Mark Sabbatini

A sign at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center warns people Sunday about flooding on trails due to a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin expected to peak early Monday morning. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)

Mendenhall River flooding expected to peak at 11.31 feet during 20° cold between 1 and 4 a.m. Monday

People warned to avoid river area due to icy conditions; water-level rise slowing as of 11:30 p.m.

A sign at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center warns people Sunday about flooding on trails due to a glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin expected to peak early Monday morning. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire)
Nathan and Donna Leigh lift a tube loader off a row sandbags after filling them at Melvin Park on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

People getting free sandbags on same day flood warning issued say they are making, adjusting plans

Distribution started Saturday morning, about 40 hours before flood is forecast to crest.

Nathan and Donna Leigh lift a tube loader off a row sandbags after filling them at Melvin Park on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A hydrograph updated Saturday evening shows the Mendenhall River cresting at of 11.41 feet early Monday morning due to flooding from Suicide Basin. (National Weather Service Juneau)
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Suicide Basin flood warning issued, crest up to 11.5 feet between 1-7 a.m. Monday forecast

City urges immediate precautions in vulnerable areas; some roads and paths will close Sunday afternoon

A hydrograph updated Saturday evening shows the Mendenhall River cresting at of 11.41 feet early Monday morning due to flooding from Suicide Basin. (National Weather Service Juneau)
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Lisa Pearce (center), chief financial officer for the Juneau School District, discusses the district’s financial crisis in her role as an analyst during a work session Feb. 17 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. She announced her intention to resign on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Lisa Pearce resigning as Juneau School District’s chief financial officer after taking on budget crisis

Consultant hired last December became permanent CFO July 1 after helping resolve record deficit.

Lisa Pearce (center), chief financial officer for the Juneau School District, discusses the district’s financial crisis in her role as an analyst during a work session Feb. 17 at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. She announced her intention to resign on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
John Blasco, shown coaching the Thunder Mountain High School basketball team during the state tournament in March of this year, was honored as the Juneau Greater Chamber of Commerce’s citizen of the year at the organization’s annual awards gala at Centennial Hall last Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Double take: John Blasco wins local Citizen of the Year award months after state coach of the year honor

Chamber of Commerce also honors Bullwinkle’s, Juneau Bach Society’s Bruce Simonson at annual gala

John Blasco, shown coaching the Thunder Mountain High School basketball team during the state tournament in March of this year, was honored as the Juneau Greater Chamber of Commerce’s citizen of the year at the organization’s annual awards gala at Centennial Hall last Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Members of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé hockey team help Mendenhall Valley residents affected by the record Aug. 6 flood fill more than 3,000 sandbags earlier this month. (JHDS Hockey photo)

CBJ distribution of 75,000 sandbags to flood-affected residents occurs as Suicide Basin drops again

Up to 200 sandbags per household available starting Saturday; release of water limited as of Friday.

Members of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé hockey team help Mendenhall Valley residents affected by the record Aug. 6 flood fill more than 3,000 sandbags earlier this month. (JHDS Hockey photo)
Homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley are swamped by record flooding from the Mendenhall River on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)

Biden OKs federal disaster declaration for Suicide Basin flood, as Congress battles over approving more funds

Other U.S. disasters are straining available assistance; SBA loan program is out of money.

Homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley are swamped by record flooding from the Mendenhall River on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)
Dwayne Corbin, one of four candidates to become the new music director of the Juneau Symphony, conducts the orchestra during a rehearsal Tuesday for this weekend’s concerts at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Candidate seeks to convey ‘Brilliant Defiance’ during Juneau Symphony’s election-season concerts

Dwayne Corbin, one of four finalists to replace Christopher Koch as music director, conducts weekend shows.

Dwayne Corbin, one of four candidates to become the new music director of the Juneau Symphony, conducts the orchestra during a rehearsal Tuesday for this weekend’s concerts at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A map shows Douglas Island between Outer Point and Point Hilda, where Goldbelt Inc. owns about 1,800 acres of land. The urban Alaska Native corporation announced Wednesday it and Royal Caribbean Group are exploring a proposed cruise ship port with two floating docks and “a recreated 1800s Alaska Native Tlingit village” on the property. (Google Maps image)

West Douglas cruise port proposed by Goldbelt and Royal Caribbean, to surprise and dismay of city officials

Two-ship floating dock, recreated 1800s Tlingit village envisioned on island as soon as 2027.

A map shows Douglas Island between Outer Point and Point Hilda, where Goldbelt Inc. owns about 1,800 acres of land. The urban Alaska Native corporation announced Wednesday it and Royal Caribbean Group are exploring a proposed cruise ship port with two floating docks and “a recreated 1800s Alaska Native Tlingit village” on the property. (Google Maps image)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 13, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The front page of the Juneau Empire on Oct. 13, 1994. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juvencio Garcia (right) has people sign in to stay at the city’s cold-weather emergency shelter in Thane on the first night of its second year of operation Tuesday. Garcia was among those who stayed at the shelter last year and said he hopes to provide the help shelter staff from the first season provided him. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Warming shelter opens for second season hoping to provide clients, staff and neighbors more relief

Indoor bathrooms, smoking breaks among changes meant to lessen first-year tensions.

