Mark Sabbatini

Two of the seven Gillig electric buses ordered by the City and Borough of Juneau await inspection at the Capital Transit fleet facility on Monday. The other buses are expected to arrive by mid October and the first use of the vehicles for paying passengers is scheduled around the beginning of the new year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Capital Transit’s new electric buses arriving, with hopes of much better experience than first e-bus

Seven incoming buses built by different company expected to be in service around New Year’s.

Two of the seven Gillig electric buses ordered by the City and Borough of Juneau await inspection at the Capital Transit fleet facility on Monday. The other buses are expected to arrive by mid October and the first use of the vehicles for paying passengers is scheduled around the beginning of the new year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Jayden Johnson (4) throws a pass for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Bartlett High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. Johnson, a senior wide receiver, played nearly the entire game at quarterback. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Huskies blow first half lead, lose home finale 34-20 to Bartlett High School

With JDHS on verge of potential tying score in final minutes, Bartlett returns fumble 95 yards for TD.

Jayden Johnson (4) throws a pass for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé in the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Bartlett High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. Johnson, a senior wide receiver, played nearly the entire game at quarterback. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Cast members of “Henry V” rehearse Wednesday at the Filipino Community Hall for the Theater Alaska production opening Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Cast members of “Henry V” rehearse Wednesday at the Filipino Community Hall for the Theater Alaska production opening Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A local-mail in ballot is deposited in a drop box. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Rodell has big money lead in mayor’s race, Hall tops Assembly candidates a week before Oct. 1 election

Ship-Free Saturday opponents remain dominant money presence with about $500K raised, $750K spent.

A local-mail in ballot is deposited in a drop box. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Mount Juneau Counseling and Recovery facility is one of several programs operated by Gastineau Human Services at its campus in Lemon Creek. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Rainforest Recovery Center closure stands as Gastineau Human Services fires back at critics about its program

Accusations about closure prompt hospital, GHS, city leaders to meet about local substance abuse care.

The Mount Juneau Counseling and Recovery facility is one of several programs operated by Gastineau Human Services at its campus in Lemon Creek. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rainforest Recovery Center at Bartlett Regional Hospital officially closed Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Closure of Rainforest Recovery Center gets another look as decision called ‘medically irresponsible’

City, hospital leaders to consider options Thursday; halt to other services also discussed by board.

Rainforest Recovery Center at Bartlett Regional Hospital officially closed Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
Rush-hour traffic backs up at a traffic light on Mendenhall Loop Road at the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Mendenhall Boulevard on Oct. 11, 2023. The Juneau Planning Commission approved a roundabout for the intersection on Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Third roundabout on Mendenhall Loop Road gets planning commission OK despite mound of controversy

Supporters say it will improve safety; opponents say obstructed driver views will increase risk.

Rush-hour traffic backs up at a traffic light on Mendenhall Loop Road at the intersection of Valley Boulevard and Mendenhall Boulevard on Oct. 11, 2023. The Juneau Planning Commission approved a roundabout for the intersection on Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 26, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 26, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pie charts published in the “Southeast Alaska by the Numbers 2024” report released Tuesday show jobs and earnings by industry in Southeast Alaska in 2023. Among the notable discrepancies are tourism with 18% of jobs and 13% of wages, while mining provided 2% of jobs and 5% of wages. (Rain Coast Data)

Study: Southeast tourism thrives, seafood suffers during record year in 2023 for both industries

Largest seafood harvest in a decade results in less income due to low prices, annual study finds.

Pie charts published in the “Southeast Alaska by the Numbers 2024” report released Tuesday show jobs and earnings by industry in Southeast Alaska in 2023. Among the notable discrepancies are tourism with 18% of jobs and 13% of wages, while mining provided 2% of jobs and 5% of wages. (Rain Coast Data)
Andy Park, a National Weather Service Juneau meteorologist, shows U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski equipment at the weather station near the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Murkowski)

Assembly OKs $3M for flood study as Corps of Engineers experts arrive to consider near-term options

Two straight years of major floods “has got the attention” of federal officials, Murkowski says.

