Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers his State of the State speech at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, with Senate President Gary Stevens, at left, and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, at right, in the background. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)

Gov. Dunleavy takes victory lap with selective portrayal of Alaska in second-to-last State of the State

Some legislators criticize “mixed messages” about cooperation, omission of problems needing work.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers his State of the State speech at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, with Senate President Gary Stevens, at left, and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, at right, in the background. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)
Alexis Alamillo, of Anchorage, carries a sockeye salmon caught in a dipnet from the mouth of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game projects 7 million sockeye for Upper Cook Inlet

This year’s forecast is greater than the department’s projections from last year.

Alexis Alamillo, of Anchorage, carries a sockeye salmon caught in a dipnet from the mouth of the Kenai River in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
State Rep. Maxine Dibert (right), a Fairbanks Democrat, confers with Rep. Calvin Schrage (I-Anchorage) about a resolution opposing the change of Denali back to Mount McKinley during the House floor session at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Alaska House majority rejects GOP effort to turn protest of Denali name change into Trump tribute

Resolution opposing restoration of Mt. McKinley name is first legislation to pass House this session.

State Rep. Maxine Dibert (right), a Fairbanks Democrat, confers with Rep. Calvin Schrage (I-Anchorage) about a resolution opposing the change of Denali back to Mount McKinley during the House floor session at the Alaska State Capitol on Monday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A table used by parties to a case sits empty in Courtroom 4 of the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Barnes sentenced to 6 months for felony cruelty to animals

He has motioned to have previous time spent under house arrest credited as time served.

A table used by parties to a case sits empty in Courtroom 4 of the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Ryan Tunseth speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough considers Seward land purchase

A public hearing on Ordinance 2024-19-24 will be held at the Feb. 4 assembly meeting.

Ryan Tunseth speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Troopers shoot, kill 32-year-old Kasilof man after they say he shot a trooper

Troopers and a SWAT team responded to reports of a man yelling and firing a gun late Thursday night.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
President Trump signed a series of executive orders in the first hours of his term. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Birthright citizenship of Native Americans questioned by Trump administration

Justice Department makes argument defending executive order suspending birthright citizenship.

President Trump signed a series of executive orders in the first hours of his term. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) walks to the Senate chamber ahead of a vote at the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)

Murkowski says she will vote against Hegseth, making her 1st GOP senator to oppose a Trump Cabinet pick

Defense Secretary nominee facing barrage of accusations including sexual assault, drinking.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) walks to the Senate chamber ahead of a vote at the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (Tom Brenner/The New York Times)
The Kenai Public Dock is seen on Friday, June 18, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to repurpose funds from completed projects for dock repair

The largest share of the funds comes from a state grant of $1.9 million received in 2014.

The Kenai Public Dock is seen on Friday, June 18, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Josiah Kelly, right, appears for a superior court arraignment at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Competency exam scheduled for Kelly

Josiah Kelly was arrested in November for three shooting incidents in Homer.

Josiah Kelly, right, appears for a superior court arraignment at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenaitze Tribal Council member Mary Ann Mills, Secretary Ronette Stanton and Chair Bernadine Atchison participate in a joint work session of the Kenai City Council and Kenaitze Tribal Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai, Kenaitze hold joint work session and share updates

Much of the meeting centered on brief updates on the largest projects underway.

Kenaitze Tribal Council member Mary Ann Mills, Secretary Ronette Stanton and Chair Bernadine Atchison participate in a joint work session of the Kenai City Council and Kenaitze Tribal Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate Majority Caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

As session starts, senators discuss legislative priorities

The Alaska Senate majority and minority held separate press conferences Tuesday.

Senators Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage), Bert Stedman (R-Sitka), and Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel) discuss key priorities for the Senate Majority Caucus on Tuesday morning at the Alaska State Capitol. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Volunteers sit at rows of tables or in curtained off booths during Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Project Homeless Connect returns to Soldotna

The event is scheduled to run Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Volunteers sit at rows of tables or in curtained off booths during Project Homeless Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Retiring Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Manager Andy Loranger speaks on his career during a retirement event at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center near Soldotna on Tuesday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Celebrating careers dedicated to protecting wild places

Delehanty, Loranger retire from refuge management on Kenai Peninsula.

Retiring Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Manager Andy Loranger speaks on his career during a retirement event at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center near Soldotna on Tuesday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank speaks during a work session of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai adopts capital project plan

The plan includes funding for the airport, city infrastructure and roadways.

Kenai City Manager Terry Eubank speaks during a work session of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska, as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Nominations open for HEA board

Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 28.

The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska, as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
From left: Alaska House Reps. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak; Bill Elam, R-Nikiski; Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna; and Sarah Vance, R-Homer, take the oath of office at the Alaska Capitol on Tuesday in Juneau. (Photo by Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Peninsula legislators take oaths of office

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman and Reps. Justin Ruffridge, Bill Elam and Sarah Vance were among those sworn in.

From left: Alaska House Reps. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak; Bill Elam, R-Nikiski; Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna; and Sarah Vance, R-Homer, take the oath of office at the Alaska Capitol on Tuesday in Juneau. (Photo by Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Diane Peterson, Casady Herding and Jen Brighton stand with signs sharing Martin Luther King Jr. quotes are calling to “Resist” along the side of the Kenai Spur Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Trump inauguration marked by small Soldotna protest

The group stood alongside the Kenai Spur Highway across the parking lot from conservative social club and coffee shop Ammo-Can Coffee.

Diane Peterson, Casady Herding and Jen Brighton stand with signs sharing Martin Luther King Jr. quotes are calling to “Resist” along the side of the Kenai Spur Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)