News

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)
Court reports Feb. 5

Court reports Feb. 5

The following judgments were recently handed down in Kenai District Court: Joshua Caleb Butler, 26, of Soldotna, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, committed… Continue reading

Court reports Feb. 5
Flu cases in Alaska are way up

Flu cases in Alaska are way up

Experts say wash your hands and get vaccinated.

Flu cases in Alaska are way up
US Senator questions Facebook over policies surrounding ivory sales

US Senator questions Facebook over policies surrounding ivory sales

He worked with Alaska Native artists to resolve an issue with Etsy last year.

US Senator questions Facebook over policies surrounding ivory sales
President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, as Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., watch, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Trump calls for end of resistance politics in State of Union

WASHINGTON — Facing a divided Congress for the first time, President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on Washington to reject “the politics of revenge, resistance… Continue reading

  • Feb 5, 2019
  • By JULIE PACE and CATHERINE LUCEY Associated Press
President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, as Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., watch, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Along the Sterling Highway, people pitch a small shack on a frozen lake to go ice fishing near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Ice fishing derby kicks off Feb. 1

The ice is in and the augers are out. February is here and so is the annual Trustworthy Hardware Ice Fishing Derby. The annual winter… Continue reading

  • Feb 5, 2019
  • By KAT SORENSEN Peninsula Clarion
Along the Sterling Highway, people pitch a small shack on a frozen lake to go ice fishing near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Man accused of stealing snowmachine after taking it for test drive

Man accused of stealing snowmachine after taking it for test drive

A Kenai man has been charged with theft after allegedly taking a snowmachine for a test drive and never returning it, according to an affidavit… Continue reading

Man accused of stealing snowmachine after taking it for test drive