Opinion

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Opinion: Trump is not a peacemaker

Alaska’s news sites were buzzing last week after President Donald Trump announced he would be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin somewhere in the state on… Continue reading

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
The entrance road to Bartlett Regional Hospital. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter to the Editor: Thank you to all Toy Run participants

A visit to the hospital can be scary, and the gift of a stuffed toy helps immensely to make a child feel more comfortable

The entrance road to Bartlett Regional Hospital. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
This photo shows the Juneau Pioneers’ Home on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Letter to the Editor: We owe it to our seniors to preserve Pioneers Homes

In a state with a small population like ours, there are no alternatives in most of our communities

This photo shows the Juneau Pioneers’ Home on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
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: How greedy do we want to be?

Our city government has become much less business-friendly in recent years

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

Opinion: Sen. Dan Sullivan’s actions speak louder than his critics

He keeps proving he can deliver on his promises

Win Gruening (courtesy)
In this June 23, 2016, photo, the Alaska Marine Highway ferry Matanuska passes Eagle Glacier. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The Cascade Point subsidy Dunleavy is trying to hide

Gov. Mike Dunleavy wants us to think he’s doing it to improve ferry service between Juneau, Haines and Skagway

In this June 23, 2016, photo, the Alaska Marine Highway ferry Matanuska passes Eagle Glacier. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Alexander Dolitsky, left, and Russian Ambassador Yuri Dubinin, right, in spring of 1990 at the University of Alaska Southeast library. (Photo courtesy Alexander Dolitsky)

Opinion: Why the West provoked and prolongs the Russia-Ukraine war

The West never stopped its Cold War policies of undermining USSR/Russia

  • Aug 9, 2025
  • By Alexander Dolitsky
Alexander Dolitsky, left, and Russian Ambassador Yuri Dubinin, right, in spring of 1990 at the University of Alaska Southeast library. (Photo courtesy Alexander Dolitsky)
KTOO, Juneau’s public radio station, is photographed in Juneau, Alaska, on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion: Alaska’s public media is under threat. Together, we can save it.

Public media is more than just news — it’s essential community infrastructure serving Alaska’s towns and villages

  • Aug 9, 2025
  • By Ed Ulman, Jaclyn Sallee and Mollie Kabler
KTOO, Juneau’s public radio station, is photographed in Juneau, Alaska, on Friday, July 11, 2025. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Three Alaska Marine Highway System ferries are docked at its headquarters in Ketchikan as the Columbia arrives on July 16. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Juneau needs new ferry terminal like it needs a hole in a boat

What’s the rush to spend money designing a project that may never get built — that shouldn’t get built

Three Alaska Marine Highway System ferries are docked at its headquarters in Ketchikan as the Columbia arrives on July 16. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Empire file

My Turn: Our country requires leadership

An open letter to Alaska’s congressional delegation

Juneau Empire file
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: The world has changed, and so should taxes

The commerce of the world is different — immensely different — than it was decades ago

(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: The Tongass needs a legislative exemption from the Roadless Rule

A permanent exemption of the Tongass from the 2001 Roadless Rule is necessary

  • Aug 4, 2025
  • By Frank H. Murkowski
  • Opinion
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)
Rep. Bill Elam speaks during a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion: Education accountability starts at home — not just in Juneau

Hyper-partisan politics don’t belong in classrooms.

Rep. Bill Elam speaks during a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alexander B. Dolitsky

My Turn: WWII altered the US diet, and we grew larger

The post-war period saw a complex interplay of factors that dramatically changed the American diet and the way we approach food today

Alexander B. Dolitsky
Gov. Mike Dunleavy discusses his veto of a wide-ranging education bill during a press conference March 16, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Legislature has a constitutional duty to address Dunleavy vetoes

If we do not act during this special session, the vetoes will become permanent

Gov. Mike Dunleavy discusses his veto of a wide-ranging education bill during a press conference March 16, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter to the Editor: Grateful for Alaska’s outstretched hand

Even though Mr. Moose didn’t appear on every corner, Alaska captured us

(Juneau Empire file photo)
The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)

My Turn: Schools and strength in challenging times

We must stand in defense of the institution of public schools

  • Jul 29, 2025
  • By Tom Klaameyer
  • Opinion
The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, speaks during a news conference in April 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Anti-everything governor

Nothing wrong with being an obstinate contrarian, unless you would rather learn, build consensus, truly govern and get something done.

  • Jul 26, 2025
  • By Larry Persily Wrangell Sentinel
  • Columns
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, speaks during a news conference in April 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Win Gruening (courtesy)

Opinion: Rep. Nick Begich is hitting it out of the ballpark

Since winning Alaska’s lone U. S. House seat on Nov. 5, 2024, Rep. Nick Begich has astonished even his most ardent fans. With barely 200… Continue reading

Win Gruening (courtesy)
The KTOO public broadcasting building is photographed in Juneau, Alaska. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Begich and Sullivan failed to represent Alaskans

Certainly, Alaska’s three-member congressional delegation by themselves cannot stop every bad idea pushed by the Trump administration. It takes a majority of the House and… Continue reading

  • Jul 23, 2025
  • By Larry Persily Wrangell Sentinel
The KTOO public broadcasting building is photographed in Juneau, Alaska. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)