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Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy went into self-quarantine Monday following news a close contact had tested positive for COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)

Governor quarantines following close contact

Gov. Mike Dunleavy is in quarantine following close contact on Saturday with a person who recently tested positive for COVID-19. Dunleavy was informed of the… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. Dunleavy went into self-quarantine Monday following news a close contact had tested positive for COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor)
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to consider Brown Bears’ future Wednesday

The Kenai River Brown Bears want to resume games in Soldotna in March

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Sam Spencer, Erik Route and Josiah Brown, all of Cooper Landing, near the finish of the 20-kilometer classic race Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Tour of Tsalteshi sees record turnout

In its fourth year at the trail system just outside of Soldotna, the Tour had record turnout of 136 finishers.

Sam Spencer, Erik Route and Josiah Brown, all of Cooper Landing, near the finish of the 20-kilometer classic race Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
State health officials address members of the media during a virtual press conference on Monday, Feb. 22 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

Over half of peninsula seniors have at least 1 vaccine dose

5,773 of 11,317 people in the borough age 65 or older have received at least one vaccine dose

State health officials address members of the media during a virtual press conference on Monday, Feb. 22 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Katie Hurley, seen here in an undated photo from the Alaska State Legislature biography page, died at the age of 99 on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Alaska State Legislature)

‘Grande Dame’ of Alaska politics, dies at 99

“Extraordinary Alaskan.”

Katie Hurley, seen here in an undated photo from the Alaska State Legislature biography page, died at the age of 99 on Sunday. (Courtesy photo / Alaska State Legislature)
The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, AK as seen on February 26, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Court reports for the week of Feb. 21, 2021

Read the latest

The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, AK as seen on February 26, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
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.”

  • Feb 18, 2021
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
  • State News
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

  • Feb 18, 2021
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
  • State News
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)