Opinion

(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Fund the schools, respect the voters, lower property taxes

The Assembly should reduce the actual amount of household property tax collection below last year’s.

  • Mar 9, 2023
  • Ken Koelsch
(Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Caribou graze on the greening tundra of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska in June, 2001. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: AIDEA’s $20 million-and-growing investment looks like a bad bet

Not producing in ANWR could probably generate a lot of money for Alaska.

  • Mar 8, 2023
  • By Larry Persily
Caribou graze on the greening tundra of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska in June, 2001. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Faith Myers stands at the doors of API. (Courtesy Photo)

Opinion: Alaska should not repeat mistakes in mental health care of 150 years ago

Newspapers have always had a positive role in improving mental health care in America. For over 100-years, investigative reporters have been willing to go where… Continue reading

  • Mar 7, 2023
  • By Faith J. Myers
Faith Myers stands at the doors of API. (Courtesy Photo)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Southeast trollers appreciate support amid ‘misguided’ lawsuit

Alaska will not stand by quietly as WFC tries to wipe Alaska’s fishing families off the map.

  • Mar 7, 2023
  • By Casey Mapes
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Heavy metals run out of the Tulsequah Chief mine opening and down to holding ponds next to the Tulsequah River Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)
Heavy metals run out of the Tulsequah Chief mine opening and down to holding ponds next to the Tulsequah River Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Fixing legislative salaries and per diem

The state Senate was right to unanimously reject giving a 20% pay raise to Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Not because he’s failed to deliver a sustainable… Continue reading

  • Mar 3, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Commercial e-bike tours conflict with current uses of the Pioneer Road

The road is a quiet place with diverse topography and scenery…

  • Mar 2, 2023
  • By Linda Kruger
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Wilder Dillingham of AYEA on the first day of the composting program with Juneau Composts! at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Courtesy Photo / Lauren Cusimano)

Opinion: AYEA and Juneau Composts! are a dream team

Look for AYEA students standing by Juneau Composts! bins in the commons…

  • Mar 2, 2023
  • By Hannah Brennell and Wilder Dillingham
Wilder Dillingham of AYEA on the first day of the composting program with Juneau Composts! at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Courtesy Photo / Lauren Cusimano)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, right, asks Ajay Desai, director of the Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits, about the assumptions used to calculate pensions earned by state employees under a fixed-amount plan in effect until 2006 and a subsequent 401K-type plan during a Senate Finance Committee hearing Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Legislature dives into perilous waters with state workforce issues

We should not assume that what worked 20 years ago will work today.

  • Mar 2, 2023
  • By Win Gruening
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, right, asks Ajay Desai, director of the Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits, about the assumptions used to calculate pensions earned by state employees under a fixed-amount plan in effect until 2006 and a subsequent 401K-type plan during a Senate Finance Committee hearing Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
Courtesy Photo

Opinion: A legislative path to accountability for schools

The last time families took the state to court for inadequate instruction, they lost. In Moore v. Alaska, from 2004 to 2012, Judge Sharon Gleason… Continue reading

  • Mar 1, 2023
  • By Mike Bronson
Courtesy Photo
This 2019 aerial photo provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope. The Biden administration is weighing approval of a major oil project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope that supporters say represents an economic lifeline for Indigenous communities in the region but environmentalists say is counter to Biden’s climate goals. A decision on ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Willow project, in a federal oil reserve roughly the size of Indiana, could come by early March 2023. (ConocoPhillips via AP)

Opinion: It is time to draw the line on oil projects like Willow

We need support projects that build on renewable infrastructure.

  • Mar 1, 2023
  • By Michael Tobin
This 2019 aerial photo provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope. The Biden administration is weighing approval of a major oil project on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope that supporters say represents an economic lifeline for Indigenous communities in the region but environmentalists say is counter to Biden’s climate goals. A decision on ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Willow project, in a federal oil reserve roughly the size of Indiana, could come by early March 2023. (ConocoPhillips via AP)
This March 2020 photo shows Juneau's City Hall. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Limit entry for Juneau tours

I hope the Assembly takes this opportunity to do something for those of us they represent.

  • Feb 28, 2023
  • By Kimberly Metcalfe
This March 2020 photo shows Juneau's City Hall. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Sen. Sullivan’s misguided defense of Fox News

Sullivan was certainly combative in the hearing. But don’t mistake that for courage or strength.

  • Feb 24, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
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Alaskans respond to the increase in eating disorders

Eating Disorders Awareness Week is Feb. 27- March 5

  • Feb 23, 2023
  • By Beth Rose and Jenny Loudon
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A man walks past destroyed buildings in Antakya, southeastern Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Douglas Mertz writes that the disaster offers lessons for Alaska’s capital city. (AP Photo / Unal Cam)

Opinion: Lessons from Turkey for Juneau

There are two clear lessons here.

  • Feb 22, 2023
  • By Douglas Mertz
A man walks past destroyed buildings in Antakya, southeastern Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. Douglas Mertz writes that the disaster offers lessons for Alaska’s capital city. (AP Photo / Unal Cam)
The Tazlina docks in Auke Bay. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The value of a Berners Bay ferry terminal

A year-round Berners Bay Ferry Terminal is needed to allow cost-effective Alaska Class Ferry service

  • Feb 21, 2023
  • By Andy Hughes
The Tazlina docks in Auke Bay. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File)
Alexander B. Dolitsky

Opinion: Success at school begins at home

Studies show conservative moral values play an important role in educational achievement.

  • Feb 18, 2023
  • By Alexander B. Dolitsky
Alexander B. Dolitsky
The Alaska state flag is illuminated atop the Kennicott at night at Juneau's Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Losing ferries would be losing a piece of Alaska

The stars seemed aligned to make progress to save the AMHS and chart its course.

  • Feb 17, 2023
  • By Wanetta Ayers
The Alaska state flag is illuminated atop the Kennicott at night at Juneau's Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows Alaska State Troopers vehicles in Juneau. (Juneau Empire File)

A weak link in DPS’ proposed body cam policy

Proposed policy gives too much discretion for when officers can turn cams off.

  • Feb 17, 2023
  • By Rich Moniak
This photo shows Alaska State Troopers vehicles in Juneau. (Juneau Empire File)
An Alaska Waste truck enters Waste Management's Capitol Disposal Landfill in Lemon Creek. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Escalating landfill fees are a wake-up call

There’s no silver bullet to fix this problem

  • Feb 16, 2023
  • By Win Gruening
An Alaska Waste truck enters Waste Management's Capitol Disposal Landfill in Lemon Creek. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)