Opinion

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., walk on Capitol Hill, Tuesday in Washington. (AP Photo | Alex Brandon)

Opinion: Lisa Murkowski proves herself, the impeachment fiasco proves something else

While Murkowski is no fan of the president, she is true to herself.

  • Feb 7, 2020
  • By Win Gruening
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., walk on Capitol Hill, Tuesday in Washington. (AP Photo | Alex Brandon)
A sign posted to the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Petersburg, noting that all sailings are canceled. (Courtesy photo | Malena Marvin)

Opinion: Stedman should follow local consensus and put ferries first

As residents of the towns near the proposed Kake Road, we firmly oppose it. The $40 million raised for this “road to nowhere” should instead… Continue reading

A sign posted to the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Petersburg, noting that all sailings are canceled. (Courtesy photo | Malena Marvin)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. (AP Photo | Julio Cortez)

Opinion: The true art of democracy

It’s not as simple as sending a Democrat to the White House.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, left, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. (AP Photo | Julio Cortez)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks about oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Dec. 19, 2017 during debates about the GOP tax cut on the floor of the U.S. Senate. (C-SPAN)

Opinion: Spread the load, save the state’s budget

We can address the underlying condition that is plaguing Alaska.

  • Jan 29, 2020
  • By Ed King
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks about oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Dec. 19, 2017 during debates about the GOP tax cut on the floor of the U.S. Senate. (C-SPAN)
Alex Brandon | Associated Press                                President Donald Trump waves as he walks on the South Lawn of the White House before departing on Marine One, Thursday in Washington.

Opinion: Remove Trump from office

Everything that Trump has done shows he is not fit to serve as president.

Alex Brandon | Associated Press                                President Donald Trump waves as he walks on the South Lawn of the White House before departing on Marine One, Thursday in Washington.
Opinion: What the AMHS report got wrong

Opinion: What the AMHS report got wrong

This is the wrong way to define ferry subsidies.

Opinion: What the AMHS report got wrong
In this Sept. 9, 2014 photo, a fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Facts needed, not myths about cruise tourism

This is the trade-off we make.

  • Jan 24, 2020
In this Sept. 9, 2014 photo, a fishing vessel is dwarfed by the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl in Juneau’s downtown harbor. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Tourists watch as one of two cubs crosses the path between groups of tourists visiting the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

Opinion: No place remains special by accident

To make and keep cohesive neighborhoods, it takes planning and zoning.

Tourists watch as one of two cubs crosses the path between groups of tourists visiting the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
In this June 17, 2019 file photo, The Supreme Court is seen in Washington. (AP Photo | J. Scott Applewhite)

Opinion: 10-year-old court case still mars Alaska’s campaign finance laws

The results of the Citizens United decision were immediate, spectacular and damaging.

In this June 17, 2019 file photo, The Supreme Court is seen in Washington. (AP Photo | J. Scott Applewhite)
Tourists visit Nugget Falls in September 2014. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: When seeking more translates to less

There’s never been a time when anything was “as it used to be.”

  • Jan 19, 2020
  • By Rich Moniak
Tourists visit Nugget Falls in September 2014. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The Alaska State Capitol reflects the sun in December 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: The American Dream with an Alaskan twist

The Permanent Fund is being mismanaged.

  • Jan 17, 2020
  • By Jim Crawford
The Alaska State Capitol reflects the sun in December 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Kim Metcalfe walks her dog along Basin Road on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Rezone Basin Road to lessen tourist traffic

Locals can be free of the crush of cruise ship tourism.

  • Jan 15, 2020
  • By Kimberly Metcalfe
  • tourism
Kim Metcalfe walks her dog along Basin Road on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Staff reductions at the Juneau Empire

Staff reductions at the Juneau Empire

Our industry is facing financial pressure, and the Juneau Empire is not immune.

  • Jan 14, 2020
  • By Robert Monteith General Manager, Juneau Empire
Staff reductions at the Juneau Empire
The Norwegian Bliss pulls out of Juneau’s downtown harbor on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Tourism is a local’s business

The community discussion around tourism seems to become more and more divisive.

  • Jan 14, 2020
  • By Laura Martinson
The Norwegian Bliss pulls out of Juneau’s downtown harbor on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The Mendenhall Glacier, seen here in May 2016. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: It’s a climate emergency!

It’s not just the climate that’s changing.

The Mendenhall Glacier, seen here in May 2016. (Angelo Saggiomo | Juneau Empire File)
Opinion: The futility of killing to make the world safer

Opinion: The futility of killing to make the world safer

We ought to examine how and why.

  • Jan 12, 2020
Opinion: The futility of killing to make the world safer
Opinion: It will take more than a public corporation to save Alaska’s ferry system
Opinion: It will take more than a public corporation to save Alaska’s ferry system
In this Empire file photo, a cruise ship passenger photographs a ship in Juneau’s downtown harbor on August 29, 2017. (Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: There are positives to tourism

We are privileged to live in a beautiful area.

  • Jan 9, 2020
  • By Liz Perry
In this Empire file photo, a cruise ship passenger photographs a ship in Juneau’s downtown harbor on August 29, 2017. (Juneau Empire File)
Fog drifts through the trees in the Tongass National Forest on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Opinion: Some truths about the Tongass

Logging has had nothing to do with hurting the fish industry.

  • Jan 8, 2020
  • By William Tonsgard Jr.
Fog drifts through the trees in the Tongass National Forest on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Opinion: United Way needs your help

Opinion: United Way needs your help

Volunteer or donate today.

  • Jan 8, 2020
  • By Jennifer Treadway
Opinion: United Way needs your help