Mark Sabbatini

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Tenakee Springs residents celebrate the debut of a new seaplane serving the community and other parts of Southeast Alaska during a cookout on June 9, 2021. The town’s post office, left, was forced to close temporarily in recent days because there was no staff, although a visiting employee is now helping one or two days a week. It’s one of a number of short- and long-term problems the tiny island town is facing as it tries to cope with an ageing and shrinking permanent population, as well as more general problems such as worker and supply shortages. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

Troubling times in Tenakee Springs

Post office closure, absence of fire and other emergency staff, among short- and long-term hardships

Tenakee Springs residents celebrate the debut of a new seaplane serving the community and other parts of Southeast Alaska during a cookout on June 9, 2021. The town’s post office, left, was forced to close temporarily in recent days because there was no staff, although a visiting employee is now helping one or two days a week. It’s one of a number of short- and long-term problems the tiny island town is facing as it tries to cope with an ageing and shrinking permanent population, as well as more general problems such as worker and supply shortages. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
A chart shows job approval ratings by party affiliation for U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski between Jan. 20, 2021 and June 30 of this year. The 22% increase since the beginning of Joe Biden’s presidency is among the biggest for senators. A different poll shows her losing to a Republican challenger among voters of that party in Alaska, but winning reelection due to cross-over votes from Democrats under the new ranked choice voting system. (Source: Morning Consult)

Poll: Murkowski’s net approval up 22% during Biden administration

Morning Consult survey says Alaska incumbent’s popularity rising more than almost any other senator

A chart shows job approval ratings by party affiliation for U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski between Jan. 20, 2021 and June 30 of this year. The 22% increase since the beginning of Joe Biden’s presidency is among the biggest for senators. A different poll shows her losing to a Republican challenger among voters of that party in Alaska, but winning reelection due to cross-over votes from Democrats under the new ranked choice voting system. (Source: Morning Consult)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Some public funds OK for private education, decision says

Not OK to replace core services.

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski hugs a supporter during a campaign event in Fairbanks on Friday. The senator announced Monday she tested positive for COVID-19 and as part of her precautionary measures people at her campaign events are being notified. (Courtesy Photo / LisaForSenate, Twitter)

Murkowski tests positive for COVID-19

Alaska incumbent one of two announcing Monday they have virus

Sen. Lisa Murkowski hugs a supporter during a campaign event in Fairbanks on Friday. The senator announced Monday she tested positive for COVID-19 and as part of her precautionary measures people at her campaign events are being notified. (Courtesy Photo / LisaForSenate, Twitter)
David Keith, right, an Oklahoma hospital leader who is among the three finalists for the CEO position at Bartlett Regional Hospital, chats with Bartlett board members Hal Geiger and Kenny Solomon-Gross during a meet-and-greet Friday at the Andrew P. Kashevaroff Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hospital holds 3rd CEO candidate meet and greet

David Keith meets folks for the last in a series of three.

David Keith, right, an Oklahoma hospital leader who is among the three finalists for the CEO position at Bartlett Regional Hospital, chats with Bartlett board members Hal Geiger and Kenny Solomon-Gross during a meet-and-greet Friday at the Andrew P. Kashevaroff Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A graph shows individual non-sale price of 20 items at Juneau’s four main supermarkets on July 1. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Getting the most bread for your bread

Fred Meyer still has Juneau’s cheapest groceries, with the three other stores about even.

A graph shows individual non-sale price of 20 items at Juneau’s four main supermarkets on July 1. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant has normally handled roughly 250,000 to 300,000 gallons of intake a day since 2016. But that average has increased somewhat since 2019 and spiked to a record high of nearly 1 million gallons on Dec. 1, 2020, due to a record amount of rainfall during a 24-hour period, according to a report published Monday assessing climate change impacts on Juneau. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Deep doo-doo due to climate change

Problems at Mendenhall Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant now blamed on abnormally high precipitation

The Mendenhall Wastewater Treatment Plant has normally handled roughly 250,000 to 300,000 gallons of intake a day since 2016. But that average has increased somewhat since 2019 and spiked to a record high of nearly 1 million gallons on Dec. 1, 2020, due to a record amount of rainfall during a 24-hour period, according to a report published Monday assessing climate change impacts on Juneau. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
A map shows locations in the U.S. designated as tribal lands and thus eligible for higher benefits from the Affordable Connectivity Program. All of Alaska falls under that designation. (Courtesy Image / FCC)

90K Alaska households are eligible for internet assistance —only 10K are taking advantage

White House touts a recently launched “one-stop” website to make signing up easier.

