Search Results for: SUSTAINABLE ALASKA

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Sustainable Alaska: Humans vs. Volcanoes

We are warming the world tens of times faster than did the ancient volcanoes.

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This combination image shows photos from stories that defined 2021. Top left, Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s glasses ahead of the first day of school. Top middle, doses of COVID-19 vaccination await arms during a vaccine clinic. Top right, a cruise ship looms large over downtown Juneau. Middle left, a sign marks the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area as part of the Tongass National Forest. Middle, the bygone calendar year is written in the sand. Middle right, Alan Salsman receives the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from VA nurse Michael Addo at Coast Guard Station Juneau. Bottom left, School board member Emil Mackey casts a ballot in Juneau’s municipal election. Bottom middle, the Alaska State Capitol stands behind a statue of William H. Seward. Bottom left, Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks during a sitdown in the Empire offices. (Juneau Empire Photos, Engin Akyurt / Unsplash)
This combination image shows photos from stories that defined 2021. Top left, Vanessa Dickinson adjusts second grade student Kanani Dickinson’s glasses ahead of the first day of school. Top middle, doses of COVID-19 vaccination await arms during a vaccine clinic. Top right, a cruise ship looms large over downtown Juneau. Middle left, a sign marks the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area as part of the Tongass National Forest. Middle, the bygone calendar year is written in the sand. Middle right, Alan Salsman receives the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from VA nurse Michael Addo at Coast Guard Station Juneau. Bottom left, School board member Emil Mackey casts a ballot in Juneau’s municipal election. Bottom middle, the Alaska State Capitol stands behind a statue of William H. Seward. Bottom left, Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks during a sitdown in the Empire offices. (Juneau Empire Photos, Engin Akyurt / Unsplash)
(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Southeast hatcheries are criticial to Southeast’s economy

Every Alaskan in our region is impacted by our salmon hatchery program.

  • Dec 31, 2021
  • By Robert Venables
(Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Southeast Alaska’s rural communities are geographically isolated and the SSP works to connect them. While the SSP has programs and partners that span the region, it has historically focused on Yakutat, Sitka (pictured), Hoonah, Kake, Kasaan, and Klawock. With increased financial support, the SSP intends to expand in geography, depth, and focus.  (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Southeast Alaskans should care about the Seacoast Trust. Here’s why

What does this actually mean for the lives of Southeast Alaskans?

Southeast Alaska’s rural communities are geographically isolated and the SSP works to connect them. While the SSP has programs and partners that span the region, it has historically focused on Yakutat, Sitka (pictured), Hoonah, Kake, Kasaan, and Klawock. With increased financial support, the SSP intends to expand in geography, depth, and focus.  (Courtesy Photo / Bethany Sonsini Goodrich)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File 
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. The Capitol will be the site of a committee hearing next month that will focus on the recent firing of Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File 
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. The Capitol will be the site of a committee hearing next month that will focus on the recent firing of Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell.
This photo illustration shows some of the things city, state and federal officials told the Empire what they want for Christmas. Less COVID-19 cases and an end to the pandemic were popular requests. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This photo illustration shows some of the things city, state and federal officials told the Empire what they want for Christmas. Less COVID-19 cases and an end to the pandemic were popular requests. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska Southeast graduate student Muriel Walatka gathers samples of beach sand to examine for microplastics at Auke Recreation Area in Juneau in August 2019. (Courtesy Photo / Sonia Nagorski)

Alaska Science Forum: Plastic in the rain of Southeast Alaska

UAS professor presents during annual conference.

  • Dec 23, 2021
  • By Ned Rozell
University of Alaska Southeast graduate student Muriel Walatka gathers samples of beach sand to examine for microplastics at Auke Recreation Area in Juneau in August 2019. (Courtesy Photo / Sonia Nagorski)
This map, provided by Alaska Natives Without Land, shows possible federal land grants for the landless community of Tenakee Springs, one of five communities in Alaska not granted land by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. (Screenshot)

50 years after ANCSA, some still fighting for land

The five landless communities and Vietnam veterans were left landless by the act.

This map, provided by Alaska Natives Without Land, shows possible federal land grants for the landless community of Tenakee Springs, one of five communities in Alaska not granted land by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971. (Screenshot)
Copies of the Alaska State Constitution were available outside the Lt. Governor’s office on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: A constitutional convention is fraught with danger for Juneau, Southeast and Alaska as a whole

Please follow the constitutional convention issue as it works its way through the political process.

