Mark Sabbatini

Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) offers an overview of House Bill 69 during Wednesday’s floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

House passes education bill with $1,000 BSA increase as state’s fiscal situation grows bleaker

Senate majority likely to trim hike to $680 while legislators also seek policy deal with governor.

Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) offers an overview of House Bill 69 during Wednesday’s floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nicole Herbert, who this month became the new chief financial officer for the Juneau School District, explains details of next year’s proposed budget to the Juneau Board of Education on Tuesday night at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau School District leaders plan final vote Thursday on ‘conservative’ budget for next year

Plan assumes $400 BSA hike and no staff vacancies; actual figures likely to be more financially favorable.

Nicole Herbert, who this month became the new chief financial officer for the Juneau School District, explains details of next year’s proposed budget to the Juneau Board of Education on Tuesday night at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Multiple vehicles are engulfed by fire Monday night at 30 Mile Glacier Highway. (Capital City Fire/Rescue photo)

Multiple vehicles consumed by fire at Mile 30 Glacier Highway

Fire department says no injuries reported; no further action planned since site is outside fire district.

Multiple vehicles are engulfed by fire Monday night at 30 Mile Glacier Highway. (Capital City Fire/Rescue photo)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Reps. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), left, and Andi Story (D-Juneau), who co-chair the House Education Committee, confer during a break in a floor session Monday focusing on an omnibus education bill.

Republicans get chance to take a whack at omnibus state education bill as it reaches the House floor

Dozens of amendments ranging from more homeschool funds to discipline policies fall short.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Reps. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka), left, and Andi Story (D-Juneau), who co-chair the House Education Committee, confer during a break in a floor session Monday focusing on an omnibus education bill.
School buses arrive at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

Classroom fire at Dzantik’i Heeni Campus forces evacuation due to electrical wiring risk

Students transported to Dimond Park Field House for pickup or to catch buses home

School buses arrive at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Daaljíni Mary Cruise, left, offers encouragement to participants in a Unity for the Queer Community rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hundreds participate in Juneau LGBTQ+ rally as Trump administration seeks to erase letters and rights

President’s actions to stop “woke” are putting people’s safety and health at risk, participants say.

Daaljíni Mary Cruise, left, offers encouragement to participants in a Unity for the Queer Community rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Jonas Nordwall performs a noontime concert on the 1928 Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ at the State Office Building on Friday. Weekly concerts featuring various performers at the instrument draw between 20 to 50 people, according to an official at the Alaska State Museum, which owns the organ. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Century-old theater organ in State Office Building at ‘tipping point’ for decision on long-term repairs

Officials say up to $300K needed for rebuilding to keep it playable for decades; otherwise “it’ll die.”

Jonas Nordwall performs a noontime concert on the 1928 Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ at the State Office Building on Friday. Weekly concerts featuring various performers at the instrument draw between 20 to 50 people, according to an official at the Alaska State Museum, which owns the organ. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
David Witthohn, senior portfolio specialist for Insight Investment, offers an overview of the City and Borough of Juneau’s investment portfolio during a Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Economic slowdown expected due to Trump’s policies, CBJ leaders told by investment advisor

Surprisingly strong economic performance last fall now halted due to firings, cuts, tariff threats.

David Witthohn, senior portfolio specialist for Insight Investment, offers an overview of the City and Borough of Juneau’s investment portfolio during a Assembly Finance Committee meeting Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at City Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A snowmaker operates at Eaglecrest Ski Area on Feb. 10, 2025. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)

Eaglecrest Ski Area board OKs 40% hike in employee compensation, hoping to fix hiring woes

Increase in requested budget comes amidst Assembly warnings about money being tight.

A snowmaker operates at Eaglecrest Ski Area on Feb. 10, 2025. (Eaglecrest Ski Area photo)
A road north of Juneau would have to negotiate the steep terrain of the east side of Lynn Canal, pictured here in February of 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file pohoto)

Juneau Access Road is on the map again, as DOT seeks bids for Lynn Canal transportation study

Project declared dead by Gov. Walker in 2017 to get another look, along with ferry options.

A road north of Juneau would have to negotiate the steep terrain of the east side of Lynn Canal, pictured here in February of 2014. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file pohoto)
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Feb. 22, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Reinstatement of fired USDA employees ordered; local glacier center worker says no word yet from employer

Federal review board orders 45-day stay affecting nearly 6,000 workers while legal challenge is heard.

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Feb. 22, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 4, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on March 4, 1985. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
State Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) explains changes to House Bill 69 during a House Rules Committee meeting on Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

House education bill sent to floor with smaller $1,000 BSA hike, new policy changes

HB 69 also now includes additional charter school support, open enrollment within districts.

State Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) explains changes to House Bill 69 during a House Rules Committee meeting on Wednesday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A building directory in Juneau’s federal building lists departments, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)

NOAA lease, Goldbelt contract among Juneau cuts at DOGE’s website

Trump administration also lists — then withdraws — Ketchikan Federal Building and other sites for possible sale.

A building directory in Juneau’s federal building lists departments, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Terry Allen rides his jet ski at Auke Lake on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Proposal for commercial Jet Ski tours originating downtown sinks before harbor board

Operator says he will seek different site after officials say he implied support that doesn’t exist.

Terry Allen rides his jet ski at Auke Lake on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
A 1928 Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ in the atrium of the State Office Building is played by Christopher Nordwall on May 30, 2023, as he and Michael Ruppert work on restoring it to a condition suitable for public performances. The two tuners were only able to work on the organ during hours when the building was officially closed.

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in March

Performance and presentation on historic SOB organ, community exhibit at city museum among events.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
A 1928 Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ in the atrium of the State Office Building is played by Christopher Nordwall on May 30, 2023, as he and Michael Ruppert work on restoring it to a condition suitable for public performances. The two tuners were only able to work on the organ during hours when the building was officially closed.
The Juneau Courthouse on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau man with child sexual abuse material conviction arrested again on similar charges

Taylor Funderburk, 25, pleaded guilty Feb. 14 to charges in 2021 case, new arrest came 11 days later.

The Juneau Courthouse on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Cable Innovator, seen docked in Port Angeles, Washington, in May 2022, is scheduled to arrive in Sitka on Monday afternoon. It repaired a subsea communications cable in the vicinity last September and is being tasked with repairing further cable system damage that has knocked out phone and internet service to much of Southeast Alaska. (Creative Commons/DeVos Max)

Some phone and internet services get temporary fix as cable repair ship heads for Southeast Alaska

Same vessel that repaired damage near Sitka last September scheduled to arrive there Monday.

The Cable Innovator, seen docked in Port Angeles, Washington, in May 2022, is scheduled to arrive in Sitka on Monday afternoon. It repaired a subsea communications cable in the vicinity last September and is being tasked with repairing further cable system damage that has knocked out phone and internet service to much of Southeast Alaska. (Creative Commons/DeVos Max)
Passengers aboard an Alaska Marine Highway System vessel are seen on the cover of a draft 20-year plan for the ferry system released Friday. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

20-year plan for Alaska Marine Highway envisions better service, if government provides more money

Draft long-term plan calls for six new ships in eight-ship fleet; public comments open until March 30.

Passengers aboard an Alaska Marine Highway System vessel are seen on the cover of a draft 20-year plan for the ferry system released Friday. (Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
A portable FirstNet cell tower to provide ATT service is set up in the parking lot of the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Friday afternoon following a widespread phone and internet outage that began Thursday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Phone and internet outage in Southeast continues Saturday with restoration timeline unknown

ACS says it is working on emergency fix after subsea cable damage; next update scheduled at 10 a.m. Sunday

A portable FirstNet cell tower to provide ATT service is set up in the parking lot of the Juneau Arts and Culture Center on Friday afternoon following a widespread phone and internet outage that began Thursday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)