Opinion

My Turn: Preparation is key during fire season to minimize loss

With the region’s mild winter, wildfire season is starting early this year. As of Monday, there are more than one million acres nationwide that have… Continue reading

  • Jun 17, 2016
  • By ANNA O'DONNELL

My Turn: Focus on men’s health and safety in June

In June, we celebrate Father’s Day, Men’s Health Month and National Safety Month. These separate observances have a common theme — we can use them… Continue reading

  • Jun 16, 2016
  • By SUSAN JOHNSON

Empire Editorial: Downgrade comes as no surprise

If anything surprises us about Fitch Ratings’ downgrade of Alaska’s credit rating, it’s that the decision took this long.Fitch was the last of the three… Continue reading

  • Jun 16, 2016

My Turn: We are Juneau

On Monday, Juneau came together to grieve and pray for the victims and survivors of a deadly anti-LGBTQ hate crime in Orlando, on the same… Continue reading

  • Jun 16, 2016
  • By ELLIOTT TIBBITTS

Alaska Editorial: Time drawing short to pass critical earnings reform measure

This editorial first appeared in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner:The Alaska Legislature still hasn’t decided to make meaningful progress toward closing the $4 billion budget shortfall… Continue reading

  • Jun 14, 2016

My Turn: Stealth provisions in PFD bill

You probably don’t know the Permanent Fund bill you’ve read about has stealth provisions requiring continued (as in ”continuing forever into the future”) cuts to… Continue reading

  • Jun 14, 2016
  • By REP. LES GARA

My Turn: Juneau in four words

This commentary first appeared in Libby Bakalar’s blog “One Hot Mess”:As sometimes happens in Alaska, I came out of the woods and 30 hours of… Continue reading

  • Jun 13, 2016
  • By LIBBY BAKALAR

My Turn: Horror and amazement in the arts

The month of June has seen some amazing arts-related happenings in Alaska’s capital city, some delightful and some horrifying, but all worth noting as we… Continue reading

  • Jun 12, 2016
  • By Benjamin Brown

My Turn: Sen. Kelly is having too much fun to consider tax proposals

Sen. Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, is very proud of the $418 million the Legislature cut from the budget this year. He says it’s real, just like… Continue reading

  • Jun 12, 2016
  • By Rich Moniak

My Turn: Pederson Hill development well-intentioned, but risky

Recent discussions of a plan by the City and Borough of Juneau to build a cluster lot subdivision on Pederson Hill were greeted with mixed… Continue reading

  • Jun 10, 2016
  • By WIN GRUENING

Alaska Editorial: Attack helicopters a strong addition to Interior military arsenal

This editorial first appeared in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner:If you see an unfamiliar aircraft in the skies around town, it might not be your eyes… Continue reading

  • Jun 10, 2016

Alaska Editorial: Road to the future

The following editorial first appeared in the Ketchikan Daily News: An economic argument can be made for a road connecting Juneau to the continental highway… Continue reading

  • Jun 9, 2016

My Turn: Creating a new legacy on the North Slope

When the Bureau of Land Management was tasked with cleaning up legacy wells in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, we knew the effort would… Continue reading

  • Jun 9, 2016
  • By BUD CRIBLEY

My Turn: When the economy gives you lemons, support Lemonade Day

The childhood experience of setting up a lemonade stand and engaging with customers brings back memories for many of us. Perhaps it was your very… Continue reading

  • Jun 9, 2016
  • By NOLAN KLOUDA

My Turn: Governor, can we have that cup of coffee?

Are campaign promises empty promises that no one expects candidates to keep? Have we become that cynical? Running as the “Unity Team” in 2014, Gov.… Continue reading

  • Jun 8, 2016
  • By RICHARD J. PETERSON

Empire Editorial: Alaska’s billion-dollar gamble

Walking into the new Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum is an experience no one should miss.Above you, a natural wood ceiling soars. Below you,… Continue reading

  • Jun 8, 2016

My Turn: Gwich’in culture deeply rooted in Arctic wilderness

Here in Alaska, we are blessed with the natural elements that people travel from all over the world to experience. For me, it is not… Continue reading

  • Jun 6, 2016
  • By Melissa Engel

My Turn: Recognizing sorrows in our tragic past

During his visit to Hiroshima last week, President Barack Obama did not formally apologize for the nuclear bombing that ended World War II. That didn’t… Continue reading

  • Jun 5, 2016
  • By Rich Moniak

My Turn: Alaskans deserve a permanent solution

Thousands of Alaskan families likely breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday when the Legislature passed its budget to avoid a government shutdown less than 24… Continue reading

  • Jun 5, 2016
  • By GOV. BILL WALKER

Empire Editorial: Stay and finish the job

If you know your history, it’s somewhat ironic. Next week, thousands of Alaska Natives will descend on Juneau and force legislators from their homes.Celebration brings… Continue reading

  • Jun 5, 2016