Mark Sabbatini

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Pine needles on a tree in the Mendenhall Valley show aftermath of western blackheaded budworms damage Thursday. U.S. Forest officials said an outbreak that started a few ago in Southeast Alaska is declining in most places, but Juneau still has a high infestation rate that is expected to drop off next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

It’s not easy being evergreen in Juneau, as infestation of budworms lingers

Outbreak in Southeast Alaska since 2020 mostly tapering off elsewhere, officials say.

Pine needles on a tree in the Mendenhall Valley show aftermath of western blackheaded budworms damage Thursday. U.S. Forest officials said an outbreak that started a few ago in Southeast Alaska is declining in most places, but Juneau still has a high infestation rate that is expected to drop off next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A female mountain goat on a rocky slope on Baranof Island. (Phil Mooney/Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

People now need to pass this quiz to hunt goats in Southeast Alaska

Officials hope online test helps hunters to identify and avoid shooting females.

A female mountain goat on a rocky slope on Baranof Island. (Phil Mooney/Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
Models pose on the cruise ship dock downtown during the 2022 Alaska Fashion Week. The three-day event returns to Juneau starting Thursday. (Courtesy photo / Sydney Akagi Photography)

A deluge of fashion in the forecast for Juneau this week

Third annual Alaska Fashion Week starts Thursday.

Models pose on the cruise ship dock downtown during the 2022 Alaska Fashion Week. The three-day event returns to Juneau starting Thursday. (Courtesy photo / Sydney Akagi Photography)
Tom Robenolt portrays Sir Toby Belch and Natalia Spengler plays Viola in the Alaska Theater Festival’s production of “Twelfth Night,” which debuts at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Treadwell Mine Office Building. (Courtesy of Flordelino Lagundino).

Taking on new tones for “Twelfth Night”

Modern production of Shakespeare play free at various Juneau venues starting Wednesday

Tom Robenolt portrays Sir Toby Belch and Natalia Spengler plays Viola in the Alaska Theater Festival’s production of “Twelfth Night,” which debuts at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Treadwell Mine Office Building. (Courtesy of Flordelino Lagundino).
The Hubbard ferry departs the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal for its inaugural voyage through northern Lynn Canal on May 23. (Courtesy of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Hubbard will remain in service as staff and repair issues are addressed

Newest AMHS ferry “unequivocally” safe, despite inspection deficiencies, DOT official says.

The Hubbard ferry departs the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal for its inaugural voyage through northern Lynn Canal on May 23. (Courtesy of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
Katelyn Sulser, right, hits a game-defining bases-loaded triple for Juneau, giving her team the lead for good, in the second inning against Anchorage’s Abbot-O-Rabbit in the decisive game of the Majors Softball State Tournament on Saturday at Melvin Park. Juneau scored six runs in the inning to take a 7-2 lead before going on to win 15-5. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire).

Two-hit wonder: Juneau wins state softball tournament with pair of three-run shots

Majors team going to regions in California after 15-5 rout against Anchorage club to win series 3-0

Katelyn Sulser, right, hits a game-defining bases-loaded triple for Juneau, giving her team the lead for good, in the second inning against Anchorage’s Abbot-O-Rabbit in the decisive game of the Majors Softball State Tournament on Saturday at Melvin Park. Juneau scored six runs in the inning to take a 7-2 lead before going on to win 15-5. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire).
The Hubbard ferry docks at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Juneau on June 26 for a christening ceremony. The 280-foot-long vessel, with room for 300 passengers and 53 standard-length vehicles, officially was put into service in Southeast Alaska in May. But officials said Friday it may be taken out of service next week due to an employee shortage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hubbard may be taken out of service as AMHS employee, vessel woes continue

Newest ferry offering day service between Juneau, Skagway and Haines also suffering “growing pains.”

The Hubbard ferry docks at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Juneau on June 26 for a christening ceremony. The 280-foot-long vessel, with room for 300 passengers and 53 standard-length vehicles, officially was put into service in Southeast Alaska in May. But officials said Friday it may be taken out of service next week due to an employee shortage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on Wednesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Early release for elementary school students on Mondays approved by district

Ending school 30 minutes early intended to help teachers meet requirements of Alaska Reads Act.

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on Wednesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A GCI Communications truck is parked at the company’s Juneau office on Wednesday. The company’s landline service suffered outages in recent days that the company said were fixed as of Tuesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Local landline, mobile phones suffer outages

GCI says landlines issues repaired as of Tuesday, city investigating mobile service disruptions

A GCI Communications truck is parked at the company’s Juneau office on Wednesday. The company’s landline service suffered outages in recent days that the company said were fixed as of Tuesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Brian Holst (left) presents details about an upcoming meeting of statewide school board members who plan to discuss possible legal action against the state related to education funding during a Juneau Board of Education meeting Tuesday afternoon at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau school board makes cuts to cope with vetoed funds, eyes legal challenge to state

Statewide association of school boards discussing lawsuit, other options this week

Brian Holst (left) presents details about an upcoming meeting of statewide school board members who plan to discuss possible legal action against the state related to education funding during a Juneau Board of Education meeting Tuesday afternoon at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A now out-dated sign for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services remains at the entrance of a building in Juneau on June 22, nearly a year after the department was split into two. The building still houses many agencies providing services for the new Department of Health, while some have been relocated next door under the Department of Family and Community Services (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Signs remain uncertain a year after Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services splits in two

Agencies suffer hard year as food stamps, children’s services, other programs come under scrutiny.

