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FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2016, file photo people prepare to take a polar plunge in the Bering Sea in front of the luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity, which anchored just outside Nome, Alaska. The ship made a port call as it became the largest cruise ship to ever go through the Northwest Passage, en route to New York City. An increasing demand for Alaska cruises is prompting some cruise lines to add more and larger vessels to their Far North lineups for the 2017 tourist season. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Consumer demand for Alaska cruises growing again

ANCHORAGE — A growing consumer demand for Alaska cruises has put the state back in the million-passenger club as it rebounds after a leaner stretch.… Continue reading

  • Oct 1, 2016
  • By Rachel D'oro
FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2016, file photo people prepare to take a polar plunge in the Bering Sea in front of the luxury cruise ship Crystal Serenity, which anchored just outside Nome, Alaska. The ship made a port call as it became the largest cruise ship to ever go through the Northwest Passage, en route to New York City. An increasing demand for Alaska cruises is prompting some cruise lines to add more and larger vessels to their Far North lineups for the 2017 tourist season. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Protective fencing holds back recently-planted vegetation along the river bank on the south side of the Kenai River and Russian River confluence Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Light-penetrating staircases and vegetation planted along the banks are part of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to stabalize erosion and protect habitat.

Work progresses on Kenai, Russian riverbank restoration

Work to restore the riverbank along a section of the confluence of the Kenai and Russian rivers is in full swing. The Kenai National Wildlife… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Protective fencing holds back recently-planted vegetation along the river bank on the south side of the Kenai River and Russian River confluence Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Light-penetrating staircases and vegetation planted along the banks are part of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to stabalize erosion and protect habitat.
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Sockeye salmon fall onto the conveyor at Pacific Star Seafoods' plant on July 21, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska.

Upper Cook Inlet harvest comes in low

None of the fishermen in Cook Inlet had a traditional big catch day this year, for the second year in a row. The overall harvest… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Sockeye salmon fall onto the conveyor at Pacific Star Seafoods' plant on July 21, 2016 in Kenai, Alaska.

Unopposed Soldotna council candidates look forward to terms

Soldotna voters have at least four easy decisions to make during the Tuesday, Oct. 4 regular municipal election — candidates running for the open seats… Continue reading

Kimberly Ketter’s felony DUI does not disqualify her from city council race

Questions raised last week as to whether Homer City Council candidate Kimberly Ketter is eligible to run for office as a result of her felony… Continue reading

  • Sep 29, 2016
  • By ANNA FROST

Group of Alaska Democrats endorse independent in Senate race

JUNEAU, Alaska — Democrats in one part of Alaska have endorsed an independent candidate for U.S. Senate, bucking their party’s own nominee.The Interior Democrats, which… Continue reading

  • Sep 29, 2016
  • By Becky Bohrer

Kenai mayoral candidates express views

In the Oct. 4 municipal election, current Kenai City Council member Brian Gabriel is running for the Kenai mayor’s seat against his former Kenai Central… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Michael Anderson (left) and Jake Graham (right) of Kenai drop off a load of garbage at Central Peninsula Landfill on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 near Soldotna, Alaska. Beginning Sunday, Oct. 2, the landfill will close on Sundays until May as a cost-saving measure.

Photo: Downtime at the dump

… Continue reading

  • Sep 28, 2016
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Michael Anderson (left) and Jake Graham (right) of Kenai drop off a load of garbage at Central Peninsula Landfill on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 near Soldotna, Alaska. Beginning Sunday, Oct. 2, the landfill will close on Sundays until May as a cost-saving measure.

Spay, neuter clinic comes to Kenai

Two area animal lovers are continuing their work to reduce the number of stray cats on the Kenai Peninsula by hosting a spay and neuter… Continue reading

Community Revenue Sharing amounts drop for 2nd year

For the second year in a row, the amount of money available to 27 unincorporated communities in the Kenai Peninsula Borough through the state’s Community… Continue reading

After ruling, next step in salmon management unclear

State and federal managers don’t yet know what to expect after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a 2011 decision by the North… Continue reading

  • Sep 28, 2016
  • By DJ SUMMERS
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Mushrooms and other plant life line the Resurrection Pass trail Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. The last of the Fall colors are making their stand before the leaves and ground are overcome by frost this season.

Photos: Before the frost

… Continue reading

  • Sep 27, 2016
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Mushrooms and other plant life line the Resurrection Pass trail Monday, Sept. 26, 2016 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. The last of the Fall colors are making their stand before the leaves and ground are overcome by frost this season.

1 Senate debate so far to feature 4 main Alaska candidates

JUNEAU — Just one debate so far will feature the four main candidates for the U.S. Senate seat, with participation in three others unclear.Republican Sen.… Continue reading

  • Sep 27, 2016
  • By Becky Bohrer

Trial begins in Nageak elections lawsuit

Attorneys for Rep. Benjamin Nageak began their campaign in court Tuesday as the Barrow Democrat challenges the results of the August primary election that saw… Continue reading

Coalition plans walk-a-thon for addiction awareness

A group of locals will brave the fall chill Friday night to show their support for efforts to curb addiction on the central Kenai Peninsula.The… Continue reading

District 7 candidates on the issues

Three candidates will vie to fill the seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly representing District 7, which includes Kasilof, Clam Gulch, Ninilchik and Happy… Continue reading

Kenai council race has 5 candidates; mayoral race 2

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct the year Hal Smalley termed out of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, and also the spelling… Continue reading

School buses to share the load in southern peninsula

Among the budget-driven changes coming to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is a new busing system that will change start times for 10 South… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Guitarist Myke Ables (left), mandolinist Rick Epling, and guitarist Nathan Epling look toward the song leader of their bluegrass jam at the Kenai Fall Fest, Thursday Sept. 22 at the Kenai Senior Center. In addition to being part of the festival, the event was one of the Senior Center's weekly Thursday night jam sessions. A microphone stand on wheels rolled around the circle of about 10 musicians, who took turns calling a tune and a key. "Musically, this is all about having fun," Rick Epling said. "If it goes much beyond that, it sort of defeats the point."

Photo: Pickin’ and strummin’

… Continue reading

  • Sep 26, 2016
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Guitarist Myke Ables (left), mandolinist Rick Epling, and guitarist Nathan Epling look toward the song leader of their bluegrass jam at the Kenai Fall Fest, Thursday Sept. 22 at the Kenai Senior Center. In addition to being part of the festival, the event was one of the Senior Center's weekly Thursday night jam sessions. A microphone stand on wheels rolled around the circle of about 10 musicians, who took turns calling a tune and a key. "Musically, this is all about having fun," Rick Epling said. "If it goes much beyond that, it sort of defeats the point."

Fact check: Trump, Clinton deny their own words in debate

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s habit of peddling hype and fabrication emerged unabated in the first presidential debate while Hillary Clinton played it cautiously in her… Continue reading

  • Sep 26, 2016
  • By CALVIN WOODWARD