Mark Sabbatini

Foam floats trails alongside an entangled humpback whale calf near Juneau on July 17. (John Moran/NOAA Fisheries)

Whale woes continue with entanglements, boat strikes

Third whale snared in fishing gear this month freed; two whales also reportedly injured by vessels

Foam floats trails alongside an entangled humpback whale calf near Juneau on July 17. (John Moran/NOAA Fisheries)
A person departs Bartlett Regional Hospital on Wednesday morning. Hospital officials said Tuesday they expect to begin providing home health and hospice care services as soon as Thursday, after they were halted last October by an organization which had provided such services locally for 20 years. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hospice and home care services to resume this week, Bartlett officials say

Hospital expects to accept first patient by Friday after taking over program suspended last year

A person departs Bartlett Regional Hospital on Wednesday morning. Hospital officials said Tuesday they expect to begin providing home health and hospice care services as soon as Thursday, after they were halted last October by an organization which had provided such services locally for 20 years. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This is a photo of Paul Jose Rodriguez Jr. shared by a friend who said he sent the photo to her the day he was reported missing on July 11. (Courtesy / JoAnna Pilapil)

Safety concerns put search for body of man who drowned kayaking at Mendenhall Lake on hold

Officials waiting for release of water from ice dam, which may have killed Paul Rodriguez Jr.

This is a photo of Paul Jose Rodriguez Jr. shared by a friend who said he sent the photo to her the day he was reported missing on July 11. (Courtesy / JoAnna Pilapil)
Flags fly outside the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Tuesday. The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, which operates the center, is celebrating its 50 anniversary Thursday with music, food and other events from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

JAHC celebrates 50th birthday with performances, food and awards Thursday

Council’s role in local arts and culture has expanded in imaginative ways over five decades

Flags fly outside the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Tuesday. The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, which operates the center, is celebrating its 50 anniversary Thursday with music, food and other events from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Alicia Bagoyo, right and her daughter, Madalyn, look for a pre-kindergarten backpack with assistance from staff member Julie James during the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s annual backpack distribution at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Saturday.

Annual backpack giveaway charges up students and parents

2,400 packs with features for all ages distributed by Tlingit and Haida throughout Southeast Alaska

Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Alicia Bagoyo, right and her daughter, Madalyn, look for a pre-kindergarten backpack with assistance from staff member Julie James during the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s annual backpack distribution at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall on Saturday.
Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard
The Aiviq, a private icebreaker the U.S. Coast Guard is considering purchasing for Arctic operations with Juneau as its home port, is seen on March 24, 2012.

Juneau-based private icebreaker remains in Coast Guard’s plans as needs grow

Officials now say up to nine vessels needed for polar areas, but first may not be ready until 2028

Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard
The Aiviq, a private icebreaker the U.S. Coast Guard is considering purchasing for Arctic operations with Juneau as its home port, is seen on March 24, 2012.
A table in the Juneau city clerk’s office with forms for residents wanting to file as candidates for the Oct. 3 municipal election is unoccupied one minute before Monday’s 4:30 p.m. deadline. While there were no last-minute candidates, several people registered during the day, resulting in a total of 14 people seeking four available Assembly seats and four people seeking two Juneau Board of Education seats. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

All local election races set to be competitive this fall

After a year of controversies, 14 people seek four Assembly seats, four seek two school board seats.

A table in the Juneau city clerk’s office with forms for residents wanting to file as candidates for the Oct. 3 municipal election is unoccupied one minute before Monday’s 4:30 p.m. deadline. While there were no last-minute candidates, several people registered during the day, resulting in a total of 14 people seeking four available Assembly seats and four people seeking two Juneau Board of Education seats. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Riley Morehouse pitches to a Washington state player in the bottom half of the fourth inning in an elimination game Monday during the Little League World Series Northwest Region majors softball tournament in San Bernardino, California. Juneau’s team, representing Alaska after winning the statewide tournament, rallied to a 6-3 lead in the fourth inning after falling behind early, but Washington would take the lead at the end of the inning and go on to win 13-6. (Screenshot from recap video by littleleague.org)

Juneau girls eliminated from Little League World Series regional softball tournament

After dominating statewide tournament, team goes 0-2 at Northwest Region in California

Juneau’s Riley Morehouse pitches to a Washington state player in the bottom half of the fourth inning in an elimination game Monday during the Little League World Series Northwest Region majors softball tournament in San Bernardino, California. Juneau’s team, representing Alaska after winning the statewide tournament, rallied to a 6-3 lead in the fourth inning after falling behind early, but Washington would take the lead at the end of the inning and go on to win 13-6. (Screenshot from recap video by littleleague.org)
A line of electric-assisted bicycle sit on display at Juneau Bike Doctor in February. Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday vetoed a bill that would classify such bikes the same as regular bikes that passed the Legislature this year by a combined 57-2 vote. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy vetoes bill classifying e-bikes the same as regular bikes

Spokesperson calls bill, which passed the Legislature 57-2, “unnecessary bureaucracy.”

A line of electric-assisted bicycle sit on display at Juneau Bike Doctor in February. Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Friday vetoed a bill that would classify such bikes the same as regular bikes that passed the Legislature this year by a combined 57-2 vote. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
The Columbia ferry docks in Ketchikan earlier this month. Updates to the Alaska Marine Highway System are a major component of a draft statewide transportation improvement plan released Thursday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire).

Second Juneau-Douglas crossing, lots of ferry projects in state’s new four-year transportation plan

Public comments now being accepted on draft report detailing proposed statewide improvements

The Columbia ferry docks in Ketchikan earlier this month. Updates to the Alaska Marine Highway System are a major component of a draft statewide transportation improvement plan released Thursday. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire).
Models walk along Ferry Way in downtown Juneau during Alaska Fashion Week’s runway show Saturday afternoon. Organizers said the event would take place outside rain or shine, but a heavy downpour during the morning gradually tapered off and stopped just before the start of the show. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Outdoor fashion show creates a splash

Rain goes away as models on the runway showcase designs during third annual Alaska Fashion Week

Models walk along Ferry Way in downtown Juneau during Alaska Fashion Week’s runway show Saturday afternoon. Organizers said the event would take place outside rain or shine, but a heavy downpour during the morning gradually tapered off and stopped just before the start of the show. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau residents have until 4:30 p.m. Monday to file as candidates for this year’s local election at City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

11 candidates now seeking four Juneau Assembly seats

First two candidates for two school board seats declare Friday as Monday’s filing deadline nears

Juneau residents have until 4:30 p.m. Monday to file as candidates for this year’s local election at City Hall. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A moving truck that overturned blocks Fritz Cove Road in both directions Thursday. Nobody was injured by the accident, but traffic is being diverted to Engineers Cutoff Road, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Photo by Judy Hutchison)

Overturned moving truck blocks Fritz Cove Road

No injures reported, but traffic redirected to alternative road Thursday afternoon, police say

A moving truck that overturned blocks Fritz Cove Road in both directions Thursday. Nobody was injured by the accident, but traffic is being diverted to Engineers Cutoff Road, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Photo by Judy Hutchison)
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)