Mark Sabbatini

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State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, receives a note while presiding over public testimony from Juneau residents about next year’s proposed state budget during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Public expresses big hopes for small items in Senate’s budget

State takeover of wetlands permitting, lack of support for social services among main issues

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, receives a note while presiding over public testimony from Juneau residents about next year’s proposed state budget during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Eagle/Raven Dance Group completes their grand entrance among delegates Wednesday morning at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to mark the beginning of the 88th annual tribal assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The theme of three-day assembly, held in person for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is “Sovereignty: In Land We Trust.” (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Tribal Assembly celebrates achievements and faces hard truths

Growth of Tlingit Haida’s community programs and political influence highlighted on first day

The Eagle/Raven Dance Group completes their grand entrance among delegates Wednesday morning at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall to mark the beginning of the 88th annual tribal assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The theme of three-day assembly, held in person for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is “Sovereignty: In Land We Trust.” (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A simple spreadsheet showing major items being debated in this year’s state budget features user-adjustable options to see what options exist for a balanced spending plan.

Do-it-yourself state budget balancing kit

These are the major pieces of the puzzle facing lawmakers; how would you make them fit?

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A simple spreadsheet showing major items being debated in this year’s state budget features user-adjustable options to see what options exist for a balanced spending plan.
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, discusses what she considers inadequacies in state education funding during floor debate Monday about the House’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The budget approved by a 23-17 vote will next be considered by the Senate, with a compromise version likely drafted to resolve differences before the end of the session.

House finally passes budget as final month of session begins

Senate expected to take public testimony on its proposed spending plan later this week

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, discusses what she considers inadequacies in state education funding during floor debate Monday about the House’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. The budget approved by a 23-17 vote will next be considered by the Senate, with a compromise version likely drafted to resolve differences before the end of the session.
Eric Osuch tries to offer papers related to his arrest in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday morning to a reporter as Juneau Police Department officers escort him to a nearby patrol vehicle. Osuch, who was staging a solo protest about fisheries bycatch policies, was banned from the Capitol after causing a public disruption and was arrested a short time later for another alleged disturbance inside the State Office Building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Fisheries activist arrested at Capitol

Juneau man staging solo protest disrupts committee hearing, gets in fight in State Office Building

Eric Osuch tries to offer papers related to his arrest in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday morning to a reporter as Juneau Police Department officers escort him to a nearby patrol vehicle. Osuch, who was staging a solo protest about fisheries bycatch policies, was banned from the Capitol after causing a public disruption and was arrested a short time later for another alleged disturbance inside the State Office Building. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ron Soherville, a Juneau resident, testifies in favor of a bill restricting sex and gender content in public schools during a House Education Committee meeting Thursday night. He was surrounded by a crowd of mostly students who testified against the bill. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

‘Parental rights’ sequel: Six hours of separation

About 180 more people testify mostly in opposition to bill, but legislators’ minds appear unchanged

Ron Soherville, a Juneau resident, testifies in favor of a bill restricting sex and gender content in public schools during a House Education Committee meeting Thursday night. He was surrounded by a crowd of mostly students who testified against the bill. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau Montessori School student Caleb Schane, 13, testifies in favor of a bill increasing education funding during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Thursday.

Hard math begins on education funding boost

Testimony nearly unanimous in favor of 22.5% proposed increase; senators ask how to pay for it

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Juneau Montessori School student Caleb Schane, 13, testifies in favor of a bill increasing education funding during a Senate Finance Committee meeting Thursday.
Alaska House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, right, confers with other House members during a break in the floor debate last Wednesday about next year’s proposed budget. She said the original plan of passing a budget last week has shifted due to discussions with the Senate about resolving differences in their spending plans, with a floor vote now planned by early next week.

Budget stalls in House as leaders confer with Senate

Lawmakers trying to work out differences on PFD, education, deficit as final month of session nears

Alaska House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, right, confers with other House members during a break in the floor debate last Wednesday about next year’s proposed budget. She said the original plan of passing a budget last week has shifted due to discussions with the Senate about resolving differences in their spending plans, with a floor vote now planned by early next week.
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30 why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday.

Public gets another chance to opine on ‘parental rights’ bill

Supporters hoping for bigger presence than first meeting when 90% of testimony opposed proposal

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30 why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File A “sold” sign hangs outside the former Walmart building that was empty for many years until U-Haul purchased it late last year. A bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday would allow municipalities to impose tax penalties on blighted properties, while offering breaks for owners doing development projects.

Legislature looks at more property tax shakeups

Bill allows municipalities to give breaks for economic development, penalize blighted properties

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File A “sold” sign hangs outside the former Walmart building that was empty for many years until U-Haul purchased it late last year. A bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday would allow municipalities to impose tax penalties on blighted properties, while offering breaks for owners doing development projects.
Graphic: Business Wire Characters explore the landscape in the Roblox game Beyond the Stars. A presentation to Alaska lawmakers this week by a Homer police official asserts that such games are used by child sex predators to lure victims.

