Opinion

(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Lawmakers must step up and increase school funding

There’s no excuse for depriving the funding needed to ensure our students’ learning.

  • Apr 6, 2023
  • By Luann McVey
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
State Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, inquires about election legislation during a committee hearing Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. Carpenter, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, is sponsoring bills to decrease business taxes and implement a 2% statewide sales tax that were heard. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Proposal is a fiscal plan, but not a good one

The numbers don’t add up.

  • Apr 5, 2023
  • By Larry Persily
State Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, inquires about election legislation during a committee hearing Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. Carpenter, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, is sponsoring bills to decrease business taxes and implement a 2% statewide sales tax that were heard. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Building cross-border trust means cleaning up the Tulsequah Chief

Why does unacceptable toxic discharge into the Taku watershed continue?

  • Apr 3, 2023
  • By Chris Zimmer
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
(Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Alaska ferries take on more water

A satirical My Turn for April Fool’s Day.

  • Apr 1, 2023
  • By Gershon Cohen
(Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Dunleavy is punting tax hikes to his successor

It’s a rare thing in American politics when a Republican proposes new or increased taxes. But last week, Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, introduced legislation for… Continue reading

  • Mar 31, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Little chairs sit in stacks after the  temporary closure of downtown Gold Creek Child Development Center in mid-January, and another closure shortly followed, leaving dozens of families scrambling to find child care. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Alaska’s child care crisis is too costly to ignore

Alaskans see this impact daily.

  • Mar 30, 2023
  • By Charles L. Westmoreland and Blue Shibler
Little chairs sit in stacks after the  temporary closure of downtown Gold Creek Child Development Center in mid-January, and another closure shortly followed, leaving dozens of families scrambling to find child care. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The three-ring public service salary circus

Pay hike is an abuse of power by governor and lapse in integrity from senate president.

  • Mar 29, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
NASA

Opinion: Willow will only lead to further climate chaos

At a time when drought and climate change are causing alarmingly low freshwater levels in the West with city floods in the Eastern U.S., in… Continue reading

  • Mar 29, 2023
  • By John S. Sonin
NASA
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action fly-in students. (Courtesy Photo / AYEA)

Opinion: Our time in Juneau at the AYEA Conservation and Civics Summit

Gunalchéesh to Juneau and to those who made this summit possible.

  • Mar 29, 2023
  • By Suella Wendell
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action fly-in students. (Courtesy Photo / AYEA)
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Opinion: The Biden administration’s betrayal of King Cove

The White House lack of compassion is just not acceptable to Alaskans.

  • Mar 28, 2023
  • By Frank H. Murkowski
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This photo shows downtown Juneau during cruise season as seen from Douglas. Demographic trends show Juneau experiencing a decline in people between the ages of 18 and 64. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Reverse the demographic death spiral

Changing our future requires local government and the private sector to work togethe…

  • Mar 23, 2023
  • By Angela Rodell and Susan Bell
This photo shows downtown Juneau during cruise season as seen from Douglas. Demographic trends show Juneau experiencing a decline in people between the ages of 18 and 64. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Want wetlands permits to better reflect Alaska?

Reinstate the Alaska Coastal Management Program.

  • Mar 22, 2023
  • By Bruce Botelho and Kate Troll
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This image available under the Creative Commons license shows the outline of the state of Alaska filled with the pattern of the state flag.

Opinion: Old models of development that are not sustainable for Alaska

Sustainability means investing in keeping Alaska as healthy as possible.

  • Mar 21, 2023
  • Adeline Raboff
This image available under the Creative Commons license shows the outline of the state of Alaska filled with the pattern of the state flag.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks in support of an agreement between the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and Goldbelt Inc. to pursue engineering and design services to determine whether it’s feasible to build a new ferry terminal facility in Juneau at Cascade Point. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: What Cascade Point is not

This project is less about trying to improve transportation than serving political ideology.

  • Mar 17, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks in support of an agreement between the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and Goldbelt Inc. to pursue engineering and design services to determine whether it’s feasible to build a new ferry terminal facility in Juneau at Cascade Point. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveils proposals to offer public school teachers annual retention bonuses and enact policies restricting discussion of sex and gender in education during a news conference in Anchorage. (Screenshot)

Opinion: As a father and a grandfather, I believe the governor’s proposed laws are anti-family

Now, the discrimination sword is pointing to our gay and transgender friends and families.

  • Mar 16, 2023
  • By Rick Bierman
Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveils proposals to offer public school teachers annual retention bonuses and enact policies restricting discussion of sex and gender in education during a news conference in Anchorage. (Screenshot)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: When is a road considered a trail?

The latest debate over a commercial use permit to use city land for a bike tour seems overblown.

  • Mar 16, 2023
  • By Win Gruening
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
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Opinion: If you are a veteran in crisis or concerned about someone who is, help is here

In January, the new COMPACT Act went into effect across the U.S. The COMPACT Act is the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment… Continue reading

  • Mar 15, 2023
  • By Patrick Wilder
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Opinion: When the state values bigotry over the lives of queer kids

It has been a long, difficult week for queer and trans Alaskans like me.

  • Mar 14, 2023
  • By Amelia Hanrahan
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Unsplash / Louis Velazquez

Opinion: Fish, family and freedom… from Big Oil

“Ultimate investment in the status quo” is not what I voted for.

  • Mar 13, 2023
  • Zach Brown
Unsplash / Louis Velazquez
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The time has come to stop Eastman’s willful and wanton damage

God in the Bible makes it clear that we are to care for the vulnerable among us.

  • Mar 10, 2023
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)