Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly president, Peter Ribbens, speaks in an aside to District 8 representative and Vice President Kelly Cooper before the beginning of the Aug. 5, 2025, KPB Assembly meeting at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Voters to decide on borough sales tax cap increase

Assembly Ordinance 2025-14 aims to adjust the sales tax cap with inflation.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly president, Peter Ribbens, speaks in an aside to District 8 representative and Vice President Kelly Cooper before the beginning of the Aug. 5, 2025, KPB Assembly meeting at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
A voter fills out their ballot at the Kenai No. 2 Precinct in the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Few candidates have filed for upcoming election

The filing period for candidacy applications across all six electoral races closes at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15.

A voter fills out their ballot at the Kenai No. 2 Precinct in the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD reverses some activity stipend cuts, raises fees

The district’s final budget adopted in July called for a halving of all activity stipends.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Joel Johnson, president of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; Carrie Hourman, lead sustainability director for Dow Climate & Circularity; and Susan Sherman, executive director of the Marine Debris Foundation, sit for a panel at the Kenai River Sportfishing Association’s Kenai Classic Roundtable at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Annual Kenai Classic Roundtable to focus on Alaska king salmon

The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 20, in the Soldotna Field House.

Joel Johnson, president of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation; Carrie Hourman, lead sustainability director for Dow Climate & Circularity; and Susan Sherman, executive director of the Marine Debris Foundation, sit for a panel at the Kenai River Sportfishing Association’s Kenai Classic Roundtable at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall is seen on a sunny Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to inventory roads, streetlights

The projects will identify the condition of the respective city infrastructure and identify possible “major deficiencies,” officials said.

Kenai City Hall is seen on a sunny Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna Field House is seen on a sunny Monday, March 31, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Grand opening for Soldotna Field House on Saturday

Though the field house will be opened this weekend, it will not open to general public operations for a couple more weeks.

The Soldotna Field House is seen on a sunny Monday, March 31, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A road closed sign stands at the Kenai River flats turnoff in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)

Bridge Access pullout closed for construction

Located on the west side of Bridge Access Road, the pullout provides access to the Kenai River and flats.

A road closed sign stands at the Kenai River flats turnoff in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks at an event at the White House in Washington, Aug. 7, 2025. Airstrikes on Ukraine by Russia on Friday came the day that President Trump’s deadline expired for Russia’s leader to agree to end the war. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)

Trump says he will meet with Putin in Alaska next week

The meeting comes as he tries to secure a deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine

  • Aug 8, 2025
  • By Tyler Pager and David E. Sanger c.2025 The New York Times Company
  • State News
President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks at an event at the White House in Washington, Aug. 7, 2025. Airstrikes on Ukraine by Russia on Friday came the day that President Trump’s deadline expired for Russia’s leader to agree to end the war. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Traveling nurse charged with murder of 78-year-old Soldotna man

John “Skip” Dove Jr. was found on Tuesday stabbed to death in his home off Sports Lake Road north of Soldotna.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
A map of the Johnson Tract Mine exploration project. Photo courtesy of the Center for Biological Diversity

Inletkeeper, partners file lawsuit against Cook Inlet gold mine

The Johnson Tract Mine is located on CIRI-owned lands inside Lake Clark National Park.

A map of the Johnson Tract Mine exploration project. Photo courtesy of the Center for Biological Diversity
The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Russian River Campground closed to public use beginning next week

The area is expected to reopen Oct. 12.

The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Jakob Kooly, vice chair of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s tribal council, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. secretary of health and human services, speak during a press conference at the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Tribal health, nutrition discussed during U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy’s visit to Kenai

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. toured the Dena’ina Wellness Center on Thursday.

Jakob Kooly, vice chair of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s tribal council, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. secretary of health and human services, speak during a press conference at the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
This map shows the location of a magnitude 4.0 earthquake that hit about 8 miles east of Ninilchik, Alaska on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 3:45 p.m. The map also shows the intensity of the quake as reported by observers. (Map by U.S. Geological Survey)
This map shows the location of a magnitude 4.0 earthquake that hit about 8 miles east of Ninilchik, Alaska on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 3:45 p.m. The map also shows the intensity of the quake as reported by observers. (Map by U.S. Geological Survey)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly gathers before the beginning fo the Aug. 5, 2025, KPB Assembly meeting at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Borough puts proposal for seasonal sales tax on hold

The proposal would increase the sales tax during summer months and reduce it during winter months.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly gathers before the beginning fo the Aug. 5, 2025, KPB Assembly meeting at the Porcupine Theater in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Gary Hollier and other east side setnetters offload sockeye salmon on a beach in Kalifornsky, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Be safe, catch fish, have fun’

Setnetters see first opening since 2022.

Gary Hollier and other east side setnetters offload sockeye salmon on a beach in Kalifornsky, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Dick Hawkins speaks during a community meeting about the proposed Ninilchik Recreation Service Area at the Ninilchik Community Center in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik voters to decide on levying tax to support pool, rec services

A “yes” vote would support establishment of the Ninilchik Recreational Service Area with an emphasis on funding the pool at Ninilchik School.

Dick Hawkins speaks during a community meeting about the proposed Ninilchik Recreation Service Area at the Ninilchik Community Center in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
David Meyer. Photo courtesy of Chantrelle Meyer

Remains of missing kayaker recovered

David Meyer, 62, of Happy Valley was reported missing on June 11.

David Meyer. Photo courtesy of Chantrelle Meyer
President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD responds to restored state, federal funding

After a successful vote of the Alaska Legislature reversed Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of $50 million education funding on Saturday, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School… Continue reading

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board OKs plan to combine Soldotna schools

The vacated Redoubt Elementary facility would house Soldotna Montessori Charter School and River City Academy.

Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Students stand during a protest against the possible closure of Sterling Elementary School along the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD board starts talking 2026 school closures

This year, the district closed Nikolaevsk School and very nearly closed Sterling Elementary School.

Students stand during a protest against the possible closure of Sterling Elementary School along the Sterling Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)