Girl Scout Troop 210, which includes Caitlyn Eskelin, Emma Hindman, Kadie Newkirk and Lyberty Stockman, present their “Bucket Trees” to a panel of judges in the 34th Annual Caring for the Kenai Competition at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Girl Scout Troop 210, which includes Caitlyn Eskelin, Emma Hindman, Kadie Newkirk and Lyberty Stockman, present their “Bucket Trees” to a panel of judges in the 34th Annual Caring for the Kenai Competition at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Daaljíni Mary Cruise, left, offers encouragement to participants in a Unity for the Queer Community rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Hundreds participate in Juneau LGBTQ+ rally as Trump administration seeks to erase letters and rights

President’s actions to stop “woke” are putting people’s safety and health at risk, participants say.

Daaljíni Mary Cruise, left, offers encouragement to participants in a Unity for the Queer Community rally at the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday afternoon. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Fired and current federal employees find solidarity as community offers support

Trump administration seeks to make government more efficient; fired employees say opposite will happen.

Sabrina Donnellan and her family attend a community luncheon for federal employees at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A cruise ship is docked in Seward, Alaska on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy signs law OK’ing issuance of bonds for new Seward dock, terminal facility

Replacement of Seward’s dock is a major, multifaceted initiative being undertaken by The Seward Company.

A cruise ship is docked in Seward, Alaska on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

HEA community outreach programs now open

Applications for the 2025 HEA Scholarship Program are due March 30.

The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
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Burn permits required early for Southcentral Alaska

The order goes into effect on Monday, March 17, in expectation of an early wildland fire season.

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Tiasa Prevost, a student of Nikolaevsk School, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer, Alaska, on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikolaevsk, others speak to KPBSD about school closures, budget cuts

Public testimony stretched for over two hours in the Homer High School auditorium.

Tiasa Prevost, a student of Nikolaevsk School, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer, Alaska, on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Sterling man arrested by SWAT after alleged Tuesday assault

The man allegedly assaulted and threatened multiple people before being arrested by a SWAT team.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna man arrested after police chase, multiple collisions

Aldon Burns is charged with failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer, fourth-degree assault and resisting arrest.

Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A preserved polar bear is displayed at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai accepts donation of bears displayed at airport

The pair have been displayed at the airport since 2014.

A preserved polar bear is displayed at the Kenai Municipal Airport in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow collects near the entrance to the Kenai Community Library on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai library receives $14K in donations

The funds will purchase new materials, equipment and furniture.

Snow collects near the entrance to the Kenai Community Library on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Laila Taylor sits with her 1st place medal from the Kenai Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot at the Kenai Elks Lodge in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo provided by Amber Rouswell)

Local 9-year-old to shoot hoops in Idaho

If she wins in that competition, she could go to the national finals in Chicago in April.

Laila Taylor sits with her 1st place medal from the Kenai Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot at the Kenai Elks Lodge in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo provided by Amber Rouswell)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks at a town hall meeting in the Moose Pass Sportsman’s Club in Moose Pass on Friday, Feb. 28.

Community airs concerns about education, energy at town halls

Bjorkman hosts meetings in Moose Pass, Nikiski and Soldotna.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks at a town hall meeting in the Moose Pass Sportsman’s Club in Moose Pass on Friday, Feb. 28.
The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Aleutian Airways to launch Kenai route in June

Starting in June, the airline will fly two daily round-trip flights.

The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Virginia Morgan speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer, Alaska, on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School budget scenarios would cut staffing, programs

Even at the highest level of funding, the drafts describe significant cuts.

Virginia Morgan speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer, Alaska, on Monday, March 3, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Around 100 people fill seats during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer on Monday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board strikes 6 schools from closure consideration

The board will continue to consider closing Nikolaevsk School, Sterling and Tustumena.

Around 100 people fill seats during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Homer on Monday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cook Inlet can be seen through the window of a Ravn aircraft in October 2019. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Ravn discontinues service to Homer

Aleutian Airways continues to provide service to and from Homer.

Cook Inlet can be seen through the window of a Ravn aircraft in October 2019. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
President Donald Trump argues with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in the Oval Office on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. For decades or longer, no American president has engaged in such an angry, scathing attack on a visiting foreign leader. And what really seemed to get under Trump’s skin were Zelenskyy’s harsh words about President Vladimir Putin of Russia. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Murkowski ‘sick to my stomach’ about Trump’s berating of Ukraine’s Zelensky in Oval Office

Senator says talk of president ending support for Ukraine, abandoning other allies “a threat to democracy.”

President Donald Trump argues with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in the Oval Office on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. For decades or longer, no American president has engaged in such an angry, scathing attack on a visiting foreign leader. And what really seemed to get under Trump’s skin were Zelenskyy’s harsh words about President Vladimir Putin of Russia. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

7 candidates in running for HEA board

Members can cast ballots starting March 28.

The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Mi’shell French, director of rural housing for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, speaks at a celebration of more than 100 homes constructed by RurAL CAP’s Mutual Self-Help Housing Program near Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

RurAL CAP marks over 100 homes constructed by mutual self-help program

The program is a response to Alaska’s housing crisis.

Mi’shell French, director of rural housing for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, speaks at a celebration of more than 100 homes constructed by RurAL CAP’s Mutual Self-Help Housing Program near Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)