Local groups prep for market season

The 2018 farmers market season is quickly approaching and local organizers are eager to help vendors old and new. Tonight, the Alaska Food Hub, formerly… Continue reading

Court hears arguments on invocation lawsuit

Court hears arguments on invocation lawsuit

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s policy on who can give invocations had its day in court. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Kenai Peninsula… Continue reading

Court hears arguments on invocation lawsuit
Researcher Kim Ovitz observes a group of Cook Inlet beluga whales milling in a bend of the Kenai River by Cunningham Park on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Ovitz, a fellow in the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Sea Grant program, will be counting and recording beluga activity from public locations along the Kenai River until April 31, and is also seeking to talk with local residents about their own observations of marine mammals in the Kenai. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) 

Researcher looks at beluga use of Kenai River

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct the end date of Ovitz's observation project. Early this week Stevie Shackelford saw his first beluga… Continue reading

Researcher Kim Ovitz observes a group of Cook Inlet beluga whales milling in a bend of the Kenai River by Cunningham Park on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. Ovitz, a fellow in the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Sea Grant program, will be counting and recording beluga activity from public locations along the Kenai River until April 31, and is also seeking to talk with local residents about their own observations of marine mammals in the Kenai. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion) 

Sound Publishing buys Peninsula Clarion

Seattle-based Sound Publishing Inc., announced today its purchase of the Peninsula Clarion and Homer News, as well as the Juneau Empire and Capital City Weekly,… Continue reading

  • Apr 11, 2018
  • By Staff Report
This 1976 photo shows emergency vehicles parked at Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

CES looks to move Soldotna fire station

Central Emergency Services is looking to East Redoubt Avenue in Soldotna for its new Station 1 site. The service area, which provides emergency medical and… Continue reading

This 1976 photo shows emergency vehicles parked at Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

School board to look at kindergarten policy

Parents have been registering their children for kindergarten at Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools all month long, with schools enrolling any district child who… Continue reading

Alaska likely to hold top spots in national STD rates

As cases of sexually transmitted diseases continue to rise across the state, Alaska public health officials are calling attention to the need for testing and… Continue reading

Central Emergency Services firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in an apartment building on Cork Line Drive in the Kalifornsky Beach area on Monday, April 9, 2018 near Kenai, Alaska. No one was reportedly hurt in the blaze, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. (Photo courtesy Roy Browning/Central Emergency Services)

CES douses fire in K-Beach apartment building

No injuries were reported in an apartment building fire in the Kalifornsky Beach area Monday evening. Central Emergency Services doused a fire in a four-plex… Continue reading

Central Emergency Services firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in an apartment building on Cork Line Drive in the Kalifornsky Beach area on Monday, April 9, 2018 near Kenai, Alaska. No one was reportedly hurt in the blaze, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. (Photo courtesy Roy Browning/Central Emergency Services)

Republican Governors Association reserves air time in Alaska

JUNEAU (AP) — The Republican Governors Association said it is reserving ad time in Alaska for the final weeks of this year’s governor’s race. The… Continue reading

  • Apr 9, 2018
  • By Becky Bohrer
Three members of the Alaska Senate majority’s leadership listen to questions during the majority’s weekly news conference on Monday in Juneau. Pictured are, from left, Senate Majority Leader Peter Micciche, Senate President Pete Kelly and Senate Finance Committee Co-chair Lyman Hoffman. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Big items remain as Alaska lawmakers seek timely session end

JUNEAU — The Alaska Legislature is in its final week of a scheduled 90-day session, with budgets to complete and questions over what it will… Continue reading

  • Apr 9, 2018
  • By Becky Bohrer
Three members of the Alaska Senate majority’s leadership listen to questions during the majority’s weekly news conference on Monday in Juneau. Pictured are, from left, Senate Majority Leader Peter Micciche, Senate President Pete Kelly and Senate Finance Committee Co-chair Lyman Hoffman. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

After public objection, borough trims land auction list

The list of Kenai Peninsula Borough-owned parcels up for auction got significantly shorter after the borough assembly trimmed the list in response to public concern.… Continue reading

This Monday, Oct. 24, 2016 photo shows the Kenai City Dock in Kenai, Alaska. The city is seeking a new concessionaire to operate the dock’s equipment after seafood processor Copper River Seafoods did not show interest in operating the facility for the 2018 season. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Copper River to stop operating Kenai dock

Seafood processor Copper River Seafoods won’t be operating the city of Kenai’s dock this year. The company, which has operated the dock’s heavy equipment and… Continue reading

This Monday, Oct. 24, 2016 photo shows the Kenai City Dock in Kenai, Alaska. The city is seeking a new concessionaire to operate the dock’s equipment after seafood processor Copper River Seafoods did not show interest in operating the facility for the 2018 season. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Public battles over gravel pit restrictions

Public battles over gravel pit restrictions

The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s working group on gravel pits wanted public comment, and on Thursday night, they got it. Property owners and gravel pit operators… Continue reading

Public battles over gravel pit restrictions
A Municipality of Anchorage vote-by-mail drop box is seen in an undated photo. (Maria Athens | For the Juneau Empire)

After Anchorage success, state considers whether Alaska is ready for elections by mail

By the numbers alone, Anchorage’s first election held by mail has been a smashing success. Election Day was Tuesday, and almost 80,000 votes have already… Continue reading

A Municipality of Anchorage vote-by-mail drop box is seen in an undated photo. (Maria Athens | For the Juneau Empire)
In this August 2017 photo, sockeye salmon mill in the pool just below the Russian River Falls near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Salmon habitat bill still milling in House Fisheries committee

With the Legislature closing in on the final day of its regular session, the battle over a bill to tighten restrictions on permits to develop… Continue reading

In this August 2017 photo, sockeye salmon mill in the pool just below the Russian River Falls near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
A Visual Feast celebrates student art

A Visual Feast celebrates student art

Eighth-grader Jolie Widamen from Skyview Middle School can’t draw, can’t paint and is definitely not artistic, or at least that’s what she told her mom,… Continue reading

A Visual Feast celebrates student art
Homer Needle Exchange volunteer Sharon Whytal demonstrates a variety of items offered to IV drug users through the exchange program in Homer last month. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Health care providers call for syringe exchange

Pete Paquette’s addiction began the way it did for many — with a pain injury in high school and a prescription for opioids. Liking the… Continue reading

Homer Needle Exchange volunteer Sharon Whytal demonstrates a variety of items offered to IV drug users through the exchange program in Homer last month. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna City Council now accepting applications

Applications to serve on Soldotna City Council are being accepted until April 17. With the resignation of Keith Baxter in March, the city is looking… Continue reading

Kenai Council limits appeals of city decisions

At their Wednesday meeting the Kenai City Council voted to change the rules that had allowed any Kenai resident to challenge any decision by city… Continue reading

25 local vendors brought their best to the 2018 Taste of the Kenai.

Taste of the Kenai overflowing with flavor

More people had a chance to taste the Kenai than ever before at the 2018 Taste of the Kenai sponsored the Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing… Continue reading

25 local vendors brought their best to the 2018 Taste of the Kenai.