Mark Sabbatini

A memorial in the doorway on Front Street where Steven Kissack was sitting when he was approached by a police officer on July 15, resulting in a 16-minute encounter that ended with him being fatally shot, includes photos, written messages and a “food for friends” dropoff box on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Some say minds not changed by bodycams of Steven Kissack’s death, but shooting has changed lives

Many suggest downtown confrontation could have been defused before police felt forced to shoot.

A memorial in the doorway on Front Street where Steven Kissack was sitting when he was approached by a police officer on July 15, resulting in a 16-minute encounter that ended with him being fatally shot, includes photos, written messages and a “food for friends” dropoff box on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Abby Dolan (wearing green) tries to take down Sofia Contreras during a Juneau Youth Wrestling Club camp Sept. 1 at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Youths try to get a leg up — and opponents down — with help from pros at wrestling camps

With participation by girls rising and school teams getting bigger, every tip helps

Abby Dolan (wearing green) tries to take down Sofia Contreras during a Juneau Youth Wrestling Club camp Sept. 1 at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
William Steadman, a Juneau resident, is suspected producing child pornography, according to law enforcement officials. (Photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice)

Juneau man arrested on federal charge of producing child pornography

William Steadman, 34, has previous related conviction; officials say current case may have more victims.

William Steadman, a Juneau resident, is suspected producing child pornography, according to law enforcement officials. (Photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice)
An overhead view of the overflowing portion of the glacier-dammed lake at Suicide Basin. (Christian Kienholz / Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center)

Spending $3M to fund half of a Suicide Basin protection study gets Assembly consideration Monday

Meeting will also consider $700,000 in short-term flooding measures, plus help for hospital programs.

An overhead view of the overflowing portion of the glacier-dammed lake at Suicide Basin. (Christian Kienholz / Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center)
Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024, the first day of class for the current school year. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)

Consolidated schools during first month of classes are great, awful or illegal, depending on who’s asked

Superintendent offers praise; teachers fret about class sizes; TMMS students forced to repeat classes.

Students arrive at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Aug. 15, 2024, the first day of class for the current school year. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 14, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Sept. 14, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Steven Kissack (left) is seen holding a knife in this July 15 bodycam footage from Juneau Police Department Officer Terry Allen a few seconds before Kissack runs toward Allen. Two other officers at the scene said they shot Kissack because Allen was holding a non-lethal bean bag launcher that had fired off all of its rounds. (Screenshot from JPD bodycam video)

State report: Officers who shot Steven Kissack say he ran at officer who was holding an unloaded weapon

24-page letter from attorney general includes interviews, autopsy and other tests, and legal findings.

Steven Kissack (left) is seen holding a knife in this July 15 bodycam footage from Juneau Police Department Officer Terry Allen a few seconds before Kissack runs toward Allen. Two other officers at the scene said they shot Kissack because Allen was holding a non-lethal bean bag launcher that had fired off all of its rounds. (Screenshot from JPD bodycam video)
Joe Wanner (center), chief financial officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital, fills in to give the CEO report to the hospital’s board of directors during an Aug. 27 meeting. The appointment of Wanner as Bartlett’s new permanent CEO was announced Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Joe Wanner, chief financial officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital, will be its new CEO

Unanimous board vote, effective Sept. 29, will make him first permanent CEO in more than a year.

Joe Wanner (center), chief financial officer at Bartlett Regional Hospital, fills in to give the CEO report to the hospital’s board of directors during an Aug. 27 meeting. The appointment of Wanner as Bartlett’s new permanent CEO was announced Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
More than 100 local police, firefighters, military personnel and other people gather Wednesday morning at the September 11th Memorial at Riverside Rotary Park to observe the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed 2,996 people. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

An ‘invitation to remember’ on 9/11 for those who haven’t had a chance to ‘never forget’

More than 100 people attend Juneau anniversary ceremony where lessons for a new generation are shared.

More than 100 local police, firefighters, military personnel and other people gather Wednesday morning at the September 11th Memorial at Riverside Rotary Park to observe the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed 2,996 people. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Steven Kissack, sitting in a covered entryway on Front Street, is approached by Juneau Police Department officer Lee Phelps at about 1:10 p.m. July 15. (Screenshot from Phelps’s bodycam video)

The bodycam of the first officer to approach Steven Kissack is 17 minutes long. Here’s what it shows.

A calm beginning, a sudden escalation and a friend trying to help is told “call my sister if they kill me.”

Steven Kissack, sitting in a covered entryway on Front Street, is approached by Juneau Police Department officer Lee Phelps at about 1:10 p.m. July 15. (Screenshot from Phelps’s bodycam video)
Steven Kissack is seen holding a knife seconds before he is fatally shot July 15 by officers in this screenshot from bodycam footage from Juneau Police Department officer Lee Phelps that was made public Tuesday. (Screenshot from JPD bodycam footage)

State: Officers ‘legally justified in their use of deadly force’ in shooting of Steven Kissack

Bodycam footage from four JPD officers, plus a rooftop cellphone video, released to public.

Steven Kissack is seen holding a knife seconds before he is fatally shot July 15 by officers in this screenshot from bodycam footage from Juneau Police Department officer Lee Phelps that was made public Tuesday. (Screenshot from JPD bodycam footage)
(Juneau Empire staff)

Juneau Empire’s voter guide for Oct. 1 municipal election

Mayor, Assembly, school board, municipal bond and cruise ship items on ballots being mailed Thursday.

(Juneau Empire staff)
Cruise ships and passengers visit Marine Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. A proposition on the fall ballot would ban large cruise ships on Saturday and the Fourth of July in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Ballot Propositions 2: Ship-Free Saturday

This story has been moved in front of the Empire’s paywall. The most high-profile and controversial vote of the 2024 Juneau municipal election is the… Continue reading

Cruise ships and passengers visit Marine Park on Saturday, June 22, 2024. A proposition on the fall ballot would ban large cruise ships on Saturday and the Fourth of July in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (left) and Vice President Emil Mackey, holding his son Emil Mackey IV, listen to discussion about next year’s budget for the school district during a meeting March 14 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Recall votes for both board members are on the Oct. 1 municipal election ballot.

Recall petitions A and B: Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen and Vice President Emil Mackey

This story, originally published in the July 11 Juneau Empire, has been moved in front of the Empire’s paywall. Recall votes for the top two… Continue reading

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
Juneau Board of Education President Deedie Sorensen (left) and Vice President Emil Mackey, holding his son Emil Mackey IV, listen to discussion about next year’s budget for the school district during a meeting March 14 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. Recall votes for both board members are on the Oct. 1 municipal election ballot.
Mayoral candidate Angela Rodell. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Angela Rodell

Mayoral candidate in the 2024 Juneau muncipal election

Mayoral candidate Angela Rodell. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Incumbent Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Beth Weldon

Mayoral candidate in the 2024 Juneau muncipal election

Incumbent Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
District 1 Assembly candidate Neil Steininger. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Neil Steininger

Assembly District 1 candidate in the 2024 Juneau municipal election

District 1 Assembly candidate Neil Steininger. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
District 1 Assembly candidate Connor Ulmer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Connor Ulmer

Assembly District 1 candidate in the 2024 Juneau municipal election

District 1 Assembly candidate Connor Ulmer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
District 2 Assembly candidate Mary Marks. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Mary Marks

Assembly District 2 candidate in the 2024 Juneau municipal election

District 2 Assembly candidate Mary Marks. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
District 2 Assembly candidate Dorene Lorenz. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Get to know a candidate: Dorene Lorenz

Assembly District 2 candidate in the 2024 Juneau municipal election

District 2 Assembly candidate Dorene Lorenz. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)