Mark Sabbatini

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Denali as seen in a picture distributed by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2015 when the nation’s tallest mountain was renamed from Mount McKinley. (National Park Service photo)

Trump vows name of highest mountain in U.S. will be changed from Denali back to Mt. McKinley

Similar declaration by Trump in 2016 abandoned after Alaska’s U.S. senators expressed opposition.

 

State Rep. Sara Hannan talks with visitors outside her office at the Alaska State Capitol during the annual holiday open house hosted by Juneau’s legislative delegation on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A moving holiday season for Juneau’s legislators

Delegation hosts annual open house as at least two prepare to occupy better offices as majority members.

 

Pauline Plumb and Penny Saddler carry vegetables grown by fellow gardeners during the 29th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy says he plans to reestablish state Department of Agriculture via executive order

Demoted to division status after statehood, governor says revival will improve food production policies.

 

Alan Steffert, a project engineer for the City and Borough of Juneau, explains alternatives considered when assessing infrastructure improvements including utilities upgrades during a meeting to discuss a proposed fee increase Thursday night at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hike of more than 60% in water rates, 80% in sewer over next five years proposed by CBJ utilities

Increase needed due to rates not keeping up with inflation, officials say; Assembly will need to OK plan.

Alan Steffert, a project engineer for the City and Borough of Juneau, explains alternatives considered when assessing infrastructure improvements including utilities upgrades during a meeting to discuss a proposed fee increase Thursday night at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy and President-elect Donald Trump (left) will be working as chief executives at opposite ends of the U.S. next year, a face constructed of rocks on Sandy Beach is seen among snow in November (center), and KINY’s prize patrol van (right) flashes its colors outside the station this summer. (Photos, from left to right, from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office, Elliot Welch via Juneau Parks and Recreation, and Mark Sabbatini via the Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s 10 strangest news stories of 2024

Governor’s captivating journey to nowhere, woman who won’t leave the beach among those making waves.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and President-elect Donald Trump (left) will be working as chief executives at opposite ends of the U.S. next year, a face constructed of rocks on Sandy Beach is seen among snow in November (center), and KINY’s prize patrol van (right) flashes its colors outside the station this summer. (Photos, from left to right, from Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office, Elliot Welch via Juneau Parks and Recreation, and Mark Sabbatini via the Juneau Empire)
Rep. Alyse Galvin, an Anchorage independent, takes a photo with Meadow Stanley, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on April before they took part in a march protesting education funding from the school to the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Drops in Alaska’s student test scores and education funding follow similar paths past 20 years, study claims

Fourth graders now are a year behind their 2007 peers in reading and math, author of report asserts.

Rep. Alyse Galvin, an Anchorage independent, takes a photo with Meadow Stanley, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on April before they took part in a march protesting education funding from the school to the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy (left) talks with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and local leaders during an Aug. 7 visit to a Mendenhall Valley neighborhood hit by record flooding. (Photo provided by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office)

Dunleavy to Trump: Give us Mendenhall Lake; nix feds’ control of statewide land, wildlife, tribal issues

Governor asks president-elect for Alaska-specific executive order on dozens of policy actions.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy (left) talks with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and local leaders during an Aug. 7 visit to a Mendenhall Valley neighborhood hit by record flooding. (Photo provided by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office)
Bartlett Regional Hospital, along with Juneau’s police and fire departments, are partnering in a new behavioral health crisis response program announced Thursday. (Bartlett Regional Hospital photo)

New local behavioral health crisis program using hospital, fire and police officials debuts

Mobile crisis team of responders forms five months after hospital ends crisis stabilization program.

Bartlett Regional Hospital, along with Juneau’s police and fire departments, are partnering in a new behavioral health crisis response program announced Thursday. (Bartlett Regional Hospital photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 18, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Dec. 21

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 18, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The icebreaker originally known as the Aiviq, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about three weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs photo)

First of Coast Guard’s new Polar Security Cutters likely delayed until at least 2030, U.S. House panel says

Delay means Juneau-based icebreaker may play stopgap role longer than expected.

The icebreaker originally known as the Aiviq, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about three weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs photo)
Juneau Board of Education members vote during an online meeting Tuesday to extend a free student breakfast program during the second half of the school year. (Screenshot from Juneau Board of Education meeting on Zoom)

Extending free student breakfast program until end of school year OK’d by school board

Officials express concern about continuing program in future years without community funding.