  • Dec 20, 2021
  • By Bill Corbus
Copies of the Alaska State Constitution were available outside the Lt. Governor’s office on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

We’re all richer thanks to nature’s dividend

By Sam Skaggs If you live in Southeast Alaska, you know that Southeast is a rich place abundant with natural, renewable capital. That natural capital… Continue reading

  • Dec 16, 2021
  • By Sam Skaggs
(Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)

State begins process of replacing ferry Tustumena

The state also has other plans for updating the marine highway.

This 2010 photo shows the soon-to-be-replaced Tustumena come into Homer after spending the day in Seldovia. Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Saturday the state would be replacing the ferry. The replacement vessel has not yet been named, and a statewide contest will be held to name the new vessel, Dunleavy said. (Homer News File)
The Pebble deposit lies at the headwaters of Bristol Bay, the greatest salmon fishery in the world. (Courtesy Photo / Colin Arisman)

Pride of Bristol Bay: Permanent protections in view for Bristol Bay

By Bjorn Dihle For more than two decades, those who care about Bristol Bay — the largest sockeye salmon run on the planet — have… Continue reading

The Pebble deposit lies at the headwaters of Bristol Bay, the greatest salmon fishery in the world. (Courtesy Photo / Colin Arisman)
Angela Ketah holds a bright bouquet of fresh flowers for her business, Sitka Flower & the Chocolate Moose. Angela’s dedication to her team’s wellbeing and growth has helped her lead the way through the difficulties of the pandemic, setting an example for entrepreneurs around the region. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)

Resilient Peoples & Place: Sitka Flowers The Chocolate Moose is a small business growing with its team

Small businesses like Sitka Flowers The Chocolate Moose bring character to our downtown streets.

Angela Ketah holds a bright bouquet of fresh flowers for her business, Sitka Flower & the Chocolate Moose. Angela’s dedication to her team’s wellbeing and growth has helped her lead the way through the difficulties of the pandemic, setting an example for entrepreneurs around the region. (Courtesy Photo / Lione Clare)
A Carnival cruise ship arrives in Juneau early in the morning on Aug. 14. Local business owners say that the short and significantly scaled back 2021 cruise season was welcome after the cancelation of the 2020 season. However, they say it was not enough and they are struggling to survive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
A Carnival cruise ship arrives in Juneau early in the morning on Aug. 14. Local business owners say that the short and significantly scaled back 2021 cruise season was welcome after the cancelation of the 2020 season. However, they say it was not enough and they are struggling to survive. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
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Bipartisan infrastructure bill helps Alaska toward ‘brighter’ future

Energy is the backbone of Alaska’s economy.

  • Nov 19, 2021
  • By Duff Mitchell
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FILE - A woman stands next to an antenna at an NYU base camp at the Helheim glacier in Greenland on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. In an effort to combat climate change and help develop Arctic communities, the Department of Energy Wednesday announced it was seeking to develop new sustainable energy projects in Alaska. (AP Photo / Felipe Dana)
FILE - A woman stands next to an antenna at an NYU base camp at the Helheim glacier in Greenland on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. In an effort to combat climate change and help develop Arctic communities, the Department of Energy Wednesday announced it was seeking to develop new sustainable energy projects in Alaska. (AP Photo / Felipe Dana)
The Tazlina was docked at the Auke Bay ferry terminal on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. It is one of 10 vessels in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet. Alaska’s Congressional delegation has said a recently passed infrastructure bill will bring money to the state’s ferries, but until then some communities are still seeing gaps in service over the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The Tazlina was docked at the Auke Bay ferry terminal on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. It is one of 10 vessels in the Alaska Marine Highway fleet. Alaska’s Congressional delegation has said a recently passed infrastructure bill will bring money to the state’s ferries, but until then some communities are still seeing gaps in service over the winter. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Heidi Pearson is an associate professor of marine biology at the University of Alaska Southeast and lives in Juneau.  (Courtesy Photo)

Sustainable Alaska: Climate change, reality and hope

We all have the ability to reduce our own carbon footprint

Heidi Pearson is an associate professor of marine biology at the University of Alaska Southeast and lives in Juneau.  (Courtesy Photo)
Local officials and dignitaries prepare to ceremonially break ground on the Teal Street Center, a multi-tenant building housing a number of nonprofit and tribal services for Southeast residents next to the Glory Hall on Nov. 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Nonprofit services center breaks groundGlory Hall holds grand opening

The Teal Street Center is scheduled to open its doors next autumn or winter.

Local officials and dignitaries prepare to ceremonially break ground on the Teal Street Center, a multi-tenant building housing a number of nonprofit and tribal services for Southeast residents next to the Glory Hall on Nov. 2, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska Permanent Fund saw record earnings this year and lawmakers are deeply divided about what to do with the earnings. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska Permanent Fund saw record earnings this year and lawmakers are deeply divided about what to do with the earnings. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)