Mark Sabbatini

Boats at Douglas Harbor under mostly clear skies on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

80°F in Juneau will trigger first-ever National Weather Service heat advisories

Officials say sun’s angle in Alaska makes temperatures feel higher compared to other states.

 

A row of tents on Teal Street across the street from the Glory Hall on the morning of Saturday, May 14, 2025. Occupants of the tents received a 48-hour vacate notice from the Juneau Police Department on Friday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Large homeless encampment on Teal Street gets JPD vacate notice; where will occupants go next?

People who keep moving from place to place under “dispersed camping” policy unsure where they’ll go.

 

Homes in downtown and west Juneau on Friday, May 13, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Short-term rental task force recommends rule adjustments, but no cap on units for property owners

Group suggests allowing multiple STRs for a single dwelling, “grandfathering” period for new rules.

 

The Black Bear chairlift at Eaglecrest Ski Area will not reopen because repairs are no longer practical, officials said Thursday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Eaglecrest leaders decide Black Bear chairlift is beyond repair, seek alternatives to get skiers at their peak

Possibilities include converting Ptarmigan lift to triple-chair in addition to long-awaited gondola.

The Black Bear chairlift at Eaglecrest Ski Area will not reopen because repairs are no longer practical, officials said Thursday. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about his decision to veto House Bill 57 during a press conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy vetoes $200 of $700 BSA increase as he signs state budget for coming year

Governor cites low oil prices for $122 million in total cuts to budget approved by Legislature.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks about his decision to veto House Bill 57 during a press conference at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau state Rep. Andi Story (left) and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl (standing) participate in a legislative town hall at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Monday, June 9, 2025. Both are among the six legislators named to an education task force on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Legislature forms six-member education task force, including two from Juneau, to study funding and policy

School accountability, absenteeism and open enrollment among issues members will consider.

Juneau state Rep. Andi Story (left) and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl (standing) participate in a legislative town hall at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Monday, June 9, 2025. Both are among the six legislators named to an education task force on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
People browse at the Hearthside Books branch in the Nugget Mall on Monday, May 26, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Hearthside Books and Toys finishes No. 8 in USA Today’s ‘10 Best Independent Bookstores’ poll

“I didn’t believe we were really going to make it,” owner says about newspaper’s Readers’ Choice Awards list.

People browse at the Hearthside Books branch in the Nugget Mall on Monday, May 26, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau International Airport. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Two Juneau airport manager finalists set for meet-and-greets, interviews on Wednesday and Thursday

One is a longtime municipal and military aviation manager, the other a longtime airport and Alaska DOT manager.

Juneau International Airport. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon (right) confers with city administrative leaders during a break at a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly approves budget that hikes mill rate to 10.24; also OKs 5% annual increase in utilities fees

City leaders reject cuts proposed by mayor, who expresses concern about tax-limiting ballot measures.

Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon (right) confers with city administrative leaders during a break at a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday, June 9, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Telephone Hill on the evening of Monday, May 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Demolition of Telephone Hill homes after occupants leave by Oct. 1 approved by Assembly

Years-long debate about redevelopment of historic downtown neighborhood culminates with 7-1 vote.

Telephone Hill on the evening of Monday, May 5, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Blake Byers discusses the ransacking of his boat at a downtown Juneau dock on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Beach artist between a rock and a hard place as summer plans wrecked by boat burglary

Blake Byers, who created giant model from beach rocks, says he will spend summer gillnetting to earn money.

Blake Byers discusses the ransacking of his boat at a downtown Juneau dock on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Paula Kerger, chief executive of PBS, arrives to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on Delivering Government Efficiency on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Anna Rose Layden/The New York Times)

Emergency alerts, Gavel Alaska under threat as Trump seeks to nix public broadcasting funds, officials say

“Alaska is going to be a very tough spot if the federal funding goes away,” PBS CEO Paula Kerger says.

Paula Kerger, chief executive of PBS, arrives to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on Delivering Government Efficiency on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Anna Rose Layden/The New York Times)
The Juneau Assembly and city administrative leaders hear public testimony during a meeting Monday, May 19, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Massive agenda awaits Assembly on Monday, including proposal to start meetings earlier

Late-night decisions by exhausted leaders, people avoiding participation cited as reasons to change.

The Juneau Assembly and city administrative leaders hear public testimony during a meeting Monday, May 19, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Smoke from an extinguished fire at a homeless camp is seen at the Brotherhood Bridge on Friday evening. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Fire destroys homeless campsite under Brotherhood Bridge, no injuries reported

A fire that destroyed a homeless encampment under the Brotherhood Bridge cast a pall of smoke over rush-hour traffic Friday evening, but no injuries were… Continue reading

Smoke from an extinguished fire at a homeless camp is seen at the Brotherhood Bridge on Friday evening. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Jim Duncan, a longtime local Juneau legislator and statewide executive leader, is now retired and living in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy of Jim Duncan)

Former longtime Juneau lawmaker Jim Duncan reenters the political ‘Sausage Factory’

Book revisits decades of history at Alaska’s Capitol and issues that remain much the same today.

Jim Duncan, a longtime local Juneau legislator and statewide executive leader, is now retired and living in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy of Jim Duncan)
The entrance road to Juneau’s landfill in Lemon Creek on May 24, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Study: Shipping Juneau’s trash south best option once landfill is full

Local leaders pondering what to do with waste once current disposal site fills up in a decade.

The entrance road to Juneau’s landfill in Lemon Creek on May 24, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Arctic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)

Coast Guard icebreaker Storis begins maiden voyage, scheduled to be commissioned in Juneau in August

Ship will initially be homeported Seattle until infrastructure upgrades in Juneau are complete.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis is shown here underway, June 3, 2025, from Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Storis is the Coast Guard’s first new polar icebreaker acquisition in 25 years and will expand U.S. operational presence in the Arctic Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Edison Chouest Offshore)
State Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau) addresses children’s programs advocates during a rally on April 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

From education wins to financial losses, mood swings were many at the Capitol, local delegation says

Juneau’s three Democratic state lawmakers each saw priorities advance, but wary of state’s ill fortunes.

State Rep. Sara Hannan (D-Juneau) addresses children’s programs advocates during a rally on April 29, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Deputy Municipal Clerk Andi Hirsh (left) explains options for implementing ranked choice voting to Juneau Assembly members during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, June 2, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly moves forward with influencing this year’s election, ranked choice voting in next year’s

Leaders look at spending $50K this fall with eye on tax issues, introducing RCV ordinance next week.

Deputy Municipal Clerk Andi Hirsh (left) explains options for implementing ranked choice voting to Juneau Assembly members during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, June 2, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Juneau Assembly and Juneau Board of Education, along with top administrators for the city and school district, meet jointly on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Local leaders considering ranked choice voting for CBJ elections — with a strong ‘undecided’ tally so far

School board opts to delay its stance until Assembly, which meets Monday, gets more public clarity about proposal.

Members of the Juneau Assembly and Juneau Board of Education, along with top administrators for the city and school district, meet jointly on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)