Wire Service

Low clouds hang over Cook Inlet north of Anchor Point on Oct. 23, 2025. The Trump administration is planning an oil and gas lease sale in federal territory of the inlet. It is set to be the first of at six Cook Inlet lease sales that Congress has mandated by held between now and 2032. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Trump administration sets terms for upcoming oil and gas lease sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet

The ‘Big Beautiful Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Lease Sale,’ scheduled for March, would follow a series of federal and state inlet lease sales that drew little industry interest.

Low clouds hang over Cook Inlet north of Anchor Point on Oct. 23, 2025. The Trump administration is planning an oil and gas lease sale in federal territory of the inlet. It is set to be the first of at six Cook Inlet lease sales that Congress has mandated by held between now and 2032. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Finding the magic of the holidays close to home in the Kenai Peninsula

Kick things off Thanksgiving weekend at the Kenai Arts & Crafts Fair

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Minister’s Message: Considering the saints

This week, in many Christian churches, we celebrated a tradition called All Saints’ Day. It’s a time in our church year where we remember those… Continue reading

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Quinhagak resident Sarah Brown holds a mask attachment she found on the beach on Oct. 24, 2025. This item might represent a hand or fin of an animal or spirit being. Photo courtesy Alice Bailey

Faces on a beach in Southwest Alaska

Walking a storm-scoured Alaska beach, archaeologist Rick Knecht knelt to pick up a wooden figurine the size of his palm. He squinted at it and… Continue reading

Quinhagak resident Sarah Brown holds a mask attachment she found on the beach on Oct. 24, 2025. This item might represent a hand or fin of an animal or spirit being. Photo courtesy Alice Bailey
Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: It’s my own fault, but that doesn’t make it easier

I use a tablet to read newspapers. It started maybe a decade ago, when an increasing number of national newspapers stopped shipping their print editions… Continue reading

Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)
A voter fills out their ballot at the Kenai No. 2 Precinct in the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion: Protecting the value of citizenship in Alaska’s elections

As Alaskans who care deeply about the future of our state and the integrity of our democracy, we feel compelled to speak out in support… Continue reading

A voter fills out their ballot at the Kenai No. 2 Precinct in the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Support your friends and neighbors by shopping close to home this holiday season. Photo credit: Canva stock.

Keeping it local: How shopping close to home strengthens Kenai

Every dollar spent locally helps create jobs, fuel community growth and keep Kenai’s spirit strong

Support your friends and neighbors by shopping close to home this holiday season. Photo credit: Canva stock.
“Hair ice” grows from the forest floor in Fairbanks, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Ned Rozell

‘Hair ice’ enlivens an extended fall in Interior Alaska

Just when you thought you’d seen everything in the boreal forest, a reader points out white whiskers sprouting from the ground. Chris Greenfield-Pastro of Fairbanks… Continue reading

“Hair ice” grows from the forest floor in Fairbanks, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Ned Rozell
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Minister’s Message: The ‘Unholidays’

“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark 7:6 “Better a dry crust with peace than a house… Continue reading

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Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Governor’s early Christmas spirit is misplaced

“I told the president, it’s like Christmas every morning,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said at last week’s staged event in Washington, D.C., where the Department of… Continue reading

Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Logo for the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development

Opinion: Nurse licensure compact can strengthen Alaska’s health care workforce

Alaskans value resilience. We know what it means to work together in tough times, and we require solutions that meet the unique challenges of our… Continue reading

Logo for the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Alaska’s natural gas pipeline would largely follow the route of the existing trans-Alaska oil pipeline, pictured here, from the North Slope. Near Fairbanks, the gas line would split off toward Anchorage, while the oil pipeline continues to the Prince William Sound community of Valdez. (Photo by David Houseknecht/United States Geological Survey)

Tokyo Gas signs preliminary agreement with trans-Alaska gas pipeline developer

The largest gas company in Japan has signed a letter of intent signifying that it would buy up to 1 million tons of liquefied natural… Continue reading

Alaska’s natural gas pipeline would largely follow the route of the existing trans-Alaska oil pipeline, pictured here, from the North Slope. Near Fairbanks, the gas line would split off toward Anchorage, while the oil pipeline continues to the Prince William Sound community of Valdez. (Photo by David Houseknecht/United States Geological Survey)
A GCI Communications truck is parked at the company’s Juneau office. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Billionaire seeks controlling interest in GCI, regulatory filings show

Alaska’s largest residential internet provider may soon come under the control of billionaire businessman John Malone, one of America’s biggest private landowners and wealthiest people.… Continue reading

A GCI Communications truck is parked at the company’s Juneau office. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
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Minister’s Message: Yet, I will rejoice!

“When you look at the world, what is it that you see? People find all kinds of things, that bring them to their knees,” sang… Continue reading

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A vintage Underwood typewriter sits on a table on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at the Homer News in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Opinion: A place government doesn’t need to stick its nose

I’ve spent much of my career advocating on behalf of Alaska’s small and independent business owners at all levels of government. While this sometimes meant… Continue reading

A vintage Underwood typewriter sits on a table on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at the Homer News in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Opinion: Crime deserves punishment, not well wishes

Years ago, while Juneau friends were house hunting in Washington state, they left their middle school son with me for the weekend. The instructions were… Continue reading

Larry Persily. (Juneau Empire file photo)
A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images via Alaska Beacon)

More than 66,000 Alaskans will lose food stamps within weeks if government shutdown continues

If the federal government shutdown continues, more than 66,000 Alaskans will lose federal food aid within weeks, the state of Alaska is warning. On Monday,… Continue reading

A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images via Alaska Beacon)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks on Oct. 18, 2025, at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage. Behind her is a screen projeting her image as she speaks. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Murkowski says she is trying to restore some resilience funding for Alaska villages

Speaking to AFN, the U.S. senator blasted Trump administration actions halting climate-related work; she and others lamented loss of public broadcasting funding.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks on Oct. 18, 2025, at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage. Behind her is a screen projeting her image as she speaks. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews conduct overflights of Kipnuk, Alaska, after coastal flooding impacted several western Alaska communities, Oct. 12, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Air Station Kodiak)

Trump administration approves disaster declaration for Western Alaska storm

The president also pledged $25 million in immediate disaster relief funding to cover costs as storm damage is still assessed.

U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews conduct overflights of Kipnuk, Alaska, after coastal flooding impacted several western Alaska communities, Oct. 12, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Air Station Kodiak)
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy meets with members of the University of Alaska Anchorage chapter of Turning Point on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, the same day he proclaimed “Charlie Kirk Day.” (Governor Mike Dunleavy/Facebook)

Oct. 14 proclaimed ‘Charlie Kirk Day’ in Alaska

Governor Dunleavy Turning Point USA chapter on the same day

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy meets with members of the University of Alaska Anchorage chapter of Turning Point on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, the same day he proclaimed “Charlie Kirk Day.” (Governor Mike Dunleavy/Facebook)