Mark Sabbatini

The Juneau Huskies, seen here taking the field for the second half of an Aug. 24 home game against Service High School, prevailed in a road trip game Friday night in Bishop, California, defeating Bishop Union High School 17-6. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau defeats Bishop Union High School 17-6 as lots of players make lots of key plays

Huskies survive as the fittest in “caveman football” game during California road trip.

 

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, speaks during a rally on behalf of Alaska residents with disabilities at the Alaska State Capitol on March 1, 2023.

Bills by Juneau legislator adding official Indigenous state languages, upgrading dock safety become law

Safety bill by Rep. Story also contains provision by Sen. Kiehl expanding disaster aid eligibility.

 

Police and other emergency officials treat Steven Kissack after he was fatally shot on Front Street on Monday, July 15, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

UPDATE: Bodycam footage of Steven Kissack shooting, results of state investigation scheduled for release Tuesday

Videos, originally scheduled for Friday release, delayed until JPD gets state report, police chief says.

 

Workers construct a greenhouse behind the Edward K. Thomas building during the summer of 2021. The greenhouse is part of a food sovereignty project by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, which this week received a $15 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection agency to establish or expand composting operations in five Southast Alaska communities including Juneau. (Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska photo)

Tlingit and Haida gets $15M EPA grant for composting operations in five Southeast Alaska communities

Funds will establish or expand programs in Juneau, Wrangell, Hoonah, Petersburg and Yakutat.

Workers construct a greenhouse behind the Edward K. Thomas building during the summer of 2021. The greenhouse is part of a food sovereignty project by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, which this week received a $15 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection agency to establish or expand composting operations in five Southast Alaska communities including Juneau. (Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska photo)
Duff Mitchell (right), a board member of the Downtown Business Association, reads a question to Juneau Assembly and mayoral candidates during a forum Tuesday night at V’s Cellar Door restaurant. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Near-unanimous opposition to Ship-Free Saturday proposition by Assembly and mayoral candidates

Mayoral and Assembly hopefuls also discuss downtown’s economic future, City Hall and bond measures.

Duff Mitchell (right), a board member of the Downtown Business Association, reads a question to Juneau Assembly and mayoral candidates during a forum Tuesday night at V’s Cellar Door restaurant. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds (foreground) and Xáalnook Erin Tripp star in the play “Cold Case,” focusing on a story involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, which is scheduled to make its stage debut Friday at Perseverance Theatre. (Akiko Nishijima Rotch / Perseverance Theatre)

Play revealing unseen struggles of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons debuts at Perseverance Theatre

“Cold Case” features story of rural Iñupiaq woman trying to recover aunt’s body from Anchorage.

Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds (foreground) and Xáalnook Erin Tripp star in the play “Cold Case,” focusing on a story involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, which is scheduled to make its stage debut Friday at Perseverance Theatre. (Akiko Nishijima Rotch / Perseverance Theatre)
Bartlett Regional Hospital leaders (foreground) present details of their request for financial support to keep hospice, home care and residential substance abuse recovery programs operating during a Juneau Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Funding for hospital’s hospice, home health and Rainforest Recovery programs get Assembly support

Plan includes Gastineau Human Services expanding to accommodate Rainforest’s substance abuse treatment.

Bartlett Regional Hospital leaders (foreground) present details of their request for financial support to keep hospice, home care and residential substance abuse recovery programs operating during a Juneau Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 6, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 6, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Melanee Tiura (right), one of three finalists to be the new CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, talks with an employee during a meet-and-greet at the hospital on Aug. 26. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video

Three people with different backgrounds at struggling healthcare facilities hoping to be Bartlett’s new CEO

Stability of hospital’s leadership, programs emphasized by finalists; board vote may occur this week.

Melanee Tiura (right), one of three finalists to be the new CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, talks with an employee during a meet-and-greet at the hospital on Aug. 26. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video
Caleb Ziegenfuss (left) looks to pass for the Juneau Huskies during Saturday’s road game against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)

Juneau fumbles away opportunities in 42-0 loss to Anchorage South

Three first-half Huskies turnovers allow hometown Wolverines to break open close game.

Caleb Ziegenfuss (left) looks to pass for the Juneau Huskies during Saturday’s road game against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)
Robert Sisson (left), former commissioner of the International Joint Commission, presides over a panel discussion Wednesday during the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Transboundary mining conference sees fears after natural and man-made disasters, hope after pacts

U.S., Canadian and tribal leaders gather in Juneau to seek way forward on decades-old disputes.

Robert Sisson (left), former commissioner of the International Joint Commission, presides over a panel discussion Wednesday during the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Results of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessments and the Alaska Science Assessment from the past year are shown for Juneau’s schools. (Juneau Empire graph using data from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development)

Standardized test scores at some Juneau schools far higher than others

Math, science proficiency at Auke Bay elementary roughly twice Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen’s, for example.

Results of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessments and the Alaska Science Assessment from the past year are shown for Juneau’s schools. (Juneau Empire graph using data from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development)
A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)

FEMA visits hundreds of Juneau homes damaged by flood; decision on federal disaster aid awaits

Presence of agency “a lot larger” than last year’s flood when aid was denied, visiting official says.

A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)
People explore downtown Juneau on July 26, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Free Starlink service, upgraded telecom network seek to resolve downtown internet and phone issues

Slow internet during busy cruise days “number one complaint from this summer,” Goldbelt CEO says.

People explore downtown Juneau on July 26, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 29, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 29, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A sample ballot for the Oct. 1 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau’s website.

Strong arguments for Ship-Free Saturdays, against school board recalls on CBJ ballot

Language is part of official process; additional election perspectives will come from CBJ voter guide, website

A sample ballot for the Oct. 1 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau’s website.
Josh Fortenbery performs a song written about Steven Kissack as three of his siblings, seated, listen during a memorial gathering Sunday at Marine Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Family, friends of Steven Kissack united from afar at memorial gathering after his death

Remembered as a youth who loved to read, dreamed of Alaska and kept giving even while on the streets.

Josh Fortenbery performs a song written about Steven Kissack as three of his siblings, seated, listen during a memorial gathering Sunday at Marine Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Homes in Ketchikan are damaged by a landslide on Sunday. (Ketchikan Gateway Borough photo)

One person killed as major landslide impacts homes in Ketchikan, forces evacuations

Emergency agencies, including statewide and in Juneau, responding as state disaster declared.

Homes in Ketchikan are damaged by a landslide on Sunday. (Ketchikan Gateway Borough photo)
Sigrid Bogert and Fathom Mitchell, both 11, toss straw used during a children’s game into a wheelbarrow to place on a garden plot during the 30th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Community Garden celebrates bountiful 30th annual Harvest Festival

Founders had to make own soil to start garden; now a chef makes festival food from what’s grown.

Sigrid Bogert and Fathom Mitchell, both 11, toss straw used during a children’s game into a wheelbarrow to place on a garden plot during the 30th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé linemen Ricky Tupou, (77), Jonah Mahle (54), Walter Haube-Law (55) and Benny Zukas (58) block for Ethan Van Kirk (3) during Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Huskies run over Service 48-6 in season home opener

Offensive line plays “best game in more than a year” as JDHS overcomes injury to starting QB.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé linemen Ricky Tupou, (77), Jonah Mahle (54), Walter Haube-Law (55) and Benny Zukas (58) block for Ethan Van Kirk (3) during Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)