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A family of trumpeter swans on Auke Lake on Jan. 6. (Photo by Jos Bakker)

Sports

On the Trails: Winter sightings

On a slightly drippy day in late December, I wandered out to Point Louisa, right at a big…

Workers plug a cable into a Princess Cruises ship in Juneau on June 26, 2016. (Photo by John Neary)

Opinion

My Turn: Marine Passenger Fee proposal for electrifying docks

Here’s a great way to clean up the air in downtown Juneau during the busy cruise ship season.…

(City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Opinion

My Turn: When chickens come home to roost at the Juneau School District

On Tuesday I zoomed in to the Juneau School Board work session about our local school district’s recently…

An adult female snakeworm gnat that scientists recently described as a new species found, as yet, only in Alaska. (Photo by Derek Sikes)

Sports

Alaska Science Forum: ‘Snakeworm’ mystery yields species new to science

Add another species to the list of organisms oozing over Alaska.

A worker with the Pebble Mine project digs in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska near the village of Iliamma, Alaska, July 13, 2007. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)

Opinion

Opinion: The Alaska voices Dunleavy refuses to hear

“The Supreme Court’s decision to not hear the State’s case directly is disappointing,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy wrote in…

Communion during Mass on Sunday at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. (Photo by Gina Del Rosario)

Neighbors

Living and Growing: The Bread of Life

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes…

The result of the Wrangell landslide is seen on Nov. 20. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities photo)

Opinion

An Alaska climate expert reviews 2023’s weather and climate highlights

While Alaska didn’t have an ex-typhoon Merbok style widespread high impact event in 2023, there was still lots…

A deer’s eyes reflect headlights from an approaching vehicle. (Harold Neal / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Sports

On the Trails: Eyeshine and rumination

The eyes of a wary cat or dog on the roadside at night can reflect the light of…

Two visitors walk on the Photo Point Trail footbridge at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area on Aug. 27, 2023. (Photo by Laurie Craig)

Opinion

My Turn: Final Mendenhall Glacier redevelopment plan shows together we can create better outcomes

The Final Record of Decision announced on Dec. 14, 2023, by the U.S. Forest Service regarding changes at…

Trees living at their environmental limits in Alaska often preserve past climate clues in their tree rings. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Sports

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska’s year without a summer

Two-hundred and forty-one years ago, when General George Washington marched back into New York City as British troops…

A stir fry cooked by adding vegetables in steps. (Photo by Patricia Schied)

Neighbors

Cooking for Pleasure: Stir fry your veggies to tantalize your taste buds

Now that the holiday season is over, you may be tired of the heavy meals and sweets you’ve…

A page from the appeal by former President Donald Trump asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Colorado Supreme Court’s finding that an insurrection clause in the Constitution’s 14th Amendment renders Trump ineligible to be on the state’s ballot over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack, is photographed Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Opinion

Opinion: The question of disqualifying Trump

In last week’s column about the insurrection-related cases heading to the U.S. Supreme Court, I only briefly mentioned…

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

Neighbors

Living and Growing: Resolving to live in ‘Silent Night’ candlelight for 2024

I’m giving up exclamation points for New Year’s; 2024 will be the year of non-inflammatory statements.

This adult male Anna’s hummingbird was captured, banded and released in Soldotna in June 2023. (Photo by T. Eskelin, USFWS)

Sports

On the Trails: Nectar-feeding birds

Nectar is a rich, sugary food source used by plants to attract pollinators, and many animals exploit that…

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a commit to caucus rally, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, in Coralville, Iowa. Special counsel Jack Smith asked a judge on Wednesday, Dec. 27, to bar Donald Trump’s lawyers from injecting politics into the former president’s trial on charges that he schemed to overturn the results of the 2020 election. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

Opinion

Opinion: A Constitution 101 lesson for Sen. Sullivan

Four constitutional questions related to Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election are likely to be decided…

Adam Bauer, secretary for the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Adam Bauer)

Neighbors

Living and Growing: Don’t shun politics because of negative partisanship; promote unity and justice

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the…

John Eichelberger of Fairbanks took this photo of the full moon on Dec. 26 north of Fairbanks. At the time he took this photo — solar noon in Fairbanks or about 1 p.m. local time — the full moon appeared due north of him. (Photo by John Eichelberger)

Sports

Alaska Science Forum: The super moons of this Alaska winter

Has the moon seemed exceptionally noticeable this winter? There’s a reason: The full moon currently never sets for…

A western blackheaded budworm, common to Southeast Alaska, just hanging around. (Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service)

Neighbors

Gimme A Smile: Classic wisdom for the new year

Here we are, at the end of 2023. Time to reflect on how to improve in the new…

American coots gathered at Kingfisher Pond this winter. (Photo by Helen Unruh)

Sports

On the Trails: Wintering birds

Shortly before the winter solstice, I walked with a friend on the Boy Scout Camp Trail. There was…

A protester holds a sign advocating for an increase in the state’s Base Student Allocation during a rally at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 23. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

Opinion: Is there a Santa Claus that can deliver education funding?

As a kid growing up in rural Alaska, Christmas was special. We’d hunt for the perfect Christmas tree…