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Opinion

My Turn: Time to revisit long-ago captain’s vision of ferry system with smaller, affordable day vessels

In the early 1950s, renowned Captain GD Gitkov commanded Alaska’s ferry system, serving as both skipper and operator.…

(U.S. Forest Service photo)

Neighbors

Living and Growing: Common ground. Common kindness.

I write this piece from the perspective of one who believes in God and who tries (and fails…

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), the Republican vice presidential nominee, speaks during the vice presidential debate against Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York, Oct. 1, 2024. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Opinion

Opinion: The American tradition of accepting defeat

Controversies have a way of motivating voters. I wondered how those surrounding the municipal and school board budgets,…

A male peregrine falcon that hatched in 2023 looks at the biologist who captured him on South Padre Island in Texas in late 2023. (Photo courtesy Padre Island Peregrine Falcon Survey)

Sports

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska peregrine falcon numbers drop again

Skip Ambrose has floated the upper Yukon River almost every year since Richard Nixon was President. Back then,…

A young bleeding tooth mushroom sheds excess water in red drops. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

Sports

On the Trails: Birds, leaves and mushrooms at the onset of autumn

On a dark and dismal day in late September, I cheered myself up by remembering some pleasing observations…

Bartlett Regional Hospital has closed some programs in recent months due to ongoing budget shortfalls. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

My Turn: Patient safety and quality come first at Bartlett Regional Hospital

As Paul Harvey used to say “here is the rest of the story.” Bartlett Regional Hospital finds itself…

A clean home is a cozy home. (Photo by Peggy McKee Barnhill)

Neighbors

Gimme A Smile: Procrasti-cleaning anyone?

I just wiped off the tops of my washer and dryer, and then went back with a damp…

Being tired from a hike is far different than the type of tired that comes with a newborn baby. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

Sports

I Went to the Woods: Discovering how being tired as a new parent is life-giving

“I’m so tired.”

Priest Maxim Gibson is the rector at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Juneau. (Photo provided by Maxim Gibson)

Neighbors

Living and Growing: Restored icons — image and likeness

This past month at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, we had the great blessing to see two of…

Bruce Scandling receives his ballot for Alaska’s primary election at the Mendenhall Mall Annex on Aug. 17 from election officials Jackie Rosenbruch and Barb Murray. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

My Turn: Musings on the Oct. 1 municipal election

Juneau’s vote-by-mail municipal election is underway. We have until Oct. 1 to decide five ballot questions, select a…

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Opinion

Opinion: School board and Assembly races offer necessary change

The Oct. 1 municipal election is shaping up as a referendum on changing the status quo. In the…

Rainforest Recovery Center at Bartlett Regional Hospital is scheduled to close Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

My Turn: Loss of Rainforest Recovery Center leaves Juneau with critical gap in substance abuse care

On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the city of Juneau is set to lose a valuable resource for treating individuals…

Former Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch in 2018. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

My Turn: Three strikes and a home run on Oct. 1 municipal election ballot

As a former U.S. government teacher, Juneau Assembly member and mayor, I usually start getting phone calls for…

Amanita mushrooms are large, white-spotted, and usually red. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

Sports

On the Trails: Marvellous fungi

People often think of fungi as dietary items or as agents of rot and decay. Fair enough, but…

A crowd of visitors tours the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday, July 21, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

My Turn: I’m just trying to live here

Ship-Free Saturday (Proposition #2) on the Oct. 1 municipal ballot, is an attempt by a group of residents…

A wood frog pauses in the forest just off the Yukon River near the mouth of the Nation River. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Sports

Alaska Science Forum: Wood frogs — farthest north amphibian cannibals

Their staccato voices can make a muskeg bog as loud as a city street, though most are so…

Cruise ships and passengers in downtown Juneau on Monday, June 3, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

My Turn: Ship-Free Saturday will have harmful effect on tourism statewide

Proposition 2 will damage Alaska tourism statewide. Vote no to keep this sustainable industry healthy

Roger Wharton is former Episcopal priest in Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Neighbors

Living and Growing: 10 things you can do to be happy

What is happiness? What makes you happy? Can you increase your happiness? These are very interesting and current…

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks to supporters during a campaign event at Louie’s Douglas Inn on Oct. 12, 2022.

Opinion

Opinion: Murkowski must get off the ‘none of the above’ fence

Sen. Lisa Murkowski isn’t your typical undecided voter. She’s not only extremely well informed about the presidential candidates…

The South Sawyer glacier had shed many small bergs, which were occupied by hard-to-see resting seals. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)

Sports

On the Trails: Excursions at the end of summer

In late August I went on a day cruise to Tracy Arm. The weather was good for observing:…