Opinion

Juneau School District administrators and board members listen to a presentation about the district’s multi-million deficit during a Jan. 9 meeting. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: The twisted logic of the Juneau School Board recall petition

The ink was hardly dry on the Juneau School District (JSD) FY 2025 budget passed last month before a local group filed petitions to recall… Continue reading

Juneau School District administrators and board members listen to a presentation about the district’s multi-million deficit during a Jan. 9 meeting. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A crowd overflows the library at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Feb. 22 as school board members meet to consider proposals to address the Juneau School District’s budget crisis. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: The last thing Juneau needs now is a divisive school board recall campaign

The long-postponed and necessary closure and consolidation of Juneau schools had to happen. There is no question given the huge deficit faced by the Juneau… Continue reading

A crowd overflows the library at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Feb. 22 as school board members meet to consider proposals to address the Juneau School District’s budget crisis. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Suggestions for Juneau’s future as the Planning Commission seeks public input

Note: This story has been updated to correct the amount of the head tax, and clarify references to the bus electric conversion project and proposed… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: School consolidation will limit students’ ability to participate in activities

I am a high school student at Thunder Mountain High School, and I understand consolidation had to occur in the Juneau School District. I am… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Math Specialist Brenda Taylor helps eighth-graders Fisher Lee, right, and Jorge Cordero, center, and sixth-grader Joshua Kessler with their coding project at the Juneau Community Charter School on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018. The school celebrated its 20th anniversary that year. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Juneau Community Charter School — an optional program with a long history of serving students

With charter schools in the news recently, it is worth examining the model and how it is being applied in Juneau’s only current charter school.… Continue reading

Math Specialist Brenda Taylor helps eighth-graders Fisher Lee, right, and Jorge Cordero, center, and sixth-grader Joshua Kessler with their coding project at the Juneau Community Charter School on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018. The school celebrated its 20th anniversary that year. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, delivers her annual address to the Alaska Legislature on Feb. 15 as Senate President Gary Stevens and House Speaker Cathy Tilton watch. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Sen. Lisa Murkowski has a job to finish

A few weeks ago, Sen. Lisa Murkowski told CNN’s Manu Raju she regretted “that our party is seemingly becoming a party of Donald Trump.” There… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, delivers her annual address to the Alaska Legislature on Feb. 15 as Senate President Gary Stevens and House Speaker Cathy Tilton watch. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Brenda Josephson, a Haines resident, testifies in favor of a bill setting statewide standards for municipal property assessors during a state Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee hearing Feb. 29. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Taxpayers revolt over property tax assessments

While we all have different ideas on how our tax money should be spent, it’s important to put aside those differences to ensure that property… Continue reading

Brenda Josephson, a Haines resident, testifies in favor of a bill setting statewide standards for municipal property assessors during a state Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee hearing Feb. 29. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The main entrance at Bartlett Regional Hospital. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: ‘No margin no mission’ is the critical statement being considered by Juneau’s community hospital

Bartlett Regional Hospital has been providing medical services to Juneau since 1886, first by the Sisters of St. Ann until 1965, when the hospital’s operations… Continue reading

The main entrance at Bartlett Regional Hospital. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Alaska Legislature meets in a joint session Jan. 18 in a failed attempt to override a veto by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to education funding. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Republican legislators are surrendering their constitutional power

By Rich Moniak

The Alaska Legislature meets in a joint session Jan. 18 in a failed attempt to override a veto by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to education funding. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Aiviq, a private icebreaker the U.S. Coast Guard is considering purchasing for Arctic operations with Juneau as its home port, is seen on March 24, 2012. (Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard)

Opinion: Giving credit where credit is due

It’s been a long time since the Juneau economy has been bolstered by a single significant federal appropriation. It was 25 years ago when Sen.… Continue reading

The Aiviq, a private icebreaker the U.S. Coast Guard is considering purchasing for Arctic operations with Juneau as its home port, is seen on March 24, 2012. (Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard)
Gus Schumacher, an Anchorage cross-country skier, testifies at a Senate Budget Committee hearing last Wednesday. (Budget committee screenshot)

An Alaska Olympian went to D.C. to testify on climate change. Then a senator dredged up old tweets.

Gus Schumacher hit with climate science quiz in exchange that went viral in conservative circles.

Gus Schumacher, an Anchorage cross-country skier, testifies at a Senate Budget Committee hearing last Wednesday. (Budget committee screenshot)
(Anne Onamuss / For the Juneau Empire)

My Turn: Alaska’s deepest trouble is nonsupport of education

People are exiting The Great Land and are reluctant to come here for professional opportunities and to raise families. The main reason is the deplorable… Continue reading

(Anne Onamuss / For the Juneau Empire)
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, second from right, attends a bill signing by President Donald Trump on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House photo)

Opinion: Sen. Dan Sullivan, a conservative in name only

It’s easy to imagine Sen. Lisa Murkowski broke out in a smile last week after former Vice President Mike Pence announced he won’t endorse Donald… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, second from right, attends a bill signing by President Donald Trump on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House photo)
The studio model of Starship “Enterprise” from Star Trek is on display at The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on its reopening on Oct. 14, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Opinion: No Alaska governor has ever so boldly held schools and students as political hostages

“Star Trek” reference looks past real argument for school funding.

The studio model of Starship “Enterprise” from Star Trek is on display at The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on its reopening on Oct. 14, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Black-and-white view of Gaza goes too far

Alexander Dolitsky’s letter rebuffing Dixie Belcher’s attempt to humanize the tragedy unfolding in Gaza goes too far. Frankly, I question whether the groundless accusations that… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: Murkowski and Sullivan should oppose Trump

The New York Times reported Saturday that Mr. Trump said, “some migrants are ‘not people’ and predicts a ‘bloodbath’ if he loses. He primed the… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Letter: If you see roadside rubbish, please pick it up

I met a young Tlingit lady and her friend this weekend, picking up rubbish that had been tossed over the bank and down into the… Continue reading

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Outer Coast students learn through individualized education and experiences. (Photo provided by Bryden Sweeney-Taylor)

Opinion: Seeking a new model of higher education, Sitka school draws from Alaska and national inspirations

In 1986, two linguists, Ron and Suzie Scollon, drafted a proposal for the Sealaska Heritage Foundation to inaugurate a new kind of education, which they… Continue reading

Outer Coast students learn through individualized education and experiences. (Photo provided by Bryden Sweeney-Taylor)
Looking up at the 1882 Edward Webster House on Telephone Hill from Second Street and Main Street in January 2024. (Photo by Laurie Craig)

Opinion: Juneau Assembly holds firm on Telephone Hill development

In a rare moment of near unanimity during a special Assembly meeting last month, members voted to move forward to develop Telephone Hill. Several Assembly… Continue reading

Looking up at the 1882 Edward Webster House on Telephone Hill from Second Street and Main Street in January 2024. (Photo by Laurie Craig)
Filcom’s Ray Zimmer (0) blocks a shot from Klukwan’s Jess McGraw in the first half of the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament C Bracket Championship Game on Saturday, March 26, 2023, in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s gymnasium. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

My Turn: Foul decision by Gold Medal officials to leave defending champs out of this year’s tournament

I am writing to the editor to express my extreme disappointment and frustration to this year’s Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal (GM) Selection Committee members… Continue reading

Filcom’s Ray Zimmer (0) blocks a shot from Klukwan’s Jess McGraw in the first half of the Juneau Lions Club 74th Gold Medal Basketball Tournament C Bracket Championship Game on Saturday, March 26, 2023, in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s gymnasium. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)