Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Rep. Justin Ruffridge: Bills move forward and public weighs in

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks to attendees at a town hall event on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman: Taking action for workers, supporting kids

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks to attendees at a town hall event on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Council of School Administrators logo. (Photo provided)

Op-Ed: The K-12 Fiscal Cliff: Who is Responsible? Everyone!

Seven years is a very long time to go without a meaningful permanent state funding increase

Alaska Council of School Administrators logo. (Photo provided)
Priya Helweg is the Deputy Regional Director and Executive Officer for the Office of the Regional Director (ORD), Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services, Region 10. (Image via hhs.gov)

Opinion: Inflation Reduction Act makes prescription drugs less expensive and more accessible

The Medicare program, can, for the first time, negotiate a fair price for certain prescription drugs taken by millions of beneficiaries

  • Feb 10, 2024
  • By Priya Helweg
Priya Helweg is the Deputy Regional Director and Executive Officer for the Office of the Regional Director (ORD), Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services, Region 10. (Image via hhs.gov)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks to attendees at a town hall event on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman: Hearings for bills on the horizon

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks to attendees at a town hall event on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska House Rep. Ben Carpenter, center, speaks to constituents at the Alaska State Capitol, in this undated photo. (Courtesy Office of Rep. Ben Carpenter)

Rep. Ben Carpenter: Looking toward strategic education reforms

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

Alaska House Rep. Ben Carpenter, center, speaks to constituents at the Alaska State Capitol, in this undated photo. (Courtesy Office of Rep. Ben Carpenter)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Rep. Justin Ruffridge: Energy on the front burner

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Rep. Ben Carpenter facilitates a town hall about a new cold weather shelter in Nikiski on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Capitol Corner: Rep. Ben Carpenter — Seeking long-term fiscal plans and voting solutions

Peninsula lawmakers report back from Juneau

Rep. Ben Carpenter facilitates a town hall about a new cold weather shelter in Nikiski on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks to attendees at a town hall event on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Capitol Corner: Sen. Jesse Bjorkman — Looking at food security, supporting public workers

Peninsula lawmakers report back from Juneau

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks to attendees at a town hall event on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Capitol Corner: Rep. Justin Ruffridge — Tackling education, fiscal stability in fast-paced start

Peninsula lawmakers report back from Juneau

Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
In this undated file photo the Trans-Alaska pipeline and pump station north of Fairbanks, Alaska is shown. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)

Opinion: The PROVE IT Act would affirm Alaska LNG makes global sense

The PROVE IT Act is U.S. Senate legislation to study the emissions intensity of goods produced in the U.S. with those produced in other countries

  • Feb 2, 2024
  • By Tom Barrett
In this undated file photo the Trans-Alaska pipeline and pump station north of Fairbanks, Alaska is shown. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)
Sen. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks, and Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, listen during the Senate’s floor session Saturday, July 20, 2019.

Opinion: Help Alaskan grandparents be with their grandkids!

As Alaskans struggle to fully recover from COVID, now is not the time to take more resources from our elders

  • Feb 2, 2024
  • Sen. Scott Kawasaki
Sen. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks, and Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, listen during the Senate’s floor session Saturday, July 20, 2019.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to a joint meeting of the Juneau and Alaska chambers of commerce Thursday at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Efficient administration in governance according to Dunleavy

There’s been a lot of taxpayer money wasted chasing the canard of inefficient government

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to a joint meeting of the Juneau and Alaska chambers of commerce Thursday at Centennial Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena M. Bishop, Ed.D. (Image via Alaska Department of Education and Early Development/education.alaska.gov)

Opinion: Where I stand: A strategic investment approach to education

I believe that we can improve student learning with strategic funding that supports teachers and high-quality instruction

  • Jan 22, 2024
  • By Deena M. Bishop
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena M. Bishop, Ed.D. (Image via Alaska Department of Education and Early Development/education.alaska.gov)
The former Lighthouse Village property, now owned by Doyon Inc. and the proposed site for the construction of a large hotel complex, is photographed on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Point of View: Thoughts on the Doyon Lighthouse Village complex plans

My comments only address the potential impact that this project might have on local bird populations and habitat as well as opportunity for birding

The former Lighthouse Village property, now owned by Doyon Inc. and the proposed site for the construction of a large hotel complex, is photographed on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Clean up the Tulsequah Chief mine before considering more mining in the Taku Watershed

The Taku River deserves more respect than it is receiving from the governments of Canada and British Columbia

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Artwork from inside cover of report “Learning to Thrive: Alaska’s next economy in a warming world” by Alyssa Quintyne. (Alaska Climate Alliance)

My Turn: Two visions of Alaska’s future

As the world experiences this unparalleled moment of ecological crises, two competing visions are playing out in public discourse

Artwork from inside cover of report “Learning to Thrive: Alaska’s next economy in a warming world” by Alyssa Quintyne. (Alaska Climate Alliance)
Letter to editor

Letter to editor: Homer Spit should be developed with birding in mind

We are Kenai Peninsula residents who reside outside of Homer but would still like to weigh in on the proposed Doyon development plan at the… Continue reading

Letter to editor
Letter to editor

Letter to editor: Do what’s right for Alaska’s families — Support WIC funding

Alaska stands at a critical juncture as Congress debates the future funding of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. This isn’t just a matter… Continue reading

Letter to editor

Legislature should vote to override governor’s education funding veto

This past session (2023), the Alaska Legislature approved a one-time funding boost to K-12 public schools for $175 million. The last time the state added… Continue reading