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A sign to guide voters to the City Hall Assembly Chambers Voter Center hangs duct taped to the outside wall of the building on Election day Tuesday morning. Today is the last day for residents to cast their vote before polls close at 8 p.m. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

My Turn: Make Juneau more affordable; Yes, Yes, No.

The same day I received the CBJ “Voter Information” pamphlet in the mail, I learned of another young family pulling up and leaving town. They… Continue reading

  • Sep 15, 2025
  • By Ken Koelsch
A sign to guide voters to the City Hall Assembly Chambers Voter Center hangs duct taped to the outside wall of the building on Election day Tuesday morning. Today is the last day for residents to cast their vote before polls close at 8 p.m. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Telephone Hill on May 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Reconsidering Telephone Hill

The Assembly should reconsider its decision on Telephone Hill

  • Sep 15, 2025
  • By Jim Clark
Telephone Hill on May 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The key to this alphabet soup is knife work, and you get extra credit for homemade chicken bone broth. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Reading at the table

We had a great time at dinner picking letters out of our alphabet soup and thinking of words that start with them

The key to this alphabet soup is knife work, and you get extra credit for homemade chicken bone broth. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Dunleavy: A tribute to Charlie Kirk and the First Amendment

Today, I write this as not only your governor, but as a citizen of our great country who is mourning the passing of Charlie Kirk.

  • Sep 12, 2025
  • By Gov. Mike Dunleavy
  • Opinion
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)
The Tongass National Forest sign seen en route to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Roadless Rule reversal threatens Alaska’s economy, culture and heritage

The Tongass is not ‘overstocked’ — it’s irreplaceable

  • Sep 11, 2025
  • By Ariel E. Hasse-Zamudio
The Tongass National Forest sign seen en route to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
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

  • Sep 10, 2025
  • By Larry Persily Wrangell Sentinel
  • Columns
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

  • Sep 10, 2025
  • By Peggy Ann McConnochie
Peggy Ann McConnochie (Courtesy)
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.
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)
These chicken wings are sweet, mildly spicy, and fragrant with fresh ginger and garlic. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Small bites of indulgence

These gochujang-braised chicken wings are best enjoyed as a side dish to seasoned vegetables and in the comfortable company of old friends.

These chicken wings are sweet, mildly spicy, and fragrant with fresh ginger and garlic. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Image courtesy Alaska News Coalition

Opinion: Stand with local journalism

Alaska’s print and digital newsrooms, particularly in small communities and regional hubs, are under unprecedented strain

  • Sep 3, 2025
  • By the board of the Alaska News Coalition
Image courtesy Alaska News Coalition
(Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Transboundary rivers worth spending the money

The rivers are important for their recreational value, sport and commercial and subsistence fishing value, and cultural heritage

  • Sep 3, 2025
  • By Larry Persily Wrangell Sentinel
(Juneau Empire file photo)
City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)

My Turn: Consider what the City and Borough of Juneau accomplishes with your taxes

Do you really want to jeopardize the quality of life that we now enjoy?

  • Sep 3, 2025
  • By John Pugh
City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)
FBI agents leave with boxes from the home of John Bolton, President Trump’s former national security adviser, after serving a warrant in Bethesda, Md., Aug. 22, 2025. The investigation into Bolton began to pick up momentum during the Biden administration, when U.S. intelligence officials collected information that appeared to show that he had mishandled classified information, according to people familiar with the inquiry. (Jason Andrew/The New York Times)

Opinion: Trump’s war against Americans

There’s no guarantee American democracy will survive Trump’s presidency

FBI agents leave with boxes from the home of John Bolton, President Trump’s former national security adviser, after serving a warrant in Bethesda, Md., Aug. 22, 2025. The investigation into Bolton began to pick up momentum during the Biden administration, when U.S. intelligence officials collected information that appeared to show that he had mishandled classified information, according to people familiar with the inquiry. (Jason Andrew/The New York Times)
This April 12, 2022, photo shows former Alaska Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Building Alaska’s future by putting education first

This is why I am running for governor

  • Aug 30, 2025
  • By Tom Begich
This April 12, 2022, photo shows former Alaska Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Peggy McKee Barnhill (Courtesy photo)

Gimme a Smile: Time travel, 10 minutes at a time

I woke up Monday morning to the weird sight of my oven clock running 10 minutes fast

  • Aug 30, 2025
  • By Peggy McKee Barnhill
  • Columns
Peggy McKee Barnhill (Courtesy photo)
This healthier version of the kid-approved classic is made with pureed sweet potato that makes the dish a vibrant orange, and nutritional yeast imparts a savory, cheesy flavor. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion.)

First day of school mac and cheese

This healthier version of the kid-approved classic is made with pureed sweet potato and nutritional yeast.

This healthier version of the kid-approved classic is made with pureed sweet potato that makes the dish a vibrant orange, and nutritional yeast imparts a savory, cheesy flavor. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion.)
Guy Crockroft (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Consistency — An underrated quality

How did “Steady Eddie” do it? By working hard and being consistent.

Guy Crockroft (Courtesy photo)