Mark Sabbatini

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Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer is retiring at the end of July after a career of more than 30 years in Southeast Alaska law enforcement. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)

JPD Chief Ed Mercer retiring

Lifetime Southeast Alaska resident departing July 31 after career of more than 30 years.

Juneau Police Department Chief Ed Mercer is retiring at the end of July after a career of more than 30 years in Southeast Alaska law enforcement. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire File)
Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Salissa Thole sings a pop song while a couple dances in the background during a “Neighborhood Cabaret” show at the Glory Hall on Thursday evening. The shows being performed at various location in Juneau are the first of three productions during this year’s Alaska Theater Festival.

Sound shelter from the storm

Cabaret show at the Glory Hall an appreciative exchange between musicians, staff and audience.

Photos by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Salissa Thole sings a pop song while a couple dances in the background during a “Neighborhood Cabaret” show at the Glory Hall on Thursday evening. The shows being performed at various location in Juneau are the first of three productions during this year’s Alaska Theater Festival.
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File Locals gathered for a whale of a time near “Tahku,” the whale sculpture under shimmering lights and loud booms for the annual firework display over Gastineau Channel in 2022.
Capital City Weekly

How to celebrate the many sights and sounds of July 4

“Voices of Alaska” theme for downtown parade reflects range of Juneau’s traditional holiday events

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File Locals gathered for a whale of a time near “Tahku,” the whale sculpture under shimmering lights and loud booms for the annual firework display over Gastineau Channel in 2022.
Bamby Kinville-James (left center) and Jeni Brown (right center) lead a song during a rally held at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on May 5 to recognize Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Justice Department boosts resources for missing and murdered Indigenous cases in Alaska

Four specialists, one possibly in Juneau, will work with tribes and state to focus on rural areas.

Bamby Kinville-James (left center) and Jeni Brown (right center) lead a song during a rally held at the steps of the Alaska State Capitol on May 5 to recognize Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Awareness Day. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A lifeboat on the deck of the Columbia ferry in May. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Marine Highway System)

Columbia ferry set to resume service Wednesday

Week of canceled sailings for repairs means longer vehicle wait lists, officials say.

A lifeboat on the deck of the Columbia ferry in May. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Marine Highway System)
First Lady Rose Dunleavy (left) breaks a bottle across the bow of the Hubbard ferry during a christening ceremony Monday at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Juneau, as vessel relief captain Ethan Waldvogel watches. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hubbard christened as Alaska’s newest ferry

After years of delays, vessel now making day trips to Juneau, Haines and Skagway

First Lady Rose Dunleavy (left) breaks a bottle across the bow of the Hubbard ferry during a christening ceremony Monday at the Alaska Marine Highway System terminal in Juneau, as vessel relief captain Ethan Waldvogel watches. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Dan Rondeau, 69, descends a trail during the Juneau Ridge Race on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A peak experience for over the hill runners

Ski poles, toboggans and space blankets just par for the course at annual Juneau Ridge Race.

Dan Rondeau, 69, descends a trail during the Juneau Ridge Race on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
State Rep. Andi Story, a Juneau Democrat, talks to residents during a legislative town hall Thursday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Local legislators discuss this year’s achievements, next year’s goals at town hall

Residents raise questions about education funding veto, health and rehabilitation programs.

State Rep. Andi Story, a Juneau Democrat, talks to residents during a legislative town hall Thursday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Man arrested after firing flare gun at police during foot chase downtown

JPD gets numerous calls after pursuit near Franklin Dock on Friday night

Emergency lights flash on top of a police car. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
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’s board of trustees has directed staff to evaluate options for moving some operations to Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Permanent Fund Corp. considers moving some operations to Anchorage

Opposition to latest “capital creep” voiced by Juneau lawmaker, who says no funds exists for the move.

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’s board of trustees has directed staff to evaluate options for moving some operations to Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Longtime Juneau musician Rob Cohen performs at an outdoor cabaret show during the Alaska Theater Festival in 2022. This year’s festival will begin with a series of Neighborhood Cabaret shows at various locations throughout Juneau between June 28 and July 2. (Courtesy of Theater Alaska)
Capital City Weekly

Neighborhood watch

Fourth annual Alaska Theater Festival to stage outdoor productions throughout Juneau this summer.

Longtime Juneau musician Rob Cohen performs at an outdoor cabaret show during the Alaska Theater Festival in 2022. This year’s festival will begin with a series of Neighborhood Cabaret shows at various locations throughout Juneau between June 28 and July 2. (Courtesy of Theater Alaska)
The Columbia docks at the terminal in Haines while in service previously. (Geraldine Young / Alaska DOTPF)

Columbia cancels sailings for at least a week due to repairs

Mechanical issue on aging ferry affects stops between Haines and Bellingham

The Columbia docks at the terminal in Haines while in service previously. (Geraldine Young / Alaska DOTPF)
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. The committee was responsible for adding to the state budget the formula being used to calculate this year’s Permanent Fund dividend, which is estimated to be $1,304. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)

This year’s PFD is a budget-balancing $1,304. Is this the new normal?

Dunleavy OKs lower dividend despite originally seeking a $3,800 “statutory” payout.

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. The committee was responsible for adding to the state budget the formula being used to calculate this year’s Permanent Fund dividend, which is estimated to be $1,304. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference in April focusing on the budget and a long-range fiscal plan for the state. He signed the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 on Sunday, but did not publicly announce the signing or line-item vetoes made — including cutting in half an increase to public education spending — until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Dunleavy vetoes half of education increase as he signs budget

Governor cuts $200 million in capital projects, other spending from bill passed by Legislature

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a news conference in April focusing on the budget and a long-range fiscal plan for the state. He signed the budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 on Sunday, but did not publicly announce the signing or line-item vetoes made — including cutting in half an increase to public education spending — until Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
A notice about the arrival of summer is posted outside the entrance to Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ - Glacier Valley Elementary School. The school’s principal told the Juneau Board of Education last Tuesday there was a 55% “chronically absent” rate during the past school year. (Juneau Empire File)

A local principal says more than half the students were chronically absent. Is that cause for alarm?

District officials seek causes, solutions and context of absenteeism, which is also high nationally

A notice about the arrival of summer is posted outside the entrance to Sitʼ Eeti Shaanáx̱ - Glacier Valley Elementary School. The school’s principal told the Juneau Board of Education last Tuesday there was a 55% “chronically absent” rate during the past school year. (Juneau Empire File)
Hannahadina Kuhnert leads a music procession outside the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Saturday during a Juneteenth celebration where participants heard the history of the June 19 holiday and made their own musical instruments. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneteenth also marks a day of liberty for local tribal members

June 19 is Tlingit & Haida Day as well as a national holiday celebrating the end of slavery

Hannahadina Kuhnert leads a music procession outside the Mendenhall Valley Public Library on Saturday during a Juneteenth celebration where participants heard the history of the June 19 holiday and made their own musical instruments. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Hōkūle‘a arrives in Auke Bay on June 11, where it was welcomed by hundreds of Juneau residents and tribal leaders. The wind-powered traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe departed Juneau at about 4:15 a.m. Sunday to begin a scheduled 47-month global voyage. The originally scheduled start of the trip was delayed from Thursday due to poor weather. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Hōkūle‘a calmly departs Juneau for 47-month voyage

Traditional Polynesian canoe sets sail at 4:15 a.m. Sunday after weather delays original launch

The Hōkūle‘a arrives in Auke Bay on June 11, where it was welcomed by hundreds of Juneau residents and tribal leaders. The wind-powered traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe departed Juneau at about 4:15 a.m. Sunday to begin a scheduled 47-month global voyage. The originally scheduled start of the trip was delayed from Thursday due to poor weather. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Jesse Stringer, a former worker in Coeur Alaska’s Kensington mine competes in the jackleg drilling competition Saturday during the 31st annual Juneau Gold Rush Days. The event in Douglas at Savikko Park is scheduled to continue with logging competitions on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

An old-time heavy metal festival for all ages

Juneau Gold Rush Days sings “Happy Birthday” to axe-wielding woman, lets kids do some heavy lifting

Jesse Stringer, a former worker in Coeur Alaska’s Kensington mine competes in the jackleg drilling competition Saturday during the 31st annual Juneau Gold Rush Days. The event in Douglas at Savikko Park is scheduled to continue with logging competitions on Sunday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
About 30 people take off from the starting line at the Ben Blackgoat Memorial Run on Saturday morning at the base of Perseverance Trail. The race, named after a Juneau teenage who died in an accident on the trail, was the first by the Juneau Trail and Road Runners since it officially added a nonbinary category for participants. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A very ordinary, yet extraordinary race for a like-minded teen

Ben Blackgoat Memorial Run first after host adds nonbinary category, but thoughts stay with namesake

About 30 people take off from the starting line at the Ben Blackgoat Memorial Run on Saturday morning at the base of Perseverance Trail. The race, named after a Juneau teenage who died in an accident on the trail, was the first by the Juneau Trail and Road Runners since it officially added a nonbinary category for participants. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Alaska State Council on the Arts A “Whale’s Tail” license plate by Juneau artist Crystal Worl is among six semi-finalists in a statewide contest open to public voting until July 31. The winner will be announced Aug. 26 at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer and available afterward for purchase at DMVs statewide through 2027.

Worl among six contenders in artistic license plate contest

Juneau artist who designed Alaska Airlines “Salmon People” plane now sets sights on Alaska’s vehicles

Courtesy Photo / Alaska State Council on the Arts A “Whale’s Tail” license plate by Juneau artist Crystal Worl is among six semi-finalists in a statewide contest open to public voting until July 31. The winner will be announced Aug. 26 at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer and available afterward for purchase at DMVs statewide through 2027.