Juvencio Garcia (right) has people sign in to stay at the city’s cold-weather emergency shelter in Thane on the first night of its second year of operation Tuesday. Garcia was among those who stayed at the shelter last year and said he hopes to provide the help shelter staff from the first season provided him. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A line of vehicles responds to the scene of a fatal wreck at Egan Drive and Mendenhall Loop Road on April 26, 2023. The two-vehicle crash involved a car and a truck, with a female passenger inside the truck pronounced dead at the scene. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau man arrested for manslaughter, DUI after woman’s death in 2023 vehicle collision

Passenger in truck driven by Patrick Dealexandro, 57, killed in crash at busy Egan Drive intersection.

A line of vehicles responds to the scene of a fatal wreck at Egan Drive and Mendenhall Loop Road on April 26, 2023. The two-vehicle crash involved a car and a truck, with a female passenger inside the truck pronounced dead at the scene. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file photo)
Neil Steininger (left) and Maureen Hall are the two newly elected members of the Juneau Assembly, according to results of the Oct. 1 municipal election certified on Tuesday. (Photo of Steininger by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire; photo of Hall provided by the City and Borough of Juneau)

Certified election results put Steininger and Hall on Assembly, sink Saturday cruise ship ban

Turnout of 38.7% is fifth-highest in local election since 2000 — but well below most in prior decade.

Neil Steininger (left) and Maureen Hall are the two newly elected members of the Juneau Assembly, according to results of the Oct. 1 municipal election certified on Tuesday. (Photo of Steininger by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire; photo of Hall provided by the City and Borough of Juneau)
Vincent Colliard navigates past glacier crevasses on the Juneau Icefield during a three-week crossing with fellow polar explorer Børge Ousland as part of their Ice Legacy project, which seeks to cross the world’s 20 largest icefields to raise awareness about the Arctic and impacts climate change is causing there. (Børge Ousland / Copyright photo used with permission)

Two polar explorers add to their ‘Ice Legacy’ with perilous 20-day crossing of the Juneau Icefield

Børge Ousland and Vincent Colliard overcome collapsing snow bridges, impassible crevasses, other challenges.

Vincent Colliard navigates past glacier crevasses on the Juneau Icefield during a three-week crossing with fellow polar explorer Børge Ousland as part of their Ice Legacy project, which seeks to cross the world’s 20 largest icefields to raise awareness about the Arctic and impacts climate change is causing there. (Børge Ousland / Copyright photo used with permission)
People dance to music by The Muskeg Collective during KTOO’s 50-Fest on Saturday night at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

KTOO packs a half century of programming into a six-hour 50-Fest anniversary celebration

Ten mini-concerts, plus interviews, theater and tributes showcase public broadcasting outlet’s history.

People dance to music by The Muskeg Collective during KTOO’s 50-Fest on Saturday night at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Dan Kirkwood (left), pictured performing with Tommy Siegel and Steve Perkins, is among the musicians who will be featured during KTOO’s 50-Fest on Saturday. (Photo by Charlie E. Lederer)

KTOO’s 50-Fest celebrates golden anniversary with six-hour evening of local performers

20 artists representing five decades of Juneau’s music scene scheduled for Saturday’s celebration

Dan Kirkwood (left), pictured performing with Tommy Siegel and Steve Perkins, is among the musicians who will be featured during KTOO’s 50-Fest on Saturday. (Photo by Charlie E. Lederer)
Students eat lunch Thursday, March 31, 2022, in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cafeteria. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

School district faces $738K deficit in food service and activity funds, but now has money to cover

Board members asked to fix shortfall so it’s not included in audit, but some uneasy without more review.

Students eat lunch Thursday, March 31, 2022, in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cafeteria. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Suspect in swastika graffiti spray painted at library and other Mendenhall Valley locations arrested

A man suspected of spray painting swastika symbols at multiple locations in the Mendenhall Valley earlier this month has been arrested, the Juneau Police Department… Continue reading

(Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
A city election work handles envelopes from the 2023 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)

No changes in local election as updated results show second-highest turnout since 2010

38.35% rate so far is highest since 42.73% in 2020; final certification scheduled next Tuesday

A city election work handles envelopes from the 2023 municipal election at the City and Borough of Juneau Ballot Processing Center. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photo)
A graph shows Suicide Basin’s water level rising Thursday afternoon following a drop in the morning. (National Weather Service Juneau)

Update: Suicide Basin rising again after brief water level drop Thursday morning

Maximum crest of river from full release would be 11 ft., well below peak of record August flood

A graph shows Suicide Basin’s water level rising Thursday afternoon following a drop in the morning. (National Weather Service Juneau)