Columns

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Jed Davis officiates a match as sophomore Jaxin Jim, senior Colton Cummins and freshman Carson Cummins coach elementary school age wrestlers. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: I could have been a wrestler

I could have been a wrestler. Well, if I had the help and guidance like so many of Juneau’s youth wrestlers get. At Saturday’s elementary-age… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Jed Davis officiates a match as sophomore Jaxin Jim, senior Colton Cummins and freshman Carson Cummins coach elementary school age wrestlers. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
This boreal owl has captured a vole. (Photo by Linda Shaw)

On the Trails: Three small owls

We have three small owls that share a lot of characteristics. They are the boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) of North America and Eurasia, known as… Continue reading

This boreal owl has captured a vole. (Photo by Linda Shaw)
Fresh rainwater sits on top of the ice at Auke Lake. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Gimme A Smile: Looking for spring in all the wrong places

Is it spring yet? Is it spring yet? We’re through Valentine’s Day, so spring is next, right? We can cross our fingers, hold our breath,… Continue reading

Fresh rainwater sits on top of the ice at Auke Lake. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Researchers and crew members pose beside the University of Alaska Fairbanks research ship Sikuliaq in Dutch Harbor during a 2023 cruise to the Bering Sea to learn more about the Bering Land Bridge. (Photo by JR Ancheta)

Alaska Science Forum: Bering Land Bridge wasn’t such a dry place

Poking holes in the sea floor that used to be part of the Bering Land Bridge, researchers have found that large swaths of it were… Continue reading

Researchers and crew members pose beside the University of Alaska Fairbanks research ship Sikuliaq in Dutch Harbor during a 2023 cruise to the Bering Sea to learn more about the Bering Land Bridge. (Photo by JR Ancheta)
President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine depart after a joint news conference during the annual Group of 7 summit, in Savelletri, Italy, June 13, 2024. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)

Opinion: Supporting Ukraine should have started with defending democracy at home

President Donald Trump just issued a new challenge to congressional Republicans who have steadfastly stood behind Ukraine in their battle to evict Putin’s invaders. They… Continue reading

President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine depart after a joint news conference during the annual Group of 7 summit, in Savelletri, Italy, June 13, 2024. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)
Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)

Living and Growing: Seeing is believing

Christians are nearing the time of Lent, 40 days of repentance and fasting, before the celebration of Easter. I love Easter. I love the worships.… Continue reading

Tari Stage-Harvey is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. (Photo courtesy of Tari Stage-Harvey)
Ephraim Froelich, a Juneau resident, testifies in support of House Bill 69 on Jan. 29, 2025. His son, who attends first grade in the Juneau School District, sits beside him. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Alaskans need to choose between unchecked school funding or improved student achievement

The calls for boosting education funding by increasing Alaska’s Base Student Allocation (BSA), while mostly well-intentioned, frequently miss the point. Proponents often frame their proposals… Continue reading

Ephraim Froelich, a Juneau resident, testifies in support of House Bill 69 on Jan. 29, 2025. His son, who attends first grade in the Juneau School District, sits beside him. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Little beetles crawl over a skunk cabbage inflorescence. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)

On The Trails: Beetle-mania

By Mary F. Willson

Little beetles crawl over a skunk cabbage inflorescence. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)
Viewed from a certain angle, a lake on Heintzleman ridge appears to be in a Valentine’s Day mood. (Klas Stolpe)

Pure Sole: A first love

An old, old, old, old, old (key word is old here), old flame of mine from my freshman year of high school recently sent me… Continue reading

Viewed from a certain angle, a lake on Heintzleman ridge appears to be in a Valentine’s Day mood. (Klas Stolpe)
This painting, “Abandonment of the Whalers in The Arctic Ocean September 1871,” depicts the New England whaling ships trapped in pack ice off northern Alaska. Wainwright Inlet is in the background. (Photo courtesy Ted and Ellie Congdon, Huntington Library)

Alaska Science Forum: When the Civil War came to Alaska

About 150 years ago, a few days after summer solstice, the gray skies above the Diomede Islands were heavy with smoke from whaling ships set… Continue reading

This painting, “Abandonment of the Whalers in The Arctic Ocean September 1871,” depicts the New England whaling ships trapped in pack ice off northern Alaska. Wainwright Inlet is in the background. (Photo courtesy Ted and Ellie Congdon, Huntington Library)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)

Opinion: The mirror’s reflection Trump and Vance can’t see

While speaking with reporters on Tuesday after a meeting with the King of Jordan, President Donald Trump tried to make a point about the terrorist… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)
The brands you wear don’t always say a lot about your political stance and moral compass. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Passive activism

I almost didn’t watch the Super Bowl because I was tired of the Chiefs, indifferent toward the Eagles and am grossed out by the NFL… Continue reading

The brands you wear don’t always say a lot about your political stance and moral compass. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Courtesy photo)

Living and Growing: Gathering to share ‘Faith in the Future’

First, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Áakʼw Ḵwáan, the original inhabitants of… Continue reading

Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau. (Courtesy photo)
The author in one of his favorite pastimes — sitting in the mountains. (Photo courtesy Becky Bohrer)

Pure Sole: My Mudrooms

A friend of mine from the Haa Yaitx’u Saiani’s Kin Support Program asked me to speak at the Mudrooms at K̠unéix̠ Hídi Northern Light United… Continue reading

The author in one of his favorite pastimes — sitting in the mountains. (Photo courtesy Becky Bohrer)
Twigs of red huckleberry are green all year, but brighter in summer than winter. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Tree bark

The center of a tree or shrub stem (from roots to trunk, branches, and twigs) is woody, composed of xylem cells that conduct water from… Continue reading

Twigs of red huckleberry are green all year, but brighter in summer than winter. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)

Living and Growing: The light of the world

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.” “What has come into being in him was… Continue reading

Page Bridges of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Juneau. (Photo courtesy of Page Bridges)
Snow is also a four letter word with more than one proper use. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: WTF with the F word

The F word. F… U… and no need for that third and fourth letter, the point is made without. Writing the third and fourth letter… Continue reading

Snow is also a four letter word with more than one proper use. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Jessica Larsen of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute describes her research on Alaska’s Mount Churchill at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union on Dec. 9, 2024. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: The threat within an Alaska mountain

Mount Churchill stands in a white corner of the Alaska map, deceptive in its cold, windblown silence. At least twice in the last few thousand… Continue reading

Jessica Larsen of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute describes her research on Alaska’s Mount Churchill at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union on Dec. 9, 2024. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the National Prayer Breakfast at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 6, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

Opinion: Dismantling the government. And the Bill of Rights

President Donald Trump has asked more than two million federal employees to consider resigning. If they leave their jobs by the end of the month,… Continue reading

President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the National Prayer Breakfast at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Feb. 6, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
A preliminary design of Huna Totem’s Aak’w Landing shows an idea for how the project’s Seawalk could connect with the city’s Seawalk at Gold Creek (left). (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: To make Juneau affordable, grow our economy

Based on the deluge of comments on social media, recent proposals by the city to dramatically escalate debt and utility rates, and increase the property… Continue reading

A preliminary design of Huna Totem’s Aak’w Landing shows an idea for how the project’s Seawalk could connect with the city’s Seawalk at Gold Creek (left). (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)