News

Texas man missing in Anchor Point

A Texas man has been reported missing after he failed to show up for work in Anchor Point on Saturday. John Griffith, 40, was reported… Continue reading

First-year PEAKS results show peninsula students ahead of state

The first year’s results of the state’s new standardized public school assessments show that students in general aren’t doing as well as they could, but… Continue reading

Kenai Lions Club hosts annual rubber duck race

Kenai Lions Club hosts annual rubber duck race

Of the approximately 650 to 700 yellow rubber ducks floating down the Kenai River on Monday morning — released upstream of Kenai’s Cunningham Park by… Continue reading

Kenai Lions Club hosts annual rubber duck race

New school bus system faces hiccups on first week

Reading social media last week after the start of the Kenai Peninsula Borough school year, a reader might have thought kids got transported to school… Continue reading

Summer marijuana boom continues with sales high

In just one month, the state of Alaska has collected a third of the marijuana tax revenue it recouped in the entire last fiscal year.… Continue reading

This August 2016 photo shows Skilak Lake with Mt. Redoubt in the background on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. The state of Alaska is engaged in two lawsuits at the federal level with national implications, one of which involves a set of rules for hunting on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, finalized in March 2016. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Two state lawsuits hold national implications

The state of Alaska is caught up in two fish and wildlife-related lawsuits in federal courts that could set precedents around the nation for years… Continue reading

This August 2016 photo shows Skilak Lake with Mt. Redoubt in the background on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. The state of Alaska is engaged in two lawsuits at the federal level with national implications, one of which involves a set of rules for hunting on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, finalized in March 2016. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

4.1-magnitude earthquake strikes Nikiski

A brief earthquake rattled Nikiski on Labor Day, though not everyone felt the shaking. The U.S. Geological Survey reported an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude… Continue reading

This October 2015 photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice shows a protest staged in front of Tobacco Distress, a Soldotna-area store then allegedly selling the synthetic cannabis drug Spice near Soldotna, Alaska. Tobacco Distress owner Phillip Kneeland was sentenced to 70 months in prison Friday for selling the drug, which caused a number of people on the Kenai Peninsula to be taken to the hospital after taking it. (Photo courtesy the U.S. Department of Justice)

Soldotna man sentenced to 70 months of prison for selling Spice

A Soldotna man has been sentenced to 70 months in prison after being convicted of charged related to selling the illegal drug Spice through his… Continue reading

This October 2015 photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice shows a protest staged in front of Tobacco Distress, a Soldotna-area store then allegedly selling the synthetic cannabis drug Spice near Soldotna, Alaska. Tobacco Distress owner Phillip Kneeland was sentenced to 70 months in prison Friday for selling the drug, which caused a number of people on the Kenai Peninsula to be taken to the hospital after taking it. (Photo courtesy the U.S. Department of Justice)

Cannabis proposition pro- and con- take different approaches

Editor's note: This story has been changed to remove an incorrect statistic about the outcome of the 2014 statewide vote to legalize marijuana in the Kenai… Continue reading

Trio triumphs at Triumvirate

Trio triumphs at Triumvirate

Guitarist Lisa Pimentel of LA rock trio No Small Children performs on Friday, September 1, 2017 at the Triumvirate Theatre in north Kenai, Alaska. Pimentel,… Continue reading

Trio triumphs at Triumvirate

Kenai River silver salmon derby a go

The Kenai River silver salmon derby is set to go in two weeks after a long back-and-forth between the state and the two groups hosting… Continue reading

In an Aug. 9 photo, director Charles Baird, left, director of photography Michael Bergstrom, center, and sound man Andrew Wolfe film a scene from “Telltale” in Eagle River, Alaska. The film is one of two independent movies produced by Alaska filmmaker Charles Baird that were filmed in Eagle River the summer of 2017. (Kirsten Swann/Chugiak-Eagle River Star via AP)

Filmmakers bring Eagle River to the silver screen

By KIRSTEN SWANN Chugiak-Eagle River Star EAGLE RIVER (AP) — Eagle River is more than 2,000 miles away from Hollywood, but for a week or… Continue reading

