Opinion

Atticus Hempel stands in a row of his shared garden. (photo by Ari Romberg)

My Turn: What’s your burger worth?

Atticus Hempel reflects on gardening, fishing, hunting, and foraging for food for in Gustavus.

 

At the Elvey Building, home of UAF’s Geophysical Institute, Carl Benson, far right, and Val Scullion of the GI business office attend a 2014 retirement party with Glenn Shaw. Photo by Ned Rozell

Alaska Science Forum: Carl Benson embodied the far North

Carl Benson’s last winter on Earth featured 32 consecutive days during which temperatures in his chosen town did not rise above zero degrees Fahrenheit. “It’s… Continue reading

 

Jamie Kelter Davis/The New York Times Masked federal agents arrive to help immigration agents detain immigrants and control protesters in Chicago, June 4, 2025. With the passage of President Trump’s domestic policy law, the Department of Homeland Security is poised to hire thousands of new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and double detention space.

OPINION: $85 billion and no answers

How ICE’s expansion threatens law, liberty, and accountability.

  • Feb 2, 2026
  • By Van Abbott

 

Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon The entrance to the Alaska Gasline Development Corp.’s Anchorage office is seen on Aug. 11, 2023. The state-owned AGDC is pushing for a massive project that would ship natural gas south from the North Slope, liquefy it and send it on tankers from Cook Inlet to Asian markets. The AGDC proposal is among many that have been raised since the 1970s to try commercialize the North Slope’s stranded natural gas.

My Turn: Alaskans must proceed with caution on gasline legislation

Alaskans have watched a parade of natural gas pipeline proposals come and go, as in go nowhere. They have stalled under the weight of runaway… Continue reading

  • Jan 26, 2026
  • By Stan Jones
Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon The entrance to the Alaska Gasline Development Corp.’s Anchorage office is seen on Aug. 11, 2023. The state-owned AGDC is pushing for a massive project that would ship natural gas south from the North Slope, liquefy it and send it on tankers from Cook Inlet to Asian markets. The AGDC proposal is among many that have been raised since the 1970s to try commercialize the North Slope’s stranded natural gas.
Win Gruening (courtesy)

OPINION: Juneau Assembly members shift priorities in wish list to Legislature

OPINION: Juneau Assembly members shift priorities in wish list to Legislature

  • Jan 23, 2026
  • By Win Gruening
Win Gruening (courtesy)
Letter to the editor typewriter (web only)

LETTER: Juneau families care deeply about how schools are staffed

Juneau families care deeply about how our schools are staffed, supported, and funded. The first draft of the Board of Education’s FY26 budget revision highlights… Continue reading

  • Jan 22, 2026
  • By Jessica Leorna
Letter to the editor typewriter (web only)
Kenny Holston/The New York Times President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departed the White House en route to Joint Base Andrews, bound for a trip to Britain, Sept. 16, 2025. In his inauguration speech, he vowed to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.

OPINION: Ratings, Not Reasons

The Television Logic of Trump’s Foreign Policy.

  • Jan 21, 2026
  • By Van Abbott
Kenny Holston/The New York Times President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he departed the White House en route to Joint Base Andrews, bound for a trip to Britain, Sept. 16, 2025. In his inauguration speech, he vowed to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.
Win Gruening (courtesy)

OPINION: Transparency and accountability are foundational to good government

The threat to the entire Juneau community due to annual flooding from glacial outbursts cannot be overstated. Juneau residents living in the affected area and… Continue reading

  • Jan 13, 2026
  • By Win Gruening
Win Gruening (courtesy)
The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12, 2025. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

Opinion: Invasion of Venezuela – Not unforeseen

Is Colombia and Cuba Next?

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 12, 2025. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)
A demonstrator holds a sign in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as arguments are heard about the Affordable Care Act, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)

My Turn: The U.S. is under health care duress

When millions become uninsured, it will strain the entire health care system.

A demonstrator holds a sign in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as arguments are heard about the Affordable Care Act, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Artic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)

My Turn: Welcoming the Coast Guard for a brighter future

Our community is on the verge of transformation with the commissioning of the icebreaker Storis.d

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Artic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)
Photo by Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal Text messages between Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and President Donald Trump.

Commentary: Alaska’s governor said he texts Trump. I asked for copies.

A couple of months ago, I was reporting on the typhoon that hit Western Alaska and stopped by a news conference convened by Gov. Mike… Continue reading

Photo by Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal Text messages between Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and President Donald Trump.
Faith Myers stands at the doors of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy Faith Myers, file)

Alaska’s system of protecting Trust beneficiaries is 40 years behind best practice

The lower 48 has a 3-century headstart on protecting people in locked psychiatric facilities.

Faith Myers stands at the doors of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy Faith Myers, file)
veggies File Photo Community organizations that serve food at their gatherings can do a lot by making menus of whole, nutritious offerings according to health and wellness coach Burl Sheldon.

Food served by “groups for good” can be health changemakers

Health and wellness coach thinks change can start on community event menus

  • Dec 20, 2025
  • By Burl Sheldon
veggies File Photo Community organizations that serve food at their gatherings can do a lot by making menus of whole, nutritious offerings according to health and wellness coach Burl Sheldon.
Construction equipment operating at night at the White House. (photo by Peter W. Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Opinion: Gold at the center of power

What the White House’s golden ballroom reveals about Modern America

Construction equipment operating at night at the White House. (photo by Peter W. Stevenson/The Washington Post)
Win Gruening (courtesy)

Opinion: Affordability message delivered to Juneau Assembly; but will it matter?

On October 7, frustrated voters passed two ballot propositions aimed at making Juneau more affordable and decisively defeated an Assembly-sponsored sales tax increase. The message… Continue reading

  • Dec 12, 2025
  • Win Gruening
Win Gruening (courtesy)
Alaska Children’s Trust Photo Natalie Hodges and Hailey Clark use the online safety conversation cards produced by the Alaska Children’s Trust.

My Turn: Staying connected starts with showing up

When our daughter was 11 and the COVID lockdown was in full swing, she, like many of the preteens and teens around her, turned to… Continue reading

  • Dec 10, 2025
  • Azri-el Sellers & Kaila Pfister THE CONVERSATION
Alaska Children’s Trust Photo Natalie Hodges and Hailey Clark use the online safety conversation cards produced by the Alaska Children’s Trust.
Telephone Hill as seen from above (Photo courtesy of City and Borough of Juneau)

Letter: For Telephone Hill, remember small is adaptable

Writer finds the finances don’t add up on planned development

  • Dec 10, 2025
  • Larry Talley
Telephone Hill as seen from above (Photo courtesy of City and Borough of Juneau)
Doug Mills/The New York Times President Donald Trump disembarks the USS Harry S. Truman before delivering remarks for the Navy’s 250th anniversary in Norfolk, Va., Oct. 5, 2025.

Opinion: Trump’s job is done

The ultra-rich have completed their takeover of America.

Doug Mills/The New York Times President Donald Trump disembarks the USS Harry S. Truman before delivering remarks for the Navy’s 250th anniversary in Norfolk, Va., Oct. 5, 2025.
Google Maps screenshot The star shows the approximate location of the proposed Cascade Point Ferry terminal by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities in partnership with Goldbelt, Inc.

Opinion: An open letter to Cascade Point ferry terminal proponents

To: Governor Dunleavy, DOT Directors, and Cascade Point ferry terminal project consultants, Building a ferry terminal at Cascade Point would represent government at its most… Continue reading

  • Dec 3, 2025
  • By Gershon Cohen
Google Maps screenshot The star shows the approximate location of the proposed Cascade Point Ferry terminal by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities in partnership with Goldbelt, Inc.