Mark Sabbatini

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.”

 

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.

 

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%.

 

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.
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)