Mark Sabbatini

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)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 26, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 26, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pie charts published in the “Southeast Alaska by the Numbers 2024” report released Tuesday show jobs and earnings by industry in Southeast Alaska in 2023. Among the notable discrepancies are tourism with 18% of jobs and 13% of wages, while mining provided 2% of jobs and 5% of wages. (Rain Coast Data)

Study: Southeast tourism thrives, seafood suffers during record year in 2023 for both industries

Largest seafood harvest in a decade results in less income due to low prices, annual study finds.

Pie charts published in the “Southeast Alaska by the Numbers 2024” report released Tuesday show jobs and earnings by industry in Southeast Alaska in 2023. Among the notable discrepancies are tourism with 18% of jobs and 13% of wages, while mining provided 2% of jobs and 5% of wages. (Rain Coast Data)
Andy Park, a National Weather Service Juneau meteorologist, shows U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski equipment at the weather station near the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Murkowski)

Assembly OKs $3M for flood study as Corps of Engineers experts arrive to consider near-term options

Two straight years of major floods “has got the attention” of federal officials, Murkowski says.

Andy Park, a National Weather Service Juneau meteorologist, shows U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski equipment at the weather station near the Mendenhall Glacier on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Murkowski)
The Tlingit and Haida Elder Dance Group performs during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Áakʼw Tá Hít building at the University of Alaska Southeast on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

New Áakʼw Tá Hít building at UAS seeks state-of-the art science with traditional wisdom

Building that hosted ribbon-cutting Friday is first at Juneau campus with a primary name in Lingít.

The Tlingit and Haida Elder Dance Group performs during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Áakʼw Tá Hít building at the University of Alaska Southeast on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A Hoonah High School runner splashes through a puddle on the Treadwell Mine Historic Trail during the Capital City Invite 5K on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A big splash in the mud for about 200 Southeast cross-country runners at Capital City Invite

Sitka makes clean sweep of individual races; JDHS wins both team categories

A Hoonah High School runner splashes through a puddle on the Treadwell Mine Historic Trail during the Capital City Invite 5K on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Caleb Ziegenfuss rolls out to pass for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during Saturday’s game against Dimond High School in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)

Juneau Huskies can’t unearth Dimond, fall to undefeated Lynx 45-8 in Anchorage

Dimond QB Cayden Pili keeps up family tradition of big performances; Huskies’ home finale next Saturday.

Caleb Ziegenfuss rolls out to pass for Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé during Saturday’s game against Dimond High School in Anchorage. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)
Vincent Colliard (left) and Børge Ousland examine a map of the Juneau Icefield at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Friday night before giving a presentation about their planned crossing of the icefield. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Two famed polar explorers crossing Juneau Icefield to prove large point about shrinking glaciers

Børge Ousland and Vincent Colliard attempting to cross Earth’s 20 largest icefields in climate campaign.

Vincent Colliard (left) and Børge Ousland examine a map of the Juneau Icefield at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Friday night before giving a presentation about their planned crossing of the icefield. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau man gets 27 years in prison in plea deal after indictment on 75 child sex abuse and assault charges

Steven Littlefield, 33, abused two children at home between 2016 and 2021, officials say.

A courtroom at the Juneau Courthouse. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Alaska Army National Guard aviators depart Bethel in a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter on Sept. 23, 2022. Such a helicopter will be stationed in Juneau, officials announced Friday. (Balinda O’Neal / Alaska National Guard)

Alaska Army National Guard stations a Black Hawk helicopter in Juneau

Primary purpose is federal training requirements, but it will be available for emergency operations.

Alaska Army National Guard aviators depart Bethel in a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter on Sept. 23, 2022. Such a helicopter will be stationed in Juneau, officials announced Friday. (Balinda O’Neal / Alaska National Guard)
Rainforest Recovery Center is seen during its final week of operation Wednesday as Bartlett Regional Hospital officials have said the residential substance abuse treatment program will close next Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Giving up to $500K to expanding nonprofit rather than soon-to-close Rainforest Recovery gets Assembly nod

Gastineau Human Services hoping for eight new residential substance abuse treatment beds by Oct. 14.

