Mark Sabbatini

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 6, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 6, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Melanee Tiura (right), one of three finalists to be the new CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, talks with an employee during a meet-and-greet at the hospital on Aug. 26. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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Three people with different backgrounds at struggling healthcare facilities hoping to be Bartlett’s new CEO

Stability of hospital’s leadership, programs emphasized by finalists; board vote may occur this week.

Melanee Tiura (right), one of three finalists to be the new CEO at Bartlett Regional Hospital, talks with an employee during a meet-and-greet at the hospital on Aug. 26. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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Caleb Ziegenfuss (left) looks to pass for the Juneau Huskies during Saturday’s road game against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)

Juneau fumbles away opportunities in 42-0 loss to Anchorage South

Three first-half Huskies turnovers allow hometown Wolverines to break open close game.

Caleb Ziegenfuss (left) looks to pass for the Juneau Huskies during Saturday’s road game against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)
Robert Sisson (left), former commissioner of the International Joint Commission, presides over a panel discussion Wednesday during the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Transboundary mining conference sees fears after natural and man-made disasters, hope after pacts

U.S., Canadian and tribal leaders gather in Juneau to seek way forward on decades-old disputes.

Robert Sisson (left), former commissioner of the International Joint Commission, presides over a panel discussion Wednesday during the third annual Transboundary Mining Conference at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Results of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessments and the Alaska Science Assessment from the past year are shown for Juneau’s schools. (Juneau Empire graph using data from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development)

Standardized test scores at some Juneau schools far higher than others

Math, science proficiency at Auke Bay elementary roughly twice Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen’s, for example.

Results of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness (AK STAR) assessments and the Alaska Science Assessment from the past year are shown for Juneau’s schools. (Juneau Empire graph using data from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development)
A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)

FEMA visits hundreds of Juneau homes damaged by flood; decision on federal disaster aid awaits

Presence of agency “a lot larger” than last year’s flood when aid was denied, visiting official says.

A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley on Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)
People explore downtown Juneau on July 26, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Free Starlink service, upgraded telecom network seek to resolve downtown internet and phone issues

Slow internet during busy cruise days “number one complaint from this summer,” Goldbelt CEO says.

People explore downtown Juneau on July 26, 2024. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 29, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 29, 1984. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A sample ballot for the Oct. 1 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau’s website.

Strong arguments for Ship-Free Saturdays, against school board recalls on CBJ ballot

Language is part of official process; additional election perspectives will come from CBJ voter guide, website

A sample ballot for the Oct. 1 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau’s website.
Josh Fortenbery performs a song written about Steven Kissack as three of his siblings, seated, listen during a memorial gathering Sunday at Marine Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Family, friends of Steven Kissack united from afar at memorial gathering after his death

Remembered as a youth who loved to read, dreamed of Alaska and kept giving even while on the streets.

Josh Fortenbery performs a song written about Steven Kissack as three of his siblings, seated, listen during a memorial gathering Sunday at Marine Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Homes in Ketchikan are damaged by a landslide on Sunday. (Ketchikan Gateway Borough photo)

One person killed as major landslide impacts homes in Ketchikan, forces evacuations

Emergency agencies, including statewide and in Juneau, responding as state disaster declared.

Homes in Ketchikan are damaged by a landslide on Sunday. (Ketchikan Gateway Borough photo)
Sigrid Bogert and Fathom Mitchell, both 11, toss straw used during a children’s game into a wheelbarrow to place on a garden plot during the 30th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Community Garden celebrates bountiful 30th annual Harvest Festival

Founders had to make own soil to start garden; now a chef makes festival food from what’s grown.

Sigrid Bogert and Fathom Mitchell, both 11, toss straw used during a children’s game into a wheelbarrow to place on a garden plot during the 30th Annual Juneau Community Garden Harvest Fair on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé linemen Ricky Tupou, (77), Jonah Mahle (54), Walter Haube-Law (55) and Benny Zukas (58) block for Ethan Van Kirk (3) during Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Huskies run over Service 48-6 in season home opener

Offensive line plays “best game in more than a year” as JDHS overcomes injury to starting QB.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé linemen Ricky Tupou, (77), Jonah Mahle (54), Walter Haube-Law (55) and Benny Zukas (58) block for Ethan Van Kirk (3) during Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Sportfishers can’t keep king salmon caught in Southeast waters under emergency order starting Monday

Ban in effect until Oct. 1 unlikely to affect fishing tours since few kings being caught, operators say.

A king salmon during the 67th annual Golden North Salmon Derby at the Don D. Statter Memorial Boat Harbor in August 2013. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Five of the six candidates seeking three open seats on the Juneau Board of Education participate in a forum hosted by the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce at the Juneau Moose Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School board candidate forum focuses on lessons learned from consolidation process

Five of six candidates running for three seats answer questions about “what ifs” and “what’s next.”

Five of the six candidates seeking three open seats on the Juneau Board of Education participate in a forum hosted by the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce at the Juneau Moose Family Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom talks with city officials before a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, June 24, 2024, at Aurora Harbor. She dropped out of the U.S. House race on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom drops out of U.S. House race after third-place primary finish

Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola now faces one-on-one matchup against Republican Nick Begich III.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom talks with city officials before a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, June 24, 2024, at Aurora Harbor. She dropped out of the U.S. House race on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 24, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Aug. 24, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Bruce Scandling receives his ballot for Alaska’s primary election at the Mendenhall Mall Annex on Saturday morning from election officials Jackie Rosenbruch and Barb Murray. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Juneau has higher turnout, more liberal voting compared to statewide results in primary election

Klukwan defies low turnout statewide, with 55.56% of village’s registered voters casting ballots.

Bruce Scandling receives his ballot for Alaska’s primary election at the Mendenhall Mall Annex on Saturday morning from election officials Jackie Rosenbruch and Barb Murray. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Students heading to Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé board a bus at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Wednesday morning. While the stop is designated as a park-and-ride option for students, those boarding the bus either walked to the stop or were dropped off by parents. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Changes in student transportation are all over the map after consolidation of schools

Many students say things are fine, but illegal parking and bus woes are prompting course corrections.

Students heading to Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé board a bus at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Wednesday morning. While the stop is designated as a park-and-ride option for students, those boarding the bus either walked to the stop or were dropped off by parents. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Finalists to be Bartlett Regional Hospital’s new chief executive officer are, from left to right, Jon Friedenberg, Melanee Tiura and Joe Wanner. (Photos provided by Bartlett Regional Hospital)

Bartlett Regional Hospital schedules public meetings, interviews with three CEO finalists

Candidates include hospital’s CFO, leader at Alaska health entities, and longtime out-of-state medical CEO.

Finalists to be Bartlett Regional Hospital’s new chief executive officer are, from left to right, Jon Friedenberg, Melanee Tiura and Joe Wanner. (Photos provided by Bartlett Regional Hospital)