Juneau Board of Education members vote during an online meeting Tuesday to extend a free student breakfast program during the second half of the school year. (Screenshot from Juneau Board of Education meeting on Zoom)
A map shows properties within a proposed Local Improvement District whose owners could be charged nearly $8,000 each for the installation of a semi-permanent levee to protect the area from floods. (City and Borough of Juneau map)

Assembly holding public hearing on $8K per-property flood district as other agreements, arguments persist

City, Forest Service, tribal council sign $1M study pact; citizens’ group video promotes lake levee.

A map shows properties within a proposed Local Improvement District whose owners could be charged nearly $8,000 each for the installation of a semi-permanent levee to protect the area from floods. (City and Borough of Juneau map)
Dozens of residents pack into a Juneau Assembly meeting at City Hall on Monday night, where a proposal that would require property owners in flood-vulnerable areas to pay thousands of dollars apiece for the installation of protective flood barriers was discussed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly OKs lowering flood barrier payment for property owners to about $6,300 rather than $8,000

Amended ordinance makes city pay higher end of 60/40 split, rather than even share.

Dozens of residents pack into a Juneau Assembly meeting at City Hall on Monday night, where a proposal that would require property owners in flood-vulnerable areas to pay thousands of dollars apiece for the installation of protective flood barriers was discussed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau City Manager Katie Koester (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (right) meet with residents affected by glacial outburst flooding during a break in a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s mayor gets an award, city manager gets a raise

Beth Weldon gets lifetime Alaska Municipal League honor; Katie Koester gets bonus, retroactive pay hike.

Juneau City Manager Katie Koester (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (right) meet with residents affected by glacial outburst flooding during a break in a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Law enforcement officers from several agencies accompanied by local youths purchase Christmas gifts at Fred Meyer on Saturday during the annual Shop With a Cop event. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

In the presents of peace officers: Record-high 61 kids pick out gifts in annual Shop With A Cop

Officers from multiple agencies help pick out and wrap gifts for 32 families Saturday.

Law enforcement officers from several agencies accompanied by local youths purchase Christmas gifts at Fred Meyer on Saturday during the annual Shop With a Cop event. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Juneau Symphony, Vox Borealis and Sitka Holiday Brass rehearse for an annual Holiday Cheer concert Friday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Making 30 sound as one — and 11 sound as 60 — at annual Holiday Cheer concert this weekend

Juneau Symphony, Vox Borealis and Sitka Holiday Brass performs Saturday and Sunday at TMMS.

Members of the Juneau Symphony, Vox Borealis and Sitka Holiday Brass rehearse for an annual Holiday Cheer concert Friday at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Home Health and Hospice program at Bartlett Regional Hospital, and family members of people who’ve been in such programs, gather for “Light Up a Life” community celebration Friday evening at the hospital. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Stabilizing local hospice and home health services celebrated as a gift at holiday gathering

“Light Up a Life” at Bartlett Regional Hospital offers tributes to those receiving end-of-life care.

Members of the Home Health and Hospice program at Bartlett Regional Hospital, and family members of people who’ve been in such programs, gather for “Light Up a Life” community celebration Friday evening at the hospital. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
At left, the U.S. Coast Guard’s light icebreaker Storis is seen patrolling in Womens Bay near Kodiak on an unspecified date. At right, the Aiviq icebreaker, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about two weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (Photo of Storis from the Library of Congress / Photo of Aiviq by USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs)
Video

Update: Coast Guard confirms Juneau icebreaker to be named after historic ‘Storis’ stationed here after WWII

Newly painted Aiviq bears name of ship in service for 64 years, including a lengthy local legacy.

At left, the U.S. Coast Guard’s light icebreaker Storis is seen patrolling in Womens Bay near Kodiak on an unspecified date. At right, the Aiviq icebreaker, which arrived at a Florida shipyard about two weeks ago, is seen with a new paint job matching that of other modern Coast Guard icebreakers and the name “Storis” painted on its stern. (Photo of Storis from the Library of Congress / Photo of Aiviq by USCG Auxiliary Public Affairs)
Video
The Planned Parenthood location in Juneau, seen here in June of 2023, is now closed permanently. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Planned Parenthood in Juneau closes, making Anchorage the nearest location for abortion access

Organization cites need to consolidate resources to ensure continuation of services in region.

The Planned Parenthood location in Juneau, seen here in June of 2023, is now closed permanently. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy explains details of his proposed state budget for next year during a press conference Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Gov. Dunleavy’s budget nixes education increase, pays $3,838 PFD and incurs $1.5B deficit

Proposal sets up battle with Legislature that in past has resulted in more school money and smaller PFDs.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy explains details of his proposed state budget for next year during a press conference Thursday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)