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(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: What can be done to restrain Musk’s free hand from prying into our lives?

I began a letter to our congressional delegation with a question: “Can you look into why my tax and social security information is being investigated?”… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)

Living and Growing: Seeing is believing

Christians are nearing the time of Lent, 40 days of repentance and fasting, before the celebration of Easter. I love Easter. I love the worships.… Continue reading

Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)
Ephraim Froelich, a Juneau resident, testifies in support of House Bill 69 on Jan. 29, 2025. His son, who attends first grade in the Juneau School District, sits beside him. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Alaskans need to choose between unchecked school funding or improved student achievement

The calls for boosting education funding by increasing Alaska’s Base Student Allocation (BSA), while mostly well-intentioned, frequently miss the point. Proponents often frame their proposals… Continue reading

Ephraim Froelich, a Juneau resident, testifies in support of House Bill 69 on Jan. 29, 2025. His son, who attends first grade in the Juneau School District, sits beside him. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Little beetles crawl over a skunk cabbage inflorescence. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)
Little beetles crawl over a skunk cabbage inflorescence. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)
Eric Antrim inspecting bridges near Kake in 2023. (Courtesy photo)

My Turn: In response to the mass firings of Forest Service and other federal workers

I am Eric Antrim, a proud member and the elected Recording Secretary for National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 251. The Forest Service Alaska… Continue reading

Eric Antrim inspecting bridges near Kake in 2023. (Courtesy photo)
Jane Hale smiles for a photo as the wind blows a newly raised LGBTQ+ flag at the Hurff A. Saunders Federal Building downtown in June of 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Juneau’s transgender community and the church

I think of religion the way I think of marriage: a great idea in theory, but in practice, it’s another matter. I’ve discovered that marriage… Continue reading

Jane Hale smiles for a photo as the wind blows a newly raised LGBTQ+ flag at the Hurff A. Saunders Federal Building downtown in June of 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Guided by generations of traditional knowledge, Indigenous harvesters carefully dry black seaweed along the shoreline, demonstrating how cultural values and sustainable practices ensure these vital marine resources thrive for future generations. (Photo by Bethany Goodrich)

Woven Peoples and Place: A conversation with regional catalysts for economic development and mariculture

A growing contingent of Southeast Alaskans are driving local economic transformation toward sustainability and Indigenous leadership. Traditional industries like logging and fishing are being supplemented… Continue reading

Guided by generations of traditional knowledge, Indigenous harvesters carefully dry black seaweed along the shoreline, demonstrating how cultural values and sustainable practices ensure these vital marine resources thrive for future generations. (Photo by Bethany Goodrich)
Cooked Chinese-style fried rice. (Photo by Patty Schied)

Cooking for Pleasure: Chinese-style fried rice

At most of the Chinese restaurants I’ve eaten at over the years, the fried rice accompanying the meal is usually quite boring. You know that… Continue reading

Cooked Chinese-style fried rice. (Photo by Patty Schied)
Viewed from a certain angle, a lake on Heintzleman ridge appears to be in a Valentine’s Day mood. (Klas Stolpe)

Pure Sole: A first love

An old, old, old, old, old (key word is old here), old flame of mine from my freshman year of high school recently sent me… Continue reading

Viewed from a certain angle, a lake on Heintzleman ridge appears to be in a Valentine’s Day mood. (Klas Stolpe)
This painting, “Abandonment of the Whalers in The Arctic Ocean September 1871,” depicts the New England whaling ships trapped in pack ice off northern Alaska. Wainwright Inlet is in the background. (Photo courtesy Ted and Ellie Congdon, Huntington Library)

Alaska Science Forum: When the Civil War came to Alaska

About 150 years ago, a few days after summer solstice, the gray skies above the Diomede Islands were heavy with smoke from whaling ships set… Continue reading

This painting, “Abandonment of the Whalers in The Arctic Ocean September 1871,” depicts the New England whaling ships trapped in pack ice off northern Alaska. Wainwright Inlet is in the background. (Photo courtesy Ted and Ellie Congdon, Huntington Library)
The Constitution of Alaska on display in the Seattle University School of Law library in January 2023. (Creative Commons photo)

My Turn: Actions in D.C. means Alaskans need to demand rights in state’s Constitution

The Constitution of Alaska is a masterpiece of careful thought and straightforward language. Among other things it enshrines the right of privacy. Not implied but… Continue reading

The Constitution of Alaska on display in the Seattle University School of Law library in January 2023. (Creative Commons photo)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)

Opinion: The mirror’s reflection Trump and Vance can’t see

While speaking with reporters on Tuesday after a meeting with the King of Jordan, President Donald Trump tried to make a point about the terrorist… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)
The brands you wear don’t always say a lot about your political stance and moral compass. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Passive activism

I almost didn’t watch the Super Bowl because I was tired of the Chiefs, indifferent toward the Eagles and am grossed out by the NFL… Continue reading

The brands you wear don’t always say a lot about your political stance and moral compass. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Gathering to share ‘Faith in the Future’

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

Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
The author in one of his favorite pastimes — sitting in the mountains. (Photo courtesy Becky Bohrer)

Pure Sole: My Mudrooms

A friend of mine from the Haa Yaitx’u Saiani’s Kin Support Program asked me to speak at the Mudrooms at K̠unéix̠ Hídi Northern Light United… Continue reading

The author in one of his favorite pastimes — sitting in the mountains. (Photo courtesy Becky Bohrer)
The White House in Washington, Jan. 28, 2025. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

My Turn: An American citizen speaks out

As Americans, we teach our children about the rule of law, and that it is the right of every person to be equal before the… Continue reading

  • Feb 10, 2025
  • By Bridget Smith
  • Opinion
The White House in Washington, Jan. 28, 2025. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
Southeast Alaska LGBTQ+ Alliance Board Chair JoLynn Shriber reads a list the names of killed transgender people as Thunder Mountain High School students Kyla Stevens, center, and Laila Williams hold flags in the wind during a transgender remembrance at Marine Park on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: It’s hard enough to be a trans kid in the US without Trump trying to erase them

Donald Trump is using his power as president of the United States to bully trans children. Signing multiple Executive Orders targeting less than 1% of… Continue reading

Southeast Alaska LGBTQ+ Alliance Board Chair JoLynn Shriber reads a list the names of killed transgender people as Thunder Mountain High School students Kyla Stevens, center, and Laila Williams hold flags in the wind during a transgender remembrance at Marine Park on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Twigs of red huckleberry are green all year, but brighter in summer than winter. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Tree bark

The center of a tree or shrub stem (from roots to trunk, branches, and twigs) is woody, composed of xylem cells that conduct water from… Continue reading

Twigs of red huckleberry are green all year, but brighter in summer than winter. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)

Living and Growing: The light of the world

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.” “What has come into being in him was… Continue reading

Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)
Snow is also a four letter word with more than one proper use. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: WTF with the F word

The F word. F… U… and no need for that third and fourth letter, the point is made without. Writing the third and fourth letter… Continue reading

Snow is also a four letter word with more than one proper use. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)