Opinion

Empire Editorial: In Pederson Hill dispute, both sides are right

Developers and city officials will square off Monday over the future of housing development in Juneau’s capital city. Both sides need to keep in mind… Continue reading

  • May 22, 2016

My Turn: Stop wasteful spending during a fiscal crisis

As the newest member of Alaska’s Legislature, there have been a lot of things that have surprised me about our political process. One of the… Continue reading

  • May 22, 2016
  • By IVY SPOHNHOLZ

My Turn: The Orwellian trials of Obamacare

When it’s wrong it must be right.That oxymoron embodies the six-year history of Obamacare. Everything from the law’s formal title, to the court rulings upholding… Continue reading

  • May 20, 2016
  • By Rich Moniak

My Turn: Demise of Denali’s East Fork wolf family group a loss to science, tourism and Alaska

One of the two remaining East Fork wolves of Denali National Park was shot this past weekend by a trophy hunter at a bear baiting… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2016
  • By MARYBETH HOLLEMAN

My Turn: A vote away from helping Alaska’s foster children

As a mother and grandmother and through my work with foster youth and the Alaska Children’s Trust, I have realized that few things are of… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2016
  • By DONNA WALKER
Rep. Harriet Drummond, D-Anchorage

My Turn: Raiding the Permanent Fund threatens the economy and our future

Sometimes shortcuts don’t work. You run into road construction, traffic is backed up or you get lost. The leadership in the Senate Majority Caucus has… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2016
  • By HARRIET DRUMMOND
Rep. Harriet Drummond, D-Anchorage

Empire Editorial: No end in sight for Legislature

Today is Day 121 of the Legislature’s regular session.We don’t know when the Legislature will finish its work, but it won’t be today. It may… Continue reading

  • May 17, 2016

My Turn: Alaska’s environment and economy depend on each other

For the past couple of months, the phrase “budget deficit” has been everywhere. In late March, I spent a week in our state’s capitol with… Continue reading

  • May 17, 2016
  • By ELVIE UNDERWOOD

Alaska Editorial: Legislature should help UA transition

The following editorial first appeared in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Changes on the way for the University of Alaska system, as sketched out in a… Continue reading

  • May 17, 2016

My Turn: The cost of inaction is too high

As the Legislature nears the end of the constitutional 120-day session, I am gravely concerned about the possible outcome.Our state is in a difficult fiscal… Continue reading

  • May 17, 2016
  • By GOV. BILL WALKER

My Turn: Oil tax compass

“Development that actually costs the state, remains Alaska’s least understood and most pressing economic problem. Few politicians seem concerned that we do not extract enough… Continue reading

  • May 16, 2016
  • By BILL WIELECHOWSKI

My Turn: Women in the Catholic Church

My favorite photograph of Catholic monk Thomas Merton, taken by photographer Ralph Meatyard in 1967, shows Merton standing around in his ballcap and monk suit,… Continue reading

  • May 16, 2016
  • By JIM HALE

My Turn: The importance of infrastructure

You can afford what you prioritize. Unfortunately for our infrastructure, it’s rarely been the priority over the past few decades. As the backbone of the… Continue reading

  • May 16, 2016
  • By CARL UCHYTIL

Empire Editorial: Deja vu over mining mess

“The Tulsequah Chief mine missed a Canadian deadline to clean up its toxic metal pollution on Thursday.”That was the first line of a Juneau Empire… Continue reading

  • May 15, 2016

My Turn: The Pied Piers of party loyalty

“I have always supported the Republican nominee for president.” That’s the best Sen. Lisa Murkowski can do in terms of an endorsement for Donald Trump,… Continue reading

  • May 15, 2016
  • By Rich Moniak

My Turn: As governor, Palin actually believed in climate change

Since her meteoric rise to fame in the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin has been a leading voice in the climate… Continue reading

  • May 13, 2016
  • By RICK STEINER

My Turn: Looking ahead and guiding the future

According to a recent report released by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the state’s population is projected to increase by 162,200 over… Continue reading

  • May 13, 2016
  • By WIN GRUENING

Empire Editorial: Two buildings cost more than one

We’re not mathematicians. That’s why we prefer to dabble in words and not numbers.Fortunately, it doesn’t require a declaration of the Alaska Office of Management… Continue reading

  • May 13, 2016

My Turn: National Police Week

If Alaska had a dollar for every time a legislator called an Alaska State Trooper or local police officer a hero, we could have another… Continue reading

  • May 12, 2016
  • By JAKE METCALFE

Alaska Editorial: Changing the name of Fairbank’s Terminal Street a waste of time

The following editorial first appeared in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: A Fairbanks City Council vote last week finally put to rest one of the most… Continue reading

  • May 12, 2016