Mark Sabbatini

A graph shows individual non-sale price of 20 items at Juneau’s four main supermarkets on July 1. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Getting the most bread for your bread

Fred Meyer still has Juneau’s cheapest groceries, with the three other stores about even.

A graph shows individual non-sale price of 20 items at Juneau’s four main supermarkets on July 1. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant has normally handled roughly 250,000 to 300,000 gallons of intake a day since 2016. But that average has increased somewhat since 2019 and spiked to a record high of nearly 1 million gallons on Dec. 1, 2020, due to a record amount of rainfall during a 24-hour period, according to a report published Monday assessing climate change impacts on Juneau. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Deep doo-doo due to climate change

Problems at Mendenhall Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant now blamed on abnormally high precipitation

The Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant has normally handled roughly 250,000 to 300,000 gallons of intake a day since 2016. But that average has increased somewhat since 2019 and spiked to a record high of nearly 1 million gallons on Dec. 1, 2020, due to a record amount of rainfall during a 24-hour period, according to a report published Monday assessing climate change impacts on Juneau. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A map shows locations in the U.S. designated as tribal lands and thus eligible for higher benefits from the Affordable Connectivity Program. All of Alaska falls under that designation. (Courtesy Image / FCC)

90K Alaska households are eligible for internet assistance —only 10K are taking advantage

White House touts a recently launched “one-stop” website to make signing up easier.

A map shows locations in the U.S. designated as tribal lands and thus eligible for higher benefits from the Affordable Connectivity Program. All of Alaska falls under that designation. (Courtesy Image / FCC)
The string trio Simply Three is scheduled to perform rock works ranging from Coldplay to Michael Jackson during this fall’s Juneau Jazz & Classics festival. (Courtesy photo)
Video

School, church and saloon fall together at JJC

Colorful autumn lineup features a rock string trio and an opera/burlesque mastro

The string trio Simply Three is scheduled to perform rock works ranging from Coldplay to Michael Jackson during this fall’s Juneau Jazz & Classics festival. (Courtesy photo)
Video
A Walker-Drygas campaign sign stands across from the governor’s mansion in Juneau. Financial forms recently filed with the state showed contributions to gubernatorial campaigns up sharply from the same time period four years ago. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Governor race contributions triple from last cycle, filings show

Eliminating individual donation limits results in top tickets raising nearly $3M since February.

A Walker-Drygas campaign sign stands across from the governor’s mansion in Juneau. Financial forms recently filed with the state showed contributions to gubernatorial campaigns up sharply from the same time period four years ago. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Campaign signs for Republican candidates leading in a recent poll in their respective races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate hang from a structure near Juneau International Airport on Monday. Nick Begich and Lisa Murkowski, who had to file federal campaign donation reports by last Friday, also report having the most cash-on-hand by far in their races. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski, Palin top most recent fundraising reports

Senate incumbent also has huge campaign coffer advantage; Begich and Peltola top Palin’s cash-on-hand

Campaign signs for Republican candidates leading in a recent poll in their respective races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate hang from a structure near Juneau International Airport on Monday. Nick Begich and Lisa Murkowski, who had to file federal campaign donation reports by last Friday, also report having the most cash-on-hand by far in their races. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
In this July 2020 photo, a sign on a Mendenhall Valley business advertises Permanent Fund dividend sales. Payments for this year's PFD will start July 20, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Friday.

Dunleavy: PFD payments start Sept. 20

That’s weeks earlier than is typical.

In this July 2020 photo, a sign on a Mendenhall Valley business advertises Permanent Fund dividend sales. Payments for this year's PFD will start July 20, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Friday.
(Courtesy Photos)

Bartlett names 3 new CEO finalists

One candidate in hospital’s troubled search for new leader has troubles himself he says are resolved.

(Courtesy Photos)
An artist’s depiction shows winter view of a proposed new Juneau City Hall at 450 Whittier St. in Juneau that would cost roughly $40 million. A bond asking voters to approve most of the funding is likely to appear on the Oct. 4 municipal election ballot. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)

City mulls spending $50K to ‘provide information’ on ballot measures

Assembly asked to OK funds to “provide information” on ballot items for new city hall, property buyers

An artist’s depiction shows winter view of a proposed new Juneau City Hall at 450 Whittier St. in Juneau that would cost roughly $40 million. A bond asking voters to approve most of the funding is likely to appear on the Oct. 4 municipal election ballot. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)
Source: Amber Chapin, Michael Penn 
An artistic rendering of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in 2040 shows the glacier “will barely be visible” by 2050 based on a mid-range thinning rate scenario, according to a Juneau-specific climate change study published Monday.

