News

Graffiti can be seen on the front of Ammo-Can Coffee in Soldotna, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. The conservative social club and coffee shop reported Monday that someone had vandalized the storefront and glued the locks. (Photo courtesy Ammo-Can Coffee)

Police investigating vandalism at Ammo-Can Coffee

The conservative club and coffee shop reported the damage Monday

Graffiti can be seen on the front of Ammo-Can Coffee in Soldotna, on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. The conservative social club and coffee shop reported Monday that someone had vandalized the storefront and glued the locks. (Photo courtesy Ammo-Can Coffee)
A young volunteer chases three piglets named Mary Hamkins, Petunia and Sir Oinks-a-lot through the race Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds during the pig races on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Ninilchik, Alaska. Spectators place bets on their favorite swine to win and the proceeds go to support the fair. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Fair to bring bands, food, animals and a cappella groups to Ninilchik

The event runs Friday through Sunday with a packed schedule of performances and attractions

A young volunteer chases three piglets named Mary Hamkins, Petunia and Sir Oinks-a-lot through the race Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds during the pig races on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Ninilchik, Alaska. Spectators place bets on their favorite swine to win and the proceeds go to support the fair. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Mary Peltola responds to a question during a forum at the Kenai Visitor Center on Aug. 3, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. With less than two weeks to go before Alaska’s Aug. 16 election, the three candidates seeking to temporarily replace Congressman Don Young in Alaska’s U.S. House seat have made clear their positions on abortion. (Peninsula Clarion/Jake Dye)

Here’s where Alaska’s U.S. House candidates stand on access to abortion

Palin and Begich oppose congressional efforts to guarantee abortion rights, Peltola supports abortion access

Mary Peltola responds to a question during a forum at the Kenai Visitor Center on Aug. 3, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. With less than two weeks to go before Alaska’s Aug. 16 election, the three candidates seeking to temporarily replace Congressman Don Young in Alaska’s U.S. House seat have made clear their positions on abortion. (Peninsula Clarion/Jake Dye)
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 to be closed until June 2023 beginning next week

Resurfacing and reinforcement work will occur along about 1 mile of the Russian River Campground Road

The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Hikers rescued near Cooper Landing

They became trapped in a steep ravine after taking a canoe over Kenai Lake and climbing a mountain, troopers say

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Vials of empty monkeypox vaccines sit at a table at Seattle Central College in Seattle, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. (Daniel Kim/The Seattle Times via AP)

State announces two-tiered system for monkeypox vaccine

Due to low availability, the monkeypox vaccine is administered only in response to potential exposure

Vials of empty monkeypox vaccines sit at a table at Seattle Central College in Seattle, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. (Daniel Kim/The Seattle Times via AP)
People gather in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, for Salmonfest, an annual event that raises awareness about salmon-related causes. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

All about the salmon

Fish, love and music return to Ninilchik

People gather in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, for Salmonfest, an annual event that raises awareness about salmon-related causes. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai River dipnetting closed; Kasilof to close Sunday

The Kasilof River dipnet fishery is reportedly slow, but fish are being caught

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Silver salmon hang in the Seward Boat Harbor during the 2018 Seward Silver Salmon Derby. (Photo courtesy of Seward Chamber of Commerce)

Seward Silver Salmon derby runs Aug. 13-21

Last year’s derby featured 1,800 contestants competing across eight days

Silver salmon hang in the Seward Boat Harbor during the 2018 Seward Silver Salmon Derby. (Photo courtesy of Seward Chamber of Commerce)
Rayna Reynolds tends to her cow at the 4-H Agriculture Expo in Soldotna, Alaska on Aug. 5, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Animals take the stage at 4-H expo

Contestants were judged on the quality of the animal or showmanship of the handler

Rayna Reynolds tends to her cow at the 4-H Agriculture Expo in Soldotna, Alaska on Aug. 5, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Emily Matthews and Andy Kowalczyk pose outside the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies headquarters on Friday, July 29, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/Homer News)

AmeriCorps volunteers aid Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

The 10-month commitment pushed them outside of comfort zones

Emily Matthews and Andy Kowalczyk pose outside the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies headquarters on Friday, July 29, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/Homer News)
Alaska State Veterinarian Dr. Bob Gerlach gives a presentation on Avian Influenza Virus at the 4-H Agriculture Expo in Soldotna, Alaska, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

State looks to outreach, education amid bird flu outbreak

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is spreading in Alaska

Alaska State Veterinarian Dr. Bob Gerlach gives a presentation on Avian Influenza Virus at the 4-H Agriculture Expo in Soldotna, Alaska, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion file Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on July 6.

Local leaders voice support for LNG project

Local municipalities are making their support for the Alaska LNG Project known

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion file Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on July 6.
Fencing surrounds the 4th Avenue Theatre in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. Demolition will begin in August 2022 on the once-opulent downtown Anchorage movie theater designed by the architect of Hollywood’s famed Pantages Theatre. The 4th Avenue Theatre with nearly 1,000 seats opened in 1947, and it withstood the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Efforts fail to save historic Anchorage theater from demolition

Anchorage entrepreneur Austin “Cap” Lathrop opened the 4th Avenue Theatre, with nearly 1,000 seats, on May 31, 1947

  • Aug 4, 2022
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
Fencing surrounds the 4th Avenue Theatre in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. Demolition will begin in August 2022 on the once-opulent downtown Anchorage movie theater designed by the architect of Hollywood’s famed Pantages Theatre. The 4th Avenue Theatre with nearly 1,000 seats opened in 1947, and it withstood the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Mimi Israelah, center, cheers for Donald Trump inside the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska, during a rally Saturday July 9, 2022. Two Anchorage police officers violated department policy during a traffic stop last month when Israelah, in town for a rally by former President Donald Trump showed a “white privilege card” instead of a driver’s license and was not ticketed. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)

Alaska officers violated policy in ‘white privilege’ stop

The top of the novelty card reads: “White Privilege Card Trumps Everything.”

Mimi Israelah, center, cheers for Donald Trump inside the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska, during a rally Saturday July 9, 2022. Two Anchorage police officers violated department policy during a traffic stop last month when Israelah, in town for a rally by former President Donald Trump showed a “white privilege card” instead of a driver’s license and was not ticketed. (Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID hospitalizations down, cases up

74 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Jake Dye / Peninsula Clarion Lilly Murray, donations and communications manager at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, gives a tour of food stored at the facility in Soldotna on Thursday. Kenai Peninsula Food Bank Donations and Communications Manager Lilly Murray gives a tour of food stored at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Aug. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska.

Low on fuel funds, food bank launches online fundraiser

The fuel is necessary so the food bank can maintain delivery service to 40 communities and 70 partner agencies

Jake Dye / Peninsula Clarion Lilly Murray, donations and communications manager at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank, gives a tour of food stored at the facility in Soldotna on Thursday. Kenai Peninsula Food Bank Donations and Communications Manager Lilly Murray gives a tour of food stored at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Aug. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska.
Nick Begich and Mary Peltola answer questions at a candidate forum at the Kenai Visitor Center on Aug. 3, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/Jake Dye)

Peltola, Begich trade views at chamber forum

The two candidates are vying to fill former Rep. Don Young’s seat

Nick Begich and Mary Peltola answer questions at a candidate forum at the Kenai Visitor Center on Aug. 3, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/Jake Dye)
Parker Rose shows his pig during the senior swine showmanship round of the Kenai Peninsula 4-H Agriculture Expo at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. He was the reserved grand champion in his class. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

4-H Agriculture Expo returns to sports complex this weekend

The event will include a livestock shows Friday, a livestock auction Saturday and a horse show Sunday.

Parker Rose shows his pig during the senior swine showmanship round of the Kenai Peninsula 4-H Agriculture Expo at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021. He was the reserved grand champion in his class. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang, right, listens to east side setnet fisherman at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association building on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

ADFG commissioner to setnetters: Take up closures with fisheries board

The closure was triggered when the state closed the Kenai River drainage to king salmon fishing

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang, right, listens to east side setnet fisherman at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association building on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)