The Alaska House of Representatives spent three days in floor sessions at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, and on Thursday finished working through the 87 amendments submitted to the state’s operating budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska House of Representatives spent three days in floor sessions at the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, and on Thursday finished working through the 87 amendments submitted to the state’s operating budget bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID hospitalizations down from last week

Officials recommend all eligible Alaskans be up to date on their COVID vaccines to minimize the impact on communities

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
An area cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass project can be seen above the intersection of the Kenai River and Kenai Lake in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Sept. 6, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Cooper Landing bypass construction resumes this week

Construction paused last October for the winter season

An area cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass project can be seen above the intersection of the Kenai River and Kenai Lake in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Sept. 6, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Members of the Alaska House of Representatives spent most of the day on the floor on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, working their way through the more than 80 amendments submitted to the state’s budget bill. By Wednesday afternoon lawmakers had worked through more than 50 but passed only two; $50,000 for ice road maintenance and exempting the state’s Mediciad program from covering abortions.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Members of the Alaska House of Representatives spent most of the day on the floor on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, working their way through the more than 80 amendments submitted to the state’s budget bill. By Wednesday afternoon lawmakers had worked through more than 50 but passed only two; $50,000 for ice road maintenance and exempting the state’s Mediciad program from covering abortions.
The commerical fishing fleet is seen from Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Fish votes no on Proposal 283

The proposal would have loosened restrictions for set gillnetters in a part of Cook Inlet

The commerical fishing fleet is seen from Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly participate in a meeting on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tautfest appointed to borough planning commission

Her appointment caps a monthslong process to fill the vacancy

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly participate in a meeting on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Courtesy Photo
Linda Buckley, a retired Juneau educator, has written her second children’s book “The Humpback in the Herring.” Like her first book, “The Bear in the Blueberry,” the book examines the relationship between organisms big and small.

Children’s author is back with a whale tale

First there was ‘The Bear in the Blueberry.’ Now, there’s ‘The Humpback in the Herring.’

Courtesy Photo
Linda Buckley, a retired Juneau educator, has written her second children’s book “The Humpback in the Herring.” Like her first book, “The Bear in the Blueberry,” the book examines the relationship between organisms big and small.
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
A teapot holds crocheted sunflowers at Already Read bookstore on Thursday in Kenai.

Crocheted sunflowers raise money for Ukrainian refugees

The flowers are sold in multiple businesses around the central peninsula

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
A teapot holds crocheted sunflowers at Already Read bookstore on Thursday in Kenai.
Gina Keith, with Kachemak Electric, speaks with job seekers at the 2017 Kenai Peninsula Job Fair (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion file)

Job fair returns to Soldotna on Thursday

More than 50 vendors will be at the Sports Complex

Gina Keith, with Kachemak Electric, speaks with job seekers at the 2017 Kenai Peninsula Job Fair (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion file)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file
Members of the Alaska House of Representatives has 87 amendments submitted to the state’s operating budget bill and intends to spend the rest of the week in floor session working through them.

House begins debate on 87 amendments to budget bill

Several of the amendments considered offered various amounts for Alaska Permanent Fund dividends

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file
Members of the Alaska House of Representatives has 87 amendments submitted to the state’s operating budget bill and intends to spend the rest of the week in floor session working through them.
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Bail hearing set for Soldotna murder suspect

Soldotna resident Nathan Penrod is charged with first-degree murder and third-degree assault

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board member Debbie Cary speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Cary also served on the borough’s reapportionment board. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board member Debbie Cary speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Cary also served on the borough’s reapportionment board. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Central Peninsula Hospital to get new CEO this summer

Shaun Keef will replace outgoing CEO Rick Davis, who plans to retire June 30

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A proposed map from Alaska Redistricting Board member Melanie Bahnke shows possible pairings of Alaska House of Representatives districts in Anchorage for the Alaska State Senate. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled last month the board acted unconstitutionally in its proposals and issued an April 15 deadline to present acceptable maps. (Screenshot)
A proposed map from Alaska Redistricting Board member Melanie Bahnke shows possible pairings of Alaska House of Representatives districts in Anchorage for the Alaska State Senate. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled last month the board acted unconstitutionally in its proposals and issued an April 15 deadline to present acceptable maps. (Screenshot)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Missing Wasilla woman found dead

Parthena Kinkead was reported missing by a friend

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Signs warn Fred Meyer customers to prepay if they think they may go over limits while pumping gas on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai police ask to use surplus funds for fuel

The cost of fuel per gallon has increased sharply over the last year

Signs warn Fred Meyer customers to prepay if they think they may go over limits while pumping gas on Friday, March 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Alaska’s leadership lauds Young at memorial

The longest-serving Republican in the history of the U.S. House died March 18

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at U.S. Rep. Don Young’s memorial service at the Anchorage Baptist Temple, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
A participant seeks probation services at the Kenai Peninsula Re-Entry Coalition simulation at the Old Carrs Mall in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, April 2, 2022. The event was intended to give community members an understanding of the challenges faced by those leaving incarceration. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Life after incarceration

Simulation walks community members through re-entry challenges

A participant seeks probation services at the Kenai Peninsula Re-Entry Coalition simulation at the Old Carrs Mall in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, April 2, 2022. The event was intended to give community members an understanding of the challenges faced by those leaving incarceration. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, appears with then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally at the Iowa State University on Jan. 19, 2016, in Ames, Iowa. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has picked up a prized endorsement in her bid in an extremely crowded field to fill the unexpired term of the late U.S. Rep. Don Young. Former President Donald Trump backed Palin on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in a statement from his political action committee. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Trump endorses Palin in bid for Alaska’s sole House seat

A total of 51 candidates signed up by the Friday deadline to run in a special primary following Young’s death

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, appears with then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally at the Iowa State University on Jan. 19, 2016, in Ames, Iowa. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has picked up a prized endorsement in her bid in an extremely crowded field to fill the unexpired term of the late U.S. Rep. Don Young. Former President Donald Trump backed Palin on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in a statement from his political action committee. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, walks to meet Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., on Capitol Hill, Monday, April 4, 2022, in Washington.

Murkowski announces support for confirmation of Jackson to Supreme Court

She joins two other high-profile Republican senators who said they would support Jackson

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, walks to meet Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., on Capitol Hill, Monday, April 4, 2022, in Washington.