Rainforest Recovery Center is seen during its final week of operation Wednesday as Bartlett Regional Hospital officials have said the residential substance abuse treatment program will close next Tuesday. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Elizabeth Djajalie, a Juneau resident attending Harvard University, explains the science of DNA metabarcoding, in a video at the Mendenhall Glacier for the Khan Academy Breakthrough Junior Challenge. (Screenshot from video by Elizabeth Djajalie)
Video

TMHS grad Elizabeth Djajalie among 30 global contenders in $400,000 Khan Academy Challenge

Award includes $250K scholarship to winner, $50K for a teacher and $100K for high school STEM lab.

Elizabeth Djajalie, a Juneau resident attending Harvard University, explains the science of DNA metabarcoding, in a video at the Mendenhall Glacier for the Khan Academy Breakthrough Junior Challenge. (Screenshot from video by Elizabeth Djajalie)
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The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 21, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 21, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Uhtred Permanentfundsen, the “defender of the Permanent Fund,” occupies a shelf near the head of the table in the Senate Finance Committee room at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

This year’s Permanent Fund Dividend is $1,702, with first payouts scheduled Oct. 3

Amount includes $1,403.83 from Permanent Fund earnings and $298.17 “one-time energy relief payment.”

Uhtred Permanentfundsen, the “defender of the Permanent Fund,” occupies a shelf near the head of the table in the Senate Finance Committee room at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Cruise ship tourists watch floatplanes taxi out in Gastineau Channel on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cruise industry giving opponents of Ship-Free Saturday a dominant campaign cash advantage

Three cruise companies, Goldbelt give $275,000 of more than $300,000 raised; supporters raise $380.

Cruise ship tourists watch floatplanes taxi out in Gastineau Channel on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Assembly and mayoral candidates discuss issues involving the community of Douglas during a forum Sept. 8 at the Douglas Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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Local candidates agree on lots of big-picture issues, differ on details, at lots of forums

Housing, flooding, tourism among key issues so far; two more forums being broadcast this week.

Juneau Assembly and mayoral candidates discuss issues involving the community of Douglas during a forum Sept. 8 at the Douglas Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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The Alaska Division of Election’s director’s office in Juneau on Nov. 22, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Elections office in Juneau among those in more than dozen states to be mailed suspicious packages

Package for Juneau intercepted before delivery, no hazardous materials reported in incidents.

The Alaska Division of Election’s director’s office in Juneau on Nov. 22, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Rainforest Recover Center, a high-intensity residential substance abuse treatment facility, is closing next Tuesday, according to an announcement by Bartlett Regional Hospital. (Bartlett Regional Hospital photo)

Rainforest Recovery Center closing next Tuesday, hospital announces, to surprise of local leaders

Assembly to reevaluate giving $500K to continue program; nonprofit says it will speed up takeover plans.

Rainforest Recover Center, a high-intensity residential substance abuse treatment facility, is closing next Tuesday, according to an announcement by Bartlett Regional Hospital. (Bartlett Regional Hospital photo)
Margaret Katzeek (right) offers public testimony about Suicide Basin flooding concerns while Renee Culp, who testified immediately before Katzeek, offers support during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

City leaders tell worried residents short- and long-term plans for Suicide Basin flooding are in progress

Basin now about half full, but should fill more slowly than earlier this year, city manager says.

Margaret Katzeek (right) offers public testimony about Suicide Basin flooding concerns while Renee Culp, who testified immediately before Katzeek, offers support during a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sonya Taton, center, listens to the verdict as she is found guilty on all five counts, including second-degree murder, during her trial in Superior Court in Juneau on Nov. 17, 2023. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire file photo)

Sonya Taton gets 50-year prison sentence for fatally stabbing one boyfriend and wounding another

Judge calls Taton “an enormously dangerous woman” after convictions for attacks in 2016 and 2019.

Sonya Taton, center, listens to the verdict as she is found guilty on all five counts, including second-degree murder, during her trial in Superior Court in Juneau on Nov. 17, 2023. (Meredith Jordan / Juneau Empire file photo)