Chloe Anderson

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Seward student to present salt brine alternative to Alaska Senate

Hannah Leatherman, winner of the 35th annual Caring for the Kenai competition, will travel to Juneau to present her idea to the Senate transportation committee.

 

State of Alaska Department of Law logo. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Law

Indiana man arrested after Alaska indictment for sexual felonies

Jacob Lemaitre, 29, faces numerous criminal charges related to sexual abuse allegations in Soldotna and Elkhart County, Indiana.

 

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Juneau protestors urge lawmakers to defund Homeland Security after Minneapolis killings

Hundreds gathered hours before congressional delegation voted on whether to extend ICE funding.

 

File photo.

Kenai man sentenced to 66 years for 2022 murder

Kevin Park pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the killing of Stephanie Henson.

File photo.
A sample LiDAR meteorological assembly is seen. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska
A sample LiDAR meteorological assembly is seen. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska
Photo courtesy of Shea Nash
River City Academy teacher Donica Nash is pictured during her history class on Jan. 26.

Civic nonprofit names River City Academy teacher for award

Soldotna’s Donica Nash will use the award money to fund a field trip to Juneau.

Photo courtesy of Shea Nash
River City Academy teacher Donica Nash is pictured during her history class on Jan. 26.
Photo courtesy of Sargeant Truesdell
Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor Peter Micchiche (left) and assembly member Sargeant Truesdell, District 4, Soldotna (right), pose for a photo with the Soldotna High School girls’ wrestling team during an assembly meeting on Jan. 20. The Stars secured SoHi’s first three-peat title during the state championship tournament Dec. 19-20.
Photo courtesy of Sargeant Truesdell
Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor Peter Micchiche (left) and assembly member Sargeant Truesdell, District 4, Soldotna (right), pose for a photo with the Soldotna High School girls’ wrestling team during an assembly meeting on Jan. 20. The Stars secured SoHi’s first three-peat title during the state championship tournament Dec. 19-20.
Cooper Landing Fire and Emergency Medical Services respond to a trailer fire on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, near Mile 38 Seward Highway near Cooper Landing, Alaska. The fire destroyed the trailer carrying U.S. Mail from Anchorage to the Southern Kenai Peninsula. (Photo courtesy of Cooper Landing Fire and EMS)

Assembly asks legislature to increase exemptions for EMS, firefighters

The change would allow municipalities to increase property tax exemptions to “an amount deemed appropriate.”

Cooper Landing Fire and Emergency Medical Services respond to a trailer fire on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, near Mile 38 Seward Highway near Cooper Landing, Alaska. The fire destroyed the trailer carrying U.S. Mail from Anchorage to the Southern Kenai Peninsula. (Photo courtesy of Cooper Landing Fire and EMS)
Flanked by JDHS freshmen Manu Adams, left, and Paxton Willoughby, right, Homer junior Berend Pearson looks for a pass from a teammate. The Crimson Bears and the Mariners faced off at the Treadwell Arena in Juneau following the Bears’ senior night ceremony on Friday, Jan. 23.<ins>, 2026</ins>
Flanked by JDHS freshmen Manu Adams, left, and Paxton Willoughby, right, Homer junior Berend Pearson looks for a pass from a teammate. The Crimson Bears and the Mariners faced off at the Treadwell Arena in Juneau following the Bears’ senior night ceremony on Friday, Jan. 23.<ins>, 2026</ins>
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Former refuge manager speaks on loving the land

Robin West presented his talk, “Looking Back, Looking Forward,” in Soldotna on Tuesday evening.

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Alaska Department of Natural Resources logo (graphic)

State seeks Kenai Peninsula citizen advisory board members

The Department of Natural Resources invites Alaskans to apply for seats in Seward, Kachemak Bay and Kenai.

Alaska Department of Natural Resources logo (graphic)
Juniors who earned honor roll distinction during the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year at Soldotna High School were recognized during an assembly in the school’s auditorium on Jan. 14, 2026. Photo courtesy of Tabitha Blades, Soldotna High School
Juniors who earned honor roll distinction during the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year at Soldotna High School were recognized during an assembly in the school’s auditorium on Jan. 14, 2026. Photo courtesy of Tabitha Blades, Soldotna High School
The Alaska State Capitol building stands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Capitol building stands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Mari Kanagy/Juneau Empire)
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)
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)
Carts filled with food collected during the Freedom from Hunger community food drive are displayed at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank near Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska grocery store supports Kenai Peninsula Food Bank

Three Bears Alaska’s annual ‘Shop with a Purpose’ event raised nearly $112,000 for 14 communities in Alaska and the Lower 48.

Carts filled with food collected during the Freedom from Hunger community food drive are displayed at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank near Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Retired Biologist and former manager of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge will “Looking Back, Looking Forward,” a talk about his solo trip on the Yukon River, on Tuesday evening at the Refuge headquarters in Soldotna. The Homer-based nonprofit organization Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges is hosting a virtual watch party in Homer. Photo courtesy of Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges

Looking back, looking forward

Robin West will give a talk about his 30-year career Tuesday evening at the Kenai refuge headquarters and virtually.

Retired Biologist and former manager of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge will “Looking Back, Looking Forward,” a talk about his solo trip on the Yukon River, on Tuesday evening at the Refuge headquarters in Soldotna. The Homer-based nonprofit organization Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges is hosting a virtual watch party in Homer. Photo courtesy of Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges
Snow covers a branch hanging over Watergate Way in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Update: District-wide schools and activities closure in effect Friday through Saturday, Jan. 16-17

All Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools and Kenai Peninsula College campuses are closed due to rain and freezing temperatures expected overnight.

Snow covers a branch hanging over Watergate Way in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A map presented by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources during a virtual meeting on Dec. 11, 2025, shows the location of a potential Kenai Peninsula State Forest. Screenshot.

Community discusses state forest proposal at Homer meeting

The public comment period on the proposed Kenai Peninsula State Forest closes Jan. 16 at 5 p.m.

A map presented by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources during a virtual meeting on Dec. 11, 2025, shows the location of a potential Kenai Peninsula State Forest. Screenshot.
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation helped a Nikiski resident dispose of over 43 tons of contaminated soil after a home heating oil spill in November<ins> 2025</ins>. DEC on Friday launched a program to help eligible homeowners cover cleanup costs relating to home heating oil spills. Photo courtesy of the Department of Environmental Conservation

State launches home heating oil spill cleanup program

The Department of Environmental Conservation formally announced the program statewide on Friday.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation helped a Nikiski resident dispose of over 43 tons of contaminated soil after a home heating oil spill in November<ins> 2025</ins>. DEC on Friday launched a program to help eligible homeowners cover cleanup costs relating to home heating oil spills. Photo courtesy of the Department of Environmental Conservation
Sterling resident Jonny Reidy walks 11 miles from his dry cabin to his part-time job at Fred Meyer on Dec. 15, 2025. Reidy aims to walk 1,000 miles by midsummer, and he’s asking people to pledge donations to food banks for every mile he travels. Photo courtesy of Jonny Reidy

Sterling man is walking 1,000 miles for hunger awareness

Jonathan Reidy asks people to pledge donations to local food banks for every mile he walks.

Sterling resident Jonny Reidy walks 11 miles from his dry cabin to his part-time job at Fred Meyer on Dec. 15, 2025. Reidy aims to walk 1,000 miles by midsummer, and he’s asking people to pledge donations to food banks for every mile he travels. Photo courtesy of Jonny Reidy