Mark Sabbatini

The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Oct. 4, 2023, is among those in Alaska that might be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau’s Safeway among 579 stores to be sold off if Kroger-Albertsons merger is approved

Kroger statement declares “no frontline workers will lose their jobs and no stores will close.”

The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Oct. 4, 2023, is among those in Alaska that might be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Downtown Juneau and Douglas on Aug. 22, 2023. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau’s cost of living 27.8% above US average, annual study finds

Report: Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks had highest food and healthcare costs of 265 cities in 2023.

Downtown Juneau and Douglas on Aug. 22, 2023. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
A screenshot of the front page of e-edition of the Anchorage Daily News on Monday.

Anchorage Daily News cuts print editions to twice a week, will continue e-paper six days a week

Change effective July 15 “reflects changing reader habits and rising costs,” according to newspaper.

A screenshot of the front page of e-edition of the Anchorage Daily News on Monday.
Alaska U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing. (Screenshot from Senate Judiciary Committee video)

Federal judge Joshua Kindred resigns after reprimand for judicial misconduct involving law clerks

Trump appointee, 46, created hostile work environment, had “inappropriately sexualized relationship.”

Alaska U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing. (Screenshot from Senate Judiciary Committee video)
Heidi Reifenstein reaches Father Brown’s Cross to complete the Goldbelt Tram-Mount Roberts Trail Run on Saturday, setting a new women’s record for the 3½-mile race with a time of 37 minutes and 40 seconds. (Photo by Jeff Gnass)

A mother of a mountain: Heidi Reifenstein sets new women’s record for Goldbelt Tram-Mount Roberts Trail Run

Longtime Juneau resident returns to peak form after taking break from racing while raising kids.

Heidi Reifenstein reaches Father Brown’s Cross to complete the Goldbelt Tram-Mount Roberts Trail Run on Saturday, setting a new women’s record for the 3½-mile race with a time of 37 minutes and 40 seconds. (Photo by Jeff Gnass)
Juneau School District leaders discuss items to add back to this year’s budget during an online meeting Saturday. (Screenshot from Juneau Board of Education meeting)

School board spends $3.6M in staff add-backs, nixes $1M CBJ loan after getting $5.2M extra from state

Members also consider new food service contract and first increase in school meal prices since 2020.

Juneau School District leaders discuss items to add back to this year’s budget during an online meeting Saturday. (Screenshot from Juneau Board of Education meeting)
Drummers with the Ati-Atihan Juneau Group make their way along Franklin Street during Juneau’s annual Fourth of July parade on Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A misty-eyed Fourth of July parade through downtown salutes Juneau’s youth

Trio of recent high school graduates serving as grand marshals share memories, hopes, candy.

Drummers with the Ati-Atihan Juneau Group make their way along Franklin Street during Juneau’s annual Fourth of July parade on Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Red, white and blue shoot off in Juneau to celebrate Independence Day. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Fourth of July fireworks show once again a hues hit for Juneau

Traditional holiday events continue Thursday with parades downtown at 11 a.m., in Douglas at 2 p.m.

Red, white and blue shoot off in Juneau to celebrate Independence Day. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on July 1, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on July 1, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A Pride flag hangs in a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District room. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Judge blocks Biden’s Title IX LGBTQ+ protections in Alaska, other states

Third ruling in less than three weeks puts policy on hold in 14 states; more challenges pending.

A Pride flag hangs in a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District room. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
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)