Governor’s budget would cut DOT jobs

The proposed cuts in Gov. Bill Walker’s fiscal year 2018 budget would fall heavily across the state, including broad reductions to the Alaska Department of… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Comet (right) and Crash (left), reindeer owned and raised by Jenna Hansen of Nikiski, pose for pictures with people who drop by Trustworthy Hardware 2 on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2016 in Soldotna, Alaska. The Hansen family and the reindeer make regular appearances in town around Christmastime. On Friday evening, they'll make a stop at the Klimpke family's Christmas lights display.
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Comet (right) and Crash (left), reindeer owned and raised by Jenna Hansen of Nikiski, pose for pictures with people who drop by Trustworthy Hardware 2 on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2016 in Soldotna, Alaska. The Hansen family and the reindeer make regular appearances in town around Christmastime. On Friday evening, they'll make a stop at the Klimpke family's Christmas lights display.

State receives AK LNG work; land issue unresolved

The State of Alaska is now halfway to officially leading the Alaska LNG Project after the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. board unanimously approved a resolution… Continue reading

  • Dec 21, 2016
  • By ELWOOD BREHMER
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Sterling resident Laurel Lee listens during a sentencing hearing Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska. Lee was convicted of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor in May and was sentenced to five years in jail Tuesday.

Sterling woman gets 5 years for sex abuse of minor

Sterling resident Laurel Lee was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday in the final hearing of a sexual abuse case more than two years… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Sterling resident Laurel Lee listens during a sentencing hearing Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska. Lee was convicted of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor in May and was sentenced to five years in jail Tuesday.

Former access point to Lower Trail Lake remains closed

Access to a trailhead off the Seward Highway near Moose Pass will stay blocked off because of safety concerns on the nearby railroad tracks.Boaters were… Continue reading

Health insurance enrollment up

Those seeking health insurance for the upcoming year have a little over a month left to get their coverage lined up.The open enrollment period for… Continue reading

FILE - In this May 14, 2015, file photo, the oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer is towed toward a dock in Elliott Bay in Seattle. The rig was the first of two drilling rigs Royal Dutch Shell was outfitting for Arctic oil exploration. President Barack Obama is expected to order wide swaths of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans placed permanently off-limits for oil drilling, in an 11th-hour push for environmental protection before he leaves office.  (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Obama bans future oil leases in much of Arctic, Atlantic

HONOLULU — President Barack Obama on Tuesday designated the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas in the Atlantic Ocean as… Continue reading

  • Dec 20, 2016
  • By KEVIN FREKING
FILE - In this May 14, 2015, file photo, the oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer is towed toward a dock in Elliott Bay in Seattle. The rig was the first of two drilling rigs Royal Dutch Shell was outfitting for Arctic oil exploration. President Barack Obama is expected to order wide swaths of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans placed permanently off-limits for oil drilling, in an 11th-hour push for environmental protection before he leaves office.  (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Volcano eruption in Aleutian Islands sparks aviation alert

The Alaska Volcano Observatory has issued its highest level of alert for aviation after what it says was a brief eruption of a volcano on… Continue reading

  • Dec 20, 2016

Plans for history conference advance

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show that the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act passed in 1971. The plans for a history conference… Continue reading

Horse quiz team readies for national competition

Having proven themselves to be the biggest horse nerds in Alaska, members of the North Wind Riders 4-H equine club will attempt to lead the… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Brody Linton, a student at Soldotna Montessori Charter School, skates around the ice rink during a class skating event Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. The students, some slipping and some gliding, skated around the rink for several hours Monday.
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Brody Linton, a student at Soldotna Montessori Charter School, skates around the ice rink during a class skating event Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. The students, some slipping and some gliding, skated around the rink for several hours Monday.

Alaska’s 3 GOP electoral college members vote for Trump

JUNEAU — Alaska’s three Republican electors cast their votes for President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, honoring pledges they had made to support their party’s nominee… Continue reading

  • Dec 19, 2016
  • By Becky Bohrer

Murkowski: House chose party over energy policy

Sen. Lisa Murkowski accused House leaders of forgoing negotiations on her overarching energy policy bill to begin holiday celebrations early.Still steaming more than a week… Continue reading

  • Dec 19, 2016
  • By ELWOOD BREHMER
An exuberant James Harris accepts the Alaska Teacher of the Year title.

Champion teachers for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

On Dec. 6 the Alaska Commissioner of the Department of Education Michael Johnson made a surprise appearance at a student assembly at Soldotna High School.… Continue reading

An exuberant James Harris accepts the Alaska Teacher of the Year title.
The Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors has installed a new board of directors for 2017.

Peninsula Realtors install new board, honor Realtor of the Year

The New Year is already underway if you are a Realtor on the Kenai Peninsula. At an early morning breakfast held at the Kenai Visitor… Continue reading

The Kenai Peninsula Association of Realtors has installed a new board of directors for 2017.
Hannah Taurianen leads the crowd in caroling at Christmas in the Park.

Soldotna lights up Christmas

With temperatures barely in the double digits and a light covering of snow turning Soldotna Creek Park into a winter wonderland, hundreds of families turned… Continue reading

Hannah Taurianen leads the crowd in caroling at Christmas in the Park.

School news for Dec. 19

School board to meet The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. in the borough building at 148 N. Binkley… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula College: Around the Peninsula

Kenai Peninsula College’s two campuses (Kenai River Campus in Soldotna and Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer) and two extension sites (Anchorage and Resurrection Bay) will… Continue reading

  • Dec 18, 2016
  • By Suzie Kendrick
  • Schools
Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Vanessa Wilkison, a member of the Anchorage-based Fireweed Flutes quartet, performs a solo piece on Saturday, Dec. 17 at Christ Lutheran Church in Kenai. Wilkison traveled to Kenai to play in a free flute and violin concert featuring students of flautist Tomoka Raften and violinist Ida Pearson.

Photo: Winds and strings

Sean Raften performs in a violin ensemble with his teacher, Ida Pearson, and other students in a flute and violin concert on Saturday, Dec. 17… Continue reading

Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Vanessa Wilkison, a member of the Anchorage-based Fireweed Flutes quartet, performs a solo piece on Saturday, Dec. 17 at Christ Lutheran Church in Kenai. Wilkison traveled to Kenai to play in a free flute and violin concert featuring students of flautist Tomoka Raften and violinist Ida Pearson.

Alaskans plunge for a purpose

ANCHORAGE — More than a thousand people in Alaska dressed up as elves or in other elaborate costumes, while some stripped down to barely anything… Continue reading

  • Dec 18, 2016
  • By Mark Thiessen