Alaska State Troopers logo.

FBI responds to abandoned explosive found on Sterling Highway

The dynamite was likely left from previous road construction in the area, troopers said.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
A protester stands outside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin building in Soldotna on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Parents divided on masks

Some parents said they will keep their kids home if masks are required; others say they’ll keep their kids home if masks aren’t required.

A protester stands outside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin building in Soldotna on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Brie Drummond speaks in support of mask mandates on Monday, Sept. 13, for the Kenai Peninsula School Board meeting at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. During a work session before the meeting, the district presented revisions to its COVID-19 mitigation protocols. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

School district revises COVID-19 mitigation plans

The revisions come as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Alaska and on the Kenai Peninsula.

Brie Drummond speaks in support of mask mandates on Monday, Sept. 13, for the Kenai Peninsula School Board meeting at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. During a work session before the meeting, the district presented revisions to its COVID-19 mitigation protocols. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Volunteers work the fermentation station at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park on Sept. 14, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Serving up a passion for wellness, local foods

8th annual Harvest Moon Festival focuses on sustainability, locally sourced foods and food security.

Volunteers work the fermentation station at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park on Sept. 14, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

1 new COVID death pushes Alaska to 445

The state announced another 1,473 positive COVID cases over the weekend.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Chelsea Berg, a nurse at Peninsula Community Health Services, administers a flu shot during a free drive-thru flu shot event at Kenai Central High School on Oct. 24, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Officials: It’s time for the flu shot

State Epidemiologist Joe McLaughlin said there are some similarities with the flu and COVID-19 viruses.

Chelsea Berg, a nurse at Peninsula Community Health Services, administers a flu shot during a free drive-thru flu shot event at Kenai Central High School on Oct. 24, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska state Sens. Bert Stedman, left, and Natasha von Imhof listen during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Legislators are meeting in a special session, which is expected to end Tuesday. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

PFD unsettled as special session nears end

Legislators have spent most of this year in regular or special legislative sessions, with this year’s payout unresolved.

Alaska state Sens. Bert Stedman, left, and Natasha von Imhof listen during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Legislators are meeting in a special session, which is expected to end Tuesday. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
A bill aimed at helping Alaska’s hospitals died Monday after provisions were added by lawmakers barring vaccine mandates. In this file photo, a nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)
A bill aimed at helping Alaska’s hospitals died Monday after provisions were added by lawmakers barring vaccine mandates. In this file photo, a nurse holds a phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)
Dan Nelson stands in the Peninsula Clarion building on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dan Nelson stands in the Peninsula Clarion building on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council member Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings is running unopposed for a seat on the Soldotna City Council. (courtesy photo)
Soldotna City Council member Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings is running unopposed for a seat on the Soldotna City Council. (courtesy photo)
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

2 more COVID deaths reported; COVID cases grow

The state announced 702 new positive COVID cases Friday.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins a wheel to determine the Magic Weight at the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, at Three Bears grocery store in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Catch the magic silver

Silver salmon derby kicks off next week

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins a wheel to determine the Magic Weight at the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, at Three Bears grocery store in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council member Jordan Chilson is running for reelection to his seat on the council. (Courtesy photo)
Soldotna City Council member Jordan Chilson is running for reelection to his seat on the council. (Courtesy photo)
A firefighter with Central Emergency Services in Soldotna places an American flag in front of the station. Firefighters set over 400 flags in the grass outside CES in Soldotna on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 in honor of the first responders who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Here we stand together’

Central peninsula remembers 9/11 two decades later

A firefighter with Central Emergency Services in Soldotna places an American flag in front of the station. Firefighters set over 400 flags in the grass outside CES in Soldotna on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 in honor of the first responders who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Micah Shields (courtesy photo)
Micah Shields (courtesy photo)
Robert Purcell poses for a photo in November 2001 after he returned from five weeks working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in New York City after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. (Homer News file photo)

‘I knew that I was going to end up being a part of this’

Cleaning up, moving forward - Purcell remembers 9/11 20 years later

Robert Purcell poses for a photo in November 2001 after he returned from five weeks working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in New York City after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. (Homer News file photo)
In this March 15, 2021, file photo, Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, speaks to reporters in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska state lawmaker has requested an excusal from the state Senate until mid-January, citing the challenges of traveling to Juneau after she was suspended from flying on Alaska Airlines earlier this year. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, Pool, File)

State lawmaker suspended by airline seeks Senate excusal

Republican Sen. Lora Reinbold on Thursday requested the excusal from Saturday through Jan. 15.

  • Sep 11, 2021
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
  • State News
In this March 15, 2021, file photo, Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, speaks to reporters in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska state lawmaker has requested an excusal from the state Senate until mid-January, citing the challenges of traveling to Juneau after she was suspended from flying on Alaska Airlines earlier this year. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, Pool, File)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday he was filing suit against the Biden administration for an Environmental Protection Agency decision to potentially protect Bristol Bay waters under the Clean Water Act. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Gov criticizes Biden admin over Bristol Bay review

The EPA is seeking to reinitiate the process of making a Clean Water Act determination to protect certain waters in Bristol Bay.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, seen here at a Aug. 16, news conference, announced Thursday he was filing suit against the Biden administration for an Environmental Protection Agency decision to potentially protect Bristol Bay waters under the Clean Water Act. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Horse ivermectin paste is for sale at Kenai Feed and Supply on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Health officials tackle COVID misinformation

In their weekly press briefing, health officials worked to clarify FDA approval processes and misconceptions about alternative treatments for COVID.

Horse ivermectin paste is for sale at Kenai Feed and Supply on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Linda Cusack (left) and Teri Birchfield (right) test a Dominion voting machine ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

New voting machines get test spin

Testing voting equipment has always been open to the public, but was made more accessible due to sweeping election policies approved earlier this year.

Linda Cusack (left) and Teri Birchfield (right) test a Dominion voting machine ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)