News

In this photo provided by Eric Kiehn, Northwest Incident Management Team 10, Alaska Division of Forestry, a fixed-wing aircraft drops water on the Clear Fire near Anderson, Alaska, July 6, 2022. One home has been destroyed by the wildfire burning in Alaska’s interior, while a majority of people under evacuation orders are sheltering in place. (Eric Kiehn, Northwest Incident Management Team 10, Alaska Division of Forestry via AP)

1 home destroyed, 155 people told to evacuate Alaska fire

Only 25 have evacuated with 130 people sheltering in place

  • Jul 8, 2022
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
In this photo provided by Eric Kiehn, Northwest Incident Management Team 10, Alaska Division of Forestry, a fixed-wing aircraft drops water on the Clear Fire near Anderson, Alaska, July 6, 2022. One home has been destroyed by the wildfire burning in Alaska’s interior, while a majority of people under evacuation orders are sheltering in place. (Eric Kiehn, Northwest Incident Management Team 10, Alaska Division of Forestry via AP)
Ted Kubacki gets a lick from the family golden retriever, Lulu, outside their house after being reunited in Sitka, Alaska, on Thursday, July 7, 2022. The elderly, blind dog who had been missing three weeks, was found Tuesday, July 5, 2022, by a construction crew in salmonberry bushes after initially confusing her for a bear. Behind Ted is his wife, Rebecca, and their children Ella, Viola, Star, Lazaria and Olive. (James Poulson/The Daily Sitka Sentinel via AP)

Blind, older dog found in Alaska 3 weeks after wandering off

Lulu was barely alive after being found Tuesday

Ted Kubacki gets a lick from the family golden retriever, Lulu, outside their house after being reunited in Sitka, Alaska, on Thursday, July 7, 2022. The elderly, blind dog who had been missing three weeks, was found Tuesday, July 5, 2022, by a construction crew in salmonberry bushes after initially confusing her for a bear. Behind Ted is his wife, Rebecca, and their children Ella, Viola, Star, Lazaria and Olive. (James Poulson/The Daily Sitka Sentinel via AP)
Bear Mountain is seen in Seward, Alaska, on Sunday, July 2, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Seismic and survey work for Seward tunnel project to start next week

Contractors with the Corps will work in Lowell Canyon, west of the current tunnel and diversion dam, July 12 through July 15

Bear Mountain is seen in Seward, Alaska, on Sunday, July 2, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
This photo shows a sample ballot for the Aug. 16 special general election to determine who will fill the months remaining on Don Young’s term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Alaska’s longtime representative died in March. The three candidates vying to fill Young’s term are also among those running for a full two-year term and will appear on primary ballot the same day. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy, Begich, Murkowski remain favorites in new poll

Ranked choice voting could shake up U.S. House race, as Peltola has slim edge against Palin

This photo shows a sample ballot for the Aug. 16 special general election to determine who will fill the months remaining on Don Young’s term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Alaska’s longtime representative died in March. The three candidates vying to fill Young’s term are also among those running for a full two-year term and will appear on primary ballot the same day. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Demonstrators in support of abortion rights stand at the intersection of the Kenai and Sterling highways on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

With post-Roe focus on abortion access, Alaska advocates plan events for Saturday

July 9 events taking place in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Homer

Demonstrators in support of abortion rights stand at the intersection of the Kenai and Sterling highways on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Megan Pacer / Homer News A giant silver salmon is paraded through Salmonfest on Aug. 3, 2019, in Ninilchik.

Umphrey’s McGee, Shakey Graves to headline Salmonfest 2022

The festival returns Aug. 5-7 in Ninilchik

Megan Pacer / Homer News A giant silver salmon is paraded through Salmonfest on Aug. 3, 2019, in Ninilchik.
Recycling signage is displayed on an upscaled dumpster used to collect plastics as part of a project to turn discarded plastic waste into artificial lumber, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Lori Landstrom)

Seward recycling program to turn plastic into lumber

The program was made possible by grant money awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency

Recycling signage is displayed on an upscaled dumpster used to collect plastics as part of a project to turn discarded plastic waste into artificial lumber, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Lori Landstrom)
This map shows a proposed rezone from rural residential to urban residential for the lower West Hill Road area. The Homer Planning Commission recommended only rezoning the area east of West Hill Road, and the Homer City Council introduced an ordinance at its June 27 meeting to just rezone the east side. (Map courtesy of city of Homer)

Homer council considers West Hill rezoning

East side of lower West Hill would be rezoned to urban residential

This map shows a proposed rezone from rural residential to urban residential for the lower West Hill Road area. The Homer Planning Commission recommended only rezoning the area east of West Hill Road, and the Homer City Council introduced an ordinance at its June 27 meeting to just rezone the east side. (Map courtesy of city of Homer)
In this Nov. 7, 2020, photo Jaimie Sekona holds a Trump flag on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol. The former president is scheduled to speak Saturday afternoon at a rally in Anchorage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Still time to trip out for Trump

A procession of guest speakers will be featured first, with Trump scheduled to speak at 4 p.m.

In this Nov. 7, 2020, photo Jaimie Sekona holds a Trump flag on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol. The former president is scheduled to speak Saturday afternoon at a rally in Anchorage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Slash is piled at the City of Kenai’s slash disposal site on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough will use $300,000 in general funds to set up temporary slash disposal sites in multiple communities throughout the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs $300k for borough slash sites

The move is in response to the ongoing spruce bark beetle outbreak

Slash is piled at the City of Kenai’s slash disposal site on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough will use $300,000 in general funds to set up temporary slash disposal sites in multiple communities throughout the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID

COVID cases, hospitalizations, down from last week’s report

Officials say hospitalization data is the most effective indicator of the prevalence of the virus

COVID
The cast of the Disney musical “Tarzan,” which is being performed at Soldotna Creek Park beginning Saturday, rides the Triumvirate Theatre float during the Kenai 4th of July Parade on Monday, July 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Swinging and singing

Triumvirate debuts the Disney musical “Tarzan” at Soldotna Creek Park

The cast of the Disney musical “Tarzan,” which is being performed at Soldotna Creek Park beginning Saturday, rides the Triumvirate Theatre float during the Kenai 4th of July Parade on Monday, July 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Tents are shown Wednesday, July 6, 2022, inside Centennial Park in Anchorage, Alaska. State wildlife officials have killed four black bears in a campground recently set aside for the city’s homeless population after Anchorage’s largest shelter was closed. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

4 bears killed in campground area reserved for homeless

The city closed its pandemic mass shelter at Sullivan Arena on June 30

  • Jul 6, 2022
  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press
  • State News
Tents are shown Wednesday, July 6, 2022, inside Centennial Park in Anchorage, Alaska. State wildlife officials have killed four black bears in a campground recently set aside for the city’s homeless population after Anchorage’s largest shelter was closed. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Window of opportunity’ seen for LNG Project

Brad Chastain presented the current status of the project Wednesday

Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Flathead Lake Biological Station researchers Erin Sexton (right) and Chris Sergeant watch spawning salmon in a groundwater channel of the mine-impacted Tulsequah River in British Columbia. (Courtesy Photo / Jonathan Moore, Simon Fraser University)

New paper sheds light on mining’s impact on salmon and transboundary watersheds

Decisions can have centuries of impact, according to researchers.

Flathead Lake Biological Station researchers Erin Sexton (right) and Chris Sergeant watch spawning salmon in a groundwater channel of the mine-impacted Tulsequah River in British Columbia. (Courtesy Photo / Jonathan Moore, Simon Fraser University)
Peonies used at Alaska Perfect Peony Farm to create bouquets for the tour group on July 9, 2021. Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News

3rd annual Peony Celebration starts

Events in July include art, farm tours

Peonies used at Alaska Perfect Peony Farm to create bouquets for the tour group on July 9, 2021. Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News
Megan Rapinoe’s “One Life” is seen at the Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Queer, beautiful, normal

Megan Rapinoe’s memoir tackles love, sports and breaking barriers

Megan Rapinoe’s “One Life” is seen at the Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
People line the streets in downtown Kenai, Alaska on Monday, July 4, 2022 for the annual Independence Day parade. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Red, white and blue all day

Kenai turns out for parade, activities to celebrate Independence Day

People line the streets in downtown Kenai, Alaska on Monday, July 4, 2022 for the annual Independence Day parade. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna, borough to continue 911 dispatch partnership

The assembly approved an agreement Tuesday

Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

ATV accident leaves teen dead in Ninilchik

A 15-year-old girl was driving an ATV with a 14-year-old female passenger

Alaska State Troopers logo.