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Dr. Jim Johnsen, president of the University of Alaska, center, listens to Donna Arduin, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, left and Mike Barnhill, policy director for the OMB, as their continue to present Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

With state government shutdown looming, university preparing for late, reduced budget

The fiscal year starts in less than two weeks.

Dr. Jim Johnsen, president of the University of Alaska, center, listens to Donna Arduin, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, left and Mike Barnhill, policy director for the OMB, as their continue to present Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s budget to the Senate Finance Committee at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Shelby Harris shows off a sockeye caught on the Upper Kenai River on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo submitted by Shelby Harris)

Russian River and Upper Kenai limits increased

As of June 17, 50,641 sockeye have been counted at the Russian River weir for the early sockeye run.

Shelby Harris shows off a sockeye caught on the Upper Kenai River on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo submitted by Shelby Harris)
Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, chairs the House Finance Committee with Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, right, as they work on House Bill 14 at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Legislators will collect pay despite not finishing budget on time

They’re reinterpreting a law from last year.

Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, chairs the House Finance Committee with Rep. Neal Foster, D-Nome, right, as they work on House Bill 14 at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Demonstrators hold signs outside the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in protest of an invocation by a member of the Satanic Temple on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. The invocation was the first given by the Satanic Temple since the borough changed its invocation policy following an Alaska Superior Court decision finding the policy unconstitutional and in violation of the state’s constitution’s establishment clause. (Photo courtesy Aud Walaszek)

Satanic Temple invocation prompts protest, walkouts at assembly meeting

The borough lost a lawsuit against plaintiffs represented by the ACLU of Alaska

Demonstrators hold signs outside the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in protest of an invocation by a member of the Satanic Temple on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. The invocation was the first given by the Satanic Temple since the borough changed its invocation policy following an Alaska Superior Court decision finding the policy unconstitutional and in violation of the state’s constitution’s establishment clause. (Photo courtesy Aud Walaszek)
A boy tries his hand at the Compass Dunk Tank during the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska on June 15, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski turns out for a day of family fun

The annual Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival included games, food and live music

A boy tries his hand at the Compass Dunk Tank during the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska on June 15, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward, Homer receive federal shipyard grants

The funding is aimed at fostering efficiency and economic growth

The Derek Poppins Trio performs at Soldotna Creek Park during the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Louisiana country singer to play concert in the park

Meghan Linsey will appear at the Wednesday evening music series

The Derek Poppins Trio performs at Soldotna Creek Park during the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The Swan Lake Fire, as seen from the Mystery Hills, burns Wednesday, June 12, 2019, on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Cool, wet conditions allow progress on Swan Lake Fire

Fire lines near the community of Sterling were strengthened over the weekend by fire crews.

The Swan Lake Fire, as seen from the Mystery Hills, burns Wednesday, June 12, 2019, on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly hold a religious invocation during the Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Satanic invocation sparks online petition

The petition urges the assembly to cancel the upcoming Satanic invocation.

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly hold a religious invocation during the Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2018, assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Rhubarb crumble is photographed on June 1, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska. Rhubarb pairs well with sweet fruit like strawberries, and work well in desserts like strawberry rhubarb crumble. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

What to do with rhubarb?

Rhubarb-Palooza to show how to get creative with the summer favorite

Rhubarb crumble is photographed on June 1, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska. Rhubarb pairs well with sweet fruit like strawberries, and work well in desserts like strawberry rhubarb crumble. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Judge hands down sentence in Excursion Inlet murder case, but family still searches for answers

Judge hands down sentence in Excursion Inlet murder case, but family still searches for answers

The ‘why’ remains a mystery.

Judge hands down sentence in Excursion Inlet murder case, but family still searches for answers
Kaegan Koski strikes a pose during the 2019 Soldotna Pride Celebration in Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Celebrating with Pride

2nd annual Soldotna Pride march draws a crowd

Kaegan Koski strikes a pose during the 2019 Soldotna Pride Celebration in Soldotna Creek Park on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
In this July 4, 2013, file photo, a brown bear walks to a sandbar to eat a salmon it had just caught at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. The National Park Service has completed a project to relieve an Alaska traffic jam. A new elevated bridge and boardwalk across the Brooks River in Katmai National Park and Preserve is expected to halt heart-stopping encounters between human pedestrians and brown bears both using the old bridge. (AP File Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

New Katmai bridge aimed at limiting bear encounters

The replacement for the old floating bridge was more than a decade in the making.

  • Jun 15, 2019
  • By DAN JOLING Associated Press
In this July 4, 2013, file photo, a brown bear walks to a sandbar to eat a salmon it had just caught at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. The National Park Service has completed a project to relieve an Alaska traffic jam. A new elevated bridge and boardwalk across the Brooks River in Katmai National Park and Preserve is expected to halt heart-stopping encounters between human pedestrians and brown bears both using the old bridge. (AP File Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Court reports for June 16, 2019

Court reports for June 16, 2019

Read the latest reports

Court reports for June 16, 2019
Public safety briefs for June 16, 2019

Public safety briefs for June 16, 2019

Read the latest reports

Public safety briefs for June 16, 2019
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska legislators face pressure for PFD decision

A governor can call a special session, but legislators don’t have to act on any of the agenda items.

  • Jun 15, 2019
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Swan Lake Fire, as seen from the Mystery Hills, burns Wednesday, June 12, 2019, on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Swan Lake fire continues to grow

The Swan Lake fire in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge shows no signs of slowing down and reached 12,564 acres in size as of Friday… Continue reading

The Swan Lake Fire, as seen from the Mystery Hills, burns Wednesday, June 12, 2019, on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Jasper Webb from Kenai shows off his Iron Man kite during the first Kenai Kite Festival on the Kenai North Beach in Alaska on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Kite Festival debuts with high-flying fun

Clouds didn’t keep kites from the air

Jasper Webb from Kenai shows off his Iron Man kite during the first Kenai Kite Festival on the Kenai North Beach in Alaska on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference keynote speaker Diane Ackerman. (Photo provided; Sue Michlovitz)

Writers’ conference gathers authors from around the nation

“The conference strives to offer something for readers: to discuss literature and meet writers”

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference keynote speaker Diane Ackerman. (Photo provided; Sue Michlovitz)
Kiters to hit the beach

Kiters to hit the beach

The first-ever Kenai Kite Festival will be held at the Kenai North Beach from noon to 2 p.m.

Kiters to hit the beach