Mark Sabbatini

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State Sen. Jesse Kiehl of Juneau, right, and lifelong Juneau resident Andrea Ebona Michel monitor election returns Tuesday night at a watch party hosted by U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’a campaign at McGivney’s Sports Bar Grill downtown. Kiehl, a Democrat, was the lone state senator who was unopposed in his race. Both of Juneau’s Democratic state House representatives also won reelection. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Alaskans embrace red, blue and wait

Voters lean both left and right, with a lot to be decided in two weeks, in ranked choice election

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl of Juneau, right, and lifelong Juneau resident Andrea Ebona Michel monitor election returns Tuesday night at a watch party hosted by U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’a campaign at McGivney’s Sports Bar Grill downtown. Kiehl, a Democrat, was the lone state senator who was unopposed in his race. Both of Juneau’s Democratic state House representatives also won reelection. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Claire Richardson, director of constituent services for U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, offers a toast at a watch party McGivney’s Sports Bar & Grill as the incumbent emerges with a strong lead on Election Night. But Richardson said the state’s new ranked choice voting makes it likely the winner won’t be known until second- and third-choice ballots are tallied Nov. 23. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Update: Ranked choice seems set to decide congressional races

More to come, but no set schedule, per Division of Elections.

Claire Richardson, director of constituent services for U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, offers a toast at a watch party McGivney’s Sports Bar & Grill as the incumbent emerges with a strong lead on Election Night. But Richardson said the state’s new ranked choice voting makes it likely the winner won’t be known until second- and third-choice ballots are tallied Nov. 23. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A sign directs early voters to the polling station at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday. The mall is one of two early voting locations in Juneau, but more than a dozen polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Election Day is finally here

Many winners of Alaska’s first ranked-choice general election won’t be known until Thanksgiving

A sign directs early voters to the polling station at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday. The mall is one of two early voting locations in Juneau, but more than a dozen polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A map showing Alternative 2, the most aggressive of four original options for expanding the Mendenhall Glacier Recreational Area, includes a dock for commercial motor boats that would carry passengers to a new visitor area at the face of the Mendenhall Glacier. That alternative is the “proposed action” by the U.S. Forest Service, but a revised draft Environmental Impact Statement scheduled to be released Tuesday adds three new lower-impact alternatives to three others already being considered. (U.S. Forest Service)

Seven up for Mendenhall Glacier expansion project

New alternatives unbottled.

A map showing Alternative 2, the most aggressive of four original options for expanding the Mendenhall Glacier Recreational Area, includes a dock for commercial motor boats that would carry passengers to a new visitor area at the face of the Mendenhall Glacier. That alternative is the “proposed action” by the U.S. Forest Service, but a revised draft Environmental Impact Statement scheduled to be released Tuesday adds three new lower-impact alternatives to three others already being considered. (U.S. Forest Service)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A variety of fliers with varying amounts of accuracy from candidates and groups are filling mailboxes leading up to the Nov. 8 general election. TV and other ads also range from pure nonsense to completely accurate, although many fall into the “true from a certain point of view” category.

Fact-checking political advertisements

What’s accurate, what’s nonesense and what’s “true from a certain point of view”

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire A variety of fliers with varying amounts of accuracy from candidates and groups are filling mailboxes leading up to the Nov. 8 general election. TV and other ads also range from pure nonsense to completely accurate, although many fall into the “true from a certain point of view” category.
Jessica Cook, right, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in Tuesday’s election, shows plans for her visit to Juneau to supporter Monica Southworth at the downtown Heritage Coffee on Friday afternoon. Cook, visiting town Thursday and Friday, was hoping to meet volunteers there to distribute “turf packets” that would assign them neighborhoods for last-minute door-to-door campaigning, but none showed up. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Cooking up the campaign’s final days

Candidates and supporters plot door-knocking, phone-banking and sign-waving for last-minute frenzy.

Jessica Cook, right, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in Tuesday’s election, shows plans for her visit to Juneau to supporter Monica Southworth at the downtown Heritage Coffee on Friday afternoon. Cook, visiting town Thursday and Friday, was hoping to meet volunteers there to distribute “turf packets” that would assign them neighborhoods for last-minute door-to-door campaigning, but none showed up. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Two residents stand in voter booths on the first day of early and absentee in-person voting across the state for the Nov. 8 general election. Recent filings for candidates in statewide races shows spending ramping up as the big day approaches. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Spending spree as campaigns near end

APOC reports one week before election show ad blitz in governor’s race and by ConCon foes

Two residents stand in voter booths on the first day of early and absentee in-person voting across the state for the Nov. 8 general election. Recent filings for candidates in statewide races shows spending ramping up as the big day approaches. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski prepares to meet officials at the Sealaska Heritage Institute during a visit to Juneau on Tuesday. She was planning to visit the city on Wednesday, but moved up and rescheduled much of her trip when a stop in Bethel was cancelled due to weather concerns. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski seeks capital opportunities amid election storm

Senator discusses energy, earmarks and last-minute campaigning during unscheduled stop in Juneau.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski prepares to meet officials at the Sealaska Heritage Institute during a visit to Juneau on Tuesday. She was planning to visit the city on Wednesday, but moved up and rescheduled much of her trip when a stop in Bethel was cancelled due to weather concerns. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mendenhall River and Mendenhall Lake, heavily used by rafters and other non-motorized vessel operators, are the targets of a lawsuit by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that seeks to seize state control of the waters from the federal government. The lawsuit is based on claiming the state owns the submerged lands beneath the waters, which the federal government has failed to recognize. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Gov sues to seize Mendenhall lake, river from feds

Lawsuit filed a week before election claims state owns submerged land; feds disagree.

