Mark Sabbatini

Flags flank the entrance to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy vetoes sweeping education bill that includes $680 increase in per-student funding

Legislature expected to meet for veto override session Monday, unknown if enough votes exist.

Flags flank the entrance to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s office at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 10, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 10, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. headquarters in Juneau is where most of the estimated 70 employees manage the state’s primary savings account. The corporation opened a satellite office in Anchorage last year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Intent language nixing Permanent Fund Corp.’s new Anchorage office added to House budget

Office opened last year without earmarked funds; APFC head says HQ could eventually move from Juneau

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. headquarters in Juneau is where most of the estimated 70 employees manage the state’s primary savings account. The corporation opened a satellite office in Anchorage last year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Juneau Board of Education debates a school district consolidation plan after midnight Wednesday, near the end of an eight-hour meeting at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé auditorium. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School board sticks with consolidation plan for one high school after eight-hour debate of two-school alternative

Claims of plan for two grade 8-12 schools based on faulty and incomplete data, district leaders say.

The Juneau Board of Education debates a school district consolidation plan after midnight Wednesday, near the end of an eight-hour meeting at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé auditorium. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An overhead image shows possible locations to relocate offices for Juneau’s municipal employees along with some available parking lots. (City and Borough of Juneau image)

Many options, little consensus on moving City Hall to vacated school district buildings

Assembly members debate downtown vs. valley, converting school to office space, costs and parking.

An overhead image shows possible locations to relocate offices for Juneau’s municipal employees along with some available parking lots. (City and Borough of Juneau image)
An assortment of furniture, clothing and other household items are exposed to the elements at Mill Campground after being left behind by residents who departed ahead of the campground’s closing last October. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Surge in illegal homeless activity prompts city to look at moving Mill Campground

Lot next to cold weather shelter considered after report cites drug use, violence, other trouble.

An assortment of furniture, clothing and other household items are exposed to the elements at Mill Campground after being left behind by residents who departed ahead of the campground’s closing last October. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A map shows possible routes for a second Juneau-Douglas crossing, with the “Sunny Point East” route circled as the highest-scoring option in a report presented to city leaders on Monday. (Map by DOWL)

Sunny Point route near airport runway gets highest score for second Juneau-Douglas crossing

However, all seven options get negative scores; concerns by airport officials and residents linger.

A map shows possible routes for a second Juneau-Douglas crossing, with the “Sunny Point East” route circled as the highest-scoring option in a report presented to city leaders on Monday. (Map by DOWL)
The sun remains well above the horizon at about 8 p.m. in May of 2022 at the National Shrine of St. Thérèse. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Alaskans fighting healthy battle to prevent Daylight Saving Time, but it’s here again nonetheless

Clocks move an hour forward at 2 a.m. Sunday as legislation establishing year-round time debated.

The sun remains well above the horizon at about 8 p.m. in May of 2022 at the National Shrine of St. Thérèse. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Amber Frommherz, a member of the Juneau Board of Education, expresses concerns about next year’s proposed budget during a special meeting Thursday night at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School board votes 4-3 to reconsider consolidation plan merging high and middle schools

Motion allows amending plan next week, despite concern by some officials budget is also due then.

Amber Frommherz, a member of the Juneau Board of Education, expresses concerns about next year’s proposed budget during a special meeting Thursday night at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Steven Arends (left) feeds Joshua Midgett in Juneau Ghost Light Theatre’s production of “Bat Boy: The Musical,” which is being staged through March 17 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Cam Byrnes/ Juneau Ghost Light Theatre)
Steven Arends (left) feeds Joshua Midgett in Juneau Ghost Light Theatre’s production of “Bat Boy: The Musical,” which is being staged through March 17 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Cam Byrnes/ Juneau Ghost Light Theatre)
Juneau School District administrators and school board members discuss the district’s proposed budget for next year during a special meeting Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District administrators and school board members discuss the district’s proposed budget for next year during a special meeting Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Proposed school district budget for next year cuts 12% of employees, increases class sizes

Pupil-teacher ratio of 30 — or 4 to 5 extra kids per class — proposed for all grades except K-3.

Juneau School District administrators and school board members discuss the district’s proposed budget for next year during a special meeting Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District administrators and school board members discuss the district’s proposed budget for next year during a special meeting Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Josh Fortenbery records a song from his debut album “No Such Thing as Forever” while sitting in an improvised sound isolation booth at the KTOO studios in early 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video

Struggles of isolation and support of community come together for launch of debut album

Josh Fortenbery’s “No Such Thing As Forever” available Friday, with two-show release party Saturday.

Josh Fortenbery records a song from his debut album “No Such Thing as Forever” while sitting in an improvised sound isolation booth at the KTOO studios in early 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Video
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 3, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 3, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Angie Flick (center), finance director for the City and Borough of Juneau, presents an overview of local property value assessments during a meeting of the Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau residential property assessments rise 1.66% in 2023, compared to 16% in 2022, preliminary data shows

Cooling of housing market results in lower increase, CBJ’s finance director says.

Angie Flick (center), finance director for the City and Borough of Juneau, presents an overview of local property value assessments during a meeting of the Assembly’s Finance Committee on Wednesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A blueprint shows plans for a geotechnical exploration/bathymetry survey scheduled at Cascade Point this summer for a proposed ferry terminal. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Cascade Point ferry terminal may be ready by ’25, but AMH board members skeptical about its usefulness

“The compelling reason for this is still escaping me,” one member says during project update Tuesday

A blueprint shows plans for a geotechnical exploration/bathymetry survey scheduled at Cascade Point this summer for a proposed ferry terminal. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
A sign objecting to the Juneau School District’s consolidation plan is displayed by an audience member during a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night as members consider a $9.7 million bailout package to help solve the district’s financial crisis. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly approves $9.7M bailout package for school district

Superintendent says some layoffs, other cuts can be reversed if increase in state funding occurs

A sign objecting to the Juneau School District’s consolidation plan is displayed by an audience member during a Juneau Assembly meeting Monday night as members consider a $9.7 million bailout package to help solve the district’s financial crisis. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
About 15 members of the group Juneau for Palestine are among the residents showing up the public testimony portion of a Juneau Assembly meeting on Feb. 5. Members of the group also attended Monday’s Assembly meeting to reiterate their call for a resolution seeking a ceasefire in Gaza.(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Assembly members express support for peace in Gaza conflict, decline to support resolution

Calls for a ceasefire by residents at recent meetings, rally prompts local leaders to weigh in.

About 15 members of the group Juneau for Palestine are among the residents showing up the public testimony portion of a Juneau Assembly meeting on Feb. 5. Members of the group also attended Monday’s Assembly meeting to reiterate their call for a resolution seeking a ceasefire in Gaza.(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A view of Gastineau Channel, where a second crossing between Juneau and Douglas north of the current bridge is in the evaluation stage. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Second Juneau-Douglas crossing to cost about $400M, be completed by 2030, in revised state transportation plan

Update also envisions Cascade ferry terminal by ‘25, safety fixes at Fred Meyer intersection by ‘26.

A view of Gastineau Channel, where a second crossing between Juneau and Douglas north of the current bridge is in the evaluation stage. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Emergency response officials probe the wreckage of a simulated avalanche site during a training exercise in Lemon Creek on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Simulated disaster strikes — repeatedly — as do rescue efforts during avalanche training exercise

Staged burial of three homes implores multitude of agencies to share specialized response skills

Emergency response officials probe the wreckage of a simulated avalanche site during a training exercise in Lemon Creek on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Liana Wallace offers a water blessing during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Augustus G. Brown Swimming Pool on Friday following nearly a year of renovations. The pool is scheduled to reopen for public use on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Ribbon-cutting for Augustus G. Brown Swimming Pool a blessing for longtime users after 11-month renovation

Infrastructure upgrades, new locker rooms and student tile art in lobby greet visitors at ceremony.

Liana Wallace offers a water blessing during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Augustus G. Brown Swimming Pool on Friday following nearly a year of renovations. The pool is scheduled to reopen for public use on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)