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This photo posted by the Alaska State Troopers shows Casey Douglas, a 39-year-old Anchorage man on the run from authorities in Sterling, Alaska since Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (Photo courtesy Alasak State Troopers)

Troopers seek Anchorage man who fled in Sterling

Alaska State Troopers are looking for an Anchorage man on the run in Sterling. Troopers pulled a car over in Sterling on Wednesday when a… Continue reading

This photo posted by the Alaska State Troopers shows Casey Douglas, a 39-year-old Anchorage man on the run from authorities in Sterling, Alaska since Wednesday, April 19, 2017. (Photo courtesy Alasak State Troopers)
Dancer the reindeer nuzzles her new baby, a female, shortly after its birth on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 in Nikiski, Alaska. The Hansen family in Nikiski has had reindeer for five years and take them around the central Kenai Peninsula for appearances at Christmastime. Any money donated by those who get their pictures with the animals is given to support homeless children, Hara Hansen said. (Photo courtesy Megan Ward)

Nikiski family welcomes reindeer calf

One Nikiski farm just got a whole lot cuter. The Hansen family welcomed a baby reindeer Tuesday when their pregnant female reindeer, Dancer, gave birth.… Continue reading

Dancer the reindeer nuzzles her new baby, a female, shortly after its birth on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 in Nikiski, Alaska. The Hansen family in Nikiski has had reindeer for five years and take them around the central Kenai Peninsula for appearances at Christmastime. Any money donated by those who get their pictures with the animals is given to support homeless children, Hara Hansen said. (Photo courtesy Megan Ward)

Governor’s bill would cut CFEC commissioners’ pay

Gov. Bill Walker has introduced a bill to trim the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. The CFEC, the state agency that manages commercial fishing limited entry… Continue reading

CIRCAC, state to evaluate old pipelines in Cook Inlet

After a turbulent spring with multiple oil and gas infrastructure failures in Cook Inlet, a citizen’s advisory group and the state agency tasked with environmental… Continue reading

KPBSD holds back on open positions

On the surface, it looks like the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District isn’t hiring, but uncertainty surrounding next year’s budget has the district posting positions… Continue reading

In this May 22, 2014 photo, Central Emergency Services firefighter Josh Thompson throws brush into a fire along Funny River Road as the group works to control the burning Funny River wildfire which consumed more than 63,000 acres of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge land. (Clarion file photo)

Fire season shaping up to have later start

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the list of entities collaborating on a fule break being… Continue reading

In this May 22, 2014 photo, Central Emergency Services firefighter Josh Thompson throws brush into a fire along Funny River Road as the group works to control the burning Funny River wildfire which consumed more than 63,000 acres of Kenai National Wildlife Refuge land. (Clarion file photo)
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Jim Kingrey, power plant superintendent for the Homer Electric Association, gives a tour of the company's Soldotna Combustion Turbine Plant Wednesday October 8, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

HEA showcases newest power plant

From the Sterling Highway, it is nearly impossible to hear the low hum of the Homer Electric Association’s combustion turbine plant over the steady roar… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Jim Kingrey, power plant superintendent for the Homer Electric Association, gives a tour of the company's Soldotna Combustion Turbine Plant Wednesday October 8, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.
In this undated photo, crew members haul scallops up onto the deck of a fishing vessel from a dredge. Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff have been researching the increasing incidence of a condition called “weak meats” in Alaska scallops, which makes the product unmarketable. (Photo courtesy the Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Researchers identify widespread parasite in Alaska scallops

A lot of Alaska’s scallops are sick, and scientists are trying to figure out why. Alaska’s scallop fishery is a small one — in recent… Continue reading

In this undated photo, crew members haul scallops up onto the deck of a fishing vessel from a dredge. Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff have been researching the increasing incidence of a condition called “weak meats” in Alaska scallops, which makes the product unmarketable. (Photo courtesy the Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Bill looks to fund education with raffle

The Alaska Senate is recruiting lady luck to help fund education with a raffle that residents can enter using their Permanent Fund Dividends. Senate Bill… Continue reading

Orion Brandon, a 2-year-old from Sterling, visits the Kenai Fire Station for a free car-seat check up provided by Safe Kids Kenai Peninsula on Monday, April 17, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Jane Fellman, of Safe Kids and Central Peninsula Hospital, weighs Brandon to ensure he’s in the right size car seat. Safe Kids is offering another check on Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Nikiski Fire Station. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Nothing beats safe seats

Orion Brandon, a 2-year-old from Sterling, visits the Kenai Fire Station for a free car-seat check up provided by Safe Kids Kenai Peninsula on Monday,… Continue reading

