Columns

Deedie Sorensen is president of the Juneau Board of Education. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Powers and duties as a member of the Juneau Board of Education

“The Board of Education’s primary goal is to provide each student with an education of the highest quality in keeping with his/her capacity to learn.… Continue reading

Deedie Sorensen is president of the Juneau Board of Education. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Kara Haeussler skis back to an airstrip on Kahiltna Glacier in 2014 with Denali in the far background and the Kahiltna Peaks in the foreground right. (Photo by Peter Haeussler)

Alaska Science Forum: Why is Denali so tall?

Denali, North America’s highest peak at 20,310 feet above sea level, always seemed abnormally high to Peter Haeussler. He is a geologist who has studied… Continue reading

Kara Haeussler skis back to an airstrip on Kahiltna Glacier in 2014 with Denali in the far background and the Kahiltna Peaks in the foreground right. (Photo by Peter Haeussler)
Wanda Culp (left) speaks during a rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Why Alaska Natives like me oppose the landless bill

The 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) has never addressed Native claims. ANCSA is an industrial-rooted tool of Congress, created to exterminate Indigenous land… Continue reading

Wanda Culp (left) speaks during a rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
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Opinion: Alaska serves as an immigration model to take note of

Between the border crisis and election-year politics, “immigration” has been in the news a lot. While I have no intention of wading into the politics… Continue reading

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Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)

Living and Growing: Thoughts of jellyfish during time of holy mystery of death and resurrection

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor… Continue reading

Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)
Israeli soldiers are seen near the Gaza Strip border in southern Israel on Monday. The army is battling Palestinian militants across Gaza in the war ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

My Turn: Israel/Gaza and historic, religious and ethnic challenges of global terrorism

Dixie Belcher’s article titled “Palestinian residents are helpless victim in attacks made by leaders” published in the Juneau Empire on Feb. 26, 2024, is a… Continue reading

Israeli soldiers are seen near the Gaza Strip border in southern Israel on Monday. The army is battling Palestinian militants across Gaza in the war ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Students enter a bus stopped on Douglas Highway during the first day of the 2023-2024 school year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Unintended consequences of the school district reorganization plan

During school board public comment sessions on proposed school reorganization options, many people suggested ways to keep both Thunder Mountain and Juneau-Douglas high schools open.… Continue reading

Students enter a bus stopped on Douglas Highway during the first day of the 2023-2024 school year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
An infection of dwarf mistletoe has caused the deformation of tree branches, making what is called a witch’s broom. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Witch’s brooms and gumboots

Local creatures have often been given the names of early explorers and naturalists that visited our northern shores and forests. So (until the names are… Continue reading

An infection of dwarf mistletoe has caused the deformation of tree branches, making what is called a witch’s broom. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
Hydrologist Heather Best rides her fat bike in the White Mountains National Recreation Area north of Fairbanks. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Wet overflow a winter hazard in Alaska

While following a snowmachine trail recently, my dog and I came to a low spot that looked like a swimming pool filled with ice water.… Continue reading

Hydrologist Heather Best rides her fat bike in the White Mountains National Recreation Area north of Fairbanks. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Former President Donald Trump speaks to a capacity crowd at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on July 9, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: A primary election of ill-informed voters

On Tuesday, Republicans across the state will help anoint Donald Trump as their party’s nominee for president. But if national polling reasonably reflects the views… Continue reading

Former President Donald Trump speaks to a capacity crowd at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on July 9, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
HEX Cook Inlet, LLC and Subsidiaries presents a check to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Administration in October of 2023. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Administration)

My Turn: The Legislature should rein in AIDEA

This story has been updated to correct the photo caption, which originally stated AIDEA was presenting a check to HEX Cook Inlet, rather than the… Continue reading

HEX Cook Inlet, LLC and Subsidiaries presents a check to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Administration in October of 2023. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Administration)
As a teenager, shooting hoops was a major stress reliever for the author. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Lund)

I went to the woods: The reward of risk

One of the easiest things for athletes, coaches, former athletes, former coaches and parents to say is that sports teach you about life. True, but… Continue reading

As a teenager, shooting hoops was a major stress reliever for the author. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Lund)
Donna Leigh is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Courtesy photo)

Living and growing: A word for your year

I recently read an article by Emily Linder who wrote an article entitled “New Year, New Word” for LDS Living magazine. In her article she… Continue reading

Donna Leigh is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Courtesy photo)
Palestinians sell goods next to buildings destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. An estimated 1.5 million Palestinians displaced by the war took refuge in Rafahor, which is likely Israel’s next focus in its war against Hamas. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

My Turn: Palestinian residents are helpless victims in attacks made by leaders

In 1948 the United Nations gave the country of Palestine to European Jews escaping hundreds of years of pogroms, ending with the murder of six… Continue reading

Palestinians sell goods next to buildings destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. An estimated 1.5 million Palestinians displaced by the war took refuge in Rafahor, which is likely Israel’s next focus in its war against Hamas. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
The Juneau School District administrative office, which would be closed and turned over to Juneau’s municipal government under a pending consolidation plan. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Opinion: Juneau School District edges closer to balanced budget, but what’s next?

After a marathon public hearing last week, the Juneau School District (JSD) Board of Education voted 5-2 to combine and close several schools. The preliminary… Continue reading

The Juneau School District administrative office, which would be closed and turned over to Juneau’s municipal government under a pending consolidation plan. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Juneau, a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. (Photo courtesy of Brent Merten)

Living and Growing: The passion of Christ

As an admitted word geek I often find the origin of English words to be fascinating. Take the word “passion,” for example. It’s a common… Continue reading

Brent Merten is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Juneau, a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. (Photo courtesy of Brent Merten)
Forest Wagner visits Kanuti Hot Springs, located in Interior Alaska not far from the Arctic Circle. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska hot springs, far and wide

After a few hours of skiing through deep snow, Forest Wagner and I smelled a tuna sandwich. We knew we were closing in on warm… Continue reading

Forest Wagner visits Kanuti Hot Springs, located in Interior Alaska not far from the Arctic Circle. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Students at Juneau Community Charter School play chess in a classroom. (Juneau School District photo)

Opinion: Final Draft – Civic education and the problem with standardized testing

There’s a lot of intense disagreements with the education bill that the House Majority failed to advance on Monday. One provision which got hardly any… Continue reading

Students at Juneau Community Charter School play chess in a classroom. (Juneau School District photo)
The Alaska State Capitol. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Defined benefits and economic freedom for state workers

I moved to Alaska 12 years ago. The allure of the Last Frontier to newcomers who enjoy nature, adventure and beauty is wonderful. The remoteness… Continue reading

The Alaska State Capitol. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

My Turn: Figure out new possibilities from district restructuring, rather than trying to fight it

My children are 8 and 9. Both have been fortunate enough to attend Montessori Borealis since they were 3. This school year, my 9-year-old got… Continue reading

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)