Mark Sabbatini

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The Hospice and Home Care of Juneau office at the Catholic Community Service complex on Glacier Highway has discharged its patients as of Wednesday, due to the inability to retain and afford sufficient staffing. CCS is continuing to offer limited help with its volunteers and is in discussions with Bartlett Regional Hospital about taking over such care. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Future of local hospice care remains uncertain

Bartlett’s board of directors expected to discuss taking over services on Tuesday

The Hospice and Home Care of Juneau office at the Catholic Community Service complex on Glacier Highway has discharged its patients as of Wednesday, due to the inability to retain and afford sufficient staffing. CCS is continuing to offer limited help with its volunteers and is in discussions with Bartlett Regional Hospital about taking over such care. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, left, acknowledges audience members singing a song of prayer for her at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage on Thursday. Peltola, a Democrat, is the first Alaska Native to be elected to Congress. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Peltola unites crowd at AFN convention

Congresswoman gets a warm welcome from convention attendees, predecessor’s family.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, left, acknowledges audience members singing a song of prayer for her at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage on Thursday. Peltola, a Democrat, is the first Alaska Native to be elected to Congress. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage on Thursday morning. All of the elected officials and candidates in the state’s three major races in the November election are scheduled to participate in speeches and debates scheduled during the three-day gathering. (Screenshot from video provided by the office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Gov touts collaboration in AFN address

Cites pandemic response as an example of successfully working together.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage on Thursday morning. All of the elected officials and candidates in the state’s three major races in the November election are scheduled to participate in speeches and debates scheduled during the three-day gathering. (Screenshot from video provided by the office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
AP Photo / Mark Thiessen The four candidates for Alaska governor are shown preparing for a televised debate Wednesday in Anchorage. From left are Republican Charlie Pierce; Democrat Les Gara; former Gov. Bill Walker, an independent; and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican.

Dunleavy, Walker defend records in rapid-fire debate

Rare forum with all four gubneratorial candidates features rapid barrage of attacks and soundbites

AP Photo / Mark Thiessen The four candidates for Alaska governor are shown preparing for a televised debate Wednesday in Anchorage. From left are Republican Charlie Pierce; Democrat Les Gara; former Gov. Bill Walker, an independent; and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican.
A map shows the former downtown shelter operated by The Glory Hall is in a high-risk landslide/avalanche zone, according to an analysis updated this year. The building on South Franklin Street is located almost directly below homes on Gastineau Street that were damaged or destroyed by a landslide during a heavy rainstorm at the end of September. (Juneau Community Development Department)

Downtown Glory Hall housing proposal gets new rejection

Landslide that destroyed homes above former homeless shelter adds to questions about project’s safety

A map shows the former downtown shelter operated by The Glory Hall is in a high-risk landslide/avalanche zone, according to an analysis updated this year. The building on South Franklin Street is located almost directly below homes on Gastineau Street that were damaged or destroyed by a landslide during a heavy rainstorm at the end of September. (Juneau Community Development Department)
Christopher Koch, music director of the Juneau Symphony, conducts musicians through a rehearsal of Sibelius’ "Finlandia" on Tuesday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. The composition is one of three scheduled to be performed Saturday and Sunday during the first mainstage concert of the ensemble’s 60th season. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Weekly

Symphony’s Stories show celebrates 60th season

Opening mainstage show features Two familar ’epic’ classical tales, followed by improvised finale

Christopher Koch, music director of the Juneau Symphony, conducts musicians through a rehearsal of Sibelius’ "Finlandia" on Tuesday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. The composition is one of three scheduled to be performed Saturday and Sunday during the first mainstage concert of the ensemble’s 60th season. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks during a meet-and-greet Oct. 12 at Louie’s Douglas Inn. The four-term Republican incumbent is being opposed by the state’s party leadership in favor of a challenger backed by former President Donald Trump, similar to the 2010 election when she won a historic write-in campaign against a Tea Part challenger that defeated her in the primary election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski swings for middle in race filled with wild pitches

