Chloe Anderson

The aurora borealis is seen from Mendenhall Lake in Juneau on Nov. 12, 2025. A series of solar flares caused unusually bright displays of the northern lights across Alaska Tuesday and Wednesday nights. (Chloe Anderson/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Aurora’s performance was worth the wait

A series of solar flares caused an unusually bright display of the northern lights Wednesday night.

 

Volunteers gather around a captured salmon during one of Cook Inletkeeper’s Mapping Salmon Habitat Solution field days in August<ins> 2025</ins>. Every year, Cook Inletkeeper creates programs designed to get community members involved with mapping salmon habitat.

Cook Inletkeeper program promotes community engagement

Backyard Salmonscapes aims to map undocumented salmon habitat with the help of volunteers.

 

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen on June 24, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Central Peninsula Hospital names new CEO

Angela Hinnegan will replace Shaun Keef as CEO following Keef’s retirement in January.

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen on June 24, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)
Grant Aviation’s Cessna 208B EX Grand Caravan is pictured at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, March 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Federal mandate orders Grant Aviation to cut flights

Grant Aviation will cut 10% of its flights between Kenai and Anchorage by Nov. 14.

Grant Aviation’s Cessna 208B EX Grand Caravan is pictured at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, March 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Education moves to increase school meal prices

In January, the cost of adult meals and elementary student lunches will increase.

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Participants jump into Resurrection Bay during the 2019 Polar Bear Jump in Seward<ins>, Alaska</ins>. Photo by Brice Habeger, courtesy of the American Cancer Society

Registration open for 41st annual Polar Bear Jump

The Seward event, scheduled for January, will raise money for cancer research and patients.

Participants jump into Resurrection Bay during the 2019 Polar Bear Jump in Seward<ins>, Alaska</ins>. Photo by Brice Habeger, courtesy of the American Cancer Society
The cast of Kenai Central High School’s upcoming production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” pose for a photo on Nov. 6, 2025. The play will open on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Photo courtesy of Travis Lawson

Kenai students prepare to open ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

The play will premiere Friday at Kenai Central High School, with additional showings the following weekend.

The cast of Kenai Central High School’s upcoming production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” pose for a photo on Nov. 6, 2025. The play will open on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Photo courtesy of Travis Lawson
The Challenger Learning Center is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on Sept. 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai City Council terminates Challenger Learning Center’s lease

Kenai City Council adopted a resolution to terminate the Challenger Learning Center’s lease

The Challenger Learning Center is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on Sept. 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Jacob Caldwell, chief executive officer of Kenai Aviation, stands at the Kenai Aviation desk at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2022<ins> in Kenai, </ins><ins>Alaska</ins>.

Kenai Aviation halts flight service due to debt

Kenai Aviation owner Joel Caldwell said in a Facebook post on Monday that all flights would cease that afternoon due to the company being “financially insolvent.”

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Jacob Caldwell, chief executive officer of Kenai Aviation, stands at the Kenai Aviation desk at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2022<ins> in Kenai, </ins><ins>Alaska</ins>.
Photos courtesy of Lisa Parker
Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame inductee Lisa Parker is pictured with Aleut’s Senior Director, Public Policy and Lands Ethan Tyler in during the Kodiak Alaska Municipal League meeting in August 2024.

Soldotna vice mayor inducted to Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame

Vice Mayor Lisa Parker was inducted to the Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame on Oct. 21, making her one of 10 women inducted this year.

Photos courtesy of Lisa Parker
Alaska Women’s Hall of Fame inductee Lisa Parker is pictured with Aleut’s Senior Director, Public Policy and Lands Ethan Tyler in during the Kodiak Alaska Municipal League meeting in August 2024.
(Black Press File Photo)

Victims’ families file lawsuit against federal government for 2023 car crash

Three people are seeking damages as a result of a car accident caused by an on-duty Coast Guardsman in Kasilof in September 2023.

(Black Press File Photo)
The Kenai Chamber of Commerce team hosts their third annual Haunted Chamber Maze, Oct. 18-31, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce

Kenai chamber hosts 3rd annual Haunted Chamber

The haunted house-style maze collected donations for the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank and Operation Children First.

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce team hosts their third annual Haunted Chamber Maze, Oct. 18-31, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a Soldotna City Council work session<ins> on the Soldotna Field House in Soldotna, Alaska,</ins> on Wednesday, April 9<ins>,</ins> <ins>2025</ins>.

Soldotna mayor recognizes caregivers and veterans during council meeting

Mayor Paul Whitney declared November National Family Caregiver Month and Veterans and Military Families Month in Soldotna during a City Council meeting last Wednesda.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a Soldotna City Council work session<ins> on the Soldotna Field House in Soldotna, Alaska,</ins> on Wednesday, April 9<ins>,</ins> <ins>2025</ins>.
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Assembly amends ordinance capping tax exemptions

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday divided a large chapter of tax code into four new chapters.

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
A sockeye salmon is carried from the waters of Cook Inlet on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska Department of Fish and Game publishes 2025 commercial salmon summary

The 2025 commercial harvest was 41% greater than the recent 20-year annual average.

A sockeye salmon is carried from the waters of Cook Inlet on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sea otter pup rescued in Homer in the summer of 2025 receives care from the Alaska SeaLife Center and Chicago's Shedd Aquarium while being rehabilitated at ASLC in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center

Alaska SeaLife Center partners with Chicago aquarium to rehabilitate sea otter pup

The pup has reached important milestones thanks to ASLC and Shedd Aquarium’s collaborative efforts.

A sea otter pup rescued in Homer in the summer of 2025 receives care from the Alaska SeaLife Center and Chicago's Shedd Aquarium while being rehabilitated at ASLC in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center
Kova, a spotted seal pup rescued from Nome in June, touches his nose to an Alaska SeaLife Center staff member's hand in this photo taken Oct. 10, 2025, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center

Spotted seal pup is a ‘rare’ rescue patient at Alaska SeaLife Center

ASLC has been providing intensive care since the seal’s arrival, and “Kova” is now eating well and steadily gaining weight.

Kova, a spotted seal pup rescued from Nome in June, touches his nose to an Alaska SeaLife Center staff member's hand in this photo taken Oct. 10, 2025, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center
Uki, the walrus calf rehabilitated at Alaska SeaLife Center in August 2024 before being rehomed to SeaWorld Orlando, is photographed with an ASLC staff member on Aug. 7, 2024. Photo courtesy of Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center

Alaska SeaLife Center walrus patient featured on PBS

The story of Uki, a walrus who was rehabilitated at the Alaska SeaLife Center in August 2023, was featured on the season premiere of “Nature” by PBS on Wednesday.

Uki, the walrus calf rehabilitated at Alaska SeaLife Center in August 2024 before being rehomed to SeaWorld Orlando, is photographed with an ASLC staff member on Aug. 7, 2024. Photo courtesy of Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center