Columns

Guy Crockroft (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Consistency — An underrated quality

How did “Steady Eddie” do it? By working hard and being consistent.

Guy Crockroft (Courtesy photo)
Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: It’s the exact opposite of what we teach children

Breaking the rules and treating people unfairly is not the answer, even if others do it first.

Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Win Gruening (courtesy)

Opinion: Juneau seasonal sales tax proposal is a permanent tax increase

A seasonal sales tax likely would increase the tax burden for many Juneau families

Win Gruening (courtesy)
Fred LaPlante is the pastor at Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: What’s coloring your view?

The world around me hadn’t changed — only my vision had

Fred LaPlante is the pastor at Juneau Church of the Nazarene. (Courtesy photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump begin to leave the stage after making statements following their meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, Aug. 15, 2025. After that meeting, Trump adopted Putin’s preference for pursuing a sweeping peace agreement that would require Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Opinion: Trump embarrasses America. Again.

What mattered to Putin at this moment in history was how easy it would be to get almost everything he wanted

Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump begin to leave the stage after making statements following their meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, Aug. 15, 2025. After that meeting, Trump adopted Putin’s preference for pursuing a sweeping peace agreement that would require Ukraine to cede territory to Russia. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
An entryway to the Alaska Governor’s Mansion is seen July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Good pay, free housing, free parking, 4-year contract

Applications are now being accepted for the job of governor of Alaska

An entryway to the Alaska Governor’s Mansion is seen July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)
President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Opinion: Trump is not a peacemaker

Alaska’s news sites were buzzing last week after President Donald Trump announced he would be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin somewhere in the state on… Continue reading

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
A home is photographed on Telephone Hill in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Skip Gray/courtesy)

Living and Growing: Our green oasis

We have lost so many of our beloved spots in recent years that it would create too much sadness to destroy our our beloved refuge

A home is photographed on Telephone Hill in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Skip Gray/courtesy)
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)
The author’s father, “Tatay,” and mother are seen in this undated image. (Image courtesy Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: Our Father

Tatay taught us, mostly, not by words, but by how he lived his life

The author’s father, “Tatay,” and mother are seen in this undated image. (Image courtesy Gina Del Rosario)
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 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)
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, 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.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, speaks during a news conference in April 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Peggy McKee Barnhill (Courtesy photo)

Gimme a smile: Where did they go?

If I was a successful minimizer, I would donate all the second-rate mugs to a Mug Rescue Society

Peggy McKee Barnhill (Courtesy photo)
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)
Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)

Living and Growing: Keeping a faith that makes our hearts bigger

Art, ideas or politics aren’t Christian because they quote the Bible or use Christian symbols.

Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)
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)
Photo by Charles Whittlesey
Tatiana McWethy demonstrates her restoration technique on the icon of St. Nicholas.

Living and Growing: Historic Russian-American icons receive 1st restoration in 130 years

When that rare Juneau sunlight hit the canvas, St. Nicholas came to life, and swam in it

Photo by Charles Whittlesey
Tatiana McWethy demonstrates her restoration technique on the icon of St. Nicholas.