Mark Sabbatini

Charity collectors Peppin (played by Natalia Spenglere) and “Salt” played by (Roblin Gray Davis) try in vain to get a donation from Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Tom Robenolt) during Theater Alaska’s production of “A Christmas Carol” on Sunday at McPhetres Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Charity collectors Peppin (played by Natalia Spenglere) and “Salt” played by (Roblin Gray Davis) try in vain to get a donation from Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Tom Robenolt) during Theater Alaska’s production of “A Christmas Carol” on Sunday at McPhetres Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A man is searched by a Juneau Police Department officer as he arrested April 17 after causing disturbances at the Alaska State Capitol and State Office Building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Legislators skip adding TSA-style security checks at Alaska’s Capitol, approve other safety measures

Proposal to screen visitors at entrance tabled for future discussion; moving mailroom offsite OK’d.

A man is searched by a Juneau Police Department officer as he arrested April 17 after causing disturbances at the Alaska State Capitol and State Office Building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy talks to members of the media about the upcoming legislative session before the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy: No surprises in upcoming budget; energy and education will again be big policy goals

Governor also optimistic about Trump, says cancelled post-election announcement wasn’t about Cabinet job.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy talks to members of the media about the upcoming legislative session before the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 11, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Dec. 11, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Kahyl Dybdahl, left, and Bronze Chevis eat an egg sandwich breakfast before school at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau School District gets $500K extra from BSA increase, may use about $100K to extend free student breakfasts

Juneau gets $5.7M rather than $5.2M from one-time funding boost; free meals set to end this month.

Kahyl Dybdahl, left, and Bronze Chevis eat an egg sandwich breakfast before school at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Alev Kelter, a member of the bronze-winning USA’s Rugby Sevens team at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, is one of two new inductees in the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. (USA Rugby photo)

NHL star Brandon Dubinsky, Olympic rugby medalist Alev Kelter elected to Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Hall also adding historic Alaska moments involving 1992 Winter Games, 2008 NCAA basketball title game

Alev Kelter, a member of the bronze-winning USA’s Rugby Sevens team at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, is one of two new inductees in the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. (USA Rugby photo)
James Cheng, and his daughter Gwen, 1, help themselves to some of the 17,050 cookies being offered to visitors during the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
James Cheng, and his daughter Gwen, 1, help themselves to some of the 17,050 cookies being offered to visitors during the annual Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Residence on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The fishing vessel Wind Walker fishes near Sitka on March 29, 2022. (James Poulson / The Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Two bodies from capsized fishing vessel found Monday amidst debris from boat on beach near Hoonah

Three people remain missing eight days after Sitka-based vessel sinks southwest of Juneau.

The fishing vessel Wind Walker fishes near Sitka on March 29, 2022. (James Poulson / The Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Juneau Assembly members and city administrative leaders participate in group discussions during the Assembly’s annual retreat in the main conference room at Juneau International Airport on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Big list of critical needs means mill rate increase is inevitable, Juneau’s leaders say at annual retreat

Brainstorming session also floats ideas from seasonal sales tax to “we should smoke weed for kids.”

Juneau Assembly members and city administrative leaders participate in group discussions during the Assembly’s annual retreat in the main conference room at Juneau International Airport on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A dump truck reportedly stolen by a drunk driver is ensnared in power lines on Industrial Boulevard early Saturday morning. (Photo by Jeremy Sidney)

Stolen dump truck hits power lines, knocks out electricity on Industrial Boulevard; driver arrested for DUI

Officials estimate power will be out in area for 8 to 12 hours Saturday.

A dump truck reportedly stolen by a drunk driver is ensnared in power lines on Industrial Boulevard early Saturday morning. (Photo by Jeremy Sidney)
Alaska Division of Elections officials on Thursday display scanned ballots from the Nov. 5 election on screens for attorneys monitoring a recount of a measure to repeal ranked choice in the state. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Recount of ranked choice repeal upholds voters’ rejection — and increases margin by six votes

State elections officials declare measure failed by 743 votes out of 335,767 cast, or 49.88%-50.12%.

Alaska Division of Elections officials on Thursday display scanned ballots from the Nov. 5 election on screens for attorneys monitoring a recount of a measure to repeal ranked choice in the state. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau International Airport Manager Patty Wahto addresses attendees at a Juneau Airport Board meeting on July 11. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Patty Wahto, manager at Juneau International Airport, retiring next spring after 27-year career

Hired as deputy manager in 1998, she took over top job in 2013 and presided over a series of changes.

