Michael Armstrong

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A sign at the Pratt Museum’s nature trail on May 15, 2020, in Homer, Alaska, is part of the City of Homer’s campaign to increase awareness of precautions to take during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Governor announces major reopening of Alaska

Phase three takes effect at 8 a.m. Friday at the start of the Memorial Day weekend.

A sign at the Pratt Museum’s nature trail on May 15, 2020, in Homer, Alaska, is part of the City of Homer’s campaign to increase awareness of precautions to take during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
COVID-19. (CDC)

Dunleavy: State ready for next phase

Alaska has three new positive cases of COVID-19.

COVID-19. (CDC)
Signs on May 7, 2020, along the Sterling Highway by St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Homer, Alaska, and put up by the South Kenai Peninsula Resiliency Coalition offer encouragement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The signs read “Physical distancing can be hard. Everyday connections are so important. How can you make someone smile today?” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Sixth Homer resident tests positive

State extends mandatory quarantine for visitors, updates commercial fishing guidelines

Signs on May 7, 2020, along the Sterling Highway by St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Homer, Alaska, and put up by the South Kenai Peninsula Resiliency Coalition offer encouragement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The signs read “Physical distancing can be hard. Everyday connections are so important. How can you make someone smile today?” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, fly in formation over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex on July 18, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James Richardson)

Jets will fly over peninsula to honor health care workers

Residents should be able to see the flyovers from their homes.

U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, fly in formation over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex on July 18, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James Richardson)
Ian Stewart/Yukon News A camper is driven along the Alaska Highway in a 2009 photo. The Yukon and Alaska governments are working to hook a $25 million U.S. federal grant to upkeep the highway between Beaver Creek, Yukon, and Haines, Alaska.

Alaska snowbirds allowed to drive home through Canada

Alaskans looking to return home after snowbirding in the Lower 48 will be allowed to travel through Canada, despite the fact that the country closed… Continue reading

Ian Stewart/Yukon News A camper is driven along the Alaska Highway in a 2009 photo. The Yukon and Alaska governments are working to hook a $25 million U.S. federal grant to upkeep the highway between Beaver Creek, Yukon, and Haines, Alaska.
COVID-19. (Courtesy the CDC) COVID-19. (Courtesy the CDC)

Peninsula COVID-19 cases grow over weekend

Two more COVID-19 cases were reported Monday, bringing the total number of cases in Alaska to 370. This includes nine people who have died and… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Courtesy the CDC) COVID-19. (Courtesy the CDC)
South Peninsula Hospital health worker helps NYC during pandemic

South Peninsula Hospital health worker helps NYC during pandemic

“I felt like I needed to come … It was a calling. I had to go.”

South Peninsula Hospital health worker helps NYC during pandemic
Alaskan Cannabis Outfitters, a new cannabis retail store, is located right at Mile 168 Sterling Highway just before the road turns toward Baycrest Hill. The store opened on 4/20 — April 20, 2020 — in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Homer area’s newest pot shop opens on 4/20

“The stars aligning for it to happen on 4/20 was the cherry on top.”

Alaskan Cannabis Outfitters, a new cannabis retail store, is located right at Mile 168 Sterling Highway just before the road turns toward Baycrest Hill. The store opened on 4/20 — April 20, 2020 — in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and Sen. Dan Sullivan chair a roundtable meeting on the Alaska-British Columbia Transboundary mining at the Federal Building in Juneau on Monday, Aug. 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Senators reach out to Alaskans in audioconference meetings

The senators held conferences to share how Congress has responded to the pandemic.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and Sen. Dan Sullivan chair a roundtable meeting on the Alaska-British Columbia Transboundary mining at the Federal Building in Juneau on Monday, Aug. 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Commercial fishing boats are rafted together in May 2016 in the harbor in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Fishermen trying to salvage season amid COVID-19 pandemic

Facing an uncertain future as the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, Alaska’s commercial fishing industry is looking ahead to the upcoming season with determination to salvage… Continue reading

Commercial fishing boats are rafted together in May 2016 in the harbor in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a press conference on the budget on April 7, 2020, in Juneau, Alaska. He later met with reporters to speak about 22 new COVID-19 cases reported on Tuesday. (Photo by Austin McDaniel/Office of the Governor)

Alaska sees surge in COVID-19 cases

No new deaths or hospitalizations

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a press conference on the budget on April 7, 2020, in Juneau, Alaska. He later met with reporters to speak about 22 new COVID-19 cases reported on Tuesday. (Photo by Austin McDaniel/Office of the Governor)
COVID-19. (Courtesy the CDC)

Sixth COVID-19 death reported for Alaska

The latest death is of a 71-year-old Anchorage resident.

COVID-19. (Courtesy the CDC)
COVID-19 Image Credit: CDC

Another Alaskan dies of COVID-19

The latest death is a 73-year-old Anchorage resident.

COVID-19 Image Credit: CDC
Alaska senators break down relief package

Alaska senators break down relief package

That bill advances to the House of Representatives and is expected to pass.

Alaska senators break down relief package
Out of the Office: Nature in a time of pandemic can heal

Out of the Office: Nature in a time of pandemic can heal

As I write this I am in my third day of working at home — or, as I like to think of it, an embedded… Continue reading

Out of the Office: Nature in a time of pandemic can heal
A Remington Deluxe Model 5 manual typewriter. (Homer News file photo)

Homer Editorial: What future will we create?

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I see several futures, many of them extremely unpleasant.

A Remington Deluxe Model 5 manual typewriter. (Homer News file photo)
covid

3 new COVID-19 cases identified in Alaska, governor issues new mandates

Alaska gained three new cases of people who tested positive for COVID-19, Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink announced in a press conference on… Continue reading

covid
Cora Trowbridge stands by her art, “Behind the Mask,” on March 6, 2020, at the Disability Art Show at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Artists look at disability in Homer Council on the Arts show

Each artist includes a statement about their experience with disability.

Cora Trowbridge stands by her art, “Behind the Mask,” on March 6, 2020, at the Disability Art Show at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A collection of Deborah Poore’s paintings at Grace Ridge Brewery on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. “It’s an interesting hanging space there,” she said of the display area at the brewery. “You’re really presenting those pieces as a collage. You have to squish them together.” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

In retirement, Deborah Poore returns to her art

“When I do my art, it’s a celebration of the things close to me that I love.”

A collection of Deborah Poore’s paintings at Grace Ridge Brewery on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. “It’s an interesting hanging space there,” she said of the display area at the brewery. “You’re really presenting those pieces as a collage. You have to squish them together.” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Photo courtesy of Christina Whiting Tins with blue ribbons were placed on Feb. 26, 2020, around Homer, Alaska, for people to wear as part of an awareness campaign for a missing Homer woman, Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019.

Blue ribbons put out for missing Homer woman

Anesha “Duffy” Murnane has been missing since Oct. 17.

Photo courtesy of Christina Whiting Tins with blue ribbons were placed on Feb. 26, 2020, around Homer, Alaska, for people to wear as part of an awareness campaign for a missing Homer woman, Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019.