Mark Sabbatini, Author at Juneau Empire

80°F in Juneau will trigger first-ever National Weather Service heat advisories

Mark Sabbatini — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Officials say sun’s angle in Alaska makes temperatures feel higher compared to other states.

Large homeless encampment on Teal Street gets JPD vacate notice; where will occupants go next?

Mark Sabbatini — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

People who keep moving from place to place under “dispersed camping” policy unsure where they’ll go.

Eaglecrest leaders decide Black Bear chairlift is beyond repair, seek alternatives to get skiers at their peak

Mark Sabbatini — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Possibilities include converting Ptarmigan lift to triple-chair in addition to long-awaited gondola.

Dunleavy vetoes $200 of $700 BSA increase as he signs state budget for coming year

Mark Sabbatini — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Governor cites low oil prices for $122 million in total cuts to budget approved by Legislature.

Short-term rental task force recommends rule adjustments, but no cap on units for property owners

Mark Sabbatini — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Group suggests allowing multiple STRs for a single dwelling, “grandfathering” period for new rules.

Two Juneau airport manager finalists set for meet-and-greets, interviews on Wednesday and Thursday

Mark Sabbatini — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

One is a longtime municipal and military aviation manager, the other a longtime airport and Alaska DOT manager.

Hearthside Books and Toys finishes No. 8 in USA Today’s ‘10 Best Independent Bookstores’ poll

Mark Sabbatini — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

“I didn’t believe we were really going to make it,” owner says about newspaper’s Readers’ Choice Awards list.

Legislature forms six-member education task force, including two from Juneau, to study funding and policy

Mark Sabbatini — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

School accountability, absenteeism and open enrollment among issues members will consider.

Assembly approves budget that hikes mill rate to 10.24; also OKs 5% annual increase in utilities fees

Mark Sabbatini — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

City leaders reject cuts proposed by mayor, who expresses concern about tax-limiting ballot measures.

Demolition of Telephone Hill homes after occupants leave by Oct. 1 approved by Assembly

Mark Sabbatini — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Years-long debate about redevelopment of historic downtown neighborhood culminates with 7-1 vote.

Massive agenda awaits Assembly on Monday, including proposal to start meetings earlier

Mark Sabbatini — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Late-night decisions by exhausted leaders, people avoiding participation cited as reasons to change.

Former longtime Juneau lawmaker Jim Duncan reenters the political ‘Sausage Factory’

Mark Sabbatini — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Book revisits decades of history at Alaska’s Capitol and issues that remain much the same today.

Fire destroys homeless campsite under Brotherhood Bridge, no injuries reported

Mark Sabbatini — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

A fire that destroyed a homeless encampment under the Brotherhood Bridge cast a pall of smoke over rush-hour traffic Friday evening, but no injuries were reported and a search for people staying at the site was unsuccessful, officials said.

Emergency alerts, Gavel Alaska under threat as Trump seeks to nix public broadcasting funds, officials say

Mark Sabbatini — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

“Alaska is going to be a very tough spot if the federal funding goes away,” PBS CEO Paula Kerger says.

Beach artist between a rock and a hard place as summer plans wrecked by boat burglary

Mark Sabbatini — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Blake Byers, who created giant model from beach rocks, says he will spend summer gillnetting to earn money.

Coast Guard icebreaker Storis begins maiden voyage, scheduled to be commissioned in Juneau in August

Mark Sabbatini — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Ship will initially be homeported Seattle until infrastructure upgrades in Juneau are complete.

Study: Shipping Juneau’s trash south best option once landfill is full

Mark Sabbatini — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Local leaders pondering what to do with waste once current disposal site fills up in a decade.

Assembly moves forward with influencing this year’s election, ranked choice voting in next year’s

Mark Sabbatini — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Leaders look at spending $50K this fall with eye on tax issues, introducing RCV ordinance next week.

Ballot petitions to lower property and sales taxes, alter election process turned in to CBJ

Mark Sabbatini — Fri, 30 May 2025 05:30:00 +0000

City has 10 days to review signatures; supporter says more may be needed to get proposals on fall ballot.

Hearthside Books moving to kids’ play zone at Mendenhall Mall; mall’s owners step in to buy, relocate play area

Mark Sabbatini — Fri, 30 May 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Move of local bookstore from Nugget Mall announced same week Joanne closes it doors there.