Four-term U.S. senator who won 2010 write-in campaign again facing strong challenge from the right

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks during a meet-and-greet Oct. 12 at Louie’s Douglas Inn. The four-term Republican incumbent is being opposed by the state’s party leadership in favor of a challenger backed by former President Donald Trump, similar to the 2010 election when she won a historic write-in campaign against a Tea Part challenger that defeated her in the primary election. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ashlyn Gates of Thunder Mountain High School deflects the ball past a Craig High School player during the Gold Bracket semi-final game of the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza at Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School on Saturday. TMHS, the top seed in the six-team bracket, lost the title game to Chugiak High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

TMHS falls in ’epic’ JIVE finale to Chugiak

Local No. 1 seed falls short to rally by No. 2 team during two-day regional volleyball tournament

Ashlyn Gates of Thunder Mountain High School deflects the ball past a Craig High School player during the Gold Bracket semi-final game of the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza at Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School on Saturday. TMHS, the top seed in the six-team bracket, lost the title game to Chugiak High School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Chesbro For Alaska Pat Chesbro, the lone Democrat in the three-way race for one of Alaska’s U.S. Senate seats in the November general election, poses for her official campaign profile picture.

Chesbro says she holds the keys to victory

Democrat a longshot in U.S. Senate race, but one of her Republican opponents needs her voters to win

Chesbro For Alaska Pat Chesbro, the lone Democrat in the three-way race for one of Alaska’s U.S. Senate seats in the November general election, poses for her official campaign profile picture.
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A totem pole stands outside Hospice and Home Care of Juneau, which is shutting down Wednesday after providing services for about 20 years due to lack of staff. The closure will affect 17 home health and two hospice patients, with program and city officials in discussions with Bartlett Regional Hospital and SEARHC about taking over services for such patients.

Hospice and Home Care of Juneau closing Wednesday

Program halting due to shortage and high cost of staff. Officials hope BRH, SEARHC can offer care.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A totem pole stands outside Hospice and Home Care of Juneau, which is shutting down Wednesday after providing services for about 20 years due to lack of staff. The closure will affect 17 home health and two hospice patients, with program and city officials in discussions with Bartlett Regional Hospital and SEARHC about taking over services for such patients.
Kelly Tshibaka, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, poses for her official campaign biography photo this spring. (Kelly For Alaska)

Tshibaka sees more than red:Trump-back candidate discusses policy goals in Senate

Weighty words ranging from seabeds to outer space.

Kelly Tshibaka, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, poses for her official campaign biography photo this spring. (Kelly For Alaska)
A sign stands at the site of a proposed 444-unit subdivision along the 7400 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire) Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire A sign stands at the site of a proposed 444-unit subdivision along the 7400 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau.

444-unit housing project raises hopes, concerns

Backers of proposed subdivision say it addresses shortage, neighbors worry about impacts.

A sign stands at the site of a proposed 444-unit subdivision along the 7400 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire) Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire A sign stands at the site of a proposed 444-unit subdivision along the 7400 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau.
Forms to run for state office are displayed at the Alaska Division of Elections’ offices in Juneau in June. Candidates and organizations in statewide contests were required to file campaign finance reports on Monday, detailing their spending, expenses and cash on hand one month before the Nov 8 election. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)

Big bucks back constitutional convention opponents

D.C. group spends on ballot measure, Dunleavy has big cash advantage in governor’s race.

Forms to run for state office are displayed at the Alaska Division of Elections’ offices in Juneau in June. Candidates and organizations in statewide contests were required to file campaign finance reports on Monday, detailing their spending, expenses and cash on hand one month before the Nov 8 election. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
Rep. Mary Peltola is interviewed on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Sept. 12, a day before being sworn in after winning the Aug. 16 special election to fill the rest of the late Don Young’s term. The Democrat from Bethel is seeking reelection to a full two-year term in the general election against the same two Republicans she defeated in the special election. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)

Peltola seeks full House term in a political storm

Alaska Native Democrat, facing likely GOP majority, says she’s ready to follow Young’s path to success

