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Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File In this Empire file photo, Rep. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, listens to Kathryn Monfreda, bureau chief of the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Statewide Services, as she presents the Uniform Crime Reporting Annual Report to House members during an informational meeting at the Capitol on Feb. 5.

Breaking: Gov wants third special session once Senate seat is filled

The session would be to allocate the remainder of the PFD.

Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File In this Empire file photo, Rep. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, listens to Kathryn Monfreda, bureau chief of the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Statewide Services, as she presents the Uniform Crime Reporting Annual Report to House members during an informational meeting at the Capitol on Feb. 5.
Participants in the 2019 Stomp Out Stigma Color Run make their way through a haze of pink chalk at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Putting addiction on the run

Community turns out for Stomp Out Stigma Color Run.

Participants in the 2019 Stomp Out Stigma Color Run make their way through a haze of pink chalk at Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The line outside of the Moose is Loose Bakery can be seen here on their last day of business in Soldotna, Alaska on Sept. 28, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Moose Is Loose serves up its final pastries

The Soldotna bakery shuttered Saturday after 18 years.

The line outside of the Moose is Loose Bakery can be seen here on their last day of business in Soldotna, Alaska on Sept. 28, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A young firefighter-in-training practices knocking down a water jug with a fire hose during the Central Emergency Services Open House at Fire Station 1 in Soldotna, Alaska on Sept. 28, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Emergency services hosts open house

Community members met the new fire marshal, got safety tips and enjoyed a meal.

A young firefighter-in-training practices knocking down a water jug with a fire hose during the Central Emergency Services Open House at Fire Station 1 in Soldotna, Alaska on Sept. 28, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Vendors sell their fiber-made products at the Fireweed Fiberfest on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Fireweed FiberFest returns to Soldotna

‘It’s about the love of creating something beautiful with your hands and learning from each other’

Vendors sell their fiber-made products at the Fireweed Fiberfest on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Educators rally in front of Kenai Central High School ahead of a strike slated to begin Tuesday, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Educators approve contract

The results were overwhelmingly in favor of the contract.

Educators rally in front of Kenai Central High School ahead of a strike slated to begin Tuesday, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion Damage from the Swan Lake Fire can be seen from Skilak Lake Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday.

Trails begin to reopen as Swan Lake Fire winds down

Windy conditions on Wednesday tested the containment lines around the perimeter.

Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion Damage from the Swan Lake Fire can be seen from Skilak Lake Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday.
Victoria Petersen / Peninsula Clarion Borough Residents Against Annexation President Matthew Lay on Thursday encourages the Soldotna City Council to postpone a vote to move forward with annexation efforts until after the city has elected new council members and a new mayor.

Soldotna moves ahead with annexation, exempts K-Beach

The city council approved a substitute resolution, which removes two areas along K-Beach Road.

Victoria Petersen / Peninsula Clarion Borough Residents Against Annexation President Matthew Lay on Thursday encourages the Soldotna City Council to postpone a vote to move forward with annexation efforts until after the city has elected new council members and a new mayor.
In this Empire File photo, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, listens as Attorney General Kevin Clarkson describes three constitutional amendments that would be a foundation of his administration’s fiscal plan during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Governor Dunleavy announces executive order regarding union employee dues

Employess must opt in.

In this Empire File photo, Gov. Mike Dunleavy, left, listens as Attorney General Kevin Clarkson describes three constitutional amendments that would be a foundation of his administration’s fiscal plan during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby winner Jason Schuler, left, of Wahpeton, North Dakota, poses with his 224.2-pound fish on July 12, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. To the right of the fish is Captain Daniel Donich of Daniel’s Personalized Guide Service. Schuler caught the fish on Donich’s boat, the Optimist. (Photo provided)

Homer Chamber of Commerce ends halibut derby

2019 winner will be the last in a long history.

Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby winner Jason Schuler, left, of Wahpeton, North Dakota, poses with his 224.2-pound fish on July 12, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. To the right of the fish is Captain Daniel Donich of Daniel’s Personalized Guide Service. Schuler caught the fish on Donich’s boat, the Optimist. (Photo provided)
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly hold a religious invocation during the Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. The invocation was held only hours after the Alaska Superior Court ruled the ritual violated the Alaska Constitution. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough accepting invocation applications

Residents approved to provide invocations will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly hold a religious invocation during the Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. The invocation was held only hours after the Alaska Superior Court ruled the ritual violated the Alaska Constitution. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Poet and writer Diane Ackerman delivers the keynote address on June 14, 2019, at the opening of the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference at Land’s End Resort, Homer, Alaska. Ackerman spoke about the historical background for her book, “The Zookeeper’s Wife.” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Dunleavy budget cuts prompt Kacheamak Bay Writers’ Conference to take 1-year hiatus

The hiatus comes in the midst of budget cuts to the University of Alaska imposed by Gov. Dunleavy.

Poet and writer Diane Ackerman delivers the keynote address on June 14, 2019, at the opening of the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference at Land’s End Resort, Homer, Alaska. Ackerman spoke about the historical background for her book, “The Zookeeper’s Wife.” (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

State minimum wage increasing to $10.19

Change to take place January 2020.

(From L to R) Jamie Nelson, Tracy Stange, Teri Zopf-Schoessler and Ian McEwen rehearse a scene for the upcoming play Crab Cakes and Murder Sept. 18, 2019, at the Kenai Performers studio in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Crab Cakes and Murder’ asks audience to guess ‘whodunit’

The audience will sit center stage as the events take place.

(From L to R) Jamie Nelson, Tracy Stange, Teri Zopf-Schoessler and Ian McEwen rehearse a scene for the upcoming play Crab Cakes and Murder Sept. 18, 2019, at the Kenai Performers studio in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion Alaska Wildlife Alliance member Grace Kautek looks out over the Kenai River for signs of belugas during the third annual Belugas Count! event at Erik Hansen Scout Park in Kenai on Saturday.

Citizen scientists catch site of belugas

Stations were set up around Cook Inlet — from Tyonek to Goose Bay to Homer.

Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion Alaska Wildlife Alliance member Grace Kautek looks out over the Kenai River for signs of belugas during the third annual Belugas Count! event at Erik Hansen Scout Park in Kenai on Saturday.
Trees burned by the Swan Lake Fire and knocked down by gusts of wind can be seen here along the Sterling Highway on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Swan Lake Fire boosts power rates for some

Increases will be noticed in Anchorage bowl, Cooper Landing, Hope, Seward and Moose Pass.

Trees burned by the Swan Lake Fire and knocked down by gusts of wind can be seen here along the Sterling Highway on Aug. 30, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Susan Lockwood, a retired teacher, is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Meet the candidates: Susan Lockwood, District 1 school board

Lockwood is running for the Kalifornsky seat.

Susan Lockwood, a retired teacher, is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Dan Castimore is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education. (Photo courtesy of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District)

Meet the candidates: Dan Castimore, District 1, school board

Castimore currently holds the Kalifornsky seat.

Dan Castimore is running for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education. (Photo courtesy of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District)
A sign opposing Proposition 1 stands along Kalifornsky Beach Road near Soldotna on Wednesday, Sept. 18. The ads were paid for by AlaskaYes, according to the sign. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Complaint issued against Alaska Yes

The complaint was filed by Alaska Public Offices Commissioners staff.

A sign opposing Proposition 1 stands along Kalifornsky Beach Road near Soldotna on Wednesday, Sept. 18. The ads were paid for by AlaskaYes, according to the sign. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A map of the Swan Lake Fire as of Sept. 23, 2019. (Courtesy Alaska Type 3 Organization)

New crew takes over Swan Lake Fire

The Alaska Type 3 Organization has assumed command from the Northern Rockies Type 2 Team.

A map of the Swan Lake Fire as of Sept. 23, 2019. (Courtesy Alaska Type 3 Organization)