News

Robert Gibson of Cooper Landing picks barley by hand at a small barley field planted by the Kenai Peninsula Borough in a vacant gravel pit on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. Gibson uses three different methods to pick the barley, including using a scythe and a hand sickle. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough seeks to grow local agriculture

Borough forming agricultural land program, seeking letters

Robert Gibson of Cooper Landing picks barley by hand at a small barley field planted by the Kenai Peninsula Borough in a vacant gravel pit on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. Gibson uses three different methods to pick the barley, including using a scythe and a hand sickle. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

No-bid contract for psychiatric institute raises questions

A previous report advised against privatizing the institute.

The Alaska State Capitol. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Public safety briefs February 7, 2019

Public safety briefs February 7, 2019

Information for this report was taken from publicly available law enforcement and public safety records and includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone… Continue reading

Public safety briefs February 7, 2019
Court reports February 7, 2019

Court reports February 7, 2019

The following judgment was recently handed down in Kenai District Court: Kenneth G. Kovalcik, 50, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to driving under… Continue reading

Court reports February 7, 2019
Packages move along a conveyor belt at the Amazon.com fulfillment center in Robbinsville, New Jersey, on June 7. (Bloomberg/Photo by Bess Adler)

Amazon now collecting borough sales tax

Borough estimates online tax collection could produce $1.5 million in sales tax revenue annually.

Packages move along a conveyor belt at the Amazon.com fulfillment center in Robbinsville, New Jersey, on June 7. (Bloomberg/Photo by Bess Adler)
Local author Ann Mercer poses with her book, “Miss Lucy Moose Falls Down in the Swamp” at River City Books in Soldotna on Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Inspired by a moose

Kasilof woman writes and illustrates her 1st children’s book

Local author Ann Mercer poses with her book, “Miss Lucy Moose Falls Down in the Swamp” at River City Books in Soldotna on Wednesday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A group of teachers gather outside the entrance to West Homer Elementary and Big Fireweed Academy wearing “red for ed” Wednesday, in Homer. Teachers around the Kenai Peninsula demonstrated this week to bring awareness to the contract negotiation situation with the school district. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Teachers, unions getting frustrated by contract negotiations

District educators and classified staff have been without a renewed contract since July 1.

A group of teachers gather outside the entrance to West Homer Elementary and Big Fireweed Academy wearing “red for ed” Wednesday, in Homer. Teachers around the Kenai Peninsula demonstrated this week to bring awareness to the contract negotiation situation with the school district. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Kenai asks Board of Fish to rescind meeting decision

Kenai asks Board of Fish to rescind meeting decision

In January the board decided to move the regulatory meeting from the Kenai Peninsula to Anchorage.

Kenai asks Board of Fish to rescind meeting decision
Andy Jones, Director of the Department of Health and Social Services’ Office of Substance Misuse, right, speak about the fiscal impacts of the opioids on the state along with Michael Duxbury, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, center, and Laura Brooks, Director of Health and Rehabilitation for the Department of Corrections, in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The opioid crisis costs Alaska more than $1B per year, and it’s going to keep being costly

The cost of an epidemic.

Andy Jones, Director of the Department of Health and Social Services’ Office of Substance Misuse, right, speak about the fiscal impacts of the opioids on the state along with Michael Duxbury, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, center, and Laura Brooks, Director of Health and Rehabilitation for the Department of Corrections, in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Court reports Feb. 6

Court reports Feb. 6

The following judgments were recently handed down in Kenai District Court: Mcgerra Beck, 35, of Sterling, pleaded guilty to violating condition of release, committed Nov.… Continue reading

Court reports Feb. 6
Public safety briefs Feb. 6

Public safety briefs Feb. 6

Information for this report was taken from publicly available law enforcement and public safety records and includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone… Continue reading

Public safety briefs Feb. 6
Amanda Price, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, right, watches as Kathryn Monfreda, bureau chief of the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Statewide Services, presents the Uniform Crime Reporting Annual Report to House members during an informational meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

State changing system for recording crimes

Costs to municipal agencies remain unknown.

Amanda Price, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, right, watches as Kathryn Monfreda, bureau chief of the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Statewide Services, presents the Uniform Crime Reporting Annual Report to House members during an informational meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Wasilla, listens to Attorney General Kevin Clarkson speak about Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s four crime bills at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Ethics restrictions too broad, some lawmakers say

They believe the intentions of the law are good.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Wasilla, listens to Attorney General Kevin Clarkson speak about Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s four crime bills at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Activists air grievances about ANWR drilling

FAIRBANKS (AP) — Activists pushing against oil development in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge dominated a Bureau of Land Management public meeting in Fairbanks. The… Continue reading

Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Craig Stowers calls out his staff sitting in the gallery during his State of the Judiciary address before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

State of Judiciary time, date set

It comes between visits from senators.

Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Craig Stowers calls out his staff sitting in the gallery during his State of the Judiciary address before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Assembly member Willy Dunne, speaks in support of education at the Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Education dominates assembly meeting

Talk of education dominated public comment at Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting. Employees of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District have been negotiating a… Continue reading

Assembly member Willy Dunne, speaks in support of education at the Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Larry Persily gives a presentation at the Kenai/Soldotna joint chamber luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

LNG Pipeline just a pipe dream?

Former borough chief of staff casts doubts on project’s future

Larry Persily gives a presentation at the Kenai/Soldotna joint chamber luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Data shows the borough’s annual unemployment rate through the years. (Graphic by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

State employment down slightly

Borough unemployment down from recent years

Data shows the borough’s annual unemployment rate through the years. (Graphic by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Public safety briefs Feb. 5

Public safety briefs Feb. 5

Information for this report was taken from publicly available law enforcement and public safety records and includes arrest and citation information, not conviction information. Anyone… Continue reading

Public safety briefs Feb. 5
Susan Bell, of the McDowell Group, and Robert Venables, executive director of Southeast Conference, present information about the Alaska Marine Highway Systems during an information meeting for House members at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Ferry system braces for budget cuts

Dwindling budget could mean loss of services.

Susan Bell, of the McDowell Group, and Robert Venables, executive director of Southeast Conference, present information about the Alaska Marine Highway Systems during an information meeting for House members at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)