News

The open house featured a live conversation with Sen. Dan Sullivan from D.C.

Alaska’s U.S. Senators open new offices

Alaska’s Congressional delegation had much to celebrate as 2017 drew to a close. A bill that included the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge… Continue reading

The open house featured a live conversation with Sen. Dan Sullivan from D.C.
Soldotna to introduce pot rules on Wednesday

Soldotna to introduce pot rules on Wednesday

At Wednesday’s meeting, the Soldotna City Council is scheduled to introduce two ordinances that begin the process of regulating commercial marijuana establishments in the city.… Continue reading

  • Jan 7, 2018
  • By KAT SORENSEN
Soldotna to introduce pot rules on Wednesday
In this Jan. 1, 2018 file photo, a customer purchases marijuana at the Harborside marijuana dispensary in Oakland, Calif., on the first day that recreational marijuana was sold legally in California. In January 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded a 2013 Obama Administration policy pledging that federal authorities would not crack down on marijuana operations in states where they were legal as long as the states maintained tight regulations. (AP Photo/Mathew Sumner)

Trump actions re-ignite states rights’ debate

Lawmakers and others in Democratic-leaning states have been howling over the past year about actions by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans that they say… Continue reading

  • Jan 7, 2018
  • By RYAN J. FOLEY and GEOFF MULVIHILL
In this Jan. 1, 2018 file photo, a customer purchases marijuana at the Harborside marijuana dispensary in Oakland, Calif., on the first day that recreational marijuana was sold legally in California. In January 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded a 2013 Obama Administration policy pledging that federal authorities would not crack down on marijuana operations in states where they were legal as long as the states maintained tight regulations. (AP Photo/Mathew Sumner)
Fernando Ramos of Soldotna skates along the ice at Daubenspeck Family Park just off Marathon Road, behind Walmart, on Sunday, Jan. 7. A figure-eight course has been maintained on the pond for skating. Ramos moved to Soldotna from Mexico in November to be with his wife, who has lived in the area for 23 years. He said his favorite aspects of the central Kenai Peninsula, so far, are cross-country skiing and skating. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Sunday skating

Fernando Ramos of Soldotna skates along the ice at Daubenspeck Family Park just off Marathon Road, behind Walmart, on Sunday, Jan. 7. A figure-eight course… Continue reading

  • Jan 7, 2018
Fernando Ramos of Soldotna skates along the ice at Daubenspeck Family Park just off Marathon Road, behind Walmart, on Sunday, Jan. 7. A figure-eight course has been maintained on the pond for skating. Ramos moved to Soldotna from Mexico in November to be with his wife, who has lived in the area for 23 years. He said his favorite aspects of the central Kenai Peninsula, so far, are cross-country skiing and skating. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kailey Mucha, left, and April Kaufman search for a beacon in the snow outside of the Kenai Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center during an avalanche training class on Saturday, Jan. 5 in Soldotna, Alaska. Mucha said she was interested in the course after spending some time snowmachining. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Avalanche course treks on despite warm weather

Despite unusually warm weather, Avalanche Observer Alex Mclain wants the community to be prepared. Mclain, who works with the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center,… Continue reading

Kailey Mucha, left, and April Kaufman search for a beacon in the snow outside of the Kenai Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center during an avalanche training class on Saturday, Jan. 5 in Soldotna, Alaska. Mucha said she was interested in the course after spending some time snowmachining. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
This map shows in red the two possible reroutes of the Kenai Spur Highway that the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation is considering around its planned natural gas liquefaction and export terminal in Nikiski. (Courtesy of Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, modified by Peninsula Clarion to show LNG facility area)

AGDC narrows Spur Highway relocation to two routes

  Editor's note: This story has been updated to mention AGDC's Feb. 19 meeting with the Nikiski Community Council. The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation has… Continue reading

This map shows in red the two possible reroutes of the Kenai Spur Highway that the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation is considering around its planned natural gas liquefaction and export terminal in Nikiski. (Courtesy of Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, modified by Peninsula Clarion to show LNG facility area)
Preventing suicide one day at a time

Preventing suicide one day at a time

Alaska consistently tops the nation in suicides — in 2014 and 2015 the state’s suicide deaths were ranked second in the nation by the Centers… Continue reading

Preventing suicide one day at a time

Planning commission makes marijuana recommendations

The Soldotna Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended marijuana regulations for the Soldotna City Council to consider as the city’s two-year ban on commercial marijuana… Continue reading

Poet’s Corner: ‘Trouble’

Trouble By Rebecca Langston, Kenai Trouble, trouble, trouble … troubled. Here it comes, MORE then doubled. Once I get my life on track.. Trouble comes,… Continue reading

  • Jan 4, 2018
This image from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster website depicts the church’s deity. (Photo by Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, www.venganza.org)

Local man starts Flying Spaghetti Monster congregation in response to borough assembly’s invocation policy

Ever since the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s controversial policy regarding invocations before meetings was updated and finalized in 2016, people across the peninsula have been… Continue reading

