Opinion

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)
Two residents stand in voter booths in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

My Turn: A vote in October to cut taxes will help everyone

In the end, lower taxes will reduce the painful monetary compromises that many of our residents must make.

  • Jul 23, 2025
  • By Frank Bergstrom
Two residents stand in voter booths in Juneau. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A shipping terminal in the city of Chongqing, China, May 20, 2025. (Gilles Sabrié/The New York Times)

My Turn: China’s path to world dominance is being laid by President Trump’s policies, including in Alaska

Incentives to build EVs and expand solar and wind energy are being phased out in favor of significant increases in oil and gas production

A shipping terminal in the city of Chongqing, China, May 20, 2025. (Gilles Sabrié/The New York Times)
President Donald Trump and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick display a chart detailing tariffs, at the White House in Washington, on Wednesday, April 2. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)

My Turn: Piling on the One Big Beautiful Bill with unfair tariffs

The president’s assurances to restore Joe Six Pack are simply empty promises

  • Jul 19, 2025
  • By Joseph Mehrkens
  • Opinion
President Donald Trump and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick display a chart detailing tariffs, at the White House in Washington, on Wednesday, April 2. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
The headquarters of NPR in Washington on April 20, 2020. (Ting Shen/The New York Times)

Opinion: Why Trump wants to kill public broadcasting

He expects the networks to misrepresent any truth and censor any opinion that makes him look bad.

The headquarters of NPR in Washington on April 20, 2020. (Ting Shen/The New York Times)