Mark Sabbatini

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. The Juneau Board of Education is considering a range of drastic options, including consolidating schools, to help resolve a $9.5 million deficit this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

School board OKs hiring freeze, other cuts due to $9.5M deficit; school consolidation proposed

Loan options, closing district during summer among other ideas discussed at special meeting

A sculpture of a bear reading a book is seen in front of Auke Bay Elementary School on July 12, 2023. The Juneau Board of Education is considering a range of drastic options, including consolidating schools, to help resolve a $9.5 million deficit this year. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
Jason Skidmore shovels snow along the sidewalk in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday. Most legislators and staff were able to get to Juneau in time for the start of the session Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Storm leaves behind 29.3” of snow at airport, avalanche hazards, closed schools and state offices

First day of legislative session not affected by 15th biggest three-day storm ever in Juneau.

Jason Skidmore shovels snow along the sidewalk in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Monday. Most legislators and staff were able to get to Juneau in time for the start of the session Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Thunder Mountain High School girls’ basketball team runs a fast break against Bartlett High School on Friday in Anchorage. The Falcons, who played their first nine games on the road, open at home on Thursday against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Thunder Mountain High School video)

TMHS girls basketball team, 9-0 as road warriors, opens at home on Thursday

Falcons ranked second statewide, dominating opponents by an average per-game score of 66-25.

The Thunder Mountain High School girls’ basketball team runs a fast break against Bartlett High School on Friday in Anchorage. The Falcons, who played their first nine games on the road, open at home on Thursday against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Thunder Mountain High School video)
Cars parked on a hillside road near downtown are buried under heavy snow at midday Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Update: Avalanche closes Thane Road; schools closed Tuesday due to storm

City offices and facilities scheduled to open at 10 a.m.; dry weather expected Tuesday

Cars parked on a hillside road near downtown are buried under heavy snow at midday Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Legislative fiscal analysts Alexei Painter, right, and Conor Bell explain the state’s financial outlook during a presentation to the Senate Finance Committee on March 24, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Report: $175 ‘energy relief’ payment to residents, education funding boost likely in final state budget

Legislative Finance analysis of governor’s proposal for next year predicts numerous other adjustments

Legislative fiscal analysts Alexei Painter, right, and Conor Bell explain the state’s financial outlook during a presentation to the Senate Finance Committee on March 24, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, addresses the audience during a town hall by the local legislative delegation Thursday evening at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School district deficit, legislative pay hikes, compost burials among issues at legislative town hall

Veto override on school funding will help district, Juneau’s state lawmakers say.

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, addresses the audience during a town hall by the local legislative delegation Thursday evening at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau man arrested in Craig after altercation in house and with police

Suspect threatened to kill person at knifepoint and damaged house, tased by troopers after fleeing.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Thomas Baxter scores on a breakaway dunk for Thunder Mountain High School during Saturday’s game against Sitka High School at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

TMHS boys’ basketball scores pair of double-digit wins over Sitka

Falcons go on 18-0 run in third quarter to break open tie game during Saturday’s rematch.

Thomas Baxter scores on a breakaway dunk for Thunder Mountain High School during Saturday’s game against Sitka High School at TMHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A winter storm warning issued Saturday afternoon forecasts a total of 22 to 29 inches of snow for Juneau by 6 p.m. Monday, with several inches falling so far starting Friday night. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Storm warning: 22 to 29 inches of snow forecast for Juneau by Monday night

Avalanche risk high as increasingly wet snow layers on top of light-density snow, forecaster says

A winter storm warning issued Saturday afternoon forecasts a total of 22 to 29 inches of snow for Juneau by 6 p.m. Monday, with several inches falling so far starting Friday night. (National Weather Service Juneau)
This year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol is scheduled to begin Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Limiting foreign property rights and campaign deepfakes among second batch of prefiled bills

Legislators and staff arriving in Juneau as session set to begin on Tuesday.

This year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol is scheduled to begin Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
Leaders at the Juneau School District learned during the past week the district is facing a $9.5 million deficit during the current fiscal year that ends June 30. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

State agrees to five-year repayment plan for Juneau School District’s $9.5 million deficit

District was facing a June 30 deadline to balance books, which local officials said wasn’t feasible.

Leaders at the Juneau School District learned during the past week the district is facing a $9.5 million deficit during the current fiscal year that ends June 30. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
A long line of residents pick up groceries at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank on Aug. 20, 2022. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy administration changes reason for being among 15 states rejecting federal food funds for kids

Initially cited administrative requirements and costs, now points to state’s food stamp backlog.

A long line of residents pick up groceries at the Southeast Alaska Food Bank on Aug. 20, 2022. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 10, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Jan. 10, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District administrators and board members listen Tuesday to a remote presentation by Lisa Pearce, hired as a budget expert in December, about how her analysis during the past few weeks revealed a $9.5 million deficit facing the district this fiscal year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School district leaders express shock, anger at $9.5M deficit, say fix by June 30 deadline unrealistic

Board to meet next week to review all non-required expenses, such as student activities, for cuts.

Juneau School District administrators and board members listen Tuesday to a remote presentation by Lisa Pearce, hired as a budget expert in December, about how her analysis during the past few weeks revealed a $9.5 million deficit facing the district this fiscal year. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An Eaglecrest Ski Area lift operator helps skiers on Dec. 20. A study published earlier this month states the average wage of $13.06 for Eaglecrest lift operators and attendants is 25% below the average at U.S. ski resorts. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Study: Eaglecrest wages effectively 40% below average at U.S. resorts

Higher cost of living cited as significant factor; staff says Juneau’s allure helps attract workers.

An Eaglecrest Ski Area lift operator helps skiers on Dec. 20. A study published earlier this month states the average wage of $13.06 for Eaglecrest lift operators and attendants is 25% below the average at U.S. ski resorts. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
This photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board shows a gaping hole where the paneled-over door had been at the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Sunday in Portland, Ore. A panel used to plug an area reserved for an exit door on the Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner blew out Jan. 5, shortly after the flight took off from Portland, forcing the plane to return to Portland International Airport. (National Transportation Safety Board via AP)

Juneau again avoids cancellations as Alaska Airlines extends Max 9 groundings through Saturday

Flights Thursday, Friday rebooked on different plane; next potentially affected flights on Monday.

This photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board shows a gaping hole where the paneled-over door had been at the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Sunday in Portland, Ore. A panel used to plug an area reserved for an exit door on the Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner blew out Jan. 5, shortly after the flight took off from Portland, forcing the plane to return to Portland International Airport. (National Transportation Safety Board via AP)
A sign with newly installed reflectors warns drivers on Back Loop Road about pedestrians crossing near the entrance of Mendenhall River Community School on Wednesday morning. A woman and two kids were hit by a vehicle on the road Dec. 7, prompting local school district officials to seek safety improvements from the state. Additional short- and long-term safety measures are still being discussed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Back Loop Road near school where pedestrians hit gets some safety improvements, more being discussed

Sign reflectors installed, upgraded entrance lighting and change to city bus route expected soon.

A sign with newly installed reflectors warns drivers on Back Loop Road about pedestrians crossing near the entrance of Mendenhall River Community School on Wednesday morning. A woman and two kids were hit by a vehicle on the road Dec. 7, prompting local school district officials to seek safety improvements from the state. Additional short- and long-term safety measures are still being discussed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Wigeon Ponds is one of the areas adjacent to the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge purchased by the Southeast Alaska Land Trust, which is producing an updated digital map of the entire wetlands area. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)

Mendenhall wetlands area to get first new full map since 1979

Change in vegetation, tidal areas, land “rebound” after glacial retreat shown — along with area’s name.

Wigeon Ponds is one of the areas adjacent to the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge purchased by the Southeast Alaska Land Trust, which is producing an updated digital map of the entire wetlands area. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)
State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, speaks during a rally on behalf of Alaska residents with disabilities at the Alaska State Capitol on March 1, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

First prefiled bills include voter preregistration for 16-year-olds, funds for remedial reading

Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, introduces the two proposals among the 48 by state lawmakers on Monday.

State Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, speaks during a rally on behalf of Alaska residents with disabilities at the Alaska State Capitol on March 1, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
The Juneau School District is facing a deficit of more than $9.5 million for the current fiscal year, according a district report published Jan. 5. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau School District facing $9.5 million deficit this year, new analysis shows

Lower revenues and higher costs mean $7.6M shortfall for FY24, plus $1.9M deficit from FY23.

The Juneau School District is facing a deficit of more than $9.5 million for the current fiscal year, according a district report published Jan. 5. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)