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The Kenai Courthouse on July 3, 2023. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion File)

News

Man sentenced to 99 years for murder of his mother in her Nikiski home

River John George Aspelund, 24, found guilty of murder in the first degre in Kenai Superior Court

The Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) has admitted its first stranded harbor seal pup of the 2026 season — a malnourished and dehydrated male estimated to be under a week old. (Kaiti Grant | Alaska SeaLife Center)

News

Harbor seal pup found in Kenai is Alaska SeaLife Center’s first admission of year

The male pup was estimated to be under one week old and was malnourished and dehydrated

The Kenai Central High School graduating class of 2026 toss their caps into the air at the close of their commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 20<ins>, 2026, in Kenai, Alaska</ins>. Screenshot.

News

‘Move forward with the spirit of lifelong learning’

Nearly 100 seniors graduated from Kenai Central High School in a commencement ceremony held Wednesday evening in the…

Soldotna High School graduates toss their caps in the air at the conclusion of their commencement ceremony on Monday, May 18<ins>, 2026</ins>, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex<ins> in Soldotna, Alaska</ins>. Photo courtesy Destiny Booth

News

Celebrating a major milestone

Soldotna High School seniors graduated in a ceremony held Monday.

The old Homer News sign hangs on the side of the paper’s former office in 2024. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

News

Out of the office: Watch what happens

Robert W. Service, the poet often referred to as “the bard of the Yukon,” creates in his fifth…

Delcenia Cosman/Homer News
Members of the 2026 graduating class of Homer High School throw their caps in the air in celebration at the conclusion of their commencement ceremony on Monday, May 18, <ins>, 2026,</ins> in the Homer High School Alice Witte Gymnasium<ins> in Homer, Alaska</ins>.

News

83 students, 1 community

The senior class of Homer High School graduated on Monday, May 18.

Delcenia Cosman/Homer News
Graduating senior Thomas Allowan (left) receives his diploma from Homer Flex High School principal Christopher Brown during a commencement ceremony held Monday, May 18.<ins>, 2026, in Homer, Alaska</ins>

News

‘One of many new beginnings’

Homer Flex High School graduated eight students on Monday.

Photo provided by Seth Gray
Community members play Book Bingo at the Kenai Community Library as part of the library’s summer reading program in 2023.

News

Kenai library launches 2026 summer reading program

Every summer, the Kenai Community Library hosts a summer reading program, welcoming readers of all ages to participate…

The tavern sign for the Black Dog Tavern will serve as the logo for the upcoming Kenai Performers production, “Mystery at the Black Dog Tavern,” opening July 31, 2026, in Soldotna, Alaska. Photo provided by Jodene McAuliffe

News

Kenai community theater produces nationally selected play

“Mystery at the Black Dog Tavern,” produced by Kenai Performers, will open July 31.

Photo courtesy Kendall Rock
Andrew Vait is a Seattle-based professional musician who grew up in Homer.

News

Homer-grown musician opens Alaska World Arts Festival with Billy Joel tribute

The Alaska World Arts Festival will look a little different than normal this year.

Alyssa Koester-Backstrom crosses the stage upon receiving her Associate of Applied Science degree during the Kenai Peninsula College commencement ceremony held Thursday, May 7<ins>, 2026,</ins> at Kenai Central High School<ins> in Kenai, Alaska</ins>. Photo courtesy Summer Lazenby/Kenai Peninsula College

News

Witnessing the power of perseverance

Kenai Peninsula College conferred 136 degrees in a commencement ceremony held at Kenai Central High School last Thursday.

Delcenia Cosman / Homer News
University of Alaska Anchorage graduate Celeste Fairbanks shakes the hand of Kachemak Bay Campus director Brian Partridge during a commencement ceremony held Wednesday, May 6, at Kachemak Bay Campus.

News

‘The doors are wide open’

Kachemak Bay Campus graduated 59 students during a commencement ceremony held Wednesday, May 6.

Delcenia Cosman / Homer News
From left to right: Claire Kiesel, Emma Shealy, Chloe Kiesel and Abby Shealy compete in the annual Migration Run on Sunday, May 10, <ins>, 2026,</ins> on the Homer Spit Trail<ins> in Homer, Alaska</ins>.

News

Migration Run honors mothers, supports youth runners

Despite Sunday’s wet weather, nearly 80 runners turned out for the Kachemak Bay Running Club’s annual Migration Run…

Fireweed blooms along the Homer Spit walking path by the Homer Harbor on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. Photo by Christina Whiting

News

Homer harbor expansion public comment opens next week

A 30-day public comment period will open with the release of the project’s draft feasibility report on May…

The entrance to the George A. Navarre Admin Building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)

News

Assembly increases borough funding for schools

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved a resolution last week confirming next year’s education funding at the same…

Delcenia Cosman / Homer News
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival keynote speaker Alvaro Jaramillo gives his keynote presentation to a packed theater crowd on Saturday, May 9, <ins>, 2026,</ins> in the Homer High School Mariner Theatre<ins> in Homer, Alaska</ins>.

News

Shorebird keynote highlights birding accessibility, benefits

When Shorebird Festival keynote speaker Alvaro Jaramillo says birding is good for you, he doesn’t just mean in…

Runners set off from the starting line at the beginning of the 2025 Migration Run on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, 2025 on the Homer Spit<ins> in Homer, Alaska</ins>. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

News

Annual Migration Run returns Sunday

Registration for the 5K race is open online through Saturday, May 9, and will be available in person…

Michael Huelsman, Anesha "Duffy" Murnane’s uncle, provides the family’s perspective on the plea agreement arranged between the prosecution and Kirby Calderwood’s defense and finalized in Februrary, during the "Duffy’s Journey to Justice" community conversation on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

News

Murnane case community conversation emphasizes awareness and action on violence against women

Nearly seven years after Anesha “Duffy” Murnane’s disappearance, and three months after Kirby Calderwood pleaded guilty to her…

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Community Chorus and Homer High School Concert Choir perform the Mozart "Requiem" on Friday, May 1, 2026, on the Homer High School Mariner Theatre stage in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

News

Connecting generations through music

A collaboration between the Homer High School Concert Choir, Kenai Peninsula Community Chorus and the community orchestra, the…

Kyle Schneider instructs community members during a February 2023 community chorus at the Mariner Theatre. (Photo by Christina Whiting/Homer News file)

Life

200 performers bring Mozart to the Kenai stage

May 2 concert at Renee C. Henderson Auditorium also offers audience a chance to honor lost loved ones