News

In this Empire File photo, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, listens as Attorney General Kevin Clarkson describes three constitutional amendments that would be a foundation of his administration’s fiscal plan during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Governor Dunleavy announces executive order regarding union employee dues

Employess must opt in.

In this Empire File photo, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, listens as Attorney General Kevin Clarkson describes three constitutional amendments that would be a foundation of his administration’s fiscal plan during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby winner Jason Schuler, left, of Wahpeton, North Dakota, poses with his 224.2-pound fish on July 12, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. To the right of the fish is Captain Daniel Donich of Daniel’s Personalized Guide Service. Schuler caught the fish on Donich’s boat, the Optimist. (Photo provided)

Homer Chamber of Commerce ends halibut derby

2019 winner will be the last in a long history.

Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby winner Jason Schuler, left, of Wahpeton, North Dakota, poses with his 224.2-pound fish on July 12, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. To the right of the fish is Captain Daniel Donich of Daniel’s Personalized Guide Service. Schuler caught the fish on Donich’s boat, the Optimist. (Photo provided)
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly hold a religious invocation during the Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. The invocation was held only hours after the Alaska Superior Court ruled the ritual violated the Alaska Constitution. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough accepting invocation applications

Residents approved to provide invocations will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly hold a religious invocation during the Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. The invocation was held only hours after the Alaska Superior Court ruled the ritual violated the Alaska Constitution. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Poet and writer Diane Ackerman delivers the keynote address on June 14, 2019, at the opening of the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference at Land’s End Resort, Homer, Alaska. Ackerman spoke about the historical background for her book, “The Zookeeper’s Wife.” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Dunleavy budget cuts prompt Kacheamak Bay Writers’ Conference to take 1-year hiatus

The hiatus comes in the midst of budget cuts to the University of Alaska imposed by Gov. Dunleavy.

Poet and writer Diane Ackerman delivers the keynote address on June 14, 2019, at the opening of the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference at Land’s End Resort, Homer, Alaska. Ackerman spoke about the historical background for her book, “The Zookeeper’s Wife.” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

State minimum wage increasing to $10.19

Change to take place January 2020.

(From L to R) Jamie Nelson, Tracy Stange, Teri Zopf-Schoessler and Ian McEwen rehearse a scene for the upcoming play Crab Cakes and Murder Sept. 18, 2019, at the Kenai Performers studio in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Crab Cakes and Murder’ asks audience to guess ‘whodunit’

The audience will sit center stage as the events take place.

(From L to R) Jamie Nelson, Tracy Stange, Teri Zopf-Schoessler and Ian McEwen rehearse a scene for the upcoming play Crab Cakes and Murder Sept. 18, 2019, at the Kenai Performers studio in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion Alaska Wildlife Alliance member Grace Kautek looks out over the Kenai River for signs of belugas during the third annual Belugas Count! event at Erik Hansen Scout Park in Kenai on Saturday.

Citizen scientists catch site of belugas

Stations were set up around Cook Inlet — from Tyonek to Goose Bay to Homer.

Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion Alaska Wildlife Alliance member Grace Kautek looks out over the Kenai River for signs of belugas during the third annual Belugas Count! event at Erik Hansen Scout Park in Kenai on Saturday.
Trees burned by the Swan Lake Fire and knocked down by gusts of wind can be seen here along the Sterling Highway on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Swan Lake Fire boosts power rates for some

Increases will be noticed in Anchorage bowl, Cooper Landing, Hope, Seward and Moose Pass.

Trees burned by the Swan Lake Fire and knocked down by gusts of wind can be seen here along the Sterling Highway on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Susan Lockwood, a retired teacher, is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Meet the candidates: Susan Lockwood, District 1 school board

Lockwood is running for the Kalifornsky seat.

Susan Lockwood, a retired teacher, is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Dan Castimore is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education. (Photo courtesy of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District)

Meet the candidates: Dan Castimore, District 1, school board

Castimore currently holds the Kalifornsky seat.

Dan Castimore is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education. (Photo courtesy of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District)
A sign opposing Proposition 1 stands along Kalifornsky Beach Road near Soldotna on Wednesday, Sept. 18. The ads were paid for by AlaskaYes, according to the sign. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Complaint issued against Alaska Yes

The complaint was filed by Alaska Public Offices Commissioners staff.

A sign opposing Proposition 1 stands along Kalifornsky Beach Road near Soldotna on Wednesday, Sept. 18. The ads were paid for by AlaskaYes, according to the sign. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A map of the Swan Lake Fire as of Sept. 23, 2019. (Courtesy Alaska Type 3 Organization)

New crew takes over Swan Lake Fire

The Alaska Type 3 Organization has assumed command from the Northern Rockies Type 2 Team.

A map of the Swan Lake Fire as of Sept. 23, 2019. (Courtesy Alaska Type 3 Organization)
Patti Truesdell, a retired teacher, is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education. (Photo courtesy of Truesdell)

Meet the candidates: Patti Truesdell, District 1 school board

Truesdell is running for the Kalifornsky seat.

Patti Truesdell, a retired teacher, is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education. (Photo courtesy of Truesdell)

Meet the candidates: Martha Fleming , District 6 school board

Fleming is running unopposed.

John “Zen” Kelly is running again for the South Peninsula seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education. (Photo courtesy John “Zen” Kelly)

Meet the candidates: John “Zen” Kelly, District 9 school board

Kelly is running unopposed.

John “Zen” Kelly is running again for the South Peninsula seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education. (Photo courtesy John “Zen” Kelly)
Soldotna City Council members are pictured on Thursday, Sept. 12 at Soldotna City Hall in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

City council to discuss special election for Soldotna mayor’s seat

Mayor John ‘Nels” Anderson died Sept. 10 due to health complications.

Soldotna City Council members are pictured on Thursday, Sept. 12 at Soldotna City Hall in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A downed spruce tree sits near the East Glacier Trail at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in this June 2014 photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Judge blocks logging in the Tongass, for now

Old growth, new logging.

A downed spruce tree sits near the East Glacier Trail at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area in this June 2014 photo. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

State board to host meetings on substance abuse, mental health

The public is also invited to provide public comment on mental health and substance use impacts.

Sammy Crawford, a board member with the League of Women Voters, asks assembly and school board candidates questions at a forum held in on Thursday, Sept. 19 in Soldotna, ahead of the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

League of Women hosts candidate forum

Audience members raised questions about candidate absences

Sammy Crawford, a board member with the League of Women Voters, asks assembly and school board candidates questions at a forum held in on Thursday, Sept. 19 in Soldotna, ahead of the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Sport programs end for Russian Old Believer schools

Athletic programming has come to and end for a few different reasons.