News

For lawmakers, 3 options to tap permanent fund earnings

If there’s one thing Alaska’s lawmakers agree on, it’s this: No single trick or approach will solve the state’s annual deficit, now approaching $4 billion.Most… Continue reading

Lessons shake down from quake

When the 7.1 magnitude Iniskin earthquake hit at about 1:30 a.m. Jan. 24, it didn’t wake one Homer-grown seismologist — but that’s because Kasey Aderhold,… Continue reading

Hanley: No ‘sour grapes’ over resigning as education chief

JUNEAU — Outgoing state education commissioner Mike Hanley said Friday that he had some professional disagreements with the state board of education. But he said… Continue reading

Consultants evaluate borough hospitals

The job is getting serious for the borough’s Healthcare Task Force as members are still trying to determine a purpose and direction. The task force… Continue reading

FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 file photo, dead common murres lie washed up on a rocky beach in Whittier, Alaska. A federal scientist seeking reasons for a massive die-off of one of the most abundant seabirds in Alaska, the common murre, suggests a close look at their relationship to some of the ocean's smallest creatures, zooplankton, that may be affected by warming water. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Data gaps hinder explanation for Alaska seabird die-off

ANCHORAGE — A preliminary investigation into the massive die-off of common murres, one of the Northern Hemisphere’s most abundant seabirds, off Alaska’s coast is revealing… Continue reading

  • Feb 4, 2016
  • By Dan Joling
FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 file photo, dead common murres lie washed up on a rocky beach in Whittier, Alaska. A federal scientist seeking reasons for a massive die-off of one of the most abundant seabirds in Alaska, the common murre, suggests a close look at their relationship to some of the ocean's smallest creatures, zooplankton, that may be affected by warming water. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Judge hears arguments in Medicaid expansion case

JUNEAU — A state court judge in Anchorage heard arguments Thursday in a lawsuit challenging Alaska Gov. Bill Walker’s authority to expand Medicaid without legislative… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Homer Middle School Principal Kari Dendurent discusses the logistics of developing the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget with Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones in the last minutes of the XXX meeting Tuesday at the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska.

School district hosts meeting to make community connections

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administrators are creating community connections to further prove the importance public education holds in Alaska.More than 80 people from the… Continue reading

  • Feb 4, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Homer Middle School Principal Kari Dendurent discusses the logistics of developing the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget with Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones in the last minutes of the XXX meeting Tuesday at the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Mark Wackler of the Trout Unlimited Kenai Peninsula Chapter assists LaDonna McCray, of Oklahoma, as she works on a fly duirng a class on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2016 at the Main Street Tap and Grill in Kenai, Alaska.

Fly-tying workshops fill niche, find footing

Beyond the pulses of music at the Main Street Tap and Grill Tuesday, local fishermen sat hunched over fishing flies in various states of completion,… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Mark Wackler of the Trout Unlimited Kenai Peninsula Chapter assists LaDonna McCray, of Oklahoma, as she works on a fly duirng a class on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2016 at the Main Street Tap and Grill in Kenai, Alaska.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central High School freshmen Damien Redder (left) and Jude Gabriel use a plasma cutter to slice out a "K" for a Kenai sign on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Kenai Central High School.

Kenai shop students make city sign

When summer comes, Kenai will have large metal letters spelling out the town’s name next to the bluff-top gazebo near the Kenai Senior Citizens Center.… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central High School freshmen Damien Redder (left) and Jude Gabriel use a plasma cutter to slice out a "K" for a Kenai sign on Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Kenai Central High School.

Soldotna karate teacher indicted on sex abuse charges

A Soldotna man already in custody on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography has been indicted by a grand jury on additional charges.Michael Dean… Continue reading

  • Feb 3, 2016
  • By Staff Report

CES douses Funny River fire

Firefighters spent Wednesday tackling a house fire in the Funny River area.The home on River Bend Drive is believed to be a total loss, said… Continue reading

Assembly maintains liquor setback

The mandatory 500-foot distance from schools and churches for liquor licenses in the Kenai Peninsula Borough will stand, but the way it is measured will… Continue reading

Bail reassessed in 2014 sexual assault case

Bail conditions are being reviewed for a Sterling woman accused of sexually assaulting a minor in 2014. Laurel Lee, 52, was charged with first-degree sexual… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion New Board of Education member John "Zen" Kelly spent his second day as District 9 representative at a meeting held by the school district that involved students, business owerns, board members and school administrators Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, at the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska. The focus of the gathering was to make connections between constituents and legislators to increase community involvement in advocacy for education.

School board finally finds new member

The Board of Education has found a representative for residents in Homer, Nanwalek, Port Graham, Seldovia and the Russian Old Believer villages on East End… Continue reading

  • Feb 2, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion New Board of Education member John "Zen" Kelly spent his second day as District 9 representative at a meeting held by the school district that involved students, business owerns, board members and school administrators Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, at the Challenger Learning Center of Alaska in Kenai, Alaska. The focus of the gathering was to make connections between constituents and legislators to increase community involvement in advocacy for education.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Outgoing director of the Kenai Watershed Forum Robert Ruffner holds a "board of fish" presented to him during an event in his honor on Saturday, January 9 at Kenai's Triumverate theatre. Ruffner was nominated to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Board of Fish in early 2015, but failed to be nominated during a series of controversial congressional confirmation hearings.

Ruffner reappointed to Board of Fisheries

Groundhog Day came Monday evening for Robert Ruffner.The Soldotna conservationist got a call from Gov. Bill Walker Monday night asking if he would accept a… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Outgoing director of the Kenai Watershed Forum Robert Ruffner holds a "board of fish" presented to him during an event in his honor on Saturday, January 9 at Kenai's Triumverate theatre. Ruffner was nominated to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game's Board of Fish in early 2015, but failed to be nominated during a series of controversial congressional confirmation hearings.
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Sam Festervand warms up with a game at the start of lessons Thursday at Soldotna Martial Arts in Soldotna, Alaska. It was the first day he shook another classmate, said his mother Denise Festervan with pride.

Karate helps student with autism

When Denise Festervand watched her son shake a classmate’s hand after his Karate lessons began Thursday she proudly noted it was no ordinary occurrence. It… Continue reading

  • Jan 31, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Sam Festervand warms up with a game at the start of lessons Thursday at Soldotna Martial Arts in Soldotna, Alaska. It was the first day he shook another classmate, said his mother Denise Festervan with pride.

Ruffner reappointed to Board of Fisheries

Gov. Bill Walker reappointed Soldotna conservationist Robert Ruffner to the state Board of Fisheries Monday.This is the second time for Ruffner, the former director of… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Nancy Saylor of the Alaska Midnight Sun Rowing Association coaches rowing classes Mondays and Wednesdays at Crossfit Kainos in Soldotna.

Photo: Stroke!

… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Nancy Saylor of the Alaska Midnight Sun Rowing Association coaches rowing classes Mondays and Wednesdays at Crossfit Kainos in Soldotna.

Man rescued from Kenai cell tower

A man has been safely returned to the ground after the Kenai Fire Department and Kenai Police found him stuck in a cellular tower on… Continue reading

  • Feb 1, 2016
FILE - In this March 29, 1964 file photo, a photographer looks over wreckage as smoke rises in the background from burning oil storage tanks at Valdez, Alaska. On Monday, Feb. 1. 2016, federal scientists say they've pinpointed the cause of tsunami waves following the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, the second-largest ever recorded, at magnitude 9.2. (AP Photo/File)

Researchers find source of devastating 1964 tsunami

ANCHORAGE — Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey have solved a 50-year natural science mystery: the undersea source of tsunami waves that devastated a remote… Continue reading

  • Feb 1, 2016
  • By Dan Joling
FILE - In this March 29, 1964 file photo, a photographer looks over wreckage as smoke rises in the background from burning oil storage tanks at Valdez, Alaska. On Monday, Feb. 1. 2016, federal scientists say they've pinpointed the cause of tsunami waves following the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, the second-largest ever recorded, at magnitude 9.2. (AP Photo/File)