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A photo provided by the National Park Service shows 32 Chunk, a bear at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, Sept. 15, 2025. Fat Bear Week, a bracket-style competition to pick the bear best suited for winter at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, was won by Chunk. (The National Park Service/T Carmack via The New York Times) — NO SALES; EDITORIAL USE ONLY —

News

Meet this year’s Fat Bear contest winner

After a weeklong battle to the finish, this year’s Fat Bear Week victor has been crowned. Congratulations to…

A man holds an American flag at a vigil for Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

News

Homer holds vigil for Charlie Kirk; highlights opening of local Turning Point Education private school

The vigil was organized in part by District 6 Rep. Sarah Vance.

(Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

Opinion: Scoring political points from murder is killing the country

Far too many are eager to turn murder into a motivating sound bite for their own purposes.

The author's puppy, Ruthie, is seen in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy Meredith Harber)

Life

Minister’s Message: Prayer for peace

People are hurting — deep in our bones hurting.

Items at a makeshift memorial for Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot last week, on the campus at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Sept. 16, 2025. (Loren Elliott/The New York Times)

Opinion

Opinion: Criticizing Kirk doesn’t mean you condone his murder

We will not be denied our First Amendment rights under the guise of false moral superiority.

File

Life

Minister’s Message: Coasting

Winning at work but losing at home is still losing.

The Alaska Capitol is photographed Friday, July 11, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Juneau Empire)

Opinion

Opinion: Alaska needs to be a smart shopper for taxes

One of the easiest taxes to fill the cart is more money from the oil industry.

Graduates of Kenai Peninsula College listen to speakers during the 54th Annual Kenai Peninsula College Commencement Ceremony at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion

Point of View: University of Alaska Anchorage: A foundation for success

UAA provided me with more than just a degree.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference on Monday, May 19, 2025, to discuss his decision to veto an education bill. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

Dunleavy: A tribute to Charlie Kirk and the First Amendment

Today, I write this as not only your governor, but as a citizen of our great country who…

File

Life

Minister’s Message: Seeing the invisible

Jesus is on the lookout for those who walk through life unnoticed.

(Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion

Opinion: Life would be better if AI knew the difference between good and evil

Whereas HAL’s crimes were movie make-believe, real technology today is helping crooks really steal from a growing number…

Image courtesy Alaska News Coalition

Opinion

Opinion: Stand with local journalism

Alaska’s print and digital newsrooms, particularly in small communities and regional hubs, are under unprecedented strain

File

Life

Minister’s Message: The Lord’s spiritual treasures are available to us all

The Bible says the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ.

Former Gov. Frank Murkowski speaks on a range of subjects during an interview with the Juneau Empire in May 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion

Opinion: Reimagining Alaska’s energy future: Extend the railroad to the north slope

It’s a project with far greater long-term economic benefit than a single purpose gas line.

This April 12, 2022, photo shows former Alaska Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Opinion

Building Alaska’s future by putting education first

This is why I am running for governor.

The U.S. Capitol as seen in Washington, April 2. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)

Opinion

Opinion: Alaskans share the impact of health care tax credits — and the hazards if they expire

This isn’t about policy; it’s about real people.

Dr. Cheryl Siemers (Courtesy photo)

Opinion

Opinion: UAA: Right here. Right now.

Our campuses across Southcentral Alaska are vibrant hubs of opportunity.

Haiyun Jiang / The New York Times
A container ship docks at Dutch Harbor in Unalaska, Aug. 13. Threatened by the president with political retribution, Republicans agreed to defund public broadcasting, imperiling a lifeline of communication in rural Alaska.

News

Public broadcast cuts hit rural areas, revealing a political shift

245 public broadcasting grantees in rural communities — including 27 stations in Alaska — are at risk of…

COVID vaccine doses at a vaccination site at a shopping mall in Bayamn, Puerto Rico, Jan. 7, 2022. The FDA has approved updated Covid vaccines for the fall 2025 season that limit who can get the shots, the federal government’s most restrictive policy since the vaccines became available. (Erika P. Rodriguez/The New York Times)

News

FDA approves COVID shots with new restrictions

The policy is the federal government’s most restrictive since the vaccines became available

Rep. Bill Elam speaks during a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion

Opinion: Republicans can support schools too

I didn’t run for office to burn the system down; I’m here to do the hard work of…