a forum moderated by the Juneau Downtown Business Association on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Candidates discuss visions for Juneau at election forum

Juneau Downtown Business Association hosts Board of Education and Assembly candidate forum

Chloe Anderson for the Juneau Empire
From left, Assembly candidates Wade Bryson, Nano Brooks, Greg Smith and Ella Adkison participate in a forum moderated by the Juneau Downtown Business Association on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Photo courtesy Corvus Design
The Anan Wildlife Observatory’s main viewing deck, shelter and spiral staircase to lower-level platforms all factored into the design award presented by the Alaska chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Anan Observatory rebuild wins landscape architects award in Wrangell

The award recognizes the new viewing platforms, shelter, boardwalk and stairs by Corvus Design

Photo courtesy Corvus Design
The Anan Wildlife Observatory’s main viewing deck, shelter and spiral staircase to lower-level platforms all factored into the design award presented by the Alaska chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
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Calendar, Sept. 3-7

Submissions to this calendar can be sent to editor@juneauempire.com. They should include the date, time, location, short summary of the event, a website and/or social… Continue reading

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Photo by Jeff Lund/Juneau Empire
The point of fishing is to catch fish, but there are other things to see and do while out on a trip.

I Went to the Woods: Fish of the summer

I was amped to be out on the polished ocean and was game for the necessary work of jigging

Photo by Jeff Lund/Juneau Empire
The point of fishing is to catch fish, but there are other things to see and do while out on a trip.
A view of visitors exploring the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area taken from the visitor center on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Researcher is feared dead after falling into hole on Mendenhall Glacier

Officials said that the man was a resident of Italy and that they were trying to notify his family there

A view of visitors exploring the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area taken from the visitor center on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)