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Judges Jenny Long and Treasa Cooper score one of the jumps during the cannonball contest at the Nikiski Pool on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski Pool holds first ever cannonball contest

Big splashes and even bigger smiles were in abundance at the Nikiski Pool’s first-ever Cannonball Contest Thursday. The event was free, and contestants were divided… Continue reading

Judges Jenny Long and Treasa Cooper score one of the jumps during the cannonball contest at the Nikiski Pool on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
In this Nov. 30, 2018, file photo, Dennis Keeling, of Instant Services, measures for a broken window at an auto parts store following an earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska Seven weeks after the massive earthquake struck Alaska, the seemingly endless aftershocks are keeping many residents filled with anxiety. (AP Photo/Mike Dinneen, file)

Anxiety in Alaska as endless aftershocks rattle residents

ANCHORAGE — Seven weeks after a massive earthquake rocked Alaska, aftershocks are still shattering 7-year-old Connor Cartwright’s sense of safety. They shake the earth far… Continue reading

In this Nov. 30, 2018, file photo, Dennis Keeling, of Instant Services, measures for a broken window at an auto parts store following an earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska Seven weeks after the massive earthquake struck Alaska, the seemingly endless aftershocks are keeping many residents filled with anxiety. (AP Photo/Mike Dinneen, file)
Sadie Ulman studied how shorebirds used Chickaloon Flats in 2009-10 as a graduate student at the University of Delaware. She now works for the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. (Photo courtesy of Sean Ulman)

The gift of graduate students

By JOHN MORTON These days, with internet search engines making information so accessible, it’s easy to forget how tedious the collection of scientific data can… Continue reading

Sadie Ulman studied how shorebirds used Chickaloon Flats in 2009-10 as a graduate student at the University of Delaware. She now works for the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. (Photo courtesy of Sean Ulman)
Lots of signs greet hikers at the trail head to Silver Lake on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge notebook: Sign blindness

By MATT CONNER A couple of weeks ago, I drove a friend from Georgia around the Kenai Peninsula. He used to work as a park… Continue reading

Lots of signs greet hikers at the trail head to Silver Lake on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Grasslands in the Caribou Hills, dominated by the native but invasive bluejoint reedgrass, support a seemingly sparse arthropod and plant community. (Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge notebook: Laying a foundation for a biologically richer world

By TRACY MELVIN I spent considerable time this summer trekking around grasslands in the Caribou Hills with a giant red hula hoop (to survey vegetation),… Continue reading

Grasslands in the Caribou Hills, dominated by the native but invasive bluejoint reedgrass, support a seemingly sparse arthropod and plant community. (Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
An edible Alaskan scaber-stalk mushroom grows on the Keen Eye Trail on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in September 2014. The scaber-stalks form mycorrhizal relationships with roots of trees and shrubs, but the mycorrhizal partners of the Alaskan scaber-stalk are not yet known. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)

Mycorrhizae: The fungus among us

By LAURA BASHOR What do gardeners and biologists have in common? We both want plants to grow! From the native trees and plants on the… Continue reading

An edible Alaskan scaber-stalk mushroom grows on the Keen Eye Trail on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in September 2014. The scaber-stalks form mycorrhizal relationships with roots of trees and shrubs, but the mycorrhizal partners of the Alaskan scaber-stalk are not yet known. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)
Sen. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks, gathers with other senators and families as they prepare for the opening of the Alaska’s 31st Legislative Session on Tuesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

Suicide prevention bill gains bipartisan support in Senate

“Suicide and suicide prevention is not a partisan issue.”

Sen. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks, gathers with other senators and families as they prepare for the opening of the Alaska’s 31st Legislative Session on Tuesday. (Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
Kenai supports bike grant application

Kenai supports bike grant application

Kenai City Council approved a resolution supporting the local group BIK&S in the grant process to continue the Unity Trail from Beaver Loop to the… Continue reading

Kenai supports bike grant application
Kenai Peninsula College’s Kenai River Campus in the snow, on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula College Campus Corner

KPC closed today for Alaska Civil Rights Day In observance of Alaska Civil Rights Day and Martin L. King Jr. Day, all locations of Kenai… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula College’s Kenai River Campus in the snow, on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
An adult male Calliope Hummingbird captured and banded near Inkom, Idaho. This is the smallest breeding bird in North America. (Photo provided by Todd Eskelin)

Hummingbirds take migration to a new level

By TODD ESKELIN In my career as a bird bander, I have banded over 20,000 birds and probably closer to 30,000 birds. I have banded… Continue reading

An adult male Calliope Hummingbird captured and banded near Inkom, Idaho. This is the smallest breeding bird in North America. (Photo provided by Todd Eskelin)
An aerial photo of the longest of five culverts being installed under the Sterling Highway. (Photo by Shaun Combs, DOT&PF)

Refuge notebook: Why do moose cross the road?

