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A person walks along the tideline adjacent to the Airport Dike Trail on Thursday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Capital City Weekly

Gimme A Smile: Help me up

I fell on the ice the other day. One minute, I was carefully picking my way along the slippery trail, and the next minute, whoosh,… Continue reading

 

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

 

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

 

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)
(Juneau Empire File)

Community calendar of upcoming events

This is a calendar updated daily of upcoming local events during the coming days provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, and other contributors.… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire File)
Photo provided by Maeve Wolf

Sustainable Alaska: From grief to action

How awe and environmental engagement help students navigate climate anxiety

  • Jan 22, 2025
  • By Maeve Wolf
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)
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

  • Jan 21, 2025
  • By Jonathan Sharp, Alaska Beacon
  • Opinion
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)
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)
Caesar salad ready to serve. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Capital City Weekly

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)
Sputnik 1 orbits Earth in this artist’s rendition by Gregory Todd. (Creative Commons)

Alaska Science Forum: The first satellite’s Alaska connection

The first satellite’s Alaska connection On any clear, dark night you can see them, gliding through the sky and reflecting sunlight from the other side… Continue reading

Sputnik 1 orbits Earth in this artist’s rendition by Gregory Todd. (Creative Commons)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Logan Carriker (24) scores on a free throw against Ketchikan earlier this season in the George Houston Gymnasium. Carriker was noted for his play at Colony on Thursday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Colony topples JDHS boys in tourney opener

Knights of the round ball drain threes, control battle of the boards.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Logan Carriker (24) scores on a free throw against Ketchikan earlier this season in the George Houston Gymnasium. Carriker was noted for his play at Colony on Thursday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
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)
Destination angling often creates an unhealthy feeling of incompleteness and desperation. Fishing goals I knew what it was going to be, but I clicked anyway. “What are your fishing goals for 2025” was an advertisement for a lodge in an area I have longed to fish but I’m priced out, have priced myself out or however you write “it’s expensive and probably won’t happen.” (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Angling for goals to appreciate in 2025

This is somewhat devastating because saying you might not do something at 23-years old is just youth speaking. Saying it at 43-year old means not… Continue reading

Destination angling often creates an unhealthy feeling of incompleteness and desperation. Fishing goals I knew what it was going to be, but I clicked anyway. “What are your fishing goals for 2025” was an advertisement for a lodge in an area I have longed to fish but I’m priced out, have priced myself out or however you write “it’s expensive and probably won’t happen.” (Photo by Jeff Lund)
(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: Free will

Genesis 1: 26 -28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish… Continue reading

(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)
Women from Juneau Women Running group pose on a Jan. 1 run to mark the start of January Streak month. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: A mile a day

Sigh. January. The hangover of the holidays. The pumpkin, turkey and presents have passed, and you know you should have had one serving less of… Continue reading

Women from Juneau Women Running group pose on a Jan. 1 run to mark the start of January Streak month. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A female acorn woodpecker. (Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0)

On the Trails: Making hay and storing food

Many animals store food in preparation for winter or just to be eaten later. Bears and wolves are among those that stash prey remains, with… Continue reading

A female acorn woodpecker. (Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0)
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)
Becky Corson is a member of Shepherd Of The Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo provided by Becky Corson)

Living and Growing: ‘Secondhand’ can be a wonderful way to go

These clothing sales are ruining my life. Maybe that’s an overstatement. It’s more that the guilt I’m experiencing is ruining my life. It’s the guilt… Continue reading

Becky Corson is a member of Shepherd Of The Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo provided by Becky Corson)
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)