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Bail hearing set for Soldotna murder suspect

Soldotna resident Nathan Penrod is charged with first-degree murder and third-degree assault

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Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board member Debbie Cary speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Cary also served on the borough’s reapportionment board. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly, board of ed could get new seats

Final reapportionment plans are subject to approval by borough voters

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board member Debbie Cary speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Cary also served on the borough’s reapportionment board. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Central Peninsula Hospital to get new CEO this summer

Shaun Keef will replace outgoing CEO Rick Davis, who plans to retire June 30

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A proposed map from Alaska Redistricting Board member Melanie Bahnke shows possible pairings of Alaska House of Representatives districts in Anchorage for the Alaska State Senate. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled last month the board acted unconstitutionally in its proposals and issued an April 15 deadline to present acceptable maps. (Screenshot)

Redistricting board takes public input on potential fixes

Court-friendly maps.

A proposed map from Alaska Redistricting Board member Melanie Bahnke shows possible pairings of Alaska House of Representatives districts in Anchorage for the Alaska State Senate. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled last month the board acted unconstitutionally in its proposals and issued an April 15 deadline to present acceptable maps. (Screenshot)
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Missing Wasilla woman found dead

Parthena Kinkead was reported missing by a friend

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Signs warn Fred Meyer customers to prepay if they think they may go over limits while pumping gas on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai police ask to use surplus funds for fuel

The cost of fuel per gallon has increased sharply over the last year

Signs warn Fred Meyer customers to prepay if they think they may go over limits while pumping gas on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP) Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Alaska’s leadership lauds Young at memorial

The longest-serving Republican in the history of the U.S. House died March 18

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP) Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
A participant seeks probation services at the Kenai Peninsula Re-Entry Coalition simulation at the Old Carrs Mall in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, April 2, 2022. The event was intended to give community members an understanding of the challenges faced by those leaving incarceration. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Life after incarceration

Simulation walks community members through re-entry challenges

A participant seeks probation services at the Kenai Peninsula Re-Entry Coalition simulation at the Old Carrs Mall in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, April 2, 2022. The event was intended to give community members an understanding of the challenges faced by those leaving incarceration. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, appears with then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally at the Iowa State University on Jan. 19, 2016, in Ames, Iowa. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has picked up a prized endorsement in her bid in an extremely crowded field to fill the unexpired term of the late U.S. Rep. Don Young. Former President Donald Trump backed Palin on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in a statement from his political action committee. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Trump endorses Palin in bid for Alaska’s sole House seat

A total of 51 candidates signed up by the Friday deadline to run in a special primary following Young’s death

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, appears with then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally at the Iowa State University on Jan. 19, 2016, in Ames, Iowa. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has picked up a prized endorsement in her bid in an extremely crowded field to fill the unexpired term of the late U.S. Rep. Don Young. Former President Donald Trump backed Palin on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in a statement from his political action committee. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, walks to meet Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., on Capitol Hill, Monday, April 4, 2022, in Washington.

Murkowski announces support for confirmation of Jackson to Supreme Court

She joins two other high-profile Republican senators who said they would support Jackson

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, walks to meet Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., on Capitol Hill, Monday, April 4, 2022, in Washington.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The Alaska House of Representatives votes on Monday to adopt a finance committee substitute of the state’s operating budget bill, allowing for amendments to be submitted.

As floor sessions return, House sets to work on budget

Additional budget items.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The Alaska House of Representatives votes on Monday to adopt a finance committee substitute of the state’s operating budget bill, allowing for amendments to be submitted.
A health care professional prepares to administer a COVID-19 test outside of Capstone Clinic in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Uncertainty for uninsured as COVID-19 funding runs out

Uninsured peninsula residents will still be able to get free tests and vaccines from some providers

A health care professional prepares to administer a COVID-19 test outside of Capstone Clinic in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna resident Karyn Griffin, seen here, has joined the list of candidates vying for Alaska’s newly vacant seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat was formerly held by Rep. Don Young, who died March 18, 2022, after nearly 50 years in office. (Photo courtesy Karyn Griffin)

Soldotna resident joins bid for US House seat

Karyn Griffin said she is mostly running to raise awareness about different issues

Soldotna resident Karyn Griffin, seen here, has joined the list of candidates vying for Alaska’s newly vacant seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat was formerly held by Rep. Don Young, who died March 18, 2022, after nearly 50 years in office. (Photo courtesy Karyn Griffin)
A.J. Wilson, 17, DeAndre Pittman, 16, and Elora Johnson, 16, eat lunch Thursday in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cafeteria. They, like many students, agree the free meals available during the pandemic are worth continuing if funding can be found after it ends June 30, but they are likely to look off-campus for food if they are required to pay for school lunches again. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

With federal funding ending, full-priced school lunches could be on the menu for many students next year

District hopes to continue offering free breakfast, ‘reasonably priced’ lunches

A.J. Wilson, 17, DeAndre Pittman, 16, and Elora Johnson, 16, eat lunch Thursday in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cafeteria. They, like many students, agree the free meals available during the pandemic are worth continuing if funding can be found after it ends June 30, but they are likely to look off-campus for food if they are required to pay for school lunches again. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sarah Palin leaves the courthouse in New York, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. Sarah Palin on Friday, April 1, 2022 shook up an already unpredictable race for Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat, filing paperwork to join a field of at least 40 candidates seeking to fill the seat that had been held for 49 years by the late-U.S. Rep. Don Young, who died last month. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Palin files paperwork to run in Alaska US House race

The field includes current and former state legislators and a North Pole city council member named Santa Claus

  • Apr 2, 2022
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
  • State News
Sarah Palin leaves the courthouse in New York, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. Sarah Palin on Friday, April 1, 2022 shook up an already unpredictable race for Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat, filing paperwork to join a field of at least 40 candidates seeking to fill the seat that had been held for 49 years by the late-U.S. Rep. Don Young, who died last month. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, center, speaks as state lawmakers and children’s welfare advocates attend a Blue Shirt Day event at the Alaska State Capitol, honoring the beginning of Child Abuse Prevention Month on April 1, 2022.

Juneau recognizes Child Abuse Prevention Month

Blue Shirt Day is a national day for child welfare advocacy

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Rep. Geran Tarr, D-Anchorage, center, speaks as state lawmakers and children’s welfare advocates attend a Blue Shirt Day event at the Alaska State Capitol, honoring the beginning of Child Abuse Prevention Month on April 1, 2022.
Bruce Vadla, left, and Kaitlin Vadla brainstorm during a community solutions meeting held by Cook Inletkeeper on Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Talking trees: Cook Inletkeeper floats tree planting as possible next step

The group convened Thursday at the Soldotna Public Library

Bruce Vadla, left, and Kaitlin Vadla brainstorm during a community solutions meeting held by Cook Inletkeeper on Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Boats are moored near the Kenai boat launch in Cook Inlet on Friday, June 18, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

New processor enters Cook Inlet market

The move follows the exit of Copper River Seafoods

Boats are moored near the Kenai boat launch in Cook Inlet on Friday, June 18, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly convenes on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly gravel pit group to meet next week

The group is a subcommittee of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly convenes on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small speaks at a news conference at the Alaska State Library and Museum on Thursday, March 31, 2022, to announce roughly $9 million in development grants to 25 programs throughout Southeast Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

USDA announces $9M investment in 25 Southeast programs

Grants are meant to diversify local economies

U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small speaks at a news conference at the Alaska State Library and Museum on Thursday, March 31, 2022, to announce roughly $9 million in development grants to 25 programs throughout Southeast Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)