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Drew Nelson of the Anchorage Wolverines holds the puck in front of Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Luke Hause and goale Owen Zenone on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Friday: Wolverines shut out Brown Bears

The Anchorage Wolverines defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 4-0 Friday in North American Hockey League play at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. The Wolverines… Continue reading

Drew Nelson of the Anchorage Wolverines holds the puck in front of Kenai River Brown Bears defenseman Luke Hause and goale Owen Zenone on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward's Natalie Sieminski (15) and Unalakleet's Lizabeth Ivanoff (2) go for a loose ball during the Seahawks' 32-29 semifinal win Friday, March 14, 2025, in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Friday Class 1A/2A state: Seward girls, CIA boys advance to finals; Seward boys lose in semis

The Seward girls and Cook Inlet Academy boys won Friday to advance to the finals at the Class 1A/2A state basketball tournament at the Alaska… Continue reading

Seward's Natalie Sieminski (15) and Unalakleet's Lizabeth Ivanoff (2) go for a loose ball during the Seahawks' 32-29 semifinal win Friday, March 14, 2025, in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
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Cannava, Boonstra score points for Team Alaska at Junior Nationals

Soldotna junior Tania Boonstra and Soldotna senior Ariana Cannava scored points for Team Alaska on Friday at the 2025 Junior Nationals at Soldier Hollow Nordic… Continue reading

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Seward's Van Shank protects the ball from Wrangell's Kyan Stead (20), Daniel Harrison and Lucas Schneider (15) during the Seahawks' 57-30 win over the Wolves in opening day action at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Thursday 2A state: Seward girls, boys advance to semis

The Seward girls and boys basketball teams won Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the Class 2A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines… Continue reading

Seward's Van Shank protects the ball from Wrangell's Kyan Stead (20), Daniel Harrison and Lucas Schneider (15) during the Seahawks' 57-30 win over the Wolves in opening day action at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Cook Inlet Academy's Ian McGarry (3) scores against Davis-Ramoth on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Thursday 1A state: CIA boys advance to semifinals

The Cook Inlet Academy boys advanced to the semifinals while the CIA girls saw their season end Thursday at the Class 1A state basketball tournament… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy's Ian McGarry (3) scores against Davis-Ramoth on Thursday, March 13, 2025, in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships at Anchorage's Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A group of volunteers during the 2024 K-Bay Sea Duck Survey. Two boats duplicate the same survey in the same area at the same time to help ensure accuracy. (Photo courtesy of Bjorn Larson)

Homer bird enthusiasts prepare for annual sea duck count

The count aims to ensure a proper and consistent population estimate before the ducks begin their April migration.

A group of volunteers during the 2024 K-Bay Sea Duck Survey. Two boats duplicate the same survey in the same area at the same time to help ensure accuracy. (Photo courtesy of Bjorn Larson)
Protesters gather for a protest against Medicaid cuts at the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Alaskans across the state rally to save Medicaid: their ‘lifeline’

Caregivers raise their voices to protect their jobs and the thousands of lives impacted if Medicaid is cut.

Protesters gather for a protest against Medicaid cuts at the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Cook Inlet Academy junior Clara Warren drives against Fort Yukon sophomore Karli Thomas during their opening game at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Wednesday Class 1A state: CIA boys win, CIA girls lose in 1st round

The Cook Inlet Academy boys won, while the CIA girls lost, Wednesday in the opening round of the Class 1A state basketball tournament at the… Continue reading

Cook Inlet Academy junior Clara Warren drives against Fort Yukon sophomore Karli Thomas during their opening game at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
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Area skiers compete Wednesday in freestyle sprints at Junior Nationals

Soldotna senior Ariana Cannava, Soldotna junior Tania Boonstra and Kenai Central junior Chase Laker competed Wednesday in the second day of the 2025 Junior Nationals… Continue reading

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Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) offers an overview of House Bill 69 during Wednesday’s floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

House passes education bill with $1,000 BSA increase as state’s fiscal situation grows bleaker

Senate majority likely to trim hike to $680 while legislators also seek policy deal with governor.

Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I-Sitka) offers an overview of House Bill 69 during Wednesday’s floor session. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
U.S. Coast Guard officer Alexander Curran shows Homer visitors the bow of the USCG cutter Naushon on Aug. 4, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Emilie Springer/ Homer News.)

USCG cutter Naushon to be decommissioned  

A ceremony honoring the soon-to-be retired ship will be held on Friday, March 21 on the Homer Spit.

U.S. Coast Guard officer Alexander Curran shows Homer visitors the bow of the USCG cutter Naushon on Aug. 4, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Emilie Springer/ Homer News.)
A child waves from the back of a truck as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade set for Monday

The parade will line up on Park Avenue by Parker Park.

A child waves from the back of a truck as the 32nd annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade proceeds down Fireweed Street in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Owen Hanson and Anchorage Wolverines defenseman Trent Powell battle for the puck Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Pair of Kenai Peninsula hockey players complete NCAA Division I seasons

A pair of hockey players from the Kenai Peninsula have completed seasons at the NCAA Division I level. Anna Shelden, a forward from Kenai, completed… Continue reading

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Owen Hanson and Anchorage Wolverines defenseman Trent Powell battle for the puck Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Boonstra, Cannava, Laker compete at Junior Nationals

Three Kenai Peninsula cross-country skiers competed in the first race of the 2025 Junior Nationals at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Utah on Monday, March… Continue reading

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Homer man sentenced for illegally transporting black bears

Travis Larson pleaded guilty to four counts of violating the Lacey Act in October 2024.

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Community members hold up protest signs during the Stand for Democracy Rally on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

‘We haven’t lost our democracy yet’

Homer community protests amid sweeping federal changes.

Community members hold up protest signs during the Stand for Democracy Rally on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Girl Scout Troop 210, which includes Caitlyn Eskelin, Emma Hindman, Kadie Newkirk and Lyberty Stockman, present their “Bucket Trees” to a panel of judges in the 34th Annual Caring for the Kenai Competition at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Girl Scout Troop 210, which includes Caitlyn Eskelin, Emma Hindman, Kadie Newkirk and Lyberty Stockman, present their “Bucket Trees” to a panel of judges in the 34th Annual Caring for the Kenai Competition at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Daaljíni Mary Cruise, left, offers encouragement to participants in a Unity for the Queer Community rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hundreds participate in Juneau LGBTQ+ rally as Trump administration seeks to erase letters and rights

President’s actions to stop “woke” are putting people’s safety and health at risk, participants say.

Daaljíni Mary Cruise, left, offers encouragement to participants in a Unity for the Queer Community rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Fired and current federal employees find solidarity as community offers support

Trump administration seeks to make government more efficient; fired employees say opposite will happen.

Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A cruise ship is docked in Seward, Alaska on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy signs law OK’ing issuance of bonds for new Seward dock, terminal facility

Replacement of Seward’s dock is a major, multifaceted initiative being undertaken by The Seward Company.

A cruise ship is docked in Seward, Alaska on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)