A map shows locations in the U.S. designated as tribal lands and thus eligible for higher benefits from the Affordable Connectivity Program. All of Alaska falls under that designation. (Courtesy Image / FCC)
The string trio Simply Three is scheduled to perform rock works ranging from Coldplay to Michael Jackson during this fall’s Juneau Jazz & Classics festival. (Courtesy photo)
Video

School, church and saloon fall together at JJC

Colorful autumn lineup features a rock string trio and an opera/burlesque mastro

The string trio Simply Three is scheduled to perform rock works ranging from Coldplay to Michael Jackson during this fall’s Juneau Jazz & Classics festival. (Courtesy photo)
Video
A Walker-Drygas campaign sign stands across from the governor’s mansion in Juneau. Financial forms recently filed with the state showed contributions to gubernatorial campaigns up sharply from the same time period four years ago. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Governor race contributions triple from last cycle, filings show

Eliminating individual donation limits results in top tickets raising nearly $3M since February.

A Walker-Drygas campaign sign stands across from the governor’s mansion in Juneau. Financial forms recently filed with the state showed contributions to gubernatorial campaigns up sharply from the same time period four years ago. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Campaign signs for Republican candidates leading in a recent poll in their respective races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate hang from a structure near Juneau International Airport on Monday. Nick Begich and Lisa Murkowski, who had to file federal campaign donation reports by last Friday, also report having the most cash-on-hand by far in their races. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski, Palin top most recent fundraising reports

Senate incumbent also has huge campaign coffer advantage; Begich and Peltola top Palin’s cash-on-hand

Campaign signs for Republican candidates leading in a recent poll in their respective races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate hang from a structure near Juneau International Airport on Monday. Nick Begich and Lisa Murkowski, who had to file federal campaign donation reports by last Friday, also report having the most cash-on-hand by far in their races. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
In this July 2020 photo, a sign on a Mendenhall Valley business advertises Permanent Fund dividend sales. Payments for this year's PFD will start July 20, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Friday.

Dunleavy: PFD payments start Sept. 20

That’s weeks earlier than is typical.

In this July 2020 photo, a sign on a Mendenhall Valley business advertises Permanent Fund dividend sales. Payments for this year's PFD will start July 20, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Friday.
(Courtesy Photos)

Bartlett names 3 new CEO finalists

One candidate in hospital’s troubled search for new leader has troubles himself he says are resolved.

(Courtesy Photos)
An artist’s depiction shows winter view of a proposed new Juneau City Hall at 450 Whittier St. in Juneau that would cost roughly $40 million. A bond asking voters to approve most of the funding is likely to appear on the Oct. 4 municipal election ballot. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)

City mulls spending $50K to ‘provide information’ on ballot measures

Assembly asked to OK funds to “provide information” on ballot items for new city hall, property buyers

An artist’s depiction shows winter view of a proposed new Juneau City Hall at 450 Whittier St. in Juneau that would cost roughly $40 million. A bond asking voters to approve most of the funding is likely to appear on the Oct. 4 municipal election ballot. (Courtesy Image / North Wind Architects)
Source: Amber Chapin, Michael Penn An artistic rendering of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in 2040 shows the glacier “will barely be visible” by 2050 based on a mid-range thinning rate scenario, according to a Juneau-specific climate change study published Monday.

Report details local climate chaos and solutions

More rain, less snow and glacial retreat expected.

Source: Amber Chapin, Michael Penn An artistic rendering of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in 2040 shows the glacier “will barely be visible” by 2050 based on a mid-range thinning rate scenario, according to a Juneau-specific climate change study published Monday.
This June 14 photo shows Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary School. Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

District OKs ‘milk’ incident investigation, extension of food vendor’s contract

Juneau School Board approves third-party probe, allowing NANA to serve food for six more months

This June 14 photo shows Sít’ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary School. Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Former President Donald Trump speaks Saturday afternoon to a capacity crowd of about 5,000 people at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Trump stumps in Alaska

Former president praises Alaska’s people, places and trio of favored politicians at Anchorage rally.

Former President Donald Trump speaks Saturday afternoon to a capacity crowd of about 5,000 people at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Anti-Trump protesters across the street from the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage wave signs at people departing the Save America Rally on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Random bits of weirdness from a weekend at the Trump rally in Anchorage

A yuge collection.

Anti-Trump protesters across the street from the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage wave signs at people departing the Save America Rally on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Entering the political arena

MAGA rally faithful—and Trump —come to Alaska.

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Former NFL defensive tackle leads an exercise inside the Dimond Park Field House. The former pro has been helping local athletes refine their skills while in town. (Courtesy Photo)

Top of the line: Former NFL DT helps youths work on their game

He’s conducting a camp for middle and elementary school students from Monday to Thursday.

Former NFL defensive tackle leads an exercise inside the Dimond Park Field House. The former pro has been helping local athletes refine their skills while in town. (Courtesy Photo)