Columns

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.
Doug Mills/The New York Times file photo 
President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia at a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018.

Opinion: Mistaking flattery for respect

Last Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. “It’s well deserved, and you should get it,” Netanyahu… Continue reading

Doug Mills/The New York Times file photo 
President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia at a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018.
Win Gruening (courtesy)

My Turn: The millions add up. CBJ, get a grip on spending.

Ignoring essential basic services while spending money on projects and services that few want or need doesn’t make Juneau more affordable

Win Gruening (courtesy)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Murkowski bought time for a new governor to do better

The senator said she added a provision that delays new federal penalties on Alaska for its high error rate in processing SNAP benefits.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Alexander B. Dolitsky

My Turn: When a writer’s courage against antisemitism shook a nation

Courage is doing what is necessary even when it’s difficult or scary.

Alexander B. Dolitsky
Dave Ringle, special projects coordinator at St. Vincent de Paul, is photographed Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)

Living and Growing: Speaking our values with action

Service changes when there is a relationship involved

Dave Ringle, special projects coordinator at St. Vincent de Paul, is photographed Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
From left, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) head to the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday morning, July 1, 2025. Senate Republicans were racing on Tuesday morning to lock down the votes to pass their sweeping tax and domestic police bill, after an all-night session of voting and negotiating with holdouts left Trump’s agenda hanging in the balance. (Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times)

My Turn: Murkowski’s moment of shame

She has no excuse for not following the model Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., set when he killed Joe Biden’s biggest initiative in 2021.

From left, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) head to the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday morning, July 1, 2025. Senate Republicans were racing on Tuesday morning to lock down the votes to pass their sweeping tax and domestic police bill, after an all-night session of voting and negotiating with holdouts left Trump’s agenda hanging in the balance. (Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times)
The Tongass National Forest sign seen en route to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Environmentalists without an honest cause

I took a little liberty with their statement because they took a lot of liberty with the facts.

The Tongass National Forest sign seen en route to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A Juneau Police Department vehicle patrols a neighborhood near Juneau International Airport after warning a person camped along the side of the road they need to move their campsite on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Homeless, not helpless — Part 2

In January 2017, I penned a My Turn entitled “Homeless Not Helpless” for the Juneau Empire. In that column, I defended then-Mayor Koelsch’s sponsorship of… Continue reading

A Juneau Police Department vehicle patrols a neighborhood near Juneau International Airport after warning a person camped along the side of the road they need to move their campsite on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau’s John Bursell and Brandon Ivanowicz — team J & B — placed third and Whitehorse’s Nicolas Giangrande and Heron Land-Gillis — The Bonk Bros — first in the two-person male team race of last Saturday’s Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay. They also placed sixth and first overall, respectively. out of 284 teams. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: ‘Come and do the KCIBR’

It’s like the Klondike run, except with bikes

Juneau’s John Bursell and Brandon Ivanowicz — team J & B — placed third and Whitehorse’s Nicolas Giangrande and Heron Land-Gillis — The Bonk Bros — first in the two-person male team race of last Saturday’s Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay. They also placed sixth and first overall, respectively. out of 284 teams. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)