  • Sep 4, 2017
In an Aug. 9 photo, director Charles Baird, left, director of photography Michael Bergstrom, center, and sound man Andrew Wolfe film a scene from “Telltale” in Eagle River, Alaska. The film is one of two independent movies produced by Alaska filmmaker Charles Baird that were filmed in Eagle River the summer of 2017. (Kirsten Swann/Chugiak-Eagle River Star via AP)
In an Aug. 4 photo, Father Ishmael Andrew, right, the new priest at St. Michael’s Orthodox Cathedral, and his family pose outside the Russian Bishop’s House in Sitka.(James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentienl via AP)

Village priest finds a new calling in Sitka

SITKA (AP) — Father Ishmael Andrew is the new priest at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Sitka. He moved to the city earlier this month from… Continue reading

  • Sep 4, 2017
  • By Brielle Schaeffer
In an Aug. 4 photo, Father Ishmael Andrew, right, the new priest at St. Michael’s Orthodox Cathedral, and his family pose outside the Russian Bishop’s House in Sitka.(James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentienl via AP)
Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell spoke with Journal staff during an hour-long interview Aug. 23 to reflect on how the state’s nest egg has grown to more than $60 billion and where it is going now that it’s nearly a foregone conclusion that the income will soon be used to fund government rather than just dividend checks. (Photo/Andrew Jensen/AJOC)

Rodell reflects on Fund at $60B milestone

The Permanent Fund is many things to many Alaskans. It’s the State of Alaska’s way of transforming finite resources into potentially perpetual wealth. It’s the… Continue reading

  • Sep 4, 2017
  • By ELWOOD BREHMER
Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell spoke with Journal staff during an hour-long interview Aug. 23 to reflect on how the state’s nest egg has grown to more than $60 billion and where it is going now that it’s nearly a foregone conclusion that the income will soon be used to fund government rather than just dividend checks. (Photo/Andrew Jensen/AJOC)

Alaska’s students failing, state tests show

More than half of Alaska’s schoolchildren are not proficient in math, science and English, according to the results of the state’s new standardized tests. According… Continue reading

This Aug. 31, 2017 photograph shows the reception area in the Care Transitions medical detox facility, operated by Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. The hospital obtained a state grant to purchase and renovate the facility, which provides medically supported withdrawal services for people detoxing from addictive substances including alcohol, opiates and heroin. (Photo courtesy Shari Conner/Central Peninsula Hospital Behavioral Health)

Hospital’s substance abuse detox center opens

There is a new bridge in Soldotna between the emergency room and residential rehab for those seeking to kick their substance addictions. One of the… Continue reading

This Aug. 31, 2017 photograph shows the reception area in the Care Transitions medical detox facility, operated by Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. The hospital obtained a state grant to purchase and renovate the facility, which provides medically supported withdrawal services for people detoxing from addictive substances including alcohol, opiates and heroin. (Photo courtesy Shari Conner/Central Peninsula Hospital Behavioral Health)

State allows marijuana businesses to apply for ‘Made in Alaska’ logos

The state-run “Made in Alaska” program is accepting applications from marijuana businesses. According to records obtained by the Empire via a state information act request,… Continue reading

Assembly candidates discuss Soldotna annexation

Two Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidates — incumbent Brett Hibbert and challenger Dan Castimore, both running to represent District 1, the Kalifornsky Beach area —… Continue reading

Leading a group of berry seekers, Janice Chumley of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service contrasts the tasty lingonberry (also known as lowbush cranberries) with the “edible but insipid” specimen of bunchberry dogwood in her right hand during an instructional walk on Monday, August 28, 2017 at Tsalteshi Trails near Soldotna, Alaska. The event was part of the fifth annual Harvest Moon Local Food Festival, which concluded Monday.

A tasty walk in the woods

Leading a group of berry seekers, Janice Chumley of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service contrasts the tasty lingonberry (also known as lowbush… Continue reading

Leading a group of berry seekers, Janice Chumley of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service contrasts the tasty lingonberry (also known as lowbush cranberries) with the “edible but insipid” specimen of bunchberry dogwood in her right hand during an instructional walk on Monday, August 28, 2017 at Tsalteshi Trails near Soldotna, Alaska. The event was part of the fifth annual Harvest Moon Local Food Festival, which concluded Monday.

Walker to call fourth special session

The Alaska Legislature will try to find a new hope in the fourth special session of the year. On Thursday morning, lawmakers were informed by… Continue reading