The Kenai Chamber of Commerce team hosts their third annual Haunted Chamber Maze, Oct. 18-31, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce

Kenai chamber hosts 3rd annual Haunted Chamber

The haunted house-style maze collected donations for the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank and Operation Children First.

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce team hosts their third annual Haunted Chamber Maze, Oct. 18-31, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce
Recipients of the Alaska Travel Industry Association's 2025 Annual Industry Awards celebrate their awards at ATIA's annual convention in Anchorage, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska Travel Industry Association

Seward lodging business earns industry award

Salted Roots Alaska was one of eight businesses to receive awards from the Alaska Travel Industry Association last week.

Recipients of the Alaska Travel Industry Association's 2025 Annual Industry Awards celebrate their awards at ATIA's annual convention in Anchorage, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska Travel Industry Association
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a Soldotna City Council work session<ins> on the Soldotna Field House in Soldotna, Alaska,</ins> on Wednesday, April 9<ins>,</ins> <ins>2025</ins>.

Soldotna mayor recognizes caregivers and veterans during council meeting

Mayor Paul Whitney declared November National Family Caregiver Month and Veterans and Military Families Month in Soldotna during a City Council meeting last Wednesda.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a Soldotna City Council work session<ins> on the Soldotna Field House in Soldotna, Alaska,</ins> on Wednesday, April 9<ins>,</ins> <ins>2025</ins>.
New Peninsula Clarion reporter Chloe Anderson photographs bison in Yellowstone National Park on Oct. 17, 2025. Photo provided by Chloe Anderson

Photojournalist joins Clarion staff

Chloe Anderson is a new reporter for the Peninsula Clarion.

New Peninsula Clarion reporter Chloe Anderson photographs bison in Yellowstone National Park on Oct. 17, 2025. Photo provided by Chloe Anderson
Support your friends and neighbors by shopping close to home this holiday season. Photo credit: Canva stock.

Keeping it local: How shopping close to home strengthens Kenai

Every dollar spent locally helps create jobs, fuel community growth and keep Kenai’s spirit strong

Support your friends and neighbors by shopping close to home this holiday season. Photo credit: Canva stock.
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Assembly amends ordinance capping tax exemptions

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday divided a large chapter of tax code into four new chapters.

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
A sockeye salmon is carried from the waters of Cook Inlet on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska Department of Fish and Game publishes 2025 commercial salmon summary

The 2025 commercial harvest was 41% greater than the recent 20-year annual average.

A sockeye salmon is carried from the waters of Cook Inlet on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska’s natural gas pipeline would largely follow the route of the existing trans-Alaska oil pipeline, pictured here, from the North Slope. Near Fairbanks, the gas line would split off toward Anchorage, while the oil pipeline continues to the Prince William Sound community of Valdez. (Photo by David Houseknecht/United States Geological Survey)

Tokyo Gas signs preliminary agreement with trans-Alaska gas pipeline developer

The largest gas company in Japan has signed a letter of intent signifying that it would buy up to 1 million tons of liquefied natural… Continue reading

Alaska’s natural gas pipeline would largely follow the route of the existing trans-Alaska oil pipeline, pictured here, from the North Slope. Near Fairbanks, the gas line would split off toward Anchorage, while the oil pipeline continues to the Prince William Sound community of Valdez. (Photo by David Houseknecht/United States Geological Survey)
A GCI Communications truck is parked at the company’s Juneau office. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Billionaire seeks controlling interest in GCI, regulatory filings show

Alaska’s largest residential internet provider may soon come under the control of billionaire businessman John Malone, one of America’s biggest private landowners and wealthiest people.… Continue reading

  • Oct 29, 2025
  • By James Brooks Alaska Beacon
  • State News
A GCI Communications truck is parked at the company’s Juneau office. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board swears in elected members

Mica VanBuskirk and Ash-Lee Waddell were newly elected to the board in October; Patti Truesdell was reelected to her seat.

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikolaevsk School is photographed on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

School board continues consideration of Nikolaevsk charter school

The board reviewed the initial charter application on Oct. 20 and will hold another work session and a special meeting before issuing their final decision.

