News

This screen capture from the city of Kenai’s live-feeding camera above a local eagle nest shows an eagle parent roosting with two eggs on Thursday, May 18, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Presently the eagle camera is streaming to Kenai City Hall, where administrators hope to raise the city’s profile by putting a live eagle feed online sometime in the coming weeks. (Screen capture courtesy of Jamie Heinz/City of Kenai)

Kenai eagle nest to stream live online

Update, Friday May 19, 11:00 a.m — The city of Kenai's eagle cam is now online and streaming at http://www.kenai.city/eaglecam​  When Kenai’s eagle camera begins… Continue reading

This screen capture from the city of Kenai’s live-feeding camera above a local eagle nest shows an eagle parent roosting with two eggs on Thursday, May 18, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Presently the eagle camera is streaming to Kenai City Hall, where administrators hope to raise the city’s profile by putting a live eagle feed online sometime in the coming weeks. (Screen capture courtesy of Jamie Heinz/City of Kenai)

Income tax needed for Alaska

I read with amazement the sayings of Senate President Pete Kelly, R-Fairbanks, on the income tax proposal that was defeated in the Senate. Sen. Kelly… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2017
  • By Emery Thibodeau
This map shows the newly formed Eastern Peninsula Highway Emergency Service Area, which authorizes the Kenai Peninsula Borough to provide emergency services along the Sterling and Seward Highways, where thousands of drivers pass through largely empty land on their way to the peninsula every day. (Courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Assembly forms eastern peninsula highway service area

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly has taken the first step toward providing a safety net of emergency services for scarcely-population potions of the eastern peninsula… Continue reading

This map shows the newly formed Eastern Peninsula Highway Emergency Service Area, which authorizes the Kenai Peninsula Borough to provide emergency services along the Sterling and Seward Highways, where thousands of drivers pass through largely empty land on their way to the peninsula every day. (Courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker gestures during a news conference on Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. Thursday marked the first day of a special session called by Walker to address the budget and a fiscal plan for the state. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Q&A: Alaska Legislature opens special session

JUNEAU — The Alaska Legislature on Thursday convened a special session, called by Gov. Bill Walker, after failing to come to terms on a budget… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2017
  • By Becky Bohrer
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker gestures during a news conference on Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. Thursday marked the first day of a special session called by Walker to address the budget and a fiscal plan for the state. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska lawmakers approve REAL ID measure

JUNEAU (AP) — The Alaska Legislature has passed a bill aimed at bringing the state into compliance with national proof-of-identity standards. The House gave final… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2017
William Konig of Kenai’s Parks and Recreation department tills the Field of Flowers, preparing it to be planted with wildflowers, on Wednesday, May 17 in Kenai. The Field of Flowers is part of a 16 acre city-owned strip known as Lawton Acres, which sits between the Kenai Spur Highway and a neighborhood to the south where residents have been fighting commercial development of the land since the late 1980s. On Monday, many spoke at a Kenai City Council work session about possible resolutions to the dispute.

Lawton Acres options include ballot proposition, land trade, purchase

Prompted by a standing-room only crowd in the Kenai City Council Chambers on Monday night, Kenai council members discussed options for concluding a 30-year dispute… Continue reading

William Konig of Kenai’s Parks and Recreation department tills the Field of Flowers, preparing it to be planted with wildflowers, on Wednesday, May 17 in Kenai. The Field of Flowers is part of a 16 acre city-owned strip known as Lawton Acres, which sits between the Kenai Spur Highway and a neighborhood to the south where residents have been fighting commercial development of the land since the late 1980s. On Monday, many spoke at a Kenai City Council work session about possible resolutions to the dispute.

Kenai man arrested for Safeway arson

A Kenai man has been arrested and charged with arson after an early-morning incident at Kenai’s Safeway store. Kenai Police responded to the store around… Continue reading

Poet’s Corner: Spring Housecleaning

Spring Housecleaning By Gaye LaRane Susan cleans her house with a cloth and a broom. Billy cleans his house with a vacuum and shovel. I… Continue reading

  • May 18, 2017
  • By Gaye LaRane

Fish biologists talk escapement goals

Representatives from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and Alaska Board of Fisheries reiterated the role that escapement goals play in the peninsula’s commercial… Continue reading

  • May 17, 2017
  • By KAT SORENSEN
Several Alaska state representatives gather around Rep. Lance Pruitt, seated, during a break in a House floor session on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. Shown are, from left, Reps. Tammie Wilson, Steve Thompson, Jennifer Johnston, Pruitt and Chuck Kopp. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska lawmakers face special session on budget, fiscal fix

JUNEAU — Alaska legislators are set to convene a special session called by Gov. Bill Walker to complete work on a budget and plan for… Continue reading

Several Alaska state representatives gather around Rep. Lance Pruitt, seated, during a break in a House floor session on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. Shown are, from left, Reps. Tammie Wilson, Steve Thompson, Jennifer Johnston, Pruitt and Chuck Kopp. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Several Alaska state representatives gather in front of state House Speaker Bryce Edgmon during a break in a House floor session on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