Andy Park, a National Weather Service Juneau meteorologist, shows U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski equipment at the weather station near the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Murkowski)
The Tlingit and Haida Elder Dance Group performs during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Áakʼw Tá Hít building at the University of Alaska Southeast on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

New Áakʼw Tá Hít building at UAS seeks state-of-the art science with traditional wisdom

Building that hosted ribbon-cutting Friday is first at Juneau campus with a primary name in Lingít.

The Tlingit and Haida Elder Dance Group performs during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Áakʼw Tá Hít building at the University of Alaska Southeast on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A Hoonah High School runner splashes through a puddle on the Treadwell Mine Historic Trail during the Capital City Invite 5K on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A big splash in the mud for about 200 Southeast cross-country runners at Capital City Invite

Sitka makes clean sweep of individual races; JDHS wins both team categories

A Hoonah High School runner splashes through a puddle on the Treadwell Mine Historic Trail during the Capital City Invite 5K on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Caleb Ziegenfuss rolls out to pass for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during Saturday’s game against Dimond High School in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)

Juneau Huskies can’t unearth Dimond, fall to undefeated Lynx 45-8 in Anchorage

Dimond QB Cayden Pili keeps up family tradition of big performances; Huskies’ home finale next Saturday.

Caleb Ziegenfuss rolls out to pass for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during Saturday’s game against Dimond High School in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)
Vincent Colliard (left) and Børge Ousland examine a map of the Juneau Icefield at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Friday night before giving a presentation about their planned crossing of the icefield. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Two famed polar explorers crossing Juneau Icefield to prove large point about shrinking glaciers

Børge Ousland and Vincent Colliard attempting to cross Earth’s 20 largest icefields in climate campaign.

Vincent Colliard (left) and Børge Ousland examine a map of the Juneau Icefield at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Friday night before giving a presentation about their planned crossing of the icefield. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau man gets 27 years in prison in plea deal after indictment on 75 child sex abuse and assault charges

Steven Littlefield, 33, abused two children at home between 2016 and 2021, officials say.

A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Alaska Army National Guard aviators depart Bethel in a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter on Sept. 23, 2022. Such a helicopter will be stationed in Juneau, officials announced Friday. (Balinda O’Neal / Alaska National Guard)

Alaska Army National Guard stations a Black Hawk helicopter in Juneau

Primary purpose is federal training requirements, but it will be available for emergency operations.

Alaska Army National Guard aviators depart Bethel in a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter on Sept. 23, 2022. Such a helicopter will be stationed in Juneau, officials announced Friday. (Balinda O’Neal / Alaska National Guard)
Rainforest Recovery Center is seen during its final week of operation Wednesday as Bartlett Regional Hospital officials have said the residential substance abuse treatment program will close next Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Giving up to $500K to expanding nonprofit rather than soon-to-close Rainforest Recovery gets Assembly nod

Gastineau Human Services hoping for eight new residential substance abuse treatment beds by Oct. 14.

Rainforest Recovery Center is seen during its final week of operation Wednesday as Bartlett Regional Hospital officials have said the residential substance abuse treatment program will close next Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Djajalie, a Juneau resident attending Harvard University, explains the science of DNA metabarcoding, in a video at the Mendenhall Glacier for the Khan Academy Breakthrough Junior Challenge. (Screenshot from video by Elizabeth Djajalie)
Video

TMHS grad Elizabeth Djajalie among 30 global contenders in $400,000 Khan Academy Challenge

Award includes $250K scholarship to winner, $50K for a teacher and $100K for high school STEM lab.

Elizabeth Djajalie, a Juneau resident attending Harvard University, explains the science of DNA metabarcoding, in a video at the Mendenhall Glacier for the Khan Academy Breakthrough Junior Challenge. (Screenshot from video by Elizabeth Djajalie)
Video
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 21, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 21, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Uhtred Permanentfundsen, the “defender of the Permanent Fund,” occupies a shelf near the head of the table in the Senate Finance Committee room at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

This year’s Permanent Fund Dividend is $1,702, with first payouts scheduled Oct. 3

Amount includes $1,403.83 from Permanent Fund earnings and $298.17 “one-time energy relief payment.”

Uhtred Permanentfundsen, the “defender of the Permanent Fund,” occupies a shelf near the head of the table in the Senate Finance Committee room at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)