News

New plaintiff to join lawsuit against borough

The lawsuit against the Kenai Peninsula Borough over its assembly invocation policy is on its way back to state court, with a new plaintiff. The… Continue reading

Sandra Groller gets a massage from Caitlin Sparks, the owner of Kenai Peninsula Massage Therapy, at the Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Sparks, who shared a booth with Heather Rasch of Mountain Magic Massage, was one of 34 providing services to those experiencing homelessness or near homelessness at the event, now in its 6th year. By noon, vendors said things had started off a little slow but were beginning to pick up, and some who had been there multiple years said they were seeing some new faces. Services included haircuts, massages, blood pressure checks, job searches and hot meals, among others, all for free. Attendees could get taxi rides to the event, pick up free coats, boots, hats and food to take home. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Making connections

Sandra Groller gets a massage from Caitlin Sparks, the owner of Kenai Peninsula Massage Therapy, at the Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional… Continue reading

Sandra Groller gets a massage from Caitlin Sparks, the owner of Kenai Peninsula Massage Therapy, at the Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Sparks, who shared a booth with Heather Rasch of Mountain Magic Massage, was one of 34 providing services to those experiencing homelessness or near homelessness at the event, now in its 6th year. By noon, vendors said things had started off a little slow but were beginning to pick up, and some who had been there multiple years said they were seeing some new faces. Services included haircuts, massages, blood pressure checks, job searches and hot meals, among others, all for free. Attendees could get taxi rides to the event, pick up free coats, boots, hats and food to take home. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

University of Alaska weighs options for academic programs

FAIRBANKS (AP) — The University of Alaska has released dozens of options for restructuring academic and administrative programs as part of its ongoing budget review… Continue reading

Alaska state Rep. Geran Tarr speaks to reporters during the House majority’s weekly news conference on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. Tarr has introduced legislation that seeks to temporarily bar access to guns by people deemed by a judge to be a danger to themselves or others. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Lawmaker proposes gun bill after airport shooting

JUNEAU — A deadly airport shooting in Florida has helped spur a bill in Alaska that would allow authorities to temporarily take away guns from… Continue reading

Alaska state Rep. Geran Tarr speaks to reporters during the House majority’s weekly news conference on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. Tarr has introduced legislation that seeks to temporarily bar access to guns by people deemed by a judge to be a danger to themselves or others. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
FILE 0 This Feb. 9, 2016, file photo, shows a million-pound drilling rig looming in the distance at the CD5 drilling site on Alaska’s North Slope in Nuiqsut, Alaska. Six of the country’s major energy-producing states have slipped into recession after a sharp decline in production and exploration over the last 18 months caused their tax revenue to plummet, according to a financial analysis released Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

S&P: Downturn in energy production hits budgets in 6 states

Six of the country’s major energy-producing states have slipped into recession after a sharp decline in production and exploration over the last 18 months caused… Continue reading

  • Jan 24, 2017
  • By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY
FILE 0 This Feb. 9, 2016, file photo, shows a million-pound drilling rig looming in the distance at the CD5 drilling site on Alaska’s North Slope in Nuiqsut, Alaska. Six of the country’s major energy-producing states have slipped into recession after a sharp decline in production and exploration over the last 18 months caused their tax revenue to plummet, according to a financial analysis released Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Oil and gas subsidy debate, which sank budget deal last year, is poised to return

Oil and gas subsidy debate, which sank budget deal last year, is poised to return

An issue that sank plans for a budget fix in 2016 will soon resurface in the Alaska Legislature. A bill addressing North Slope oil and… Continue reading

Oil and gas subsidy debate, which sank budget deal last year, is poised to return
This Oct. 17, 2016 photo shows exposed cottonwood tree roots after European nightcrawler earthworms and two other earthworm species ate through the upper soil layers near Stormy Lake in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Matt Bowser/Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Coho salmon adapt to chow down on earthworms

Baby coho salmon have to last all winter in Kenai Peninsula streams without much to eat, but in recent years, they’ve been getting a new… Continue reading

