Opinion

The Tongass National Forest sign seen en route to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Roadless Rule reversal threatens Alaska’s economy, culture and heritage

The Tongass is not ‘overstocked’ — it’s irreplaceable

  • Sep 11, 2025
  • By Ariel E. Hasse-Zamudio
The Tongass National Forest sign seen en route to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Alaska needs to be a smart shopper for taxes

Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry, you’ll make too many wrong choices

  • Sep 10, 2025
  • By Larry Persily Wrangell Sentinel
  • Columns
The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)
Peggy Ann McConnochie (Courtesy)

My Turn: A closer look at ‘guiding principles’

Some of the assumptions behind those headings raise some red flags for me

  • Sep 10, 2025
  • By Peggy Ann McConnochie
Peggy Ann McConnochie (Courtesy)
Brooke L. Rollins

Opinion: The Trump administration is reviving timber production in Southeast Alaska

Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is charting a new course

  • Sep 8, 2025
  • By Brooke L. Rollins
Brooke L. Rollins
Joe Geldhof. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Yes, yes and no is the way to go this October

The best way to make Juneau more affordable is to adopt the two sensible ballot measures put forward by the Affordable Juneau Coalition

  • Sep 6, 2025
  • By Joseph W. Geldhof
  • Opinion
Joe Geldhof. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The Roadless Rule doesn’t have to be controversial

Regulations aren’t needed to prevent roadbuilding on landforms such as the sprawling Juneau and Stikine icefields

The Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Win Gruening (courtesy)

My Turn: Juneau taxpayers pay the price for no growth mindset

Economic growth, measured by an increase in income, employment, and a broader and thus healthier tax base, would help make Juneau more affordable.

Win Gruening (courtesy)
Image courtesy Alaska News Coalition

Opinion: Stand with local journalism

Alaska’s print and digital newsrooms, particularly in small communities and regional hubs, are under unprecedented strain

  • Sep 3, 2025
  • By the board of the Alaska News Coalition
Image courtesy Alaska News Coalition
(Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Transboundary rivers worth spending the money

The rivers are important for their recreational value, sport and commercial and subsistence fishing value, and cultural heritage

  • Sep 3, 2025
  • By Larry Persily Wrangell Sentinel
(Juneau Empire file photo)
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Letter to the Editor: Vote no on Ballot Proposition 1

I oppose handcuffing ourselves by creating an artificial cap

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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: Consider what the City and Borough of Juneau accomplishes with your taxes

Do you really want to jeopardize the quality of life that we now enjoy?

  • Sep 3, 2025
  • By John Pugh
City and Borough of Juneau City Hall is photographed on July 12, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire file)
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Alaskans share the impact of health care tax credits — and the hazards if they expire

For families across the state, enhanced premium tax credits have been a lifeline

  • Aug 30, 2025
  • By Kristin Meadows
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FBI agents leave with boxes from the home of John Bolton, President Trump’s former national security adviser, after serving a warrant in Bethesda, Md., Aug. 22, 2025. The investigation into Bolton began to pick up momentum during the Biden administration, when U.S. intelligence officials collected information that appeared to show that he had mishandled classified information, according to people familiar with the inquiry. (Jason Andrew/The New York Times)

Opinion: Trump’s war against Americans

There’s no guarantee American democracy will survive Trump’s presidency

FBI agents leave with boxes from the home of John Bolton, President Trump’s former national security adviser, after serving a warrant in Bethesda, Md., Aug. 22, 2025. The investigation into Bolton began to pick up momentum during the Biden administration, when U.S. intelligence officials collected information that appeared to show that he had mishandled classified information, according to people familiar with the inquiry. (Jason Andrew/The New York Times)
Angela Rodell is a member of the Affordable Juneau Coalition. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Why capping property taxes is critical to making Juneau affordable

Families, retirees, and working professionals are feeling the squeeze from rising costs

  • Aug 30, 2025
  • By Angela Rodell
Angela Rodell is a member of the Affordable Juneau Coalition. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
This April 12, 2022, photo shows former Alaska Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Building Alaska’s future by putting education first

This is why I am running for governor

  • Aug 30, 2025
  • By Tom Begich
This April 12, 2022, photo shows former Alaska Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
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My Turn: Sen. Sullivan has failed the people

Our propaganda warning lights should be flashing.

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Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: It’s the exact opposite of what we teach children

Breaking the rules and treating people unfairly is not the answer, even if others do it first.

Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Former Gov. Frank Murkowski speaks on a range of subjects during an interview with the Juneau Empire in May 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

My Turn: Reimagining Alaska’s energy future: Extend the railroad to the North Slope

We should seriously consider the construction of a 450-mile rail extension from Fairbanks to the North Slope

  • Aug 27, 2025
  • By Frank H. Murkowski
Former Gov. Frank Murkowski speaks on a range of subjects during an interview with the Juneau Empire in May 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A voter sits behind a privacy screen while filling out a ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Affordability provides hope

In May, I spent a couple weeks circulating petitions for the Affordable Juneau Coalition. The group gathered thousands of signatures from local residents, most of… Continue reading

  • Aug 23, 2025
  • By Paulette Simpson
A voter sits behind a privacy screen while filling out a ballot during the City and Borough of Juneau 2022 municipal election. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Win Gruening (courtesy)

Opinion: Juneau seasonal sales tax proposal is a permanent tax increase

A seasonal sales tax likely would increase the tax burden for many Juneau families

Win Gruening (courtesy)