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Kenai's Eli Smith charges into Valdez's Romen Weber during the Kardinals 71-49 loss to the Buccaneers on Friday, March 21, 2025, in the 4th/6th place game of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Friday: Valdez boys defeat Kenai for 4th place in Class 3A state tourney

The Valdez boys defeated Kenai Central 71-49 on Friday for fourth place in the Class 3A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in… Continue reading

Kenai's Eli Smith charges into Valdez's Romen Weber during the Kardinals 71-49 loss to the Buccaneers on Friday, March 21, 2025, in the 4th/6th place game of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Kenai freshman Bryleigh Williams (22), junior Willow Graham (32) and Ellsi Miller (33) celebrate as they leave the court in the Kardinals' 43-39 win over Valdez on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wednesday: Kenai girls advance to state semis; Kenai, Homer boys lose to set up clash in consolation semis

In the opening round of the Class 3A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Wednesday, the Kenai Central girls won… Continue reading

Kenai freshman Bryleigh Williams (22), junior Willow Graham (32) and Ellsi Miller (33) celebrate as they leave the court in the Kardinals' 43-39 win over Valdez on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
An Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection vehicle stands among trees in Funny River, Alaska, on Oct. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Early fire season begins with 2 small blazes reported and controlled

As of March 17, burn permits are required for all state, private and municipal lands.

An Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection vehicle stands among trees in Funny River, Alaska, on Oct. 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A table used by parties to a case sits empty in Courtroom 4 of the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Strigle named new Kenai district attorney

Former District Attorney Scot Leaders is leaving for a new position in Kotzebue.

A table used by parties to a case sits empty in Courtroom 4 of the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A researcher points out fragments of elodea found in the upper stretches of Crescent Creek caught on tree branches and down logs. (Emily Heale/Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association)

Homer conservation district feels impacts of federal funding freeze

Programs related to invasive species, habitat and trails, native plants and agriculture have all been negatively impacted.

A researcher points out fragments of elodea found in the upper stretches of Crescent Creek caught on tree branches and down logs. (Emily Heale/Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche presents the findings of the Southcentral Mayors’ Energy Coalition during a luncheon hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Micciche reports back on Southcentral Mayors’ Energy Coalition

The group calls importation of natural gas a necessity in the short-term.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche presents the findings of the Southcentral Mayors’ Energy Coalition during a luncheon hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai's Miles Metteer, Homer's Einar Pederson (4) and Henry Wedvik (22) and Kenai's Mason Tunseth (33) battle for a rebound on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in their consolation bracket semifinal during the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Thursday: Kenai girls lose in 3A semifinals; Kenai boys top Homer to move to 4th place game

The Kenai Central girls basketball team lost to Grace Christian in the Class 3A state semifinals on Thursday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage,… Continue reading

Kenai's Miles Metteer, Homer's Einar Pederson (4) and Henry Wedvik (22) and Kenai's Mason Tunseth (33) battle for a rebound on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in their consolation bracket semifinal during the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Kahtnuht’ana Duhdeldiht Campus on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninula Clarion)

State board approves Tułen Charter School

The Kenaitze Indian Tribe will be able to open their charter school this fall.

The Kahtnuht’ana Duhdeldiht Campus on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninula Clarion)
Christine Cunningham, left, and Mary Bondurant, right, both members of the Kenai Bronze Bear Sculpture Working Group, stand for a photo with Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and a small model of the proposed sculpture during a luncheon hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Model of bronze bears debuted as airport display project seeks continued funding

The sculpture, intended for the airport exterior, will feature a mother bear and two cubs.

Christine Cunningham, left, and Mary Bondurant, right, both members of the Kenai Bronze Bear Sculpture Working Group, stand for a photo with Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and a small model of the proposed sculpture during a luncheon hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Homer Middle School teacher arrested on charges of sexual assault and burglary

Charles Kent Rininger, 38, was arrested March 12 by Alaska State Troopers.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski raises her right hand to demonstrate the oath she took while answering a question about her responsibility to defend the U.S. Constitution during her annual address to the Alaska Legislature on March 18, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Murkowski embraces many of Trump’s goals, but questions his methods

Senator addresses flood concerns, federal firings, Medicaid worries in annual speech to Legislature.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski raises her right hand to demonstrate the oath she took while answering a question about her responsibility to defend the U.S. Constitution during her annual address to the Alaska Legislature on March 18, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Lisa Gabriel, left, watches as beach seine nets are pulled from the waters of Cook Inlet at a test site for the gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Proposal to use beach seines in commercial fishery killed

The board amended the proposal to remove setnets from the east side setnet fishery before the motion failed 3-3.

Lisa Gabriel, left, watches as beach seine nets are pulled from the waters of Cook Inlet at a test site for the gear near Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
An aerial photograph shows the area where the new Seward Cruise Ship Terminal will be constructed. (Screenshot/Seward Company image)

Work begins on new Seward cruise ship terminal

Work has begun at the site of the new cruise ship terminal in Seward. That’s what Mickey Richardson, who helms The Seward Company, told Seward’s… Continue reading

An aerial photograph shows the area where the new Seward Cruise Ship Terminal will be constructed. (Screenshot/Seward Company image)
The Seward girls celebrate at the Class 2A girls state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward girls cruise past Glennallen for 2nd hoops state title in school history

The Seward girls basketball team defeated Glennallen 51-29 for the Class 2A state title Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. After losing their… Continue reading

The Seward girls celebrate at the Class 2A girls state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A bagpiper helps kick off the Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Monday, March 17, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade brings out the green

The annual event featured decorated cars and trucks, youth marchers and decked-out celebrants.

A bagpiper helps kick off the Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Monday, March 17, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
The Tlingit and Haida Elders Group performs the entrance dance at the 89th annual Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Trump rescinds Biden executive order expanding tribal sovereignty and self-governance

Order giving Natives more access to federal funds cited in awarding of major Southeast Alaska projects.

The Tlingit and Haida Elders Group performs the entrance dance at the 89th annual Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Cook Inlet Academy head coach Ben McGarry, the team and fans cheer at the Class 1A boys state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Saturday: Shaktoolik topples CIA for Class 1A state title

The Shaktoolik boys defeated Cook Inlet Academy 76-55 for the Class 1A state basketball championship Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. The top-seeded… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy head coach Ben McGarry, the team and fans cheer at the Class 1A boys state championship game Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Saturday: Seward boys come back for 3rd at 2A state

The No. 4-seeded Seward boys defeated No. 2 Metlakatla 52-49 on Saturday to earn third place at the Class 3A boys state tournament at the… Continue reading

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Saturday: Brown Bears bounce back to defeat Wolverines

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Anchorage Wolverines 3-2 in a shootout Saturday in North American Hockey League play at the Sullivan Arena in… Continue reading

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Saturday: Cannava, Boonstra, Laker help Team Alaska to 2nd at Junior Nationals

Soldotna senior Ariana Cannava, Soldotna junior Tania Boonstra and Kenai Central junior Chase Laker helped Team Alaska to a second-place finish at 2025 Junior Nationals… Continue reading

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