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Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Sen. Löki Tobin, D-Anchorage, reads an announcement during the Senate floor session Wednesday. Tobin, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, emerged as a potential road block to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s “parental rights” bill by declaring it would not get a hearing if referred to her committee. The bill was subsequently referred to two other committees, with Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, stating it will get a public hearing.

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Bill limiting sex, gender discussion in education will get public hearing, senate president says

However, lawmakers say it will not be a main focus.

The east entrance of the Upper Kenai River Trail is photographed on Sunday, June 23, 2019, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

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Kenai refuge accepting applications for black bear baiting

Baiting areas can be chosen — and permits issued — in the order they are drawn

A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

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Kenai Peninsula Food Bank holding ‘matching’ fundraisers in March

Each donation in March will be matched until the food bank can meet its goal

Soldotna High School senior Josiah Burton testifies in opposition to the proposed cut of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District theater technicians while audience members look on during a board of education meeting on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Community makes plea to school board as pools, theaters face cuts

The cuts are just two of the budget reductions put forth for consideration by the board’s finance committee

Snow is cleared from a roof near the Copper Center Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. Several nearby businesses were closed after a roof collapse. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

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Fire chief addresses concerns about roof safety in wake of heavy snow

Fears are compounded by a string of reported building collapses this winter

Gov. Mike Dunleavy unveils proposals to offer public school teachers annual retention bonuses and enact policies similar so-called “don’t say gay” laws in states such as Florida during a press conference in Anchorage on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. (Screenshot from official livestream)

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Governor proposes ‘don’t say gay’-style law, year-end teacher bonuses

Dunleavy says bill is “pro-parent,” not anti-LGBTQ+.

Information about SNAP benefit amounts is posted on a wall at the Alaska Division of Public Assistance’s Kenai office on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Food bank sees demand jump amid SNAP benefit backlog

About 9.5% of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s roughly 22,800 households received SNAP benefits in 2021

Defending champion Brent Sass mushes his dog team down Fourth Avenue during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race’s ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

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Iditarod kicks off

This is the 51st running of the Iditarod, but its 33 mushers are the smallest field ever to…

Dipnetters can be seen here fishing in the Kenai River on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

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Board of Fisheries to meet

March 10 through March 13, the board will meet at the Egan Civic Convention Center to discuss 19…

Snow coats an eroding bluff near the mouth of the Kenai River on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Bluff project moves ahead

Kenai to buy last land parcels needed for stabilization effort

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Soldotna to review mini grant applications next week

Five groups are vying for one of the two $1,000 grants available for the current cycle

A sign to Kenai National Wildlife Refuge trails is seen Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

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Fish and Wildlife Service withdraws Kenai Refuge proposal

The service received around 45,000 public comments regarding the proposal

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File “I voted” stickers await voters on Election Day 2022. That election was the first regular general election in Alaska to include ranked choice voting, which was narrowly approved by voters in 2020. Bills to do away with ranked choice voting have been introduced in the Legislature and a petition to put the matter before voters is circulating. However, a pro-ranked choice petition has been launched to show support for the state’s current elections system, which also includes open primaries.

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Pro-ranked choice petition launched

Signatures sought to persuade Legislature not to overturn RCV and open primaries.

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

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Low king salmon forecasts spur fishing restrictions

Most of the orders concern closures of various fisheries

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol where lawmakers have been briefed on a plan state regulators say will allow more flexibility that benefits both businesses and the environment in “Alaska’s unique conditions.” However, some senators expressed skepticism over efforts to take over what are known as “Clean Water Act Section 404” permits. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

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Alaska seeking a 404 redirect for wetlands development

State wants to take over permitting control from feds, but costs and murky legal questions linger.

Foreground, from left: Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank and Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner watch as Kenai City Attorney Scott Bloom wordsmiths an amendment to an ordinance during a council meeting on Wednesday at Kenai City Hall, March 1, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. Background from left: Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, Deborah Sounart and Alex Douthit discuss the legislation, which allows more city residents to keep chickens on their property. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Kenai OKs chickens for more city residents

Council debate on the issue lasted for roughly four hours

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, (left) answers questions from attendees at a town hall event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Bjorkman bill aims to expand local grading of lumber

The bill, if passed, would establish a lumber grade training program under the Alaska Division of Forestry

A wildfire moves towards the town of Anzac from Fort McMurray, Alberta., on May 4, 2016. Smoke from boreal fires in 2021 contributed the most to global fire CO2 emissions since 2000, according to a new study in Science being released with a press briefing at the annual AAAS meeting. Using satellite-based atmospheric measurements, researchers from around the world determined that boreal fire smoke made up 23% of global fire CO2 emissions when it typically accounts for 10% of these emissions. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, file)

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Carbon emissions from boreal forest fires rose in 2021

Smoke from these wildfires made up 23% of global fire emissions

Team #2 — Bradley Kishbaugh, of Soldotna, and Ryan Sottosanti, of Wasilla — ride their snowmachine during the 2023 Iron Dog. (Photo provided by Bradley Kishbaugh)

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Local racers complete Iron Dog

Three teams featuring Kenai Peninsula athletes crossed the finish line this year, and a fourth participated in the…

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire State Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, I-Sitka, offers an overview Wednesday of Southeast Alaska’s commercial troll fisheries while asking for support on a resolution opposing a lawsuit by a Washington-based group that would shut the fisheries down due to their alleged impacts on species in that state. The resolution passed by a 35-1 vote.

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Juneau, state lawmakers join effort against salmon lawsuit

Washington case could halt some Southeast fisheries