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Mile 93 of the Sterling Highway (511.Alaska.gov)

Sterling Highway reopens following accident

The road reopened Wednesday evening

 

Ryanna Thurman uses a holds locker at the Soldotna Public Library on Friday, Jan. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna departments reflect on COVID response

Library, parks and rec, emergency services and IT gave feedback on 2020 performance.

 

Air-source heat pumps, like the one in this 2015 photo of Jake Eames, right, and David Nash installing a pump, are an example of a load-side technology that can increase energy efficiency. "Load-side technologies are absolutely key to our ability to reduce greenhouse emissions in the energy sector,” said director of energy services at Alaska Electric Light and Power Alec Mesdag.

In Juneau, going green focuses on power usage

The electricity’s already clean.

 

Triumvirate Theatre is seen on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. The building burned in a fire on Feb. 20. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Rebuilding a ‘community asset’

Triumvirate Theatre receives outpouring of support following fire

Triumvirate Theatre is seen on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. The building burned in a fire on Feb. 20. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Nearly 1 in 5 Alaskans have at least 1 vaccine dose

Alaska continues to lead the nation in vaccine distribution

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A spruce tree showing heavy damage from spruce bark beetles stands on Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boetttger/Peninsula Clarion file)

Spruce beetles still a big problem for the Kenai, U.S. Forest Service survey finds

The region is in its fifth year of the outbreak.

A spruce tree showing heavy damage from spruce bark beetles stands on Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boetttger/Peninsula Clarion file)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy went into self-quarantine Monday following news a close contact had tested positive for COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)

Governor quarantines following close contact

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is in quarantine following close contact on Saturday with a person who recently tested positive for COVID-19. Dunleavy was informed of the… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy went into self-quarantine Monday following news a close contact had tested positive for COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to consider Brown Bears’ future Wednesday

The Kenai River Brown Bears want to resume games in Soldotna in March

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sam Spencer, Erik Route and Josiah Brown, all of Cooper Landing, near the finish of the 20-kilometer classic race Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Tour of Tsalteshi sees record turnout

In its fourth year at the trail system just outside of Soldotna, the Tour had record turnout of 136 finishers.

Sam Spencer, Erik Route and Josiah Brown, all of Cooper Landing, near the finish of the 20-kilometer classic race Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
State health officials address members of the media during a virtual press conference on Monday, Feb. 22 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

Over half of peninsula seniors have at least 1 vaccine dose

5,773 of 11,317 people in the borough age 65 or older have received at least one vaccine dose

State health officials address members of the media during a virtual press conference on Monday, Feb. 22 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Katie Hurley, seen here in an undated photo from the Alaska State Legislature biography page, died at the age of 99 on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Alaska State Legislature)

‘Grande Dame’ of Alaska politics, dies at 99

“Extraordinary Alaskan.”

Katie Hurley, seen here in an undated photo from the Alaska State Legislature biography page, died at the age of 99 on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Alaska State Legislature)
The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, AK as seen on February 26, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Court reports for the week of Feb. 21, 2021

Read the latest

The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, AK as seen on February 26, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

City of Kenai to open new business grant opportunity

The city offered two rounds of its CARES Act Relief and Recovery Grant program last year.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

18.2% of Alaska has at least one vaccine dose

The second highest state on Friday was Connecticut at 14.7%

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, sent Reinbold a letter on Feb. 18, 2021, saying she has used her position to “misrepresent” the state’s COVID-19 response. Reinbold said the letter was “full of baseless accusations and complaints.” (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Dunleavy: Reinbold misrepresents virus response

Dunleavy said his administration will no longer respond to or participate in hearings led by the senator.

Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, sent Reinbold a letter on Feb. 18, 2021, saying she has used her position to “misrepresent” the state’s COVID-19 response. Reinbold said the letter was “full of baseless accusations and complaints.” (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Benjamin Jackinsky stands next to bookshelves inside of Already Read on Friday, Feb. 19 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Businesses await boost from shop local effort

The program aims to incentivize shopping at local businesses

Benjamin Jackinsky stands next to bookshelves inside of Already Read on Friday, Feb. 19 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The collapsed remnants of the Triumvirate Theatre can be seen on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. The building burned down in an early morning fire on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Joe Rizzo)

Triumvirate Theatre burns down

The building is a total loss.

The collapsed remnants of the Triumvirate Theatre can be seen on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. The building burned down in an early morning fire on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Joe Rizzo)
A negative pressure room inside of the ambulance bay at Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna, Alaska on April 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Future uncertain for peninsula hospitals following lapse in state disaster declaration

Richards said CPH is doing OK now, but could run into trouble if there is an uptick in COVID cases

A negative pressure room inside of the ambulance bay at Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna, Alaska on April 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai City Council meets on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)

Kenai council extends disaster declaration

The city’s declaration is now set to expire on March 31

The Kenai City Council meets on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Becky Bohrer / Associated Press Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes speaks to Rep. Bryce Edgmon on the House floor on Thursday, in Juneau. The House, which has struggled to organize, on Thursday adopted a report setting out committee assignments, a month into the legislative session.

Alaska House organizes, but questions remain about function

Stutes earlier in the week had declared her caucus “21 strong.”

Becky Bohrer / Associated Press Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes speaks to Rep. Bryce Edgmon on the House floor on Thursday, in Juneau. The House, which has struggled to organize, on Thursday adopted a report setting out committee assignments, a month into the legislative session.