News

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.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Judge rules against governor on appointments

The decision by Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg came in a case brought in late December by the Legislative Council

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Joel Bolger speaks from behind a plexiglass encased podium to deliver the State of the Judiciary address to state lawmakers on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Despite complications posed by the pandemic, Bolger said Alaskan courts were still able to deliver services. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Bolger says Alaska’s judge selection best in U.S.

Nonpartisan selection?

Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Joel Bolger speaks from behind a plexiglass encased podium to deliver the State of the Judiciary address to state lawmakers on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. Despite complications posed by the pandemic, Bolger said Alaskan courts were still able to deliver services. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink and other state health officials address members of the media during a remote press conference on Thursday, Feb. 18. (Screenshot)

Over 200,000 vaccine doses administered; more than 55,000 total resident cases reported

Alaska continues to lead the nation in the percentage of the population that has received at least one dose

Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink and other state health officials address members of the media during a remote press conference on Thursday, Feb. 18. (Screenshot)
Alaska state Rep. Ben Carpenter, center, speaks to Rep. David Eastman on the floor of the House on Monday, May 18, 2020, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Local State House reps. get committee assignments

Local lawmakers will represent the Kenai Peninsula on at least five different state House committees

Alaska state Rep. Ben Carpenter, center, speaks to Rep. David Eastman on the floor of the House on Monday, May 18, 2020, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Ben LaVigueur, 43, of Nikiski starts the Little Su 50K on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Big Lake, Alaska. LaVigueur won the run category in the event. (Photo by Andy Romang)

Back in the running

Niksiki’s LaVigueur wins Little Su 50K in return to ultramarathons

Ben LaVigueur, 43, of Nikiski starts the Little Su 50K on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Big Lake, Alaska. LaVigueur won the run category in the event. (Photo by Andy Romang)
Mike Chihuly and Crosson look for a good place to cross open water during a ptarmigan hunt in the Kenai Mountains. (courtesy)

Ninilchik author explores bird dog hunting in latest work

The book features photos and recollections of more than 40 years hunting Alaska game birds with dogs.

Mike Chihuly and Crosson look for a good place to cross open water during a ptarmigan hunt in the Kenai Mountains. (courtesy)
Peggy Clements testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly votes against Caribou Island access change

The vote to veto was unanimous

Peggy Clements testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) participate in the assembly’s Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 meeting at the borough assembly chambers in Soldotna, Alaska. The assembly voted Tuesday to fund 13 new positions for four fire and EMS service areas. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Fire and EMS service areas get additional personnel

This includes the 5 positions already slated for the new Western Emergency Services

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) participate in the assembly’s Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 meeting at the borough assembly chambers in Soldotna, Alaska. The assembly voted Tuesday to fund 13 new positions for four fire and EMS service areas. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19 (Image via CDC)

About 15% of borough residents have at least 1 vaccine dose

Alaska leads the nation in the percentage of the population that has received at least one dose

COVID-19 (Image via CDC)
The homepage of Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s new workforce development is seen in a screenshot from Feb. 17, 2021. (Screenshot)

KPEDD unveils workforce development website

The website aims to connect people with resources to help them start a career

The homepage of Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s new workforce development is seen in a screenshot from Feb. 17, 2021. (Screenshot)
This map shows a proposed road and gravel pad that are part of Hilcorp Alaska’s application to drill gas exploration wells near Anchor Point, Alaska. (Image courtesy Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas)

Hilcorp seeks to drill gas exploration wells near Anchor Point

Public comments accepted through March 4

This map shows a proposed road and gravel pad that are part of Hilcorp Alaska’s application to drill gas exploration wells near Anchor Point, Alaska. (Image courtesy Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas)
Actors portraying the Chorus of the Women of Canterbury rehearse on Monday, Feb. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Poetry, history and murder

Kenai Performers takes on T.S. Eliot in its latest show

Actors portraying the Chorus of the Women of Canterbury rehearse on Monday, Feb. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)