Mark Sabbatini

Mendenhall River and Mendenhall Lake, heavily used by rafters and other non-motorized vessel operators, are the targets of a lawsuit by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that seeks to seize state control of the waters from the federal government. The lawsuit is based on claiming the state owns the submerged lands beneath the waters, which the federal government has failed to recognize. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Gov sues to seize Mendenhall lake, river from feds

Lawsuit filed a week before election claims state owns submerged land; feds disagree.

Mendenhall River and Mendenhall Lake, heavily used by rafters and other non-motorized vessel operators, are the targets of a lawsuit by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that seeks to seize state control of the waters from the federal government. The lawsuit is based on claiming the state owns the submerged lands beneath the waters, which the federal government has failed to recognize. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A person enters the Division of Election’s office at the Mendenhall Mall, where early voting is taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 8. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Mail-in remains popular for early voters

Half of 30,000 ballots during first week of early arrive via mail, requests far above 2018 midterms

A person enters the Division of Election’s office at the Mendenhall Mall, where early voting is taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 8. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Republican Kelly Tshibaka, center, a Republican, looks on Thursday, prior to a U.S. Senate debate in Anchorage. She faces U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, left, and Democrat Pat Chesbro, right, in the Nov. 8 general election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Policy divides clear in fiery forum

Murkowski and Tshibaka attack each other as liars and extremists, Chesbro stays relatively low-key

Republican Kelly Tshibaka, center, a Republican, looks on Thursday, prior to a U.S. Senate debate in Anchorage. She faces U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, left, and Democrat Pat Chesbro, right, in the Nov. 8 general election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola announce during the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention on Oct. 22 they will vote for each other in the Nov. 8 general election. The two incumbents are dominating their opponents in campaign contributions and available funds according to reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission as of Thursday.

Peltola, Murkowski still dominating fundraising

Incumbents in Congressional races have at least three times as much cash as their opponents combined

Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola announce during the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention on Oct. 22 they will vote for each other in the Nov. 8 general election. The two incumbents are dominating their opponents in campaign contributions and available funds according to reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission as of Thursday.
From left, onstage on Wednesday in Anchorage for a debate in Alaska’s U.S. House race: former Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Mary Peltola, Nick Begich III and Chris Bye. (Mark Thiessen/Associated Press)

Here’s what was said during the House debate — guess who said it

Democratic incumbent, two Republicans and a Libertarian often overlap in statewide TV forum

From left, onstage on Wednesday in Anchorage for a debate in Alaska’s U.S. House race: former Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Mary Peltola, Nick Begich III and Chris Bye. (Mark Thiessen/Associated Press)
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Republican Nick Begich, left, challenges Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola about her retaining much of former Rep. Don Young’s staff during a statewide televised debate Wednesday.

Begich attacks Young’s staff

Former chair of Congressman’s campaign says staff ignored calls to watch TV, let lobbyists pen bills

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Republican Nick Begich, left, challenges Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola about her retaining much of former Rep. Don Young’s staff during a statewide televised debate Wednesday.
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola dances with others attending a reelection campaign event Monday evening at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Peltola also attended a meet-and-greet at a coffee shop and met with local union members on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Peltola tells Juneau crowd reelection not a ‘slam dunk,’ encourages supporters to vote

“They’re not going to underestimate us a second time.”

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola dances with others attending a reelection campaign event Monday evening at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Peltola also attended a meet-and-greet at a coffee shop and met with local union members on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The former Glory Hall homeless shelter downtown, founded in 1982, is slated to be converted into seven low-income apartments after the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the project Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Glory Hall’s apartment project finally prevails

Planning Commission OKs turning former homeless shelter into low-income housing after one-year fight

The former Glory Hall homeless shelter downtown, founded in 1982, is slated to be converted into seven low-income apartments after the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the project Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Officials at Catholic Community Service in Juneau, which operated a hospice and home care program for 20 years before discharging all patients as of Oct. 19, are now working with Bartlett Regional Hospital administrators and attorneys on a transition plan. Hospital leaders said it may take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years before a full hospice and home care program is implemented there. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Transition underway for hospice, elderly care

BRH hopes to provide hospice and home care within months; new grant boosts other elderly services

Officials at Catholic Community Service in Juneau, which operated a hospice and home care program for 20 years before discharging all patients as of Oct. 19, are now working with Bartlett Regional Hospital administrators and attorneys on a transition plan. Hospital leaders said it may take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years before a full hospice and home care program is implemented there. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire 
Darrell Harmon, left, is challenging state Rep. Sara Hannan for the newly drawn House District 4 seat in Juneau. The other two Juneau candidates, District 3 Rep. Andi Story and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, are unopposed.

Many differences in lone competitive local legislative race

Two-term Democratic state Rep. Sara Hannan faces low-profile challenger Darrell Harmon

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire 
Darrell Harmon, left, is challenging state Rep. Sara Hannan for the newly drawn House District 4 seat in Juneau. The other two Juneau candidates, District 3 Rep. Andi Story and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, are unopposed.
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Candidate questionnaires

Candidates for statewide office fielded questions from the Empire.

