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Van Abbott

Opinion

OPINION: Congress’s silence is Trump’s tax shield

The “1776 Fund” may prove to be one of the most successful acts of political misdirection in modern…

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Letters to the Editor

LETTER: Transparency needed on fossil fuel subsidies

The world as we know it today was built on the back of burning fossil fuels. Unfortunately this…

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Letters to the Editor

LETTER: Crypto investments questioned

Van Abbott’s description (Empire 6 June) of Nick Begich III as Trump’s crypto salesman rings true. In fact,…

Win Gruening retired as the senior vice-president in charge of business banking for Key Bank in 2012. He was born and raised in Juneau and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970. (courtesy)

Opinion

OPINION: Is Juneau buying solutions — or just bigger social service budgets?

Capital City Fire and Rescue (CCFR) released its May 2026 response statistics earlier this week. During the month…

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Letters to the Editor

LETTER: Business revenues going up in smoke

Our governor should take a hard look at the unintended consequences of massive new taxes on vapor products…

Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

OPINION: Wheels of Fortune just spin better for some people

Rest easy, my column isn’t about politics this week. It’s not that I have sworn off political opinions…

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Letters to the Editor

LETTER: Wealth inequality reaching crisis levels

Wealth inequality in the United States has reached levels that should concern every American. While millions of working…

Van Abbott.

Opinion

OPINION: The trillion-dollar presidency

How Trump turned war, debt, and chaos into America’s most expensive policy

Jeff Lund/submitted 
A remote cabin is an important part of the Alaskan identity whether you buy one, build one, know someone who has one, or read about someone else’s experience.

Opinion

I Went to the Woods: The log

Conflict drives plot and develops character so protagonists need antagonists and grow and to make the story interesting.

Van Abbott.

Opinion

OPINION: Trump’s crypto salesman

Why Nick Begich is spending political capital on Trump’s speculative scheme instead of Alaska’s problems

McHugh Pierre, Goldbelt’s president and CEO, discusses the Alaska Native Regional Corporation’s operations during its 50th-anniversary celebration in 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

OPINION: Goldbelt’s vision – A future that works for all of Juneau

Goldbelt wants to help build a future where families choose to stay in Juneau

Van Abbott. (Photo courtesy Van Abbott)

Opinion

OPINION: The art of losing

Donald Trump cannot recognize a losing hand

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo
Former Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch in 2018.

Letters to the Editor

MY TURN: Focus on issues important to Juneau, not personal attacks

You need to respect individuals’ right and commitment to put their ideas before the community

Peggy McKee Barnhill (Courtesy photo)

Opinion

Gimme a Smile: Summer vacation through the ages

Ah, summer vacation! Does it bring freedom or ever more stress? That depends on where you fall on…

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Letters to the Editor

LETTER: In search of Alaska’s silence

The shop near my London flat sells Scottish salmon under a light that makes it look fresher than…

Win Gruening (courtesy)

Opinion

OPINION: Repealing ranked-choice voting will help restore public trust

Ranked choice voting forces voters into a confusing process that many people do not fully understand

Low tide is great for beachcombing. Launching boats? Not so much. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Lund)

Opinion

I Went to the Woods: The weight of waiting

I had arrived at the moment of fleeting clarity. The boat ramp ended where the bottom flattened and…

Photo by Bethany Goodrich
The Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP) launches the third issue of their annual Magazine Woven: Peoples & Place.

Neighbors

Woven Peoples and Place: Hold onto the rope when the wind blows hard

Introducing the third edition of Woven Peoples and Place

Van Abbott.

Opinion

OPINION: How a riot became a Republican revenue stream

$10 billion Trump lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax information has morphed into an “anti-weaponization” fund

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
Visitors walk along the downtown cruise ship dock on May 14, 2025.

Letters to the Editor

MY TURN: The cost of turning Southeast Alaska into an industrial tourism corridor

Send your opinions to editor@juneauempire.com