Rep. Mary Peltola is interviewed on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Sept. 12, a day before being sworn in after winning the Aug. 16 special election to fill the rest of the late Don Young’s term. The Democrat from Bethel is seeking reelection to a full two-year term in the general election against the same two Republicans she defeated in the special election. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
Heidi Drygas, who is running for lieutenant governor, and Bill Walker, who is running for governor, smile outside the Juneau Empire’s offices after an interview this week. Walker said he’s hopeful voters will understand his decision to draw from the Alaska Permanent Fund to fund state government. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Walker hopes voters willing to accept hard truths

Former independent governor seeking office again after “I threw myself on the Permanent Fund grenade. ”

Heidi Drygas, who is running for lieutenant governor, and Bill Walker, who is running for governor, smile outside the Juneau Empire’s offices after an interview this week. Walker said he’s hopeful voters will understand his decision to draw from the Alaska Permanent Fund to fund state government. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Les Gara smiles outside of the Juneau Empire’s offices following an interview earlier this week. The former Anchorage lawmaker is the lone Democratic candidate in Alaska’s gubernatorial race. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Gara sticks to steady message on rocky campaign trail

Former Anchorage lawmaker seeking to become first Democrat elected governor since 1998.

Les Gara smiles outside of the Juneau Empire’s offices following an interview earlier this week. The former Anchorage lawmaker is the lone Democratic candidate in Alaska’s gubernatorial race. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A map shows more than 50 proposed cabin projects in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests the U.S. Forest Service is considering using $14.4 million in federal funds. About half of the projects are expected to be approved, with the public able to comment online about their preferences until Oct. 31. (U.S. Forest Service)

Cabin fever fueled by Forest Service funds

More than 50 proposed new Alaska sites, half in Tongass, draw strong opinions.

A map shows more than 50 proposed cabin projects in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests the U.S. Forest Service is considering using $14.4 million in federal funds. About half of the projects are expected to be approved, with the public able to comment online about their preferences until Oct. 31. (U.S. Forest Service)
Workers replace a failed log culvert with a small foot bridge over Switzer Creek in a project funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with some materials provided by the Alaskan Brewing Company. The federal government on Thursday announced an additional $1 billion in grants is being made available during the next five years for culvert repairs in areas where fish passage is blocked. (Courtesy Photo / Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition)

Cash flow: $1B in fed funds for freer fish

Grants to replace culverts impeding streams available to tribal, local and state governments

Workers replace a failed log culvert with a small foot bridge over Switzer Creek in a project funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with some materials provided by the Alaskan Brewing Company. The federal government on Thursday announced an additional $1 billion in grants is being made available during the next five years for culvert repairs in areas where fish passage is blocked. (Courtesy Photo / Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition)
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Les Gara, left, discusses hospitality industry issues during a forum Wednesday with independent candidate Bill Walker, right, at Louie’s Douglas Inn. The forum was hosted by the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association, with the organization’s president and CEO Sarah Oates acting as the moderator. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Walker, Gara get into a bar debate

Candidates for governor talk about serving, shortages and ships during industry forum in Juneau

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Les Gara, left, discusses hospitality industry issues during a forum Wednesday with independent candidate Bill Walker, right, at Louie’s Douglas Inn. The forum was hosted by the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association, with the organization’s president and CEO Sarah Oates acting as the moderator. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A bald eagle looks toward the Mendenhall Glacier near the visitor center on Tuesday. The U.S. Forest Service is proposing expanding a ban on mining and other mineral resource extraction activities from an area on the glacier a short distance from the existing face to several hundred yards inward, extending outward to the mountainsides along both sides. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Forest Service seeks input on expanding mineral extraction ban near glacier

Forest Service seeks input on expanding mineral extraction ban in recreation area

A bald eagle looks toward the Mendenhall Glacier near the visitor center on Tuesday. The U.S. Forest Service is proposing expanding a ban on mining and other mineral resource extraction activities from an area on the glacier a short distance from the existing face to several hundred yards inward, extending outward to the mountainsides along both sides. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)