Report details local climate chaos and solutions

More rain, less snow and glacial retreat expected.

Source: Amber Chapin, Michael Penn 
An artistic rendering of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in 2040 shows the glacier “will barely be visible” by 2050 based on a mid-range thinning rate scenario, according to a Juneau-specific climate change study published Monday.
This June 14 photo shows Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary School. Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

District OKs ‘milk’ incident investigation, extension of food vendor’s contract

Juneau School Board approves third-party probe, allowing NANA to serve food for six more months

This June 14 photo shows Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary School. Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Former President Donald Trump speaks Saturday afternoon to a capacity crowd of about 5,000 people at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Trump stumps in Alaska

Former president praises Alaska’s people, places and trio of favored politicians at Anchorage rally.

Former President Donald Trump speaks Saturday afternoon to a capacity crowd of about 5,000 people at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Anti-Trump protesters across the street from the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage wave signs at people departing the Save America Rally on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Anti-Trump protesters across the street from the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage wave signs at people departing the Save America Rally on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Entering the political arena

MAGA rally faithful—and Trump —come to Alaska.

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Former NFL defensive tackle leads an exercise inside the Dimond Park Field House. The former pro has been helping local athletes refine their skills while in town. (Courtesy Photo)

Top of the line: Former NFL DT helps youths work on their game

He’s conducting a camp for middle and elementary school students from Monday to Thursday.

Former NFL defensive tackle leads an exercise inside the Dimond Park Field House. The former pro has been helping local athletes refine their skills while in town. (Courtesy Photo)
A couple of visitors watch preparations Friday afternoon for the Save America Rally scheduled Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Quiet before the red storm

Arena for Donald Trump rally mostly tranquil, but buzz building 24 hours before speakers take stage

A couple of visitors watch preparations Friday afternoon for the Save America Rally scheduled Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
This photo shows a sample ballot for the Aug. 16 special general election to determine who will fill the months remaining on Don Young's term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Alaska's longtime representative died in March. The three candidates vying to fill Young's term are also among those running for a full two-year term and will appear on primary ballot the same day. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy, Begich, Murkowski remain favorites in new poll

Ranked-choice voting could shake up U.S. House race, as Peltola has slim edge against Palin

This photo shows a sample ballot for the Aug. 16 special general election to determine who will fill the months remaining on Don Young's term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Alaska's longtime representative died in March. The three candidates vying to fill Young's term are also among those running for a full two-year term and will appear on primary ballot the same day. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
In this Nov. 7, 2020, photo Jaimie Sekona holds a Trump flag on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol. The former president is scheduled to speak Saturday afternoon at a rally in Anchorage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Still time to trip out for Trump

Plenty of flights and rooms available for weekend rally in Anchorage — but much local interest?

In this Nov. 7, 2020, photo Jaimie Sekona holds a Trump flag on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol. The former president is scheduled to speak Saturday afternoon at a rally in Anchorage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Courtesy of Protect Juneau Homeowners’ Privacy 
An Uncle Sam dinosaur adorns part of a float in Juneau’s July 4 by the group Protect Juneau Homeowner’s Privacy, which has successfully put a referendum on the Oct. 4 municipal election ballot to eliminate a requirement that property buyers publicly disclose purchase prices.
Courtesy of Protect Juneau Homeowners’ Privacy 
An Uncle Sam dinosaur adorns part of a float in Juneau’s July 4 by the group Protect Juneau Homeowner’s Privacy, which has successfully put a referendum on the Oct. 4 municipal election ballot to eliminate a requirement that property buyers publicly disclose purchase prices.
Rachel Hurst hands her son Benjamin, 4, a beach ball to throw to the crowd from the Hawaiian-themed Juneau Urgent Care float during the July 4 parade in downtown Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau, the state of the union is festive

Melting pot of states, cultures and colors join in healthy unity for July 4 parade in unique times.

Rachel Hurst hands her son Benjamin, 4, a beach ball to throw to the crowd from the Hawaiian-themed Juneau Urgent Care float during the July 4 parade in downtown Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)