Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Assembly members interview Mike Satre (lower right), chair of Eaglecrest Ski Area’s Board of Directors, on Tuesday night. The Assembly reappointed Satre to a third three-year term, along with appointing two other members. (Screenshot from City and Borough of Juneau meeting on Zoom)

Two Eaglecrest board incumbents reappointed by Assembly, along with AEL&P’s CFO as new member

Stability during transition at ski resort following GM’s controversial resignation cited as key factor.

Juneau Assembly members interview Mike Satre (lower right), chair of Eaglecrest Ski Area’s Board of Directors, on Tuesday night. The Assembly reappointed Satre to a third three-year term, along with appointing two other members. (Screenshot from City and Borough of Juneau meeting on Zoom)
The Ati-Atihan Juneau Group proceeds down Egan Drive during Juneau’s 2023 Fourth of July parade. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Fourth of July in Juneau taking youthful approach as U.S. celebrates 248th birthday

Three newly graduated high school students are grand marshals of downtown parade

The Ati-Atihan Juneau Group proceeds down Egan Drive during Juneau’s 2023 Fourth of July parade. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Cruise ships and passengers visit Marine Park on Saturday, June 22. A petition approved for the fall ballot would ban large cruise ships on Saturday and the Fourth of July in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

‘Ship-Free Saturday’ petition qualifies for Oct. 1 municipal election

Voters to decide on banning large cruise ships on Saturdays and July 4 unless Assembly acts by Aug. 15.

Cruise ships and passengers visit Marine Park on Saturday, June 22. A petition approved for the fall ballot would ban large cruise ships on Saturday and the Fourth of July in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

School district leaders rank ‘add-back’ priorities for $5.2M in extra funds OK’d in state budget

List to be considered by school board Saturday includes HomeBRIDGE, special eduction, tech staff.

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ben Mallott, vice president of external affairs for the Alaska Federation of Natives, is scheduled to become the organization’s next president on Oct. 1. (Photo provided by AFN)

Ben Mallott to become new president of Alaska Federation of Natives on Oct. 1

JDHS grad will step into role once held by his father Byron; replaces Julie Kitka after 34 years.

Ben Mallott, vice president of external affairs for the Alaska Federation of Natives, is scheduled to become the organization’s next president on Oct. 1. (Photo provided by AFN)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy hands out pens he used to sign the budget bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to state lawmakers during a private ceremony in Anchorage on Thursday. (Official photo from The Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy signs state budget with $680 BSA increase, vetoes tens of millions in other education spending

Broadband for rural schools, K-3 reading assistance, disaster aid, ferry system among other vetoes.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy hands out pens he used to sign the budget bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to state lawmakers during a private ceremony in Anchorage on Thursday. (Official photo from The Office of the Governor)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau man arrested on 17 sex crime charges involving teenager a decade ago

Brian H. Kurtzman, 50, sexually abused victim in Juneau and Haines, according to police.

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
McHugh Pierre, Goldbelt’s president and CEO, discusses the Alaska Native Regional Corporation’s operations during its 50th-anniversary celebration at its Vintage Park Campus on Jan. 4. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Goldbelt seeks dismissal of $30M lawsuit by medical company, argues alleged ‘oral’ agreement unenforceable

Juneau Native corporation also denies the agreement exists in COVID-19 needle contract dispute.

McHugh Pierre, Goldbelt’s president and CEO, discusses the Alaska Native Regional Corporation’s operations during its 50th-anniversary celebration at its Vintage Park Campus on Jan. 4. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Meilani Schijvens (center), owner of Rain Coast Data, talks with attendees at a Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday before presenting results from an annual economic survey by her company. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Survey: Optimism of Southeast Alaska businesses down this year, but still second-highest since 2010

Tourism leaders most optimistic in Juneau, seafood industry most pessimistic, annual report states.

Meilani Schijvens (center), owner of Rain Coast Data, talks with attendees at a Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday before presenting results from an annual economic survey by her company. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A parcel of land just off the corner of Capital Ave. and Village Street in downtown Juneau was approved to be the first parcel of land owned by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska to be put into federal trust. However, the state of Alaska has filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking to reverse the federal government’s decision, return the land to Tlingit and Haida, and stop future land-into-trust applications. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

District court vacates Tlingit and Haida’s ‘land into trust’ agreement with federal government

Split decision in state lawsuit OKs tribal pacts, but cites flaws in process involving Juneau land.

