Columns

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: It is all about the resurrection

This past weekend Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. His resurrection from the dead is the hinge pin of the integrity of our Christian faith.… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Decluttering starts with making room on a desk for a list. (Winnie Au/The New York Times)

Gimme A Smile: Declutter like a boss

I’m trying to declutter. I pronounce those words in the same abashed tone I might use to say, “I’m trying to lose weight.” In either… Continue reading

Decluttering starts with making room on a desk for a list. (Winnie Au/The New York Times)
It’s tough to beat a campfire after a day of steelhead fishing. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: No need to go pro

The coolness with which I lunged for the fish, missed, gathered myself, swept the rod back, lunged again and netted the steelhead was inspiring. I… Continue reading

It’s tough to beat a campfire after a day of steelhead fishing. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
A male belted kingfisher perches to inspect the water below. (Photo by Jos Bakker)

On The Trails: Kingfishers

Kingfishers have captured the fancy of people for centuries. In Greek mythology, the gods caused a man to drown, leaving his lover, a woman named… Continue reading

A male belted kingfisher perches to inspect the water below. (Photo by Jos Bakker)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) walks out of the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 20, 2025. Murkowski, who has routinely broken with her party to criticize President Donald Trump, has made a startling admission about the reality of serving in public office at a time when an unbound leader in the Oval Office is bent on retribution against his political foes. (Haiyun Jiang / The New York Times)

Opinion: Stand with Murkowski

On Monday at a summit for the Foraker Group’s leadership, Sen. Lisa Murkowski was asked, “What do you have to say to people who are… Continue reading

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) walks out of the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 20, 2025. Murkowski, who has routinely broken with her party to criticize President Donald Trump, has made a startling admission about the reality of serving in public office at a time when an unbound leader in the Oval Office is bent on retribution against his political foes. (Haiyun Jiang / The New York Times)
A rainbow spans the University of Alaska Southeast campus in September of 2024. (University of Alaska Southeast photo)

Sustainable Alaska: Reading relations

For the program’s 14th iteration, UAS’s One Campus, One Book committee selected Max Libioron’s challenging “Pollution is Colonialism.” Starting this fall, students and faculty across… Continue reading

A rainbow spans the University of Alaska Southeast campus in September of 2024. (University of Alaska Southeast photo)
The steamboat Yukon travels the Yukon River. (Public domain photo)

Alaska Science Forum: An early ascent of the Yukon River

Civil War veteran Charles Raymond was 27 when he accepted an assignment to visit the new U.S. territory of Alaska, a place so far away… Continue reading

The steamboat Yukon travels the Yukon River. (Public domain photo)
(Photo provided by Gina Del Rosario)

Living and Growing: Holy Week

Filipinos are known all over the world for their strong faith in God and for their deep love and reverence for our Holy Mother Mary,… Continue reading

(Photo provided by Gina Del Rosario)
A queen bumblebee visits a blueberry flower. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On The Trails: Spring flowers and their pollinators

Spring flowers have co-evolved with insect pollinators for a long time. The flowers require pollen delivery to set seed. To entice insects to visit and… Continue reading

A queen bumblebee visits a blueberry flower. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
The downtown Juneau cruise ship dock on a clear March day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: Seeking joy during times of great uncertainty

“This is the greatest act of power I have come to know: To be an activist of joy; a beacon of grace; a radiance of… Continue reading

The downtown Juneau cruise ship dock on a clear March day. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A male red-winged blackbird shows off his colors in a good display. (Photo by Gina Vose)

On the Trails: Springtime

The last part of March seemed to pass slowly, at least for those of use impatient for spring. Each of us has their own sequence… Continue reading

A male red-winged blackbird shows off his colors in a good display. (Photo by Gina Vose)
Basketball official Fred Angerman Jr speaks in a Region V Tournament pregame captains meeting in 2008. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: Fast Freddy

There are two sounds I can never seem to forget. One is the winter snow shovel scraping along the concrete basketball court I trudged to… Continue reading

Basketball official Fred Angerman Jr speaks in a Region V Tournament pregame captains meeting in 2008. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: Choose empathy during these difficult times

“It is your concern when your neighbor’s wall is on fire.” — Horace Recently, too many of our neighbors have lost their jobs through no… Continue reading

Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Multiple vehicles line up at the entrance of Waste Management’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in Lemon Creek on Jan. 30, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: CBJ budget challenges mount

Borough budget challenges just got bigger — and messier A recent news story warned residents that Juneau’s landfill will be at capacity in the next… Continue reading

Multiple vehicles line up at the entrance of Waste Management’s Capitol Disposal Landfill in Lemon Creek on Jan. 30, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
A pseudoscorpion contemplates a red mite for lunch. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On The Trails: Pseudoscorpions

Just before the spring equinox, a friend and I went out on the Fish Creek Trail one morning on a low tide. We saw five… Continue reading

A pseudoscorpion contemplates a red mite for lunch. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
On a nice day it’s always safe to talk about the weather. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Gimme A Smile: What to say when you’ve got nothing to say

It could happen, right? Despite your very best efforts, you could find yourself in the baffling predicament of having nothing to say. Maybe you’re facing… Continue reading

On a nice day it’s always safe to talk about the weather. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Rick Thoman created this graphic to display the snow drought measured at Anchorage International Airport in the 2024-2025 season thus far. (Graphic by Rick Thoman)

Alaska Science Forum: Snow’s absence and welcome presence

Rick Thoman noted in a recent report that the paucity of 2024-2025 snowfall in Anchorage and other Southcentral Alaska locations may be unprecedented in the… Continue reading

Rick Thoman created this graphic to display the snow drought measured at Anchorage International Airport in the 2024-2025 season thus far. (Graphic by Rick Thoman)
The author prefers gambling on new shrimp sports more than putting money into a casino or betting on sports. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Money Madness

I doubled our money. Then lost the winnings. Then lost the initial bet. Just like that I turned our $100 into $200 then $0 in… Continue reading

The author prefers gambling on new shrimp sports more than putting money into a casino or betting on sports. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
A black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Living and Growing: The bear

The folks of Southeast Alaska are fortunate in that we sometimes experience glimpses of bears along the trails and even in our yards. These encounters… Continue reading

A black bear sow and her cub walk along the Trail of Time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
The U.S. Capitol in December of 2024. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Opinion: Time to build a majority from anti-Trump minorities

Four years ago when Republicans defended the Senate filibuster, Sen. Dan Sullivan argued it “encourages, if not demands, compromise and bipartisan work both when one’s… Continue reading

The U.S. Capitol in December of 2024. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)