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From left: Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, Kenai City Council member Henry Knackstedt and Kenai Vice Mayor James Baisden listen to public testimony during a city council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Draft plan maps out future Kenai capital projects

The two largest projects described in the draft plan are the bluff stabilization project and the airport runway…

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship stands near a bouquet of flowers and her workspace during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Borough staff, assembly members honor outgoing clerk

Johni Blankenship began working in the borough clerk’s office in 1999

Fishing guide Reubin Payne testifies in support of a public boat takeout facility on the Kasilof River during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15. 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Assembly rejects resolution supporting privately owned boat takeouts

The resolution was in response to a plan by the State of Alaska to develop a drift boat…

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

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Respiratory virus surge concerns health officials

RSV-associated emergency department visits and hospitalizations, the CDC says, are increasing

Pat Tynan, left, and Tom Melville, review absentee ballots Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at the Division of Elections office at the Mendenhall Mall in Juneau, Alaska. The review process is taking place in a separate room from where ballots are being tallied for the official results. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Pat Tynan, left, and Tom Melville, review absentee ballots Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at the Division of Elections office at the Mendenhall Mall in Juneau, Alaska. The review process is taking place in a separate room from where ballots are being tallied for the official results. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Murkowski, Tshibaka in dead heat; Peltola inches toward 50% in latest election results

The Alaska Division of Elections updated results with newly counted absentee, early and question ballots

Homer Forest School logo. (Image from Homer Forest School draft charter)

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Homer group envisions school in nature

Homer Forest School would offer KPBSD students a learning model focused on immersion in the outdoors

AK STAR testing results and materials are displayed on a table at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District office on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Most AK students not proficient in math, reading, new assessment finds

The first set of AK STAR results were published by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development…

Principal Denise Kelly helps Grecia Martinez Sandstrom, second grade, dispose of lunch materials at Sterling Elementary School on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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‘It takes just that one person’

Sterling Elementary principal spearheads zero-waste program in lunchtime cafeteria

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
Soldotna Creek Park is photographed on June 29, 2021.

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Soldotna to hold work session on park use next month

The meeting comes in response to public outcry over a summer drag performance

Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican running for reelection Nov. 8, 2022, is shown prior to a televised debate Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

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Early results favor Dunleavy in governor’s race

The Republican incumbent had clinched about 51.7% of the roughly 200,000 votes counted as of about 10:50 p.m.

Poll worker Harmony Bolden, right, helps a voter cast their ballot at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Local candidates react to preliminary general election results

Bjorkman leads Babcock; Ruffridge on track to edge out Gillham

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a Republican candidate for Alaska’s sole seat in the U.S. House, meets with supporters waving signs Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. Palin faced U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat, Republican Nick Begich and Libertarian Chris Bye in the general election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

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Votes still being tallied in statewide races

Thousands of absentee ballots have not yet been counted

From left, Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney swears in new Soldotna Police Officers AJ Fresquez and Reid Culver while Police Chief Dale "Gene" Meek looks on during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Soldotna swears in two new police officers

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney swore in two new Soldotna police officers during Wednesday’s meeting of the Soldotna City…

Michael O’Rourke and another supporter wave signs for Justin Ruffridge on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

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Preliminary results: Ruffridge, Bjorkman lead in state House, Senate races

The two are competing in races for Senate District D and House District 7

Kit Hill checks in a voter at the Kenai Mall, voting place for Kenai’s Precinct #1 in Kenai, Alaska on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

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Enthusiasm, busy polls mark local Election Day

Residents throughout Kenai and Soldotna ventured into snowy conditions to make their voices heard

Alaska State Troopers logo.

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Nikiski residents arrested in Moose Pass drug bust

The arrests happened after a traffic stop

Campaign signs decorate the outside of Paradisos Restaurant on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Election season nears conclusion

Last day to vote is Tuesday

The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

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Project would convert landfill methane to energy

The project would located at the Central Peninsula Landfill

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander speak at the Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

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Kenai plans to hire new manager by end of month

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander announced he will not be renewing his contract with the city

As measured by the CDC, dispensing rate reflects the number of prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons per year. While the United States’ dispensing rate peaked at 81.3 in 2012, the Kenai Peninsula’s rate was 100 or higher every year between 2001 and 2015. Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara.

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Borough opioid grant program accepting applications through end of month

The program was launched in August and has not yet received applications