Ben Boettger

Local governments prepare to tax online sales

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is considering taxing online purchases after the Supreme Court of the United States reversed long-standing precedents protecting retailers from state and… Continue reading

Excavation project near Kenai River shot down

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct Jason Foster's relationship to North Star Paving. On Wednesday Kenai’s seven Planning and Zoning Commissioners unanimously… Continue reading

Excavation project near Kenai River shot down

On Wednesday Kenai’s seven Planning and Zoning Commissioners unanimously denied a permit for a project along the Kenai River that the applicant — Dr. Lavern… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Energy fined over well pressure at Osprey platform

Cook Inlet Energy has received fines totaling $50,000 from the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) — $25,000 for failing to test a new… Continue reading

Alaska Communications progressing through Kenai Peninsula broadband wireless project

Alaska Communications progressing through Kenai Peninsula broadband wireless project

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct Alaska Communications' expected service date for wireless broadband and the date of their presentation to the Kenai… Continue reading

Alaska Communications progressing through Kenai Peninsula broadband wireless project
Central Peninsula Hospital’s River Tower specialty services building stands on Sunday, June 24, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. The River Tower opened in early 2016 as the fifth phase of an expansion that the hospital began in 2003. Phase 6, which began with a cermonial ground-breaking on Friday, will add a new obstetrics center and a cardiac catheterization lab. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).

Central Peninsula Hospital to have new birthing and cardiac facilities

Babies born on the central Kenai Peninsula soon after November 2019 may be the first to enter the world in a new birth center that… Continue reading

Central Peninsula Hospital’s River Tower specialty services building stands on Sunday, June 24, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. The River Tower opened in early 2016 as the fifth phase of an expansion that the hospital began in 2003. Phase 6, which began with a cermonial ground-breaking on Friday, will add a new obstetrics center and a cardiac catheterization lab. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).
The yellow line on this map shows the existing Kenai Spur Highway between approximately mile 19 and 22, while the striped line shows the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation’s chosen route for moving the highway around its planned natural gas liquifaction facility and export terminal in Nikiski. After considering approximately 26 possible routes since 2015, AGDC announced its choice at a Wednesday public meeting in Nikiski. (Map courtesy of Alaska Gasline Development Corporation).

AGDC selects shortest, least expensive Spur Highway option

The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation announced Wednesday its chosen route for moving the Kenai Spur Highway around the natural gas liquefaction plant and export terminal… Continue reading

The yellow line on this map shows the existing Kenai Spur Highway between approximately mile 19 and 22, while the striped line shows the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation’s chosen route for moving the highway around its planned natural gas liquifaction facility and export terminal in Nikiski. After considering approximately 26 possible routes since 2015, AGDC announced its choice at a Wednesday public meeting in Nikiski. (Map courtesy of Alaska Gasline Development Corporation).

AGDC selects route for Kenai Spur Highway around LNG plant

The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation has chosen a route for the Kenai Spur Highway around its planned natural gas liquefaction plant. The preferred route, announced… Continue reading

Kenai Central High School sophmore Riley Graves demonstrates a magnetic rake he built to pick up buried metallic debris on Kenai’s north beach on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Metal objects present danger on Kenai beaches. A student’s idea may help the city clean it up

Dipnetters, children, and anyone walking barefoot on Kenai beaches this summer may be less likely to step on a nail, screw, wire, lost tent stake… Continue reading

Kenai Central High School sophmore Riley Graves demonstrates a magnetic rake he built to pick up buried metallic debris on Kenai’s north beach on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Drift River dismantling may start in early 2019

Drift River dismantling may start in early 2019

With oil expected to begin flowing in September through a reconfigured pipeline system connecting fields on the west side of Cook Inlet to the Andeavor… Continue reading

Drift River dismantling may start in early 2019

Early kings closed on Kenai, Russian River opening early

Sport fishing for Kenai River kings will close Wednesday for the remainder of June and be partially closed until August 1, while sockeye fishing in… Continue reading

Beluga food sources shifted from marine to freshwater over past 50 years

Over the past fifty years Cook Inlet’s endangered beluga whales have changed their feeding habits, eating less prey that originates in marine waters and more… Continue reading

HEA bills to rise July 1

Homer Electric Association power bills will rise July 1, driven by the cost of the Cook Inlet natural gas that fuels about 90 percent of… Continue reading

Peninsula legislators review session, stick with no new taxes

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct the House sponsorship of Senate Bill 193, creating a work requirement for Medicaid. Rep. Chuck Kopp (R-Anchorage)… Continue reading

This November 21, 2015 shows the sign designating the unofficial border of Nikiski, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Gasline project to announce Spur reroute June 20

Nikiski residents who’ve been waiting since 2015 to find out whether a proposed relocation of the Kenai Spur Highway will run on or near their… Continue reading

This November 21, 2015 shows the sign designating the unofficial border of Nikiski, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Refuge repairing boat launch, trails, and cabins

Refuge repairing boat launch, trails, and cabins

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is replacing a boardwalk and boat ramp into the Kenai River at the end of Soldotna’s East Redoubt Avenue. Crews… Continue reading

Refuge repairing boat launch, trails, and cabins
Dipnetters hold their nets offshore from the north Kenai Beach on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Beach bacteria testing to resume

Scientists will be sampling water on Kenai’s beaches to see if efforts to reduce fecal coliform and enterococci bacteria have been working. Fecal coliform and… Continue reading

Dipnetters hold their nets offshore from the north Kenai Beach on Tuesday, July 11, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Bicycling advocates look for trails, education, and repair stations in Kenai and Soldotna

Bicycling advocates look for trails, education, and repair stations in Kenai and Soldotna

Bicycling advocates are organizing for more bike-friendly improvements, education and social events in the Kenai and Soldotna region. A new group is working with the… Continue reading

Bicycling advocates look for trails, education, and repair stations in Kenai and Soldotna

Shadura Road fire extinguished

A Monday evening structure fire on Shadura Road near Kasilof drew fire crews from Central Emergency Services to extinguish the burning building and from the… Continue reading

The mountains loom over a grocery store on the Sterling Highway on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. The Sterling Highway, the main corridor to and from the Kenai Peninsula, winds through the little community of Cooper Landing, often bringing dense traffic and car accidents with it, particularly in the summer. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Design to start on Cooper Landing bypass

Design is set to start on a new stretch of the Sterling Highway around Cooper Landing after the state and federal agencies in charge of… Continue reading

The mountains loom over a grocery store on the Sterling Highway on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. The Sterling Highway, the main corridor to and from the Kenai Peninsula, winds through the little community of Cooper Landing, often bringing dense traffic and car accidents with it, particularly in the summer. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)