Judge tosses lawmaker challenge to Medicaid expansion

JUNEAU (AP) — A state court judge in Alaska has upheld Gov. Bill Walker's decision to expand Medicaid without legislative approval, finding that the federal… Continue reading

Nikiski North Start fourth-grader Leora McCaughey performs "Double Feature Teacher" for her encore performance in the library at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Forensics Competition on Saturday, Feb. 27. Leora took first place in the fourth grade humorous poetry category.

Central peninsula students take forensics competition awards

Editors note: This story has been changed to correct the spelling of Carson Koppes' name. Tustemena Elementary was jam-packed full of parents and students on… Continue reading

  • Feb 29, 2016
  • By ANNA FROST
Nikiski North Start fourth-grader Leora McCaughey performs "Double Feature Teacher" for her encore performance in the library at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Forensics Competition on Saturday, Feb. 27. Leora took first place in the fourth grade humorous poetry category.
Sen. Dan Sullivan heads toward the podium in the state House before his annual address to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)

Sullivan: Alaska strategically important to US

JUNEAU — U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said Monday that Alaska is an area of strategic importance to the country, given its foothold in the Arctic… Continue reading

Sen. Dan Sullivan heads toward the podium in the state House before his annual address to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)

Local guidance counselor makes national connections

Skyview Middle School Guidance Counselor Natalie Kant could retire, but she won’t. She doesn’t want to.Instead, she keeps sinking her hands into more projects that… Continue reading

  • Feb 29, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
One of Megan Green's goats checks out Green's son Eli, 4, last summer at their Kenai home. A proposal before the Alaska Board of Game would require sheep and goat owners to have permits to raise the animals. (Photo courtesy Megan Green)

Proposal would require permits for sheep, goats

Owners of goats and sheep may soon have to permit their animals if the state Board of Game passes a proposal in March.Domestic goats and… Continue reading

One of Megan Green's goats checks out Green's son Eli, 4, last summer at their Kenai home. A proposal before the Alaska Board of Game would require sheep and goat owners to have permits to raise the animals. (Photo courtesy Megan Green)
AK LNG moves ahead

AK LNG moves ahead

A 9:00am Saturday coffee klatch AK LNG informational meeting turned out about 80 community members as well as the Speaker of the House Rep. Mike… Continue reading

AK LNG moves ahead
Frozen River festival provides antidote

Frozen River festival provides antidote

On one of the windiest, coldest days of the year over 800 people of all ages gathered at Soldotna Creek Park for 2nd Annual Frozen… Continue reading

Frozen River festival provides antidote
A preliminary design by the City of Soldotna shows what three highway gaeway signs will look like from the front and side when they are erected in summer 2016. The project to build the signs will go out to bid in the next week or two.

Soldotna to update highway, park signage

Motorists and park-goers will soon be greeted by new signs as they make their way around Soldotna. As part of the Downtown Improvement Plan, the… Continue reading

A preliminary design by the City of Soldotna shows what three highway gaeway signs will look like from the front and side when they are erected in summer 2016. The project to build the signs will go out to bid in the next week or two.

Around the District

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

VIP's love Tamara Grooming

VIP’s love Tamara Grooming

The VIP’s (Very Important Pets) of the Kenai Peninsula are wagging their tails and purring about the new Tarma’s Grooming salon across from Spenard Builders… Continue reading

VIP's love Tamara Grooming
Fun for all

Fun for all

Family, friends and faculty of students at Redoubt Elementary School kept the fun indoors for their 4th Winter Carnival. Decking the halls with carnival sideshow… Continue reading

Fun for all

KRC to start search for new food vendor

KPC’s Kenai River Cafe is set to change management of the food service in the upcoming fall semester that begins August 29. The search for… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Mick Wykis reads to a class at Mountain View Elementary School in Kenai during the annual community reading event on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016,

Communities that read together

Mountain View Elementary staff invited a group of local officials, law enforcement officers and figure heads including Pat Porter, mayor of the City of Kenai,… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Mick Wykis reads to a class at Mountain View Elementary School in Kenai during the annual community reading event on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016,

90-day session nears half-way point

JUNEAU — Legislators this coming week will reach the half-way point of the scheduled 90-day session, with the House working toward finalizing its version of… Continue reading

  • Feb 28, 2016
  • By Becky Bohrer
CES Captain Lesley Quelland and other first responders prepare a patient to be transported from the sight of a motor vehcile collision on the Sterling Highway.

CES’s first female captain retires

After a more than 30 year career as Central Emergency Services’ first woman to move up the ranks to become a captain, Lesley Quelland has… Continue reading

CES Captain Lesley Quelland and other first responders prepare a patient to be transported from the sight of a motor vehcile collision on the Sterling Highway.
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Principal Margaret Gilman hands first grader Regan Savly one of the Baby Baskets that staff and students put together to welcome the newest additions to the Nikiski North Star Elementary School community Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, at the school in Nikiski, Alaska.

New Nikiski North Star program promotes reading early

The staff and educators at Nikiski North Star Elementary have found a new way to encourage literacy in their students, even before they enroll. In… Continue reading

  • Feb 28, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
  • Schools
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Principal Margaret Gilman hands first grader Regan Savly one of the Baby Baskets that staff and students put together to welcome the newest additions to the Nikiski North Star Elementary School community Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, at the school in Nikiski, Alaska.

Heiman sentenced in both assault cases

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that, in the April 30, 2015 conviction, Shane Heiman was found guilty of assault in the… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion In this June 11, 2015 file photo, anglers descended on the Russian River for the season's sockeye salmon opener near Cooper Landing.

Fish and Wildlife to continue Kenai, Russian river bank restoration

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may pick up a project to restore the riverbanks near the Kenai River and Russian River confluence. The Kenai… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion In this June 11, 2015 file photo, anglers descended on the Russian River for the season's sockeye salmon opener near Cooper Landing.

Senate OKs bill to bar Planned Parenthood in schools

JUNEAU — As members of a Juneau Girl Scout troop looked on, the Alaska Senate on Friday narrowly passed a bill that would ban abortion… Continue reading

Panels propose cuts, changes in weighing Alaska budget

JUNEAU — Work furloughs. Cuts to public broadcasting, pre-kindergarten programs and the University of Alaska system. Closure of a youth detention facility in Nome.These are… Continue reading