Capitol’s culture wars get graphic

Presentation about proper parenting features mature imagary, talk of arresting librarians

Graphic: Business Wire Characters explore the landscape in the Roblox game Beyond the Stars. A presentation to Alaska lawmakers this week by a Homer police official asserts that such games are used by child sex predators to lure victims.
A U.S. Forest Service crew works on a riverbed project in the Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service)

Public ideas sought for long-term Tongass strategy

U.S. Forest Service to conduct online, in-person sessions during coming weeks for 10-year plan

A U.S. Forest Service crew works on a riverbed project in the Tongass National Forest. (U.S. Forest Service)
A chart shows the number and type of Alaska residents receiving Medicaid coverage based on either 2022 Alaska Medicaid Claims data (yellow) or 2021 U.S. Census data (orange). More than 260,000 residents are currently enrolled, about 30,000 more than 2020, due to a federal provision that kept states from removing people during the COVID-19 pandemic. That provision ended April 1 and Alaska officials are scheduled review eligibility of all residents enrolled during the next 12 months. (Alaska Division of Public Assistance)

Medicaid eligibility for all enrollees under review

Coverage for more than 260,000 Alaskans to be checked during next year as COVID-19 protection ends

A chart shows the number and type of Alaska residents receiving Medicaid coverage based on either 2022 Alaska Medicaid Claims data (yellow) or 2021 U.S. Census data (orange). More than 260,000 residents are currently enrolled, about 30,000 more than 2020, due to a federal provision that kept states from removing people during the COVID-19 pandemic. That provision ended April 1 and Alaska officials are scheduled review eligibility of all residents enrolled during the next 12 months. (Alaska Division of Public Assistance)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks, offers an apology Thursday on the House floor for “escalating” tensions during a heated session on Wednesday when most members of the minority caucus staged a walkout over what they called a “hostage” situation involving education funding. A few other lawmakers also expressed similar sentiments.

Extra education funding restored – with a catch

House majority ties increase to minority’s willingness to balance budget with reserve funds

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks, offers an apology Thursday on the House floor for “escalating” tensions during a heated session on Wednesday when most members of the minority caucus staged a walkout over what they called a “hostage” situation involving education funding. A few other lawmakers also expressed similar sentiments.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces the formation of a child care task force that is scheduled to issue a report of recommendation in July of 2024 during a press conference Thursday in Anchorage. (Screenshot from official video of press conference)

Governor creates child care task force

Group scheduled to issue final report in mid-2024; some lawmakers seeking quicker action

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announces the formation of a child care task force that is scheduled to issue a report of recommendation in July of 2024 during a press conference Thursday in Anchorage. (Screenshot from official video of press conference)
All chairs for minority members of the Alaska State House except for Minority Leader Calvin Schrage are empty during Wednesday’s floor session after absent members fled the Alaska State Capitol over a dispute with the majority about an increase in education funding. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Education funding fight prompts House minority walkout

Republican-led majority revokes funding increase as minority threatens to withhold CBR vote

All chairs for minority members of the Alaska State House except for Minority Leader Calvin Schrage are empty during Wednesday’s floor session after absent members fled the Alaska State Capitol over a dispute with the majority about an increase in education funding. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, co-chair of the House Finance Committee, speaks in favor of an amendment to restore partial funding for a single Department of Law employee during a 45-minute debate on the proposal Tuesday. Such debates resulted in lots of discussion, but few changes in the House’s proposed budget for next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Education gets short-term boost, but budget battle drags on

House looks to pass budget this week, but Senate, governor — and OPEC — also affecting spending plans

Rep. DeLena Johnson, R-Palmer, co-chair of the House Finance Committee, speaks in favor of an amendment to restore partial funding for a single Department of Law employee during a 45-minute debate on the proposal Tuesday. Such debates resulted in lots of discussion, but few changes in the House’s proposed budget for next year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A collection of books including LGBTQ-friendly titles are displayed in the storefront window of Alaska Robotics in downtown Juneau on Tuesday. The store, which featured books and cards illustrated by local artist Mitchell Watley, removed them following his arrest Sunday for allegedly placing transphobic notes threatening violence against children at locations around town.

Local stores remove artist’s work following arrest

Children’s books and cards pulled after man accused of posting transphobic notes.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A collection of books including LGBTQ-friendly titles are displayed in the storefront window of Alaska Robotics in downtown Juneau on Tuesday. The store, which featured books and cards illustrated by local artist Mitchell Watley, removed them following his arrest Sunday for allegedly placing transphobic notes threatening violence against children at locations around town.
Nayeli Hood, 10, foreground, and Ona Eckerson, 9, testify against a bill limiting sex and gender content in schools during a House Education Committee meeting Thursday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Testimony gets colorful on ‘parental rights’ bill

Opponents of restricting sex and gender content in schools dominate five-hour hearing

Nayeli Hood, 10, foreground, and Ona Eckerson, 9, testify against a bill limiting sex and gender content in schools during a House Education Committee meeting Thursday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Judge Kirsten Swanson imposes strict conditions, including staying away from schools and other places children frequent, for Mitchell Thomas Watley to be released from jail after his arrest Sunday for allegedly placing transphobic notes in at least three public locations since Friday that referred to shooting children. Watley, who participated by phone from Lemon Creek Correctional Center, had his first hearing in the case Monday afternoon at the Juneau Courthouse. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Man arrested for allegedly posting notes that reference shooting children

Suspect said he spread leaflets out of fear of Tennessee shooter, according to police.

Judge Kirsten Swanson imposes strict conditions, including staying away from schools and other places children frequent, for Mitchell Thomas Watley to be released from jail after his arrest Sunday for allegedly placing transphobic notes in at least three public locations since Friday that referred to shooting children. Watley, who participated by phone from Lemon Creek Correctional Center, had his first hearing in the case Monday afternoon at the Juneau Courthouse. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)