A parcel of land just off the corner of Capital Ave. and Village Street in downtown Juneau was approved to be the first parcel of land owned by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska to be put into federal trust. However, the state of Alaska has filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking to reverse the federal government’s decision, return the land to Tlingit and Haida, and stop future land-into-trust applications. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The ballot drop box at Don D. Statter Harbor was one of a few places voters in Juneau cast their ballots during the City and Borough of Juneau municipal election in the fall of 2022. Vote-by-mail elections are now the default in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Effort to repeal local mail-in voting ordinance called ‘huge success’ despite not enough signatures

Petition to repeal measure OK’d last year raises awareness, may fuel future effort, organizer says.

The ballot drop box at Don D. Statter Harbor was one of a few places voters in Juneau cast their ballots during the City and Borough of Juneau municipal election in the fall of 2022. Vote-by-mail elections are now the default in Juneau. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
Bartlett Regional Hospital’s behavioral health and crisis stabilization center, seen here during its unveiling ceremony on June 14, 2023, is among the areas where program cuts are being considered due to financial difficulties. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Bartlett leaders OK resolutions seeking help for ‘non-core’ services, but may halt some otherwise

Future of substance abuse treatment, hospice, other programs may be up to Assembly — or voters.

Bartlett Regional Hospital’s behavioral health and crisis stabilization center, seen here during its unveiling ceremony on June 14, 2023, is among the areas where program cuts are being considered due to financial difficulties. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 25, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on June 25, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photpo)

Juneau man gets 7½-year sentence for sexually abusing 14-year-old family member in his home

Randy Willard, 39, also gets 16½ years suspended jail time, must register as lifetime sex offender.

A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photpo)
Tim Berry, a Michigan resident visiting Juneau, fishes on a dock Monday near the Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc.’s Macaulay Salmon Hatchery. A ban catching king salmon near the hatchery and some other Juneau waters is in effect until Aug. 31. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Local king salmon ban not expected to have big impact on summer fishing, but long-term concerns remain

Ban due to 2020 landslide that caused hatchery pipeline break, disrupting multiyear spawning cycle

Tim Berry, a Michigan resident visiting Juneau, fishes on a dock Monday near the Douglas Island Pink and Chum Inc.’s Macaulay Salmon Hatchery. A ban catching king salmon near the hatchery and some other Juneau waters is in effect until Aug. 31. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Eddie Petrie shovels gravel into a mine cart as fast as possible during the men’s hand mucking competition as part of Juneau Gold Rush Days on Saturday at Savikko Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Mucking, trucking, chucking and yukking it up at Juneau Gold Rush Days

Logging competitions, live music, other events continue Sunday at Savikko Park.

Eddie Petrie shovels gravel into a mine cart as fast as possible during the men’s hand mucking competition as part of Juneau Gold Rush Days on Saturday at Savikko Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
City and state leaders gather Monday at the gangway to Aurora Harbor for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the third of four stages of reconstruction of the 60-year-old harbor. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Six years and one pandemic later, next stage of Aurora Harbor expansion is complete

New installations allow for longer vessels, provide utilities for final planned phase of project.

City and state leaders gather Monday at the gangway to Aurora Harbor for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the third of four stages of reconstruction of the 60-year-old harbor. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An estimated 185 people, many dressed in unconventional attire for running or walking, take off from the starting line outside Centennial Hall during the Only Fools Run At Night on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau revives its summer solstice spirit with Only Fools Run At Night

Runners and walkers in madcap costumes fill downtown streets as race returns after six-year absence.

An estimated 185 people, many dressed in unconventional attire for running or walking, take off from the starting line outside Centennial Hall during the Only Fools Run At Night on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Participants in a pro-choice abortion rally gather outside the Governor’s Residence on Saturday to demand a pro-life flag flying at the entrance be taken down. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Pro-choice abortion protesters march to Governor’s Residence to demand removal of pro-life flag

Rally on second anniversary of U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision also focuses on fall election.

Participants in a pro-choice abortion rally gather outside the Governor’s Residence on Saturday to demand a pro-life flag flying at the entrance be taken down. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon announced this week she plans to seek a third three-year term. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Mayor Beth Weldon seeking third term amidst personal and political challenges

Low mill rate, more housing cited by lifelong Juneau resident as achievements during past term.

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon announced this week she plans to seek a third three-year term. (Juneau Empire file photo)