Opinion

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

My Turn: Racism still persists

Recently, someone did not believe me when I mentioned that locals had been vile toward me or others because we’re Native. They were incredulous that… Continue reading

  • May 12, 2016
  • By JENNIFER QUINTO

My Turn: Danger is lurking in SB 91

Government’s most important mandate is public safety. Over the past 20 years, government in Alaska made a decision to hold criminal offenders accountable for their… Continue reading

  • May 11, 2016
  • By REP. LORA REINBOLD

Commentary: Palin, you have no relevancy in this election

When entertainment news sites announced in March that Sarah Palin had signed onto a reality show modeled after “Judge Judy,” many in the conservative movement… Continue reading

  • May 11, 2016
  • By KRISTEN McQUEARY

Empire Editorial: It’s time to speak up on oil and gas welfare

Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. tonight, the Alaska House Rules Committee will take public testimony on a plan to cut the state’s subsidy of… Continue reading

  • May 11, 2016

Alaska Editorial: Competition needed

The following editorial first appeared in Ketchikan Daily News: Competition is healthy.That one of only two companies offering individual health insurance policies to Alaskans is… Continue reading

  • May 9, 2016

My Turn: In response to ‘As California has seen, solar investments don’t pay off’

The op-ed published in the Juneau Empire May 5, “Solar investments don’t pay off,” by Randy T. Simmons and Josh Smith, takes issue with taxpayer… Continue reading

  • May 9, 2016
  • By LAURA FLEMING

My Turn: Good Grief Walks

If you have experienced the death of a loved one or a close friend, then you are familiar with grief as a natural response to… Continue reading

  • May 9, 2016
  • By JONI GILL PICO

Empire Editorial: Pass the crime bill

On Thursday, the Alaska House voted 28-11 to approve Senate Bill 91.The Alaska Senate should concur with the amendments made by the House to this… Continue reading

  • May 8, 2016

My Turn: The tug of war between free speech and campaign contributions

During the past two weeks a federal judge has been hearing a challenge to the state’s limits on campaign contributions. The complaint alleges that four… Continue reading

  • May 8, 2016
  • By Rich Moniak