With deadline near, Alaska Legislature eyes taking more time

JUNEAU — Wednesday marked a constitutional deadline for Alaska lawmakers to end their regular session. But with a budget and plan for addressing Alaska’s multibillion-dollar… Continue reading

Several Alaska state representatives gather in front of state House Speaker Bryce Edgmon during a break in a House floor session on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Borough wrestles with school funding, taxes

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is facing the same budget conundrum as the state, just on a smaller scale: residents want to maintain services but raising… Continue reading

Kenai residents surprised by cul-de-sac paving

Leslei Spalding was among six Kenai property-owners who recently received bills from the city for $6,274.58 — part of the cost of a paving project… Continue reading

This April 21 photo shows the cul-de-sac at the end of Kenai's VIP Drive, which the city paved in 2014. Kenai administrators billed cul-de-sac residents - whom they said had requested the paving by petition - for a share of the cost, creating a dispute with residents who denied requesting the paving. The dispute was resolved Wednesday with an agreement that reduced the cost to residents.

Mistaken pavement bill resolved

When property-owners on Kenai’s VIP Drive cul-de-sac were billed by the city for part of the cost of paving their road, they contested the bill,… Continue reading

This April 21 photo shows the cul-de-sac at the end of Kenai's VIP Drive, which the city paved in 2014. Kenai administrators billed cul-de-sac residents - whom they said had requested the paving by petition - for a share of the cost, creating a dispute with residents who denied requesting the paving. The dispute was resolved Wednesday with an agreement that reduced the cost to residents.

Kenai manager anticipates difficult future budgeting

Declining sales taxes, anticipated reductions in state revenue sharing and pension funding, the rearrangement of a state meal program, and a probable rise in the… Continue reading

Twenty three days into his job as Kenai City Manager, Paul Ostrander speaks about Kenai issues to a Kenai Chamber of Commerce audience during a talk on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017 at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).

Ostrander speaks about Kenai issues

After 23 days as Kenai City Manager, Paul Ostrander spoke about his view of Kenai’s finances, policies, and future obstacles to an audience of Kenai… Continue reading

Twenty three days into his job as Kenai City Manager, Paul Ostrander speaks about Kenai issues to a Kenai Chamber of Commerce audience during a talk on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017 at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion).
From right, Alaska Department of Fish and Game geneticist Sam Rabung, Fish and Game Commissioner Sam Cotten, Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Andy Mack and Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Acting Director Matt Weideke listen to concerns from Homer and Tutka Bay residents about a permit that would authorize Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association to move its net pens in Tutka Bay from the lagoon to the head of the bay at a meeting at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center on May 15 in Homer. (Photo/Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Park users, commercial fishermen clash over Tutka Bay net pens

HOMER — The debate over whether a Cook Inlet hatchery operator can move some net pens out into a Homer-area bay is tangled up with… Continue reading

From right, Alaska Department of Fish and Game geneticist Sam Rabung, Fish and Game Commissioner Sam Cotten, Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Andy Mack and Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Acting Director Matt Weideke listen to concerns from Homer and Tutka Bay residents about a permit that would authorize Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association to move its net pens in Tutka Bay from the lagoon to the head of the bay at a meeting at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center on May 15 in Homer. (Photo/Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge intern Kyra Clark rakes masses of the invasive waterweed elodea from the Soldotna-area Sport Lake on Tuesday, May 16. Behind her, staff from the Refuge, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and the Kenai Watershed Forum prepare to launch the two boats that will target elodea with the herbicides diquat and fluridone. Following Tuesday’s herbicide discharge into Sport Lake, Refuge biologist John Morton said there’s a three-day safety restriction on drinking the lake water, but none on swimming or fishing. He also cautioned against sprinkling the herbicide-treated water on lawns or gardens. A second round of diquat and fluridone will be put into Sport Lake in September, Morton said, to contnue killing elodea through the winter. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo: Raking the lake

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge intern Kyra Clark rakes masses of the invasive waterweed elodea from the Soldotna-area Sport Lake on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. Behind… Continue reading

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge intern Kyra Clark rakes masses of the invasive waterweed elodea from the Soldotna-area Sport Lake on Tuesday, May 16. Behind her, staff from the Refuge, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and the Kenai Watershed Forum prepare to launch the two boats that will target elodea with the herbicides diquat and fluridone. Following Tuesday’s herbicide discharge into Sport Lake, Refuge biologist John Morton said there’s a three-day safety restriction on drinking the lake water, but none on swimming or fishing. He also cautioned against sprinkling the herbicide-treated water on lawns or gardens. A second round of diquat and fluridone will be put into Sport Lake in September, Morton said, to contnue killing elodea through the winter. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Cook Inletkeeper scientist will head to Antarctica

Early next year, 80 female scientists plan to set sail from Ushuaia, Argentina, for Antarctica. Among them will be Homer’s Sue Mauger, Science Director of… Continue reading

State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)

Wasilla Republican asks Alaska Legislature to criminalize abortion

Wasilla Republican David Eastman has proposed a measure making abortion illegal in the state of Alaska. On Monday, Eastman introduced House Bill 250, which —… Continue reading

State Rep. David Eastman, a Republican freshman from Wasilla, is seen during the introduction of the newly-elected house speaker at the Alaska Legislature in Juneau on Jan. 17, 2017. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press File)