Kenai Peninsula Borough School District employees hold signs for a fair contract at Thursday’s special board of education meeting, May 16, 2019, In Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

District employees take vote on whether to strike

A majority vote would authorize the strike.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District employees hold signs for a fair contract at Thursday’s special board of education meeting, May 16, 2019, In Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council to discuss short-term rentals

The ordinance aims to regulate short-term rentals in residential dwellings

Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, and Rep. Dave Talerico, R-Healy, sit next to each other after Knopp voted not to confirm Talerico as Speaker of the House on Tuesday. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Knopp censured by Alaska Republican Party

Knopp will no longer receive any official support from the Alaska Republican Party

Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, and Rep. Dave Talerico, R-Healy, sit next to each other after Knopp voted not to confirm Talerico as Speaker of the House on Tuesday. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)
Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, speaks about the House’s work on the crime bill at the canyon Monday, May 20, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Crime bill vote delayed, could more hold-ups be coming?

Legislators discuss new bill, probability of a 30-day special sessions

Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, speaks about the House’s work on the crime bill at the canyon Monday, May 20, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Caroline Huber graduated from the IDEA Homeschool program, Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

A unique ceremony for a unique school

IDEA home-school students graduate

Caroline Huber graduated from the IDEA Homeschool program, Saturday, May 18, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
State troopers begin high-visibility enforcement campaign

State troopers begin high-visibility enforcement campaign

Troopers have begun their Annual Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement efforts

State troopers begin high-visibility enforcement campaign
Clouds and mist hang over Fritz Cove and Douglas Island. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Clouds and mist hang over Fritz Cove and Douglas Island. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District employees hold signs for a fair contract at Thursday’s special board of education meeting, May 16, 2019, In Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

School board approves some non-tenure teacher contracts

The jobs weren’t secure due to fiscal uncertainty around Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District employees hold signs for a fair contract at Thursday’s special board of education meeting, May 16, 2019, In Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
(File photo)

Schools briefs for the week of May 20, 2019

What’s happening this week

(File photo)
Local artist Christina Demetro helps a young artist create new pieces of clay that will be added to a sculpture of a 6-foot tall sandhill crane on Saturday morning at the Kenai Community Library. The sculpture will ultimately be displayed at the Shimai Toshi Garden Trails, a Japanese Garden that will be the first of its kind in Alaska. The clay sculpture received a local flair as interested artists could choose to add their own style to the statue, which sat in several pieces at the library. The statue will eventually be pieced together and bronzed. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

A helping hand

Community helps craft sandhill crane statue

Local artist Christina Demetro helps a young artist create new pieces of clay that will be added to a sculpture of a 6-foot tall sandhill crane on Saturday morning at the Kenai Community Library. The sculpture will ultimately be displayed at the Shimai Toshi Garden Trails, a Japanese Garden that will be the first of its kind in Alaska. The clay sculpture received a local flair as interested artists could choose to add their own style to the statue, which sat in several pieces at the library. The statue will eventually be pieced together and bronzed. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, listens to Patience Frederiksen, State Librarian and Head of Library Developement, during a hearing for House Bill 75 on increasing school internet speed at a House Education Committee meeting on Monday, April 1, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, listens to Patience Frederiksen, State Librarian and Head of Library Developement, during a hearing for House Bill 75 on increasing school internet speed at a House Education Committee meeting on Monday, April 1, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Assembly members Kenn Carpenter and Brent Hibbert discuss Ordinance 2019-03 at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Meeting in Soldotna on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to take public comment on FY 2020 budget

State fiscal uncertainty played a role in the borough’s proposed budget.

Assembly members Kenn Carpenter and Brent Hibbert discuss Ordinance 2019-03 at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Meeting in Soldotna on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Public Safety briefs for May 19, 2019
Public Safety briefs for May 19, 2019
Local athletes and volunteers line up outside the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex to start the annual Special Olympics Torch Run in Soldotna, Alaska on May 18, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Racing for a good cause

Annual Torch Run fundraiser marks 50th anniversary of Special Olympics

Local athletes and volunteers line up outside the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex to start the annual Special Olympics Torch Run in Soldotna, Alaska on May 18, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
‘Dangerous and outrageous’: Bill introduced in Alaska House would treat abortion the same as murder
‘Dangerous and outrageous’: Bill introduced in Alaska House would treat abortion the same as murder
Students from Redoubt Elementary pick up trash along the river during the 6th Annual Kids Kenai River Spring Cleanup at Swiftwater Park in Soldotna, Alaska on May 3, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Spring cleanups scheduled around the Central Peninsula

Spring is in full swing, with cleanups taking place across the central peninsula. Kenai Parks and Recreation is hosting a Kenai Community Clean Up on… Continue reading

Students from Redoubt Elementary pick up trash along the river during the 6th Annual Kids Kenai River Spring Cleanup at Swiftwater Park in Soldotna, Alaska on May 3, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, D-Anchorage, walks with Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, as the House takes an at ease to wait for the conference committee on the crime bill to take place at the Capitol on Thursday, May 16, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Million dollar special session?

Here’s how much it will cost the state.

Rep. Ivy Spohnholz, D-Anchorage, walks with Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, as the House takes an at ease to wait for the conference committee on the crime bill to take place at the Capitol on Thursday, May 16, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, listens to testimony in Juneau in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Peter Micciche)

Peninsula lawmakers weigh in on crime bill

‘It’s a slam dunk’

Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, listens to testimony in Juneau in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Peter Micciche)
Artist Christina Demetro, left, and Shimai Toshi Garden Trails President Sarah Pyhala show off a rough model of Demetro’s 6-foot crane statue at Coffee Roasters in Soldotna on May Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Artist invites community to collaborate on crane sculpture

Anyone interested can collaborate on the sculpture by adding clay to the wings and head of the bird

Artist Christina Demetro, left, and Shimai Toshi Garden Trails President Sarah Pyhala show off a rough model of Demetro’s 6-foot crane statue at Coffee Roasters in Soldotna on May Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, speaks during a hearing with Energy Secretary Rick Perry on the President’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2020 on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Patrick Semansky | Associated Press)

Murkowski gets federal funds for fight against spruce bark beetle

U.S. Forest Service would be transferring $2 million in carryover funds

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, speaks during a hearing with Energy Secretary Rick Perry on the President’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2020 on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Patrick Semansky | Associated Press)