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Bill Egan, president of the original Alaska constitutional convention and a future governor, signs the proposed Alaska Constitution in the gymnasium, now Signers’ Hall, on Feb. 5, 1956. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks)

Constitution convention has great potential — for better or worse

Some on both sides of ballot measure express dire fears, others say reasonable solutions possible

Bill Egan, president of the original Alaska constitutional convention and a future governor, signs the proposed Alaska Constitution in the gymnasium, now Signers’ Hall, on Feb. 5, 1956. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, left, Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka, center, and Democratic challenger Pat Chesbro discuss Arctic security, climate change and other issues during a debate Saturday at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage. (AP Photos/Mark Thiessen)

Senate trio tackles trio of tough issues

Candidates discuss Arctic security, climate change and public safety at AFN debate

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, left, Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka, center, and Democratic challenger Pat Chesbro discuss Arctic security, climate change and other issues during a debate Saturday at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage. (AP Photos/Mark Thiessen)
This combination image consisting of screenshots from the AFN convention livestream shows the four gubernatorial candidates who will appear on statewide ballots, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Democratic former state Rep. Les Gara, Republican former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce and independent former Gov. Bill Walker. (Screenshots)

Gubernatorial candidates take widely varying stances in AFN forum

Four contenders at AFN debate see different fixes for public safety, prison deaths and housing

This combination image consisting of screenshots from the AFN convention livestream shows the four gubernatorial candidates who will appear on statewide ballots, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Democratic former state Rep. Les Gara, Republican former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce and independent former Gov. Bill Walker. (Screenshots)
The bolo tied owned and often worn by the late U.S. Rep. Don Young is shown around the neck of U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola during the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Anchorage this week. Peltola, who won a special election to fill the rest of Young’s term, and three challengers participated in an AFN debate Saturday as they seek a full two-year term in the election a little more than two weeks from now. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

U.S. House candidates debate in ’Mary’s house’

Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola takes on three conservative challengers at friendly AFN convention

The bolo tied owned and often worn by the late U.S. Rep. Don Young is shown around the neck of U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola during the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Anchorage this week. Peltola, who won a special election to fill the rest of Young’s term, and three challengers participated in an AFN debate Saturday as they seek a full two-year term in the election a little more than two weeks from now. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Andrii Pomynalnyi, left, his wife Olena, son Yehor and daughter Irynka visit Nugget Falls on Sept. 28, the same day the Ukrainian family arrived in Juneau after a journey that began Feb. 24 with Russian attacks near their home in Kyiv. The father said he is hoping the family can remain in Juneau for at least two years and possible beyond due to the destruction and future uncertainty in his homeland. (Courtesy of Kate Troll)

Ukrainian family sees strong prospects in Juneau

Kyiv family sees past life disappear at start of Russian invasion, reaches Alaska seven months later

Andrii Pomynalnyi, left, his wife Olena, son Yehor and daughter Irynka visit Nugget Falls on Sept. 28, the same day the Ukrainian family arrived in Juneau after a journey that began Feb. 24 with Russian attacks near their home in Kyiv. The father said he is hoping the family can remain in Juneau for at least two years and possible beyond due to the destruction and future uncertainty in his homeland. (Courtesy of Kate Troll)
The Hospice and Home Care of Juneau office at the Catholic Community Service complex on Glacier Highway has discharged its patients as of Wednesday, due to the inability to retain and afford sufficient staffing. CCS is continuing to offer limited help with its volunteers and is in discussions with Bartlett Regional Hospital about taking over such care. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Future of local hospice care remains uncertain

Bartlett’s board of directors expected to discuss taking over services on Tuesday

The Hospice and Home Care of Juneau office at the Catholic Community Service complex on Glacier Highway has discharged its patients as of Wednesday, due to the inability to retain and afford sufficient staffing. CCS is continuing to offer limited help with its volunteers and is in discussions with Bartlett Regional Hospital about taking over such care. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, left, acknowledges audience members singing a song of prayer for her at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage on Thursday. Peltola, a Democrat, is the first Alaska Native to be elected to Congress. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Peltola unites crowd at AFN convention

Congresswoman gets a warm welcome from convention attendees, predecessor’s family.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, left, acknowledges audience members singing a song of prayer for her at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage on Thursday. Peltola, a Democrat, is the first Alaska Native to be elected to Congress. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage on Thursday morning. All of the elected officials and candidates in the state’s three major races in the November election are scheduled to participate in speeches and debates scheduled during the three-day gathering. (Screenshot from video provided by the office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Gov touts collaboration in AFN address

Cites pandemic response as an example of successfully working together.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage on Thursday morning. All of the elected officials and candidates in the state’s three major races in the November election are scheduled to participate in speeches and debates scheduled during the three-day gathering. (Screenshot from video provided by the office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
AP Photo / Mark Thiessen
The four candidates for Alaska governor are shown preparing for a televised debate Wednesday in Anchorage. From left are Republican Charlie Pierce; Democrat Les Gara; former Gov. Bill Walker, an independent; and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican.

Dunleavy, Walker defend records in rapid-fire debate

Rare forum with all four gubneratorial candidates features rapid barrage of attacks and soundbites

AP Photo / Mark Thiessen
The four candidates for Alaska governor are shown preparing for a televised debate Wednesday in Anchorage. From left are Republican Charlie Pierce; Democrat Les Gara; former Gov. Bill Walker, an independent; and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican.