Opinion

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, on April 2, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Letter to the Editor: Time for Congress to do something!

Does anyone there have the guts to push back against this death march of democracy?

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, on April 2, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
The Edward Webster House (top center in grey), named for a former owner who located his Juneau and Douglas Telephone Co. there for decades beginning in 1915, is the oldest house still in use in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)

My Turn: Telephone Hill homes stand as historic symbols of freedom and fresh starts

The history of Juneau’s beginnings is under attack

The Edward Webster House (top center in grey), named for a former owner who located his Juneau and Douglas Telephone Co. there for decades beginning in 1915, is the oldest house still in use in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)
Sun shines through the canopy in the Tongass National Forest. (Photo by Brian Logan/U.S. Forest Service)

My Turn: Southeast Alaska’s economy thrives through balance, not timber alone

For 17,000 years, Indigenous people of Southeast Alaska have thrived on these lands

Sun shines through the canopy in the Tongass National Forest. (Photo by Brian Logan/U.S. Forest Service)
Win Gruening (courtesy)

Opinion: New city hall plan deserves voter scrutiny

In a Committee of the Whole meeting on Sept. 8, CBJ Assembly members voted to advance an ordinance directing staff to “negotiate and execute the… Continue reading

  • Sep 22, 2025
  • By Win Gruening
Win Gruening (courtesy)
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Letter to the Editor: Charlie Kirk’s voice cannot be silenced

All Americans should abhor political violence

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City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)

My Turn: We know the City’s finances. We think the stakes couldn’t be higher in this year’s local election

The ballot will ask voters three questions that seek to change how Juneau collects the money needed for public services

  • Sep 20, 2025
  • By Christine Woll and Neil Steininger
City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)
Pins supporting the repeal of ranked choice voting are seen on April 20, 2024, at the Republican state convention in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

My Turn: Juneau doesn’t need ranked choice voting

Save taxpayer money and reject ranked choice voting

  • Sep 20, 2025
  • By Murray R. Walsh
Pins supporting the repeal of ranked choice voting are seen on April 20, 2024, at the Republican state convention in Anchorage. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
A switchback ramp leads up to Telephone Hill Park downtown in July 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Letter to the Editor: Speak out against razing of Telephone Hill

I am hopeful that our assembly will put a stop to this ill-conceived idea when they hear the outcry from the community

A switchback ramp leads up to Telephone Hill Park downtown in July 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A makeshift memorial on the Utah Valley University campus, where Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated by a gunman a few days earlier, in Orem, Utah, Sept. 14, 2025. (Loren Elliott/The New York Times)

Opinion: Attentive listening humanizes our political adversaries

Today, we Americans are good at talking to like-minded people

  • Sep 20, 2025
  • By Rich Moniak
A makeshift memorial on the Utah Valley University campus, where Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated by a gunman a few days earlier, in Orem, Utah, Sept. 14, 2025. (Loren Elliott/The New York Times)
An overhead view of Telephone Hill in downtown Juneau. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)

My Turn: Some facts regarding Telephone Hill

There is every appearance of “fire, aim, ready”

  • Sep 20, 2025
  • By Larry Talley
An overhead view of Telephone Hill in downtown Juneau. (Photo courtesy of the City and Borough of Juneau)
Juneau, Alaska, is photographed July 11, 2025. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter to the Editor: Believe in Juneau, vote no

The ballot propositions before us have an element of selfishness and self-centeredness, that I do not believe most of us share

Juneau, Alaska, is photographed July 11, 2025. (Juneau Empire file photo)
A vintage Underwood typewriter sits on a table on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at the Homer News in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Letter to the Editor: Tom Begich is committed to real solutions

This isn’t about politics — it’s about people

A vintage Underwood typewriter sits on a table on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at the Homer News in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Kate Troll (Courtesy Photo / Kate Troll)

My Turn: The HESCO barriers worked

To keep a responsive CBJ, vote no on Proposition 1

  • Sep 17, 2025
  • By Kate Troll
Kate Troll (Courtesy Photo / Kate Troll)
A man heads to the City Hall Assembly Chambers to cast his ballot on Election Day on Oct. 3, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Promoting affordability, financial common sense, and fairness in Juneau

I am voting YES on Ballot Measures 1 and 2

  • Sep 17, 2025
  • By Tomas Boutin
A man heads to the City Hall Assembly Chambers to cast his ballot on Election Day on Oct. 3, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A Sitka black-tailed deer peers through the undergrowth of the Tongass National Forest in an undated photo. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

My Turn: Getting rid of the Roadless Rule is a step in the wrong direction for Southeast Alaska

The Tongass is what we locals call a “working forest”

  • Sep 17, 2025
  • By Bjorn Dihle
A Sitka black-tailed deer peers through the undergrowth of the Tongass National Forest in an undated photo. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)

My Turn: Keep Juneau a livable community

To compensate for lost property tax revenue, CBJ would have to turn to other revenue sources

  • Sep 15, 2025
  • By Jeff Gnass
City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) delivers his annual speech to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Another challenge to Sullivan’s conscience

Sullivan will destroy his own credibility and legacy if he ignores the very credible circumstantial evidence tying Trump to Epstein

  • Sep 15, 2025
  • By Rich Moniak
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) delivers his annual speech to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
A sign to guide voters to the City Hall Assembly Chambers Voter Center hangs duct taped to the outside wall of the building on Election day Tuesday morning. Today is the last day for residents to cast their vote before polls close at 8 p.m. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

My Turn: Make Juneau more affordable; Yes, Yes, No.

The same day I received the CBJ “Voter Information” pamphlet in the mail, I learned of another young family pulling up and leaving town. They… Continue reading

  • Sep 15, 2025
  • By Ken Koelsch
A sign to guide voters to the City Hall Assembly Chambers Voter Center hangs duct taped to the outside wall of the building on Election day Tuesday morning. Today is the last day for residents to cast their vote before polls close at 8 p.m. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Telephone Hill on May 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Reconsidering Telephone Hill

The Assembly should reconsider its decision on Telephone Hill

  • Sep 15, 2025
  • By Jim Clark
Telephone Hill on May 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference on Monday, May 19, 2025, to discuss his decision to veto an education bill. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy: A tribute to Charlie Kirk and the First Amendment

Today, I write this as not only your governor, but as a citizen of our great country who is mourning the passing of Charlie Kirk.

  • Sep 12, 2025
  • By Gov. Mike Dunleavy
  • Opinion
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference on Monday, May 19, 2025, to discuss his decision to veto an education bill. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)