A now out-dated sign for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services remains at the entrance of a building in Juneau on June 22, nearly a year after the department was split into two. The building still houses many agencies providing services for the new Department of Health, while some have been relocated next door under the Department of Family and Community Services (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Rae Mills, a mentor with the “Weaving Our Pride” project, hangs strands of wool yarn on a loom that will be used to create two Pride Robes at the Zach Gordon Youth Center on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Spinning the first threads of two Alaska Native Pride Robes

Mentors to spend year with students at Zach Gordon Youth Center creating the permanent wearable art

Rae Mills, a mentor with the “Weaving Our Pride” project, hangs strands of wool yarn on a loom that will be used to create two Pride Robes at the Zach Gordon Youth Center on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
One of the two 60-passenger cars on the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway descends Mount Roberts in late May. The tram has been closed nearly every day since last Sunday due to mechanical issues, but a company official said the tram is expected to reopen Saturday. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire File)

Tram expected to reopen Saturday after closing for several days for repairs

Mechanical issues force halt of cable cars; Mount Roberts race on Saturday cancelled.

One of the two 60-passenger cars on the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway descends Mount Roberts in late May. The tram has been closed nearly every day since last Sunday due to mechanical issues, but a company official said the tram is expected to reopen Saturday. (Clarise Larson/ Juneau Empire File)
A complaint filed Wednesday with the Alaska Public Offices Commission alleges advocates of repealing the state’s open primary elections and ranked choice voting are violating numerous campaign disclosure laws. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Ranked choice repeal ‘church’ violating campaign laws, complaint alleges

Four organizations and two people leading repeal effort accused of “laundering donations”

A complaint filed Wednesday with the Alaska Public Offices Commission alleges advocates of repealing the state’s open primary elections and ranked choice voting are violating numerous campaign disclosure laws. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Cash isn’t going as far as it used to, but it’s losing value much less quickly so far this year, with an inflation rate of 3.1% in April, compared to an 8.1% rate for all of 2022, according to a state report released Wednesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Statewide inflation down sharply so far this year, housing costs still rising

Alaska’s inflation at 3.1% in April after hitting 41-year high of 8.1% for 2022, state reports

Cash isn’t going as far as it used to, but it’s losing value much less quickly so far this year, with an inflation rate of 3.1% in April, compared to an 8.1% rate for all of 2022, according to a state report released Wednesday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Children pick up sand dollars on Sandy Beach on July 3. The end of this week is expected to be ideal beach weather with near-record temperatures forecast in Juneau and elsewhere in Southeast Alaska. (Therese Pokorney / Juneau Empire File)

Heat wave expected Friday

Temperatures not expected to break Juneau’s all-time high of 90F set on July 7, 1975.

Children pick up sand dollars on Sandy Beach on July 3. The end of this week is expected to be ideal beach weather with near-record temperatures forecast in Juneau and elsewhere in Southeast Alaska. (Therese Pokorney / Juneau Empire File)
The Ati-Atihan Juneau Group proceeds down Egan Drive during Juneau’s annual Fourth of July parade on Tuesday. The group won the top overall prize among parade participants. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

An Independence Day tribute to the seen and unseen

‘Voices of Alaska’ theme at this year’s Juneau parade an opportunity ‘for every voice to be heard’

The Ati-Atihan Juneau Group proceeds down Egan Drive during Juneau’s annual Fourth of July parade on Tuesday. The group won the top overall prize among parade participants. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Bridget Weiss discusses her 39-year career in public education on Thursday, her second-to-last day as superintendent of the Juneau School District, in a break room at Thunder Mountain High School.

Wise last lessons from Weiss

Former superintendent looks back at 39-year K-12 career, ahead to new job inspiring future teachers.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Bridget Weiss discusses her 39-year career in public education on Thursday, her second-to-last day as superintendent of the Juneau School District, in a break room at Thunder Mountain High School.
Nicole Adair, a 2001 graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaat.at Kalé, pitches for the Antiques as teammate Tania Hansen, a 1998 graduate, plays first base and Angi Thibodeau, a 1999 graduate, awaits an opportunity to advance as a member of the Classics during the fourth annual JDHS Softball Alumni Game on Sunday at Melvin Park. (Photo courtesy of JDHS softball)

Annual JDHS alumni softball game results in classy matchup

Closest-ever finish goes down to the wire as participation opened to public for first time.

Nicole Adair, a 2001 graduate of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaat.at Kalé, pitches for the Antiques as teammate Tania Hansen, a 1998 graduate, plays first base and Angi Thibodeau, a 1999 graduate, awaits an opportunity to advance as a member of the Classics during the fourth annual JDHS Softball Alumni Game on Sunday at Melvin Park. (Photo courtesy of JDHS softball)
T.J. Hovest conducts the Juneau Volunteer Marching Band during an Independence Day weekend concert on Sunday at Sealaska Heritage Plaza. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Marching back to Juneau’s traditions for Independence Day

Concert by Juneau Volunteer Marching Band a prelude to their participation in July 4 parade.

T.J. Hovest conducts the Juneau Volunteer Marching Band during an Independence Day weekend concert on Sunday at Sealaska Heritage Plaza. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)