This Oct. 17, 2016 photo shows exposed cottonwood tree roots after European nightcrawler earthworms and two other earthworm species ate through the upper soil layers near Stormy Lake in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Matt Bowser/Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Photo: End of the deep freeze

Photo: End of the deep freeze

Icicles hang from the roof of Veronica’s Cafe in Old Town on Monday in Kenai. After a deep freeze last week, the Kenai Peninsula is… Continue reading

Photo: End of the deep freeze
Alaska state Sen. Tom Begich poses in his Capitol office on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. Begich, a Democrat, has signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation that would restore the portion of Alaskans’ oil wealth checks cut by Gov. Bill Walker last year. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Dividend bill draws support from unusual allies

JUNEAU — Legislators on opposite ends of the political spectrum are supporting an Alaska Senate bill to restore the portion of Alaskans’ oil wealth checks… Continue reading

  • Jan 23, 2017
  • By Becky Bohrer
Alaska state Sen. Tom Begich poses in his Capitol office on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, in Juneau, Alaska. Begich, a Democrat, has signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation that would restore the portion of Alaskans’ oil wealth checks cut by Gov. Bill Walker last year. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Home invasion, shooting reported in Soldotna

Update, 6 p.m. Monday: The Alask Bureau of Investigation is conducting a homicide investigation on the incident, according to an updated online dispatch. Because of… Continue reading

Dozens of people from around Alaska turned out for the Board of Fisheries' worksession to comment on fisheries issues Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2016 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Board of Fish finalizes recommendations on fish habitat permitting

Add to the Legislature’s agenda this session a request for reconsideration of the state’s fish habitat permitting process. The state Board of Fisheries, the body… Continue reading

Dozens of people from around Alaska turned out for the Board of Fisheries' worksession to comment on fisheries issues Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2016 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Photo: Open for business

Photo: Open for business

Devon Gonzalez, a Medicenter employee, works at the reception desk at the medical center’s new Integrative Medicine Clinic on Trading Bay Road on Saturday in… Continue reading

Photo: Open for business

Kenai Peninsula College: Around Campus

Even though the spring semester got underway last week, anyone who has not yet registered can still do so, with an instructor’s permission, through the… Continue reading

  • Jan 22, 2017
  • By Suzie Kendrick
  • Schools

Unique agreement allows Ahtna group to manage harvests, habitat

A new agreement between an Alaska Native Tribal group and the U.S. Department of the Interior sets up the first framework for joint-management of subsistence… Continue reading

  • Jan 22, 2017
  • By Tim Bradner

School district responds to inflammatory tweets posted by hockey player

A pair of tweets from the account of a Soldotna High School hockey player, one coming on Thursday and the other on Friday, created a… Continue reading

Area residents wave at cars passing by while they march down Binkley Street during a Women's March held Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Marchers held signs advocating for a number of issues, from women's reproductive rights to clean water. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Solidarity: Women’s March, community gathering bring hundreds out in Soldotna

While hundreds of thousands of people converged on the nation’s capital for the Women’s March on Washington, D.C., on Saturday, a few hundred trudged happily… Continue reading

Area residents wave at cars passing by while they march down Binkley Street during a Women's March held Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Marchers held signs advocating for a number of issues, from women's reproductive rights to clean water. (Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska governor proposes pay freeze bill amid state deficit

By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press JUNEAU — Alaska Gov. Bill Walker has proposed freezing his own salary, along with the salaries of the lieutenant governor,… Continue reading

  • Jan 21, 2017

Diverse local reactions to Trump presidency

After President Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 45th president of the United States, politically active Kenai Peninsula residents still have varying perspectives on what his… Continue reading

President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Analysis: Trump speech shows America getting what it ordered

By NANCY BENAC Associated Press WASHINGTON — America is getting what it ordered on Election Day. If anyone was expecting an evolution from Donald Trump… Continue reading

  • Jan 20, 2017
President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Transcript: Donald Trump’s presidential inaugural address

By The Associated Press A transcript of Donald Trump’s inaugural address, delivered Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, after his swearing-in as the 45th president of the… Continue reading

  • Jan 20, 2017