This image from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster website depicts the church’s deity. (Photo by Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, www.venganza.org)
In this August 2013 photo provided by the University of Alaska, excavators work at the Upward Sun River discovery site in Alaska. According to a report released on Wednesday, DNA from an infant who died in Alaska some 11,500 years ago, found at this site, is giving scientists the best look yet at the genetics of the ancestors of today’s native peoples of the Americas. (Ben Potter/University of Alaska via AP)

Ancient DNA gives glimpse of ancestors of Native Americans

NEW YORK — DNA from an infant who died in Alaska some 11,500 years ago is giving scientists the best look yet at the genetics… Continue reading

  • Jan 3, 2018
  • By MALCOLM RITTER
In this August 2013 photo provided by the University of Alaska, excavators work at the Upward Sun River discovery site in Alaska. According to a report released on Wednesday, DNA from an infant who died in Alaska some 11,500 years ago, found at this site, is giving scientists the best look yet at the genetics of the ancestors of today’s native peoples of the Americas. (Ben Potter/University of Alaska via AP)

Economist: Alaska job losses expected to moderate

JUNEAU — The state labor department expects continued job losses in Alaska this year but at a more moderate level than earlier in the recession.… Continue reading

  • Jan 3, 2018
  • By Becky Bohrer
Chelsea Samora of Kenai holds her newborn daughter, Zoe, whose Jan. 3 birthday makes her the first baby born in Central Peninsula Hospital in 2018. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

CPH’s first 2018 baby born Wednesday

If her first day is any indication, Zoe Rae Samora is going to be an early bird. The newborn was born 11 days before her… Continue reading

Chelsea Samora of Kenai holds her newborn daughter, Zoe, whose Jan. 3 birthday makes her the first baby born in Central Peninsula Hospital in 2018. (Photo by Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
In April 2017 Hilcorp’s Bruce Platform, pictured here, was shut in along with its neighboring platform Anna after the later released a sheen from its flaring system that turned out to be roughly three gallons of natural gas condensate. The incident was one of the 2017 hydrocarbon leaks from Cook Inlet’s aging platforms and pipelines that prompted the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council to begin an overview of Cook Inlet oil and gas infrastructure, leading to recommendations for preventing future leaks. (Photo courtesy of Ground Truth Trekking.)

CIRCAC studying pipeline leaks

After 2017 began with a natural gas leak in Cook Inlet, local spill prevention experts are preparing a comprehensive look at Cook Inlet’s aging oil… Continue reading

In April 2017 Hilcorp’s Bruce Platform, pictured here, was shut in along with its neighboring platform Anna after the later released a sheen from its flaring system that turned out to be roughly three gallons of natural gas condensate. The incident was one of the 2017 hydrocarbon leaks from Cook Inlet’s aging platforms and pipelines that prompted the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council to begin an overview of Cook Inlet oil and gas infrastructure, leading to recommendations for preventing future leaks. (Photo courtesy of Ground Truth Trekking.)
In this Sept. 5, 2012, file photo, Ahpun, a female polar bear, strolls around her cage at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska. The popular polar bear died unexpectedly on New Year’s Eve the zoo said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Dan Joling, File)

Polar bear Ahpun dies after nearly 20 years at Alaska Zoo

ANCHORAGE (AP) — A beloved polar bear at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage has died. A zookeeper Sunday found Ahpun, who was about 20 years… Continue reading

  • Jan 2, 2018
In this Sept. 5, 2012, file photo, Ahpun, a female polar bear, strolls around her cage at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska. The popular polar bear died unexpectedly on New Year’s Eve the zoo said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Dan Joling, File)

PEAKS test adds writing analysis portion

The Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools, or PEAKS, test will feature a new prompt in the English language arts section for grades four through nine… Continue reading

“I’m entering the new year with a new career, so I’m going to try to nail it. Nail this job.” — Kenai Firefighter Jesse Tauriainen, 31, of Nikiski

What’s your New Year’s Resolution?

In celebration of the New Year, the Clarion staff asked community members what their New Year’s resolutions are or what they hope 2018 has in… Continue reading

“I’m entering the new year with a new career, so I’m going to try to nail it. Nail this job.” — Kenai Firefighter Jesse Tauriainen, 31, of Nikiski
Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Since the start of the school year, the Kenai Central High School choir has been singing. From the chambers during Borough Assembly meeting, to Soldotna… Continue reading

Strong vocals: Kenai teacher brings excitement to the choir

Kenai bluff project gained ground in 2017

In 2017, the mile of bluff between Old Town Kenai and the Kenai River mouth may have receded three feet — the amount of ground… Continue reading

This draft design shows just one of the many options that Soldotna could explore for the remodel of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Tim Dillon and an advisory committee created by the Soldotna City Council hopes to present 95 percent completed designs to the council in the first quarter of 2018. (Photo courtesy of Tim Dillon)

Making strides: Soldotna Sports Complex remodel drawings expected in 2018

Throughout 2017, the remodel the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex hasn’t been a sprint to the finish line, but progress on the proposed field house has… Continue reading

  • Dec 31, 2017
  • By KAT SORENSEN
This draft design shows just one of the many options that Soldotna could explore for the remodel of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. Tim Dillon and an advisory committee created by the Soldotna City Council hopes to present 95 percent completed designs to the council in the first quarter of 2018. (Photo courtesy of Tim Dillon)