By JOHN MORTON Why do moose cross the road? To get to the other side, of course — as do other wildlife like lynx, caribou,… Continue reading

An aerial photo of the longest of five culverts being installed under the Sterling Highway. (Photo by Shaun Combs, DOT&PF)
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge interns Angel Smith and Laura Bashor help Hilcorp Alaska restore a retired gas pad east of the Swanson River Oil Field. (Photo by Lorene Lynn)

Restoring nature 1 gravel pad at a time

By AMBER ROBBINS What happens to old oil and gas pads when they are no longer useful? This June, I was given the opportunity to… Continue reading

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge interns Angel Smith and Laura Bashor help Hilcorp Alaska restore a retired gas pad east of the Swanson River Oil Field. (Photo by Lorene Lynn)
Bright orange spores are released from rupturing needles of a spruce tip infected with spruce tip rust on the Skyline Trail on July 5, 2018. (Photo provided by Matt Bowser of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

A big year for spruce tip rust

By MATT BOWSER “What is that?” asked my co-worker, pointing down to where it looked like someone had marked the ground beside the Skyline Trail… Continue reading

Bright orange spores are released from rupturing needles of a spruce tip infected with spruce tip rust on the Skyline Trail on July 5, 2018. (Photo provided by Matt Bowser of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Northern lights shine over Diamond Ridge about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Minister’s Message: Darkness and Light

Growing up just 160 miles from the Arctic Circle, it would get very dark in late December. We had as much as 22 and a… Continue reading

Northern lights shine over Diamond Ridge about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Our national bird more than meets the eye

By TODD AND LEAH ESKELIN If you have not checked out the city of Kenai Eagle Cam you are missing out. This is among the… Continue reading

Democratic Alaska state Rep. Neal Foster, left, smiles after being elected temporary speaker of the House, Thursday, in Juneau. The House has yet to organize a majority and elect a permanent speaker. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska House elects temporary speaker, swears in new member

JUNEAU — The Alaska House elected a temporary speaker and swore in its newest member Thursday, steps legislative leaders saw as significant amid ongoing efforts… Continue reading

Democratic Alaska state Rep. Neal Foster, left, smiles after being elected temporary speaker of the House, Thursday, in Juneau. The House has yet to organize a majority and elect a permanent speaker. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
A contractor plows snow down Forest Drive in Kenai on Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough Mayor defends the Peninsula’s snow plowing efforts at latest borough meeting

Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce defended the maintenance efforts of the Road Service Area at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Jan. 9, where the… Continue reading

A contractor plows snow down Forest Drive in Kenai on Jan. 17, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Hoop Dances are the finale of every Yellow Bird performance. (Courtesy photo)

Kenaitze to host indigenous dance group Saturday

The Kenaitze Indian Tribe will welcome an internationally known indigenous dance group this Saturday as part of the Native Youth Olympics Invitational. At 7 p.m.… Continue reading

Hoop Dances are the finale of every Yellow Bird performance. (Courtesy photo)
Sen. Bill Wielechowski, R-Anchorage, center, and Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, right, listen members from the Department of Revenue give a state revenue forecast during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Volatile oil market prompts conservative forecasts

New Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration is taking a more conservative approach to oil revenue forecasting to help avoid the creation of an oversized budget.… Continue reading

Sen. Bill Wielechowski, R-Anchorage, center, and Sen. Mike Shower, R-Wasilla, right, listen members from the Department of Revenue give a state revenue forecast during a Senate Finance Committee meeting at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
“Talk to Me” — a devastating, hilarious fall to earth

“Talk to Me” — a devastating, hilarious fall to earth

The view from above was stunning. The cliche says that people look like ants when you’re looking down from a ledge, and they do. Trees… Continue reading

“Talk to Me” — a devastating, hilarious fall to earth