Mendenhall River and Mendenhall Lake, heavily used by rafters and other non-motorized vessel operators, are the targets of a lawsuit by Gov. Mike Dunleavy that seeks to seize state control of the waters from the federal government. The lawsuit is based on claiming the state owns the submerged lands beneath the waters, which the federal government has failed to recognize. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A person enters the Division of Election’s office at the Mendenhall Mall, where early voting is taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 8. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Mail-in remains popular for early voters

Half of 30,000 ballots during first week of early arrive via mail, requests far above 2018 midterms

A person enters the Division of Election’s office at the Mendenhall Mall, where early voting is taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 8. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Republican Kelly Tshibaka, center, a Republican, looks on Thursday, prior to a U.S. Senate debate in Anchorage. She faces U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, left, and Democrat Pat Chesbro, right, in the Nov. 8 general election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Policy divides clear in fiery forum

Murkowski and Tshibaka attack each other as liars and extremists, Chesbro stays relatively low-key

Republican Kelly Tshibaka, center, a Republican, looks on Thursday, prior to a U.S. Senate debate in Anchorage. She faces U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, left, and Democrat Pat Chesbro, right, in the Nov. 8 general election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola announce during the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention on Oct. 22 they will vote for each other in the Nov. 8 general election. The two incumbents are dominating their opponents in campaign contributions and available funds according to reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission as of Thursday.

Peltola, Murkowski still dominating fundraising

Incumbents in Congressional races have at least three times as much cash as their opponents combined

Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola announce during the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention on Oct. 22 they will vote for each other in the Nov. 8 general election. The two incumbents are dominating their opponents in campaign contributions and available funds according to reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission as of Thursday.
From left, onstage on Wednesday in Anchorage for a debate in Alaska’s U.S. House race: former Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Mary Peltola, Nick Begich III and Chris Bye. (Mark Thiessen/Associated Press)

Here’s what was said during the House debate — guess who said it

Democratic incumbent, two Republicans and a Libertarian often overlap in statewide TV forum

From left, onstage on Wednesday in Anchorage for a debate in Alaska’s U.S. House race: former Gov. Sarah Palin, Rep. Mary Peltola, Nick Begich III and Chris Bye. (Mark Thiessen/Associated Press)
Screenshot Republican Nick Begich, left, challenges Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola about her retaining much of former Rep. Don Young’s staff during a statewide televised debate Wednesday.

Begich attacks Young’s staff

Former chair of Congressman’s campaign says staff ignored calls to watch TV, let lobbyists pen bills

Screenshot Republican Nick Begich, left, challenges Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola about her retaining much of former Rep. Don Young’s staff during a statewide televised debate Wednesday.
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola dances with others attending a reelection campaign event Monday evening at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Peltola also attended a meet-and-greet at a coffee shop and met with local union members on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Peltola tells Juneau crowd reelection not a ‘slam dunk,’ encourages supporters to vote

“They’re not going to underestimate us a second time.”

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola dances with others attending a reelection campaign event Monday evening at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Peltola also attended a meet-and-greet at a coffee shop and met with local union members on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The former Glory Hall homeless shelter downtown, founded in 1982, is slated to be converted into seven low-income apartments after the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the project Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Glory Hall’s apartment project finally prevails

Planning Commission OKs turning former homeless shelter into low-income housing after one-year fight

The former Glory Hall homeless shelter downtown, founded in 1982, is slated to be converted into seven low-income apartments after the Juneau Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the project Tuesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Officials at Catholic Community Service in Juneau, which operated a hospice and home care program for 20 years before discharging all patients as of Oct. 19, are now working with Bartlett Regional Hospital administrators and attorneys on a transition plan. Hospital leaders said it may take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years before a full hospice and home care program is implemented there. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Transition underway for hospice, elderly care

BRH hopes to provide hospice and home care within months; new grant boosts other elderly services

Officials at Catholic Community Service in Juneau, which operated a hospice and home care program for 20 years before discharging all patients as of Oct. 19, are now working with Bartlett Regional Hospital administrators and attorneys on a transition plan. Hospital leaders said it may take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years before a full hospice and home care program is implemented there. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Darrell Harmon, left, is challenging state Rep. Sara Hannan for the newly drawn House District 4 seat in Juneau. The other two Juneau candidates, District 3 Rep. Andi Story and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, are unopposed.

Many differences in lone competitive local legislative race

Two-term Democratic state Rep. Sara Hannan faces low-profile challenger Darrell Harmon

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire Darrell Harmon, left, is challenging state Rep. Sara Hannan for the newly drawn House District 4 seat in Juneau. The other two Juneau candidates, District 3 Rep. Andi Story and state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, are unopposed.
Question

Candidate questionnaires

Candidates for statewide office fielded questions from the Empire.

Question
Bill Egan, president of the original Alaska constitutional convention and a future governor, signs the proposed Alaska Constitution in the gymnasium, now Signers’ Hall, on Feb. 5, 1956. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks)

Constitution convention has great potential — for better or worse

Some on both sides of ballot measure express dire fears, others say reasonable solutions possible

Bill Egan, president of the original Alaska constitutional convention and a future governor, signs the proposed Alaska Constitution in the gymnasium, now Signers’ Hall, on Feb. 5, 1956. (Photo courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks)