Mark Sabbatini

  • 1632 Stories
  • Page 3 of 82
Passengers aboard an Alaska Marine Highway System vessel are seen on the cover of a draft 20-year plan for the ferry system released Friday. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

20-year plan for Alaska Marine Highway envisions better service, if government provides more money

Draft long-term plan calls for six new ships in eight-ship fleet; public comments open until March 30.

Passengers aboard an Alaska Marine Highway System vessel are seen on the cover of a draft 20-year plan for the ferry system released Friday. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
A portable FirstNet cell tower to provide ATT service is set up in the parking lot of the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Friday afternoon following a widespread phone and internet outage that began Thursday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Phone and internet outage in Southeast continues Saturday with restoration timeline unknown

ACS says it is working on emergency fix after subsea cable damage; next update scheduled at 10 a.m. Sunday

A portable FirstNet cell tower to provide ATT service is set up in the parking lot of the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Friday afternoon following a widespread phone and internet outage that began Thursday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
President Donald Trump argues with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in the Oval Office on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. For decades or longer, no American president has engaged in such an angry, scathing attack on a visiting foreign leader. And what really seemed to get under Trump’s skin were Zelenskyy’s harsh words about President Vladimir Putin of Russia. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Murkowski ‘sick to my stomach’ about Trump’s berating of Ukraine’s Zelensky in Oval Office

Senator says talk of president ending support for Ukraine, abandoning other allies “a threat to democracy.”

President Donald Trump argues with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in the Oval Office on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. For decades or longer, no American president has engaged in such an angry, scathing attack on a visiting foreign leader. And what really seemed to get under Trump’s skin were Zelenskyy’s harsh words about President Vladimir Putin of Russia. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
A portable FirstNet cell tower to provide ATT service is set up in the parking lot of the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Friday afternoon following a widespread phone and internet outage that began Thursday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Update: Damage to subsea cable system severs phone, internet to much of Southeast; repair time unknown

CBJ regains online access, but phones still out; mixed connectivity elsewhere in town.

A portable FirstNet cell tower to provide ATT service is set up in the parking lot of the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Friday afternoon following a widespread phone and internet outage that began Thursday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 23, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending March 1

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 23, 1995. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessel Rainier pulls into port at Coast Guard Station Juneau on Sept. 16, 2020 for rest and replenishment of stores. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Mass firings begin at NOAA as part of Trump’s federal government downsizing

More than 10% may be let go from agency that oversee weather forecasting, Suicide Basin monitoring.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessel Rainier pulls into port at Coast Guard Station Juneau on Sept. 16, 2020 for rest and replenishment of stores. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Daniel Nichols, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, presents results from the organization’s Infrastructure Report Card for Alaska during a presentation Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Alaska improves slightly to a C on Infrastructure Report Card, state ferries still at bottom with a D

Authors say Biden-era funding bills a key reason for improvement, ponder impact of Trump’s cuts.

Daniel Nichols, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, presents results from the organization’s Infrastructure Report Card for Alaska during a presentation Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Officials prepare to move Ashley Rae Johnston from the street where she was fatally shot by police on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2025, near the Mendenhall Valley Breeze In. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Investigation: Fatal shooting of woman with hatchet by JPD officer on Christmas Day justified

Ashley Rae Johnston threatened customers outside store and then police, state report finds.

Officials prepare to move Ashley Rae Johnston from the street where she was fatally shot by police on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2025, near the Mendenhall Valley Breeze In. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
State Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) and Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) discuss budget, education and other issues during a press availability Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Two top Alaska GOP leaders on Trump: ‘It’s like Christmas every day’…‘if all you expect is coal in your stocking’

Gov. Dunleavy cheery about state’s prospects; some Republican legislators grim about lost jobs, funds.

State Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) and Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) discuss budget, education and other issues during a press availability Tuesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Assembly members and other visitors examine a meeting room in the Michael J. Burns Building formerly used by the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Assembly OKs negotiations to relocate city offices to Burns building; concerns about cost linger

Building owners asking $12M for space assessed at $9.3M; city manager says alternatives are limited.

Juneau Assembly members and other visitors examine a meeting room in the Michael J. Burns Building formerly used by the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development on Monday, April 8, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen listens to a discussion during a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. She was named the Municipal Clerk of the Year by the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks the previous week. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau City Clerk Beth McEwen announces retirement after nearly 30 years with CBJ

Winner of statewide Municipal Employee of the Year in 2015 and Municipal Clerk of the Year in 2023.

Juneau Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen listens to a discussion during a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. She was named the Municipal Clerk of the Year by the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks the previous week. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Craig Tribal Association visits the Tongass National Forest to harvest a cultural tree in April of 2024. (U.S. Forest Service photo)

Reviews range widely to Forest Service’s draft ‘biography’ of Tongass as part of management plan update

Comment period ends Monday for assessment of forest — but will plan’s direction change under Trump?

The Craig Tribal Association visits the Tongass National Forest to harvest a cultural tree in April of 2024. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
A state-run fish hatchery in Anchorage. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game photo)

Dunleavy’s bill to legalize fish farms seen as flaky by many lawmakers, interest groups

Governor responds to widespread opposition with video emphasizing salmon not among species allowed.

A state-run fish hatchery in Anchorage. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game photo)
Jude Humphrey, a Student Conservation Association intern for the U.S. Forest Service, reads a story about snowflakes to kids during a Mendenhall Minis event at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Firing on: Remaining Forest Service staff fill in to keep Mendenhall Glacier activities flowing

As visitor center continues lectures and kids’ events, fired employees get a show of community support.

Jude Humphrey, a Student Conservation Association intern for the U.S. Forest Service, reads a story about snowflakes to kids during a Mendenhall Minis event at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A bike is parked outside the main entrance of Bartlett Regional Hospital on Thursday, July 27, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

About 100,000 Alaskans could lose health insurance under GOP plan backed by Trump, hospital officials say

Cut affecting Medicaid could also be costly to state and other policyholders, letter to delegation asserts.

A bike is parked outside the main entrance of Bartlett Regional Hospital on Thursday, July 27, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The University of Alaska Southeast class of 2024 receives their degrees during a commencement ceremony Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the UAS Recreation Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

University of Alaska removing DEI references from all print and online materials

UAS chancellor says deletions are to comply with Board of Regents’ directive issued Friday afternoon.

The University of Alaska Southeast class of 2024 receives their degrees during a commencement ceremony Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the UAS Recreation Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Begich supports Trump’s federal cutbacks, but ‘I recognize the process won’t be perfect’

Congressman says cutting most Mendenhall Glacier staff may have been hasty; also wants faster flood fix.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A ranger watches a bear cross a path at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Officials and former employees say nearly all of the staff at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center have been fired by the Trump administration during the past week. (Photo courtesy of Megan Whitesall)

Only two employees left at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center after 80% of staff fired, official says

Tourism industry, city officials say they are uncertain about next steps as cruise season approaches.

A ranger watches a bear cross a path at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Officials and former employees say nearly all of the staff at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center have been fired by the Trump administration during the past week. (Photo courtesy of Megan Whitesall)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 19, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week ending Feb. 22

Three decades of capital city coverage.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Feb. 19, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)

Murkowski takes tough questions at virtual town hall, but doesn’t connect with all constituents

Alaska senator critical of many Trump actions; questioners ask what she’s doing about it beyond words.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 24, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)