Orion Brandon, a 2-year-old from Sterling, visits the Kenai Fire Station for a free car-seat check up provided by Safe Kids Kenai Peninsula on Monday, April 17, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Jane Fellman, of Safe Kids and Central Peninsula Hospital, weighs Brandon to ensure he’s in the right size car seat. Safe Kids is offering another check on Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Nikiski Fire Station. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

HEA prices to drop in 2016

Homer Electric Association will decrease its rates starting January 1, 2016, while an unresolved proposal that may raise them remains suspended until July. The cost… Continue reading

HEA seeks to recoup costs for Bradley Lake power transmission

Homer Electric Association is requesting a temporary 3.25 percent rate increase, effective in February, to recover what it says is a significant loss from transmitting… Continue reading

Graphic by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion This map, taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Parcel Viewer and modified by the Peninsula Clarion with information from Homer Electric Association's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license application for the Grant Lake Hydroelectric project, shows the existing route of the Iditarod National Historic Trail in blue and HEA's proposed reroute of the trail in pink, as well as the powerhouse and water-diversion tunnel HEA plans to build.

Officials consider recreational impact of HEA’s Grant Lake hydroelectric project

In one possible future, a footbridge may cross Grant Creek about a half mile from Grant Lake, its source in the hills above Moose Pass.… Continue reading

Graphic by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion This map, taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough Parcel Viewer and modified by the Peninsula Clarion with information from Homer Electric Association's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license application for the Grant Lake Hydroelectric project, shows the existing route of the Iditarod National Historic Trail in blue and HEA's proposed reroute of the trail in pink, as well as the powerhouse and water-diversion tunnel HEA plans to build.
A Pelton waterwheel, similar to those that spin Bradley Lake's two turbines, sits in a storage area on Friday, April 15 at the Bradley Lake power station. Created in the 1870s, Pelton wheels have an efficient paddle design that can extract almost all energy from a flow of water. This wheel was removed from the turbine due to stress at the base of the paddles.

Bradley Lake maintenence complete

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct an annual rate orginally described as a monthly rate. Since 1991 the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Plant… Continue reading

A Pelton waterwheel, similar to those that spin Bradley Lake's two turbines, sits in a storage area on Friday, April 15 at the Bradley Lake power station. Created in the 1870s, Pelton wheels have an efficient paddle design that can extract almost all energy from a flow of water. This wheel was removed from the turbine due to stress at the base of the paddles.

State prepares for Cook Inlet lease sale

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Oil and Gas will start taking bids in June for 9.95 million acres of oil and gas… Continue reading

Coalition backs mix of cuts, Permanent Fund restructure

Alaska needs a combination of unpopular actions to fix budget issues, according to Jim Jansen, Co-Chair of the KEEP Alaska Competitive Coalition. Jansen, who is… Continue reading

Troopers close down Seward Highway for reports of man firing shots

Update 4:30 p.m.: Alaska State Troopers have arrested a man who allegedly fired shots near the Seward Highway at Girdwood on Monday. At 8 a.m., troopers received a Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately report of an erratic driver in a pickup truck near… Continue reading

Kids race into the woods in search of Easter eggs during an Easter party hosted by the Kenai Elks Lodge

Photos: Going on an egg hunt

… Continue reading

Kids race into the woods in search of Easter eggs during an Easter party hosted by the Kenai Elks Lodge
Tehya Nichols performs on stage in the one-act play “HDYMTWBT,” written by Mike Druce, a former Soldotna High School teacher. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

One act at a time

The drama department at Soldotna High School presented their annual “One-Act Play Festival” this past weekend, which included four different plays at three different showings… Continue reading

Tehya Nichols performs on stage in the one-act play “HDYMTWBT,” written by Mike Druce, a former Soldotna High School teacher. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Yukon Fire Crew, highly trained hotshot wildland firefighters, perform mop up work on the Kenai Peninsula in 2015. The Type 2 Hand Crew is based on the peninsula for a large part of the year in trailers parked on land leased to the nonprofit Chugachmiut, Inc. by the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Chugachmiut is seeking a grant that would allow the organization to build a permanent camp on land it bought in 2011. (Photo courtesy Nathan Lojewski)

Nonprofit seeks grant to house fire crew

An Alaska Native nonprofit wants to improve living conditions for the highly-trained wildland firefighters it supports, who spend their days tucked away on call on… Continue reading

Members of the Yukon Fire Crew, highly trained hotshot wildland firefighters, perform mop up work on the Kenai Peninsula in 2015. The Type 2 Hand Crew is based on the peninsula for a large part of the year in trailers parked on land leased to the nonprofit Chugachmiut, Inc. by the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Chugachmiut is seeking a grant that would allow the organization to build a permanent camp on land it bought in 2011. (Photo courtesy Nathan Lojewski)