Juneau International Airport Manager Patty Wahto addresses attendees at a Juneau Airport Board meeting on July 11. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The 2024 Together Tree is delivered to the Governor’s Residence on Dec. 3 after being harvested near Hoonah. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

Governor’s Holiday Open House a bit thinner this year — if 17,050 cookies and 90 lbs. of fudge can be called that

Students from TMMS, JDHS, Faith Christian School and JAMM will perform during three-hour event Tuesday.

The 2024 Together Tree is delivered to the Governor’s Residence on Dec. 3 after being harvested near Hoonah. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
Hans Rivera (foreground) plays a Mexican song on cello with other Juneau Alaska Music Matters students and a mariachi band from Anchorage as part of a Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration at St. Paul’s Catholic Church on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

An enlightenment into sights, sounds and spirit of Mexico at annual Feast Day celebration

Local music students join visiting mariachis at church celebrating national holiday for holy visionary.

Hans Rivera (foreground) plays a Mexican song on cello with other Juneau Alaska Music Matters students and a mariachi band from Anchorage as part of a Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration at St. Paul’s Catholic Church on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nicole Herbert, director of account services for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, address the district’s school board during a Dec. 3 meeting. She is scheduled to become the new chief financial officer for the Juneau School District in March. (Screenshot from Fairbanks North Star Borough School District YouTube video)

School district’s new financial officer coming from Fairbanks district with its own consolidation woes

Nicole Herbert scheduled to start 12 days before Juneau’s school board sends budget to Assembly.

Nicole Herbert, director of account services for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, address the district’s school board during a Dec. 3 meeting. She is scheduled to become the new chief financial officer for the Juneau School District in March. (Screenshot from Fairbanks North Star Borough School District YouTube video)
An intersection in the Mendenhall Valley is submerged during record flooding from Suicide Basin on Aug. 6. A report published last week states such flooding is the result of glacier melt occurring due to climate change. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Believe it or not, costs and damage of climate change are expanding in Juneau and elsewhere in Alaska

Record flooding, fatal landslides, decimated seafood industry cited as regional impacts in new report.

An intersection in the Mendenhall Valley is submerged during record flooding from Suicide Basin on Aug. 6. A report published last week states such flooding is the result of glacier melt occurring due to climate change. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Signs at the front of the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday indicate a designated entrance for legislators and their staff, and direct members of the public to a separate door. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Security screenings for people entering Alaska State Capitol to be considered by legislators Thursday

Signs already designating separate entrance for public, bids from security providers received.

Signs at the front of the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday indicate a designated entrance for legislators and their staff, and direct members of the public to a separate door. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Darius Heumann tries his hand at an old-fashioned steering wheel on the bridge of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker during a public tour on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A shipload of elephants, oysters and narwhals for visitors aboard Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker

Hundreds of locals take tours of ship with power 40,000 Formula One cars during its stop in Juneau.

Darius Heumann tries his hand at an old-fashioned steering wheel on the bridge of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Healy icebreaker during a public tour on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A trio of humans is dwarfed by a quartet of Christmas characters in a storefront on South Franklin Street during Gallery Walk on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini)

Families, neighbors and visitors from the far north join in holiday harmony at Gallery Walk

Traditional celebration throughout downtown joined by Healy icebreaker returning from Arctic.

A trio of humans is dwarfed by a quartet of Christmas characters in a storefront on South Franklin Street during Gallery Walk on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini)
A line at the Ptarmigan lift gains new arrivals shortly after Eaglecrest Ski Area begins operating for the 2023-24 ski season on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. The Ptarmigan lift will be the only one operating to the top of the mountain this season due to mechanical problems with the Black Bear lift. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Eaglecrest board responsible for many of ski area’s operational, staffing woes, former GM says

Members “lack the industry knowledge needed to provide supervisory overview of the area,” report states.

A line at the Ptarmigan lift gains new arrivals shortly after Eaglecrest Ski Area begins operating for the 2023-24 ski season on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. The Ptarmigan lift will be the only one operating to the top of the mountain this season due to mechanical problems with the Black Bear lift. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)