Columns

A Boquila trifoliolata in Parque Nacional Puyehue, Chile. (Tony Rebelo / CC BY-SA 4.0)

On the Trails: Mimicry in animals and plants

Mimicry in animals is a common form of protection from predators. For instance, two distasteful or toxic butterflies may mimic each other for mutual defense,… Continue reading

 

The F/V Liberty, captained by Trenton Clark, fishes the Pacific near Metlakatla on Aug. 20, 2024. (Ash Adams/The New York Times)

My Turn: Charting a course toward seafood independence for Alaska’s vulnerable food systems

As a commercial fisherman based in Sitka and the executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), I’ve spent decades navigating Alaska’s challenging waters… Continue reading

 

(Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: A list of do’s to reclaim Shabbat

To be silent the whole day, see no newspaper, hear no radio, listen to no gossip, be thoroughly and completely lazy, thoroughly and completely indifferent… Continue reading

 

Natural hydrogen gas may be trapped under the surface of Alaska in many areas, such as here in the Brooks Range. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Geologic hydrogen may be an answer

The internal combustion engine is less than 100 years old. Same for the technologies we have developed to pull oil and gas from the ground.… Continue reading

Natural hydrogen gas may be trapped under the surface of Alaska in many areas, such as here in the Brooks Range. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
The Dalton Highway, built in 1974 to construct the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, allows the public to access the Brooks Range and North Slope like the author did in 2022. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: The theater is over, let the work begin

The election is over. It’s time to catch our collective breath and re-enter reality. The far right and the far left are mirrors of each… Continue reading

The Dalton Highway, built in 1974 to construct the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, allows the public to access the Brooks Range and North Slope like the author did in 2022. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
People watch a broadcast of Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, delivering a speech at Times Square in New York, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (Graham Dickie/The New York Times)

Opinion: The Democratic Party’s failure of imagination

Aside from not being a lifelong Republican like Peter Wehner, the sentiment he expressed in The Atlantic a few weeks ago perfectly captures how I… Continue reading

People watch a broadcast of Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, delivering a speech at Times Square in New York, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (Graham Dickie/The New York Times)
A steady procession of vehicles and students arrives at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé before the start of the new school year on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Let’s consider tightening cell phones restrictions in Juneau schools

A recent uptick in student fights on and off campus has Juneau School District administrators looking for answers. It also has raised the issue of… Continue reading

A steady procession of vehicles and students arrives at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé before the start of the new school year on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A pair of Petersburg wiener dogs. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: ‘Bread and Butter’

So, evidently, I now have a nickname in my hometown of Petersburg. “Bread and Butter.” I will let you stew on that while I finish… Continue reading

A pair of Petersburg wiener dogs. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A short-eared owl pounced on something deep in the grass. (Photo by Greg Chaney)

On the Trails: Owls and voles and other observations

In the middle of October, bird watchers estimated about 40 short-eared owls were seen hunting on the wetlands — probably a record number. What was… Continue reading

A short-eared owl pounced on something deep in the grass. (Photo by Greg Chaney)
“Princess Sophia” stranded on Vanderbilt Reef, Oct. 24, 1918. (Alaska State Library Historical Collection, ASL-P87-1700)

Living and Growing: The storms of the Fall

Psalm 19 1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. 2 One day tells its tale to another, and… Continue reading

“Princess Sophia” stranded on Vanderbilt Reef, Oct. 24, 1918. (Alaska State Library Historical Collection, ASL-P87-1700)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letters: Vote no on ballot measure 2 for the future of Alaska

The idea that ranked choice voting (RCV) is confusing is a red herring. The single, nonpartisan ballot is clean, simple and fair. When the list… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

10 reasons to put country above party labels in election

Like many of you I grew up during an era when people put country above party. The ‘60s were a time when we were asked… Continue reading

(Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Be safe, stay together, be respectful, share your treats but not your tricks, have fun, and get outside on Halloween. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: Don’t Open The Door

A cowboy, a pirate and the pope walk into a bar… Nope, no joke here. Just reminding you of the horror approaching Thursday night. Remember… Continue reading

Be safe, stay together, be respectful, share your treats but not your tricks, have fun, and get outside on Halloween. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

My Turn: Why I oppose privatization of the Tongass rainforest

Sen. Lisa Murkowski has been trying to privatize the Tongass for years. Her latest effort, the so-called “Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation… Continue reading

Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Election presents stark contrasts

This election, both at the state and federal level, presents a choice that couldn’t be more starkly defined. Do we want to live in a… Continue reading

(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Extremes of the colour gradient of the Eastern San Antonio frog (Hyla orientalis). On the left, a specimen captured in Chernobyl inside the high contamination zone; on the right, a specimen captured outside the Exclusion Zone. (Germán Orizaola/Pablo Burraco, republished under a Creative Commons license)

On the Trails: Evolution constantly ongoing among many populations in many places

Someone once asked me “Is evolution still happening?” My brief answer was “Of course, it’s always happening.” I would have gone on to explain a… Continue reading

Extremes of the colour gradient of the Eastern San Antonio frog (Hyla orientalis). On the left, a specimen captured in Chernobyl inside the high contamination zone; on the right, a specimen captured outside the Exclusion Zone. (Germán Orizaola/Pablo Burraco, republished under a Creative Commons license)
Former Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho discusses ranked choice voting at a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly luncheon on June 30, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Vote no Ballot Measure 2 and protect open primaries and protect our democracy

The focus of last week’s Juneau World Affairs Forum was the rise of authoritarianism in the 21st century. Our guest speakers noted the fertile ground… Continue reading

Former Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho discusses ranked choice voting at a Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce weekly luncheon on June 30, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
A short-tailed weasel pauses at the entrance to a building on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Weasels are cute, natural born killers

Weighing as much as a cup of walnuts and resembling a squeaky dog toy, the short-tailed weasel is easy to underestimate. The spunky little creature… Continue reading

A short-tailed weasel pauses at the entrance to a building on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Mt. Edgecumbe junior Haley Osborne fends off a takedown attempt by Homer senior Jaydin Mann during their 285-pound title match at the 2018 ASAA State Wrestling Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. One of the most anticipated and competitive matches this reporter has ever witnessed. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Pure Sole: Wrestling is hard — as more than 200 grapplers will demonstrate at Southeast Showdown

High schoolers from throughout Southeast will compete in Juneau tournament starting Friday

Mt. Edgecumbe junior Haley Osborne fends off a takedown attempt by Homer senior Jaydin Mann during their 285-pound title match at the 2018 ASAA State Wrestling Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. One of the most anticipated and competitive matches this reporter has ever witnessed. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Begich wants to join the herd of timid followers

On the very top of his campaign website, Nick Begich III claims he’s a “commonsense leader.” There aren’t many of those left in today’s Republican… Continue reading

(Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)