Mark Sabbatini

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Suspect in swastika graffiti spray painted at library and other Mendenhall Valley locations arrested

A man suspected of spray painting swastika symbols at multiple locations in the Mendenhall Valley earlier this month has been arrested, the Juneau Police Department… Continue reading

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A city election work handles envelopes from the 2023 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

No changes in local election as updated results show second-highest turnout since 2010

38.35% rate so far is highest since 42.73% in 2020; final certification scheduled next Tuesday

A city election work handles envelopes from the 2023 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
A graph shows Suicide Basin’s water level rising Thursday afternoon following a drop in the morning. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Update: Suicide Basin rising again after brief water level drop Thursday morning

Maximum crest of river from full release would be 11 ft., well below peak of record August flood

A graph shows Suicide Basin’s water level rising Thursday afternoon following a drop in the morning. (National Weather Service Juneau)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 8, 2004. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 8, 2004. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Jackie Bryant, director of the city’s cold-weather emergency shelter during its first season, inspects cots after people staying there depart on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Cold-weather shelter in Thane to open for second year Tuesday with indoor bathrooms and other changes

Shelter officials, surrounding businesses plan more active monitoring to safeguard against problems.

Jackie Bryant, director of the city’s cold-weather emergency shelter during its first season, inspects cots after people staying there depart on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A view of Gastineau Channel, where a second crossing between Juneau and Douglas north of the current bridge is in the evaluation stage. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Flood protection, second Juneau-Douglas crossing top Planning Commission’s legislative wish list

Draft 19-item list also includes housing, other projects Assembly will rank and seek funds for.

A view of Gastineau Channel, where a second crossing between Juneau and Douglas north of the current bridge is in the evaluation stage. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Tyson Duckworth (left) and Marco Reina face off in the main event at AK Beatdown 36 on Saturday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Fight night returns to Juneau after five years with a 10-count of boxing and MMA bouts

AK Beatdown 36 reunites brawlers from Southeast and beyond, with some eyeing bigger dreams.

Tyson Duckworth (left) and Marco Reina face off in the main event at AK Beatdown 36 on Saturday night at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Black Bear chairlift at Eaglecrest Ski Area may be closed throughout the 2024-25 ski season due to mechanical problems. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Eaglecrest facing rocky ski season due to loss of Black Bear lift, problems with snowmaking system

One of two mountaintop lifts may close all season; report says snowmaking needs “immediate safety upgrades.”

The Black Bear chairlift at Eaglecrest Ski Area may be closed throughout the 2024-25 ski season due to mechanical problems. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
June Troxel (left), a sophomore for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s varsity volleyball team, sets up a teammate during Saturday’s game against Mountain City Christian Academy in an elimination game of the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza at JDHS. Pictured on the court with Troxel are Amelia Elfers (13), Lavinia Ma’ake (11) and Braith Dihle (2). Head Coach Jody Levernier is standing behind them holding a clipboard. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

JDHS volleyball teams find their new groove hosting JIVE tournament

Varsity built from 91 players seeking spots after consolidation settles in; two JV teams face off in semifinal.

June Troxel (left), a sophomore for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s varsity volleyball team, sets up a teammate during Saturday’s game against Mountain City Christian Academy in an elimination game of the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza at JDHS. Pictured on the court with Troxel are Amelia Elfers (13), Lavinia Ma’ake (11) and Braith Dihle (2). Head Coach Jody Levernier is standing behind them holding a clipboard. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A dropoff box for ballots at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Updated election results show no change as turnout surpasses last year’s total vote

Ballots from 34.27% of voters tallied as of Friday, final results expected Oct 15; last year’s total 33.98%.

A dropoff box for ballots at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (left) and Vice President Emil Mackey (right), with his son Emil Mackey IV between them, listen to a presentation during a school board retreat at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Saturday, Sept 28. Recall votes for both board members are failing in the initial vote tally in this year’s municipal election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School board that made lots of changes appears it will remain the same after election

Three incumbents leading by large margins; recall petitions against two members failing

Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (left) and Vice President Emil Mackey (right), with his son Emil Mackey IV between them, listen to a presentation during a school board retreat at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Saturday, Sept 28. Recall votes for both board members are failing in the initial vote tally in this year’s municipal election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Workers install Hesco Barriers along the Los Angeles River to protect against El Niño flooding in 2016. Similar barriers along the Mendenhall River are being considered by Juneau city leaders. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)
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Building blocks toward flood prevention being sought by city, community group

Four-mile levy using giant sand barriers proposed to Assembly; neighborhood group seeks own solutions.

Workers install Hesco Barriers along the Los Angeles River to protect against El Niño flooding in 2016. Similar barriers along the Mendenhall River are being considered by Juneau city leaders. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)
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Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau is among the state prisons housing inmates whose names were included in material improperly accessible to the public on a website for months, according to officials. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Update: Inmate records improperly online for months contained fictitious health data, company says

Investigation rebuts illegal health data leak accusations by ACLU, which still finds fault with explanation

Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau is among the state prisons housing inmates whose names were included in material improperly accessible to the public on a website for months, according to officials. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 3, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 3, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Aaron Jacobs (lower right), a National Weather Service Juneau hydrologist, provides an update about the status of Suicide Basin during a special meeting of the Juneau Assembly on Thursday. (Screenshot from official livestream of Juneau Assembly meeting)

Expert: Major flood from Suicide Basin this fall now appears highly unlikely

Basin would take 145 days to fill at current rate as colder weather sets in, Assembly members told.

Aaron Jacobs (lower right), a National Weather Service Juneau hydrologist, provides an update about the status of Suicide Basin during a special meeting of the Juneau Assembly on Thursday. (Screenshot from official livestream of Juneau Assembly meeting)
Supporters of Mayor Beth Weldon and Juneau Assembly candidate Neil Steininger wave signs to motorists on Egan Drive at the Douglas Bridge intersection on Tuesday morning. Both are well ahead in their two-candidate races in the first batch of ballots tallied Tuesday night, with official results scheduled to be certified on Oct. 15. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Leaders in mayoral, Assembly races cautiously ponder issues ahead as more ballots tallied

Mayor Beth Weldon, Assembly hopeful Neil Steininger have solid leads; Maureen Hall a narrower edge

Supporters of Mayor Beth Weldon and Juneau Assembly candidate Neil Steininger wave signs to motorists on Egan Drive at the Douglas Bridge intersection on Tuesday morning. Both are well ahead in their two-candidate races in the first batch of ballots tallied Tuesday night, with official results scheduled to be certified on Oct. 15. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen (right) and Deputy Clerk Diane Cathcart await the arrival of election materials as early ballots are counted at the Thane Ballot Processing Center on Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Ship-Free Saturday losing, Weldon leads mayor’s race, school board recalls failing in early election results

Unofficial partial count shows Steininger, Hall leading Assembly races; school board incumbents also ahead.

Juneau Municipal Clerk Beth McEwen (right) and Deputy Clerk Diane Cathcart await the arrival of election materials as early ballots are counted at the Thane Ballot Processing Center on Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mike Lane (left), talks to guests Brandi Billings (wearing pink) and Jessica Geary minutes before the first live broadcast in eight months of KINY-AM’s “Problem Corner” on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

‘Problem Corner’ returns to KINY with talk of elections, safe graduations and ‘squishy’ kittens

Station revives live weekday program eight months after halting Alaska’s longest-running radio show.

Mike Lane (left), talks to guests Brandi Billings (wearing pink) and Jessica Geary minutes before the first live broadcast in eight months of KINY-AM’s “Problem Corner” on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Koningsdam and Eurodam cruise ships remain docked in Juneau early Tuesday morning after arriving Monday, due to a storm that brought high winds to many parts of Southeast Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cruise ships remain in Juneau overnight after canceling Southeast stops elsewhere due to storm

Two ships arriving Monday staying until Tuesday, with a third making an unscheduled stop in Juneau

The Koningsdam and Eurodam cruise ships remain docked in Juneau early Tuesday morning after arriving Monday, due to a storm that brought high winds to many parts of Southeast Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Dan Kenkel sets up an election sign outside City Hall as in-person voting begins at 7 a.m. Tuesday in Juneau’s municipal election. Voting locations and ballot dropoff boxes are open until 8 p.m. tonight.

Election Day arrives with Assembly, school board, municipal bond and cruise ship items on ballot

In-person voting and dropoff boxes open until 8 p.m.; initial results expected sometime after 10 p.m.

Dan Kenkel sets up an election sign outside City Hall as in-person voting begins at 7 a.m. Tuesday in Juneau’s municipal election. Voting locations and ballot dropoff boxes are open until 8 p.m. tonight.