In July of 2021, I spent a sleepless night tracking the second-largest earthquake in Alaska history, the 8.2 Chignik, as its energy moved across the ocean toward coastal communities.

Nothing lasts forever, particularly steel hulls floating in salt water their entire life.

In this era of intense partisan acrimony, Alaskans can be proud of our independent, apolitical judiciary. Our system of picking judges is admired nationally as a model of fairness. Now that impartiality is under attack.

I see that Rich Moniak has moved to the Juneau Independent to continue his campaign to besmirch the character of Sen. Dan Sullivan. Recently, Moniak quoted Sullivan as saying he would criticize President Trump in public if he felt the need. Moniak then offered a list of criticisms that Sullivan should have offered. It is really a list of things Moniak himself would have said if he had the platform that Sullivan has.

Just when I think the incessant snow may wane with the dawn of spring, the snow globe fires up one more time.

I welcomed last week’s announcement that the start of construction for the Cascade Point ferry terminal will be delayed until after Gov. Mike Dunleavy leaves office. Residents of Juneau, Haines and Skagway overwhelmingly oppose it. Dunleavy’s successor should promptly terminate all work on the project and immediately fire the political appointees who purposely misled the public they serve.

Really? Yes, unfortunately that is true. I always thought a resident in good standing had equal rights with all other residents — the right to vote, the right to own property, the right to hunt and fish as a resident, etc. That is going to change if the Alaska Senate passes House Bill 93.

Spending money can be a lot of fun, while saving money can be pretty boring. Sure, you get to watch your account grow — assuming you invest it wisely — thinking about spending it someday, though thinking about that someday is not nearly as much fun as spending today.

Alaska is once again riding high on the strength of oil revenues, with a possible $545 million flowing into state coffers during the current fiscal year due to higher oil prices. This is welcome news for policymakers and residents alike. But it also presents a familiar and uncomfortable paradox; the very forces boosting state revenue are poised to inflict serious economic pain on many Alaskans, particularly those in rural communities.

Sen. Sullivan’s support for policies that reduce tax and regulatory burdens and create stability for small businesses is good for all Alaskans.

During Rep. Nick Begich III’s address to the Legislature last week, Rep. Zach Fields (D-Anchorage) briefly held up a sign that read “Ice out of Alaska.” The minority caucus correctly called it “a clear violation of Uniform Rule 26, Mason’s Manual, and the established customs and traditions of the Alaska Legislature.”

You cannot talk about Southeast Alaska’s seafood industry without also talking about the Tongass National Forest. The productivity of our region’s sustainable fisheries is heavily dependent on the health of Southeast’s forests and watersheds — the two are inseparable.