Mark Sabbatini

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat who became the first Alaska Native in Congress a year ago, discusses issues and adjusting to the national political scene on Sept. 8 as part of a three-day visit to Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A year after surprising victory, Peltola a popular target in Congress

Spending 9/11 with Biden, being top target of GOP now part of job while dealing with family matters.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat who became the first Alaska Native in Congress a year ago, discusses issues and adjusting to the national political scene on Sept. 8 as part of a three-day visit to Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A Ketchikan High School volleyball player, at left, unsuccessfully tries to hit the ball over the net, giving Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé the decisive winning point in a game Saturday during the Southeast Super Slamma Jamma Volleyball Tournament in Sitka. JDHS, after winning the opening game of the lower-ranking Coho Division in Saturday’s tournament, lost the division championship game to Homer High School in straight sets. (Screenshot from Mount Edgecumbe High School video of tournament)
Video

JDHS, TMHS both claim victories of sorts at Sitka tournament

For previously winless Crimson Bears, advancing to a title game marks a step forward.

A Ketchikan High School volleyball player, at left, unsuccessfully tries to hit the ball over the net, giving Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé the decisive winning point in a game Saturday during the Southeast Super Slamma Jamma Volleyball Tournament in Sitka. JDHS, after winning the opening game of the lower-ranking Coho Division in Saturday’s tournament, lost the division championship game to Homer High School in straight sets. (Screenshot from Mount Edgecumbe High School video of tournament)
Video
Maria Norman, 80, guides her wheelchair/walker toward the front patio space of the senior living building at the St. Vincent de Paul of Juneau complex on Teal Street on Saturday. About 30 Juneau residents visited the complex during the morning as part of a Friends of the Poor Run/Walk to raise money for the facility and its programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A step at a time toward housing stability

Annual fundraising run/walk for St. Vincent de Paul Juneau highlights improvements, ongoing needs.

Maria Norman, 80, guides her wheelchair/walker toward the front patio space of the senior living building at the St. Vincent de Paul of Juneau complex on Teal Street on Saturday. About 30 Juneau residents visited the complex during the morning as part of a Friends of the Poor Run/Walk to raise money for the facility and its programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Anthony Garcia (22) carries the ball deep into West Anchorage High School territory to set up the Huskies’ first touchdown early in the third quarter during Saturday’s game in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies football livestream video)

Depleted Huskies lose at West Anchorage 59-21

JV players make up one-third of Juneau’s squad during matchup against top team in conference.

Juneau’s Anthony Garcia (22) carries the ball deep into West Anchorage High School territory to set up the Huskies’ first touchdown early in the third quarter during Saturday’s game in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies football livestream video)
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gives a live speech via video from Washington, D.C., to attendees at the annual Southeast Conference meeting in Sitka on Thursday. (Screenshot from video by Southeast Conference)

Murkowski, Sullivan warn of domestic, foreign threats to Southeast Alaska’s economy

Issues from Russian seafood imports to ferry funding cited by senators during Southeast Conference.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gives a live speech via video from Washington, D.C., to attendees at the annual Southeast Conference meeting in Sitka on Thursday. (Screenshot from video by Southeast Conference)
Juneau’s two high school volleyball teams, Thunder Mountain High School and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, face off last Saturday at TMHS as they go through polar opposite seasons this year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s volleyball teams going in opposite directions entering tournament play

TMHS is undefeated, JDHS winless as teams begin three-day Sitka competition.

Juneau’s two high school volleyball teams, Thunder Mountain High School and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, face off last Saturday at TMHS as they go through polar opposite seasons this year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Jordan Creek flows over a portion of a footbridge behind a shopping center Thursday evening. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake until 10 a.m. Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake issued until 10 a.m. Friday

Glacier Highway, structures near Jordan Creek may inundated, according to National Weather Service.

Jordan Creek flows over a portion of a footbridge behind a shopping center Thursday evening. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Jordan Creek, Montana Creek and Auke Lake until 10 a.m. Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Albino Mbie, a Mozambique-born musician whose band is now based in Boston, performs during a youth jam at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Wednesday night as a prelude to the Áak’w Rock Indigenous music festival that starts Thursday. His band is scheduled to perform at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Áakʼw Rock ready for full-fledged opening as ‘monumental, historic event’

Youth jam Wednesday offers preview as only Indigenous music festival in U.S. makes in-person debut.

Albino Mbie, a Mozambique-born musician whose band is now based in Boston, performs during a youth jam at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Wednesday night as a prelude to the Áak’w Rock Indigenous music festival that starts Thursday. His band is scheduled to perform at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Eleven of the 14 candidates seeking four seats on the Juneau Assembly in the Oct. 3 municipal election answer questions during a forum Friday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly candidates challenged to offer plan of action, not just talk, at Tlingit and Haida forum

11 of 14 contenders for four seats get extra time to respond to some tough questioning.

Eleven of the 14 candidates seeking four seats on the Juneau Assembly in the Oct. 3 municipal election answer questions during a forum Friday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rachel Carrillo Barril, chef de cuisine at In Bocca al Lupo, tosses dough for a pizza Tuesday evening. The downtown restaurant was named by the New York Times on Monday as one of “the 50 places in the United States that we’re most excited about right now.” It is the first time a restaurant in Alaska has earned a spot on the annual list that debuted in 2021. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

In Bocca al Lupo named one of top 50 U.S. restaurants by the New York Times

Italian establishment in downtown Juneau is first Alaska eatery to make newspaper’s annual list.

Rachel Carrillo Barril, chef de cuisine at In Bocca al Lupo, tosses dough for a pizza Tuesday evening. The downtown restaurant was named by the New York Times on Monday as one of “the 50 places in the United States that we’re most excited about right now.” It is the first time a restaurant in Alaska has earned a spot on the annual list that debuted in 2021. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A chart shows the change in employment by community between 2021 and 2022. (Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)

Southeast Alaska gets first ‘A’ in annual economic report

Study finds strong rebound in region’s jobs and wages continuing into 2023

A chart shows the change in employment by community between 2021 and 2022. (Source: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
Colony High School running back Bryce Guzman (5) looks for room to run in a downpour during Friday night’s game against the Juneau Huskies at Adair-Kennedy Field. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Huskies lose 19-6 defensive struggle to Colony in title game rematch

Juneau takes early lead at home, but Colony rallies during occasionally heavy rain Friday night.

Colony High School running back Bryce Guzman (5) looks for room to run in a downpour during Friday night’s game against the Juneau Huskies at Adair-Kennedy Field. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau resident David Ignell, seen via video link, and departing City Manager Rorie Watt discuss a ballot measure asking voters to approve $27 million toward a new City Hall during a forum Wednesday night at the KTOO studio. (Screenshot from official video of forum)
Video

School board candidates agree on much, foes on City Hall ballot measure agree on little during forum

Funding and curriculum dominate education discussion, city’s actions and needs focus of ballot issue.

Juneau resident David Ignell, seen via video link, and departing City Manager Rorie Watt discuss a ballot measure asking voters to approve $27 million toward a new City Hall during a forum Wednesday night at the KTOO studio. (Screenshot from official video of forum)
Video
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, administers the House oath of office to Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, standing next to her husband Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr., center, during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Peltola’s husband Eugene has died in an airplane crash in Alaska, her office said Wednesday. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s husband dies in plane crash

Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr. was piloting plane that crashed shortly after takeoff in western Alaska.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., left, administers the House oath of office to Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, standing next to her husband Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr., center, during a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Peltola’s husband Eugene has died in an airplane crash in Alaska, her office said Wednesday. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Juneau Assembly candidates prepare to answer questions during a 90-minute forum on Tuesday night at the KTOO studios. The forum was hosted by the Juneau League of Women Voters, and moderated by media representatives from KTOO, KINY and the Juneau Empire. (Screenshot from shared video of forum)
Video

Assembly hopefuls find some areas of agreement and many differences at candidate forum

Cruise ship limits, homelessness, child care shortages and renewable energy among issues discussed.

Juneau Assembly candidates prepare to answer questions during a 90-minute forum on Tuesday night at the KTOO studios. The forum was hosted by the Juneau League of Women Voters, and moderated by media representatives from KTOO, KINY and the Juneau Empire. (Screenshot from shared video of forum)
Video
Juneau Assembly candidates discuss a range of issues during a forum Tuesday night at the KTOO studio. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video

Watch the 2023 Juneau League of Women Voters forum for Assembly candidates

14 candidates discuss cruise tourism, homelessness, child care and proposed new City Hall.

Juneau Assembly candidates discuss a range of issues during a forum Tuesday night at the KTOO studio. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video
Traffic passes by Fred Meyer in Juneau in November 2019. The store’s parent company, Kroger Co., is planning to merge with Albertsons Companies Inc., the parent company of Safeway. The companies announced Friday 14 of 35 Carrs Safeway stores in Alaska will be sold as part of the merger, but it is not known if Juneau’s Safeway is among them. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

14 of 35 Carrs Safeway stores in Alaska to be sold as part of proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger

Companies do not state if Juneau Safeway store will be among those sold.

Traffic passes by Fred Meyer in Juneau in November 2019. The store’s parent company, Kroger Co., is planning to merge with Albertsons Companies Inc., the parent company of Safeway. The companies announced Friday 14 of 35 Carrs Safeway stores in Alaska will be sold as part of the merger, but it is not known if Juneau’s Safeway is among them. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Elizabeth Djajalie sings the national anthem while Juneau Police Department officers and other stand at attention during a ceremony Monday at the September 11th Memorial at Riverside Rotary Park commemorating the terrorist attacks in 2001 that killed 2,996 people. About 100 local first responders, political leaders and other people attended the ceremony that featured the raising of the flag at half-mast at 9:58 a.m., the same time on the East Coast the first World Trade Center collapsed on the day of the attack. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Remembering with awe those who served on 9/11

More than 100 local first responders and other residents pay tribute 22 years after attacks.

Elizabeth Djajalie sings the national anthem while Juneau Police Department officers and other stand at attention during a ceremony Monday at the September 11th Memorial at Riverside Rotary Park commemorating the terrorist attacks in 2001 that killed 2,996 people. About 100 local first responders, political leaders and other people attended the ceremony that featured the raising of the flag at half-mast at 9:58 a.m., the same time on the East Coast the first World Trade Center collapsed on the day of the attack. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School players and spectators celebrate as the Falcons score the winning point to prevail in a five-set series over Ketchikan High School on Saturday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A drama-filled weekend as Juneau’s volleyball teams continue contrasting seasons

TMHS prevails in toughest game yet to stay undefeated; JDHS puts up fight seeking first win.

Thunder Mountain High School players and spectators celebrate as the Falcons score the winning point to prevail in a five-set series over Ketchikan High School on Saturday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Bryan Wilson and Courtney Olivia engage in the ancient game of Shōbu on Saturday during the annual Platypus-Con Board and Card Game Extravaganza at Centennial Hall. The event continues through Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Giant Platypus invades Centennial Hall

Hundreds of residents engage with stones, quilts and Nerf weapons at annual gaming convention.

Bryan Wilson and Courtney Olivia engage in the ancient game of Shōbu on Saturday during the annual Platypus-Con Board and Card Game Extravaganza at Centennial Hall. The event continues through Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)