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With graduation looming, life as a trail is a popular analogy, though the author prefers a menu metaphor. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Ordering off life’s menu

My favorite restaurant in Tucson served the best chips and salsa I have ever had. Granted, I was in college when I first had them,… Continue reading

With graduation looming, life as a trail is a popular analogy, though the author prefers a menu metaphor. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
President Donald Trump during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in Washington, Feb, 28, 2025. Trump’s preference for praising and excusing Vladimir Putin’s actions has yielded no progress toward peace in Ukraine. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Opinion: Slaves to Trump’s whims

The TACO trade isn’t a new restaurant. It stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” The acronym is Wall Street’s response to his on-again-off-again tariffs. John… Continue reading

President Donald Trump during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in Washington, Feb, 28, 2025. Trump’s preference for praising and excusing Vladimir Putin’s actions has yielded no progress toward peace in Ukraine. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
(Photo provided by Laura Rorem)

Living and Growing: Hypernormalization

Let us practice true patience and love, trusting God is at work while we wait in the not knowing and become “instruments of God’s peace.”… Continue reading

(Photo provided by Laura Rorem)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: City spending relies on cruise visitor spending

The recent failure of activists to gain sufficient signatures to put yet another anti-cruise initiative on the ballot in October is evidence that Juneau residents… Continue reading

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The F/V Liberty, captained by Trenton Clark, fishes the Pacific near Metlakatla on Aug. 20, 2024. Over the last few years, the $6 billion Alaskan wild seafood market has been ensnared in a mix of geopolitics, macroeconomics, changing ocean temperatures and post-Covid whiplash that piled on top of long-building vulnerabilities in the business model. (Ash Adams/The New York Times)

My Turn: Funding sustainable fisheries

Spring is always a busy season for Alaska’s fishermen and fishing communities. The air is full of anticipation as we prepare for the inevitable surprises… Continue reading

  • May 27, 2025
  • By Linda Behnken
  • Opinion
The F/V Liberty, captained by Trenton Clark, fishes the Pacific near Metlakatla on Aug. 20, 2024. Over the last few years, the $6 billion Alaskan wild seafood market has been ensnared in a mix of geopolitics, macroeconomics, changing ocean temperatures and post-Covid whiplash that piled on top of long-building vulnerabilities in the business model. (Ash Adams/The New York Times)
Angela Rodell is a member of the Affordable Juneau Coalition. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: It’s time for a government that works for working people

The Juneau Assembly voted to raise your property taxes — again. They did this while the cost of living continues to climb, while residents struggle… Continue reading

  • May 27, 2025
  • By Angela Rodell
  • Opinion
Angela Rodell is a member of the Affordable Juneau Coalition. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Courtesy photo)

My Turn: Fight fascism — have dinner

I try to get to as many political rallies as I can to voice my resistance to the Trump administration’s criminal attempts to destroy the… Continue reading

(Courtesy photo)
A violet-green swallow in flight. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Violet-green swallows; shoveler ducks

In early May, one of my great pleasures was watching violet-green swallows in their fast, circular flights over water (e.g., the river, Kingfisher Pond). They’d… Continue reading

A violet-green swallow in flight. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Hope in times of crisis

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Áakʼw Ḵwáan, the original inhabitants of Lingít… Continue reading

Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
Chris Heidemann, the president of the Juneau Education Association, testifies at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Celebrating our teachers

I went on a cruise this week. It was not the floating city, tourist-laden, helicopter and whale-watching behemoth so rampant in these waters. There were… Continue reading

Chris Heidemann, the president of the Juneau Education Association, testifies at a Juneau Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference on Monday, May 19, 2025, to discuss his decision to veto an education bill. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: On fiscal policy, Dunleavy is a governor in name only

“Any serious effort to stabilize Alaska’s fiscal future must also focus on diversifying our economy and creating new industries, which in turn broadens the economic… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference on Monday, May 19, 2025, to discuss his decision to veto an education bill. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Seniors from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls soccer team pose for a photo this week. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: Circle of life for seniors

This is not your grandparent’s newspaper. But much like many of the newspapers that have paved the way for this little printing, hopefully those grandparents… Continue reading

Seniors from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls soccer team pose for a photo this week. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A beach marmot alongside the trail seems to pose for its photograph. (Photo by Helen Unruh)

On the Trails: Spring??

The calendar says it is spring and maybe it is here. But several Juneau folks have mentioned that this is the worst spring in their… Continue reading

A beach marmot alongside the trail seems to pose for its photograph. (Photo by Helen Unruh)
President Trump as he visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Thursday, May, 15, 2025. During the first major foreign trip of his second term, President Trump has told audiences in the Middle East that he’s willing to set the past aside in the interests of peace and profit. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Opinion: Count on Sullivan to erase another red line

“If you want President Trump to succeed, this kind of skeezy stuff needs to stop,” Ben Shapiro said on his daily podcast on Monday. “I… Continue reading

President Trump as he visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Thursday, May, 15, 2025. During the first major foreign trip of his second term, President Trump has told audiences in the Middle East that he’s willing to set the past aside in the interests of peace and profit. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
A reflection of a cold-water dip in Sitka Sound. (Photo by Bethany Goodrich)

Woven Peoples and Place: We are coming out of the water

For the second year, the Sustainable Southeast Partnership is releasing “Woven” as a printed and digital collection of stories. The second edition “��̲andleeandlee sdu t’aláng… Continue reading

A reflection of a cold-water dip in Sitka Sound. (Photo by Bethany Goodrich)
(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: The call to pray the rosary

In many of the Marian Apparitions all over the world, the Blessed Virgin Mary often emphasized the importance of praying the rosary. On May 13,… Continue reading

(Photo by Gina Del Rosario)
Win Gruening. (Courtesy photo)

Opinion: Property tax cap initiative — safeguarding affordability for Juneau residents

We hear a lot from our city and civic leaders about the importance of keeping our community affordable. However, far too often, the actions and… Continue reading

Win Gruening. (Courtesy photo)
Michelle Bonnet Hale is a former deputy mayor of Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Begich are complicit in destruction of US democracy

I have found myself struggling, these past few months, to find the right words to describe the inaction of Sen. Sullivan and Rep. Begich in… Continue reading

Michelle Bonnet Hale is a former deputy mayor of Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Western toads are terrestrial except during the spring mating season. (Photo by Deana Barajas)

On The Trails: Spring birds and toads

In late April, a male yellow-rumped warbler began coming regularly to my deck, visiting the feeders. He picks off mouthfuls of peanut butter, one after… Continue reading

Western toads are terrestrial except during the spring mating season. (Photo by Deana Barajas)
An architect’s rendering of the proposed Capital Civic Center. (NorthWind Architects and Jensen Yorba Wall)

My Turn: Capital Civic Center will be an economic driver for Juneau

At the urging of the mayor, Travel Juneau, the Juneau Chamber of Commerce and the Partnership for a New JACC met together in early 2020… Continue reading

An architect’s rendering of the proposed Capital Civic Center. (NorthWind Architects and Jensen Yorba Wall)