Nikolaevsk School is photographed on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
A sea otter pup rescued in Homer in the summer of 2025 receives care from the Alaska SeaLife Center and Chicago's Shedd Aquarium while being rehabilitated at ASLC in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center

Alaska SeaLife Center partners with Chicago aquarium to rehabilitate sea otter pup

The pup has reached important milestones thanks to ASLC and Shedd Aquarium’s collaborative efforts.

A sea otter pup rescued in Homer in the summer of 2025 receives care from the Alaska SeaLife Center and Chicago's Shedd Aquarium while being rehabilitated at ASLC in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center
Kova, a spotted seal pup rescued from Nome in June, touches his nose to an Alaska SeaLife Center staff member's hand in this photo taken Oct. 10, 2025, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center

Spotted seal pup is a ‘rare’ rescue patient at Alaska SeaLife Center

ASLC has been providing intensive care since the seal’s arrival, and “Kova” is now eating well and steadily gaining weight.

Kova, a spotted seal pup rescued from Nome in June, touches his nose to an Alaska SeaLife Center staff member's hand in this photo taken Oct. 10, 2025, at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center
Uki, the walrus calf rehabilitated at Alaska SeaLife Center in August 2024 before being rehomed to SeaWorld Orlando, is photographed with an ASLC staff member on Aug. 7, 2024. Photo courtesy of Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center

Alaska SeaLife Center walrus patient featured on PBS

The story of Uki, a walrus who was rehabilitated at the Alaska SeaLife Center in August 2023, was featured on the season premiere of “Nature” by PBS on Wednesday.

Uki, the walrus calf rehabilitated at Alaska SeaLife Center in August 2024 before being rehomed to SeaWorld Orlando, is photographed with an ASLC staff member on Aug. 7, 2024. Photo courtesy of Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Borough assembly swears in new members

Five new members were elected to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly this year.

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Protesters gather along the Sterling Highway and hold up signs during the “No Kings” demonstration on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

700 in Homer join nationwide ‘No Kings’ protest

At least 25 Alaska communities took part in “No Kings” day Saturday, alongside millions of protesters in over 2,600 peaceful demonstrations across the U.S.

Protesters gather along the Sterling Highway and hold up signs during the “No Kings” demonstration on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images via Alaska Beacon)

More than 66,000 Alaskans will lose food stamps within weeks if government shutdown continues

If the federal government shutdown continues, more than 66,000 Alaskans will lose federal food aid within weeks, the state of Alaska is warning. On Monday,… Continue reading

A sign for a store that accepts food stamps and exchange benefits transfer cards is seen in this 2019 photo. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images via Alaska Beacon)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks on Oct. 18, 2025, at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage. Behind her is a screen projeting her image as she speaks. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Murkowski says she is trying to restore some resilience funding for Alaska villages

Speaking to AFN, the U.S. senator blasted Trump administration actions halting climate-related work; she and others lamented loss of public broadcasting funding.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks on Oct. 18, 2025, at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage. Behind her is a screen projeting her image as she speaks. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews conduct overflights of Kipnuk, Alaska, after coastal flooding impacted several western Alaska communities, Oct. 12, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Air Station Kodiak)

Trump administration approves disaster declaration for Western Alaska storm

The president also pledged $25 million in immediate disaster relief funding to cover costs as storm damage is still assessed.

U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews conduct overflights of Kipnuk, Alaska, after coastal flooding impacted several western Alaska communities, Oct. 12, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Air Station Kodiak)
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy meets with members of the University of Alaska Anchorage chapter of Turning Point on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, the same day he proclaimed “Charlie Kirk Day.” (Governor Mike Dunleavy/Facebook)

Oct. 14 proclaimed ‘Charlie Kirk Day’ in Alaska

Governor Dunleavy Turning Point USA chapter on the same day

  • Oct 15, 2025
  • By Juneau Empire Staff
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy meets with members of the University of Alaska Anchorage chapter of Turning Point on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, the same day he proclaimed “Charlie Kirk Day.” (Governor Mike Dunleavy/Facebook)