News

State looks to revise data used in teacher evaluations

Student achievement may not be used to gauge the performance of their educators, at least for now. The State Board of Education and Early Development… Continue reading

  • Jan 31, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Allison Stopks of British Columbia takes a picture of salmon incubators during a tour of the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery on Wednesday. The tour is part of the Alaska Young Fishermen's Summit held in Juneau this week. (Photo by Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)

The (human) future of Alaska’s fisheries

Alaska’s fishing fleet may be graying, but there isn’t much gray at the sixth annual Alaska Young Fishermen’s Summit, hosted by the Alaska Sea Grant… Continue reading

  • Jan 31, 2016
  • By MARY CATHARINE MARTIN
Allison Stopks of British Columbia takes a picture of salmon incubators during a tour of the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery on Wednesday. The tour is part of the Alaska Young Fishermen's Summit held in Juneau this week. (Photo by Michael Penn/Juneau Empire)
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Embedded in a glass disk, six samples of lunar material visited the Challenger Learning Center on Thursday, Jan. 29 in Kenai. The samples have since been returned to NASA.

One giant leap: Lunar material comes to Kenai

On Thursday Kenai Peninsula residents met the farthest-traveling visitors to Kenai in the town’s history. These weren’t tourists, but a set of six lunar mineral… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Embedded in a glass disk, six samples of lunar material visited the Challenger Learning Center on Thursday, Jan. 29 in Kenai. The samples have since been returned to NASA.

Business group projects 1,600 job loss in Anchorage in 2016

ANCHORAGE — A 2016 economic forecast prepared for the Anchorage Economic Development Corp. projects a loss of 1,600 jobs in Alaska’s largest city, including 600… Continue reading

  • Jan 30, 2016
  • By Dan Joling
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion BlueCrest Energy President Benjamin Johnson addressed the crowd at the annual Industry Outlook Forum in Kenai's Old Carr's Mall on Thursday. Johnson said the oil development in BlueCrest's Cosmopolitan Unit is on track, but the gas development is on hold.

BlueCrest president: Tax credits an investment

BlueCrest Energy president and CEO Benjamin Johnson urged the public to contact the Legislature and ask them not to make any changes to the oil… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion BlueCrest Energy President Benjamin Johnson addressed the crowd at the annual Industry Outlook Forum in Kenai's Old Carr's Mall on Thursday. Johnson said the oil development in BlueCrest's Cosmopolitan Unit is on track, but the gas development is on hold.

Local health providers deal with national trends

Alaska health care payment trends are contrary to national trends, according to Central Peninsula Hospital CEO Rick Davis. A pair of presentations from health care… Continue reading

Mumford resigns from fish board

Bob Mumford tendered a letter of resignation to Gov. Bill Walker’s office on Friday resigning from his seat on the Alaska Board of Fisheries, according… Continue reading

Two arrested for methamphetamine, heroin distribution

Alaska State Troopers arrested two Soldotna residents Thursday for distribution of methamphetamines and heroin. Richard Strassburg, 49, and Bree Whitaker, 42, were arrested and taken… Continue reading

  • Jan 28, 2016
  • By Staff reports
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Wayne Floyd is selling the peonies from his first harvest at local farmers markets and through the Alaska Peony Market Cooperative Friday, July 17, 2015, at Cool Cache Farms LLC., in Kenai, Alaska.

Marketing on the mind: Peony growers gather to discuss industry

Marketing is on the minds of many peony producers as they prepare for the approaching season. Fittingly, it is the leading topic at the Alaska… Continue reading

  • Jan 28, 2016
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Wayne Floyd is selling the peonies from his first harvest at local farmers markets and through the Alaska Peony Market Cooperative Friday, July 17, 2015, at Cool Cache Farms LLC., in Kenai, Alaska.
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Seldovia City Manager Tim Dillon presented an update on the city at the annual Industry Outlook Forum at the Old Carr's Mall in Kenai Thursday. Dillon, who has managed Seldovia for more than 7 years, is planning to retire in March.

Local governments cautiously optimistic about economy

Although the state’s budget crisis looms over local government, public officials in the Kenai Peninsula Borough say they are hopeful for the future.The annual Industry… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Seldovia City Manager Tim Dillon presented an update on the city at the annual Industry Outlook Forum at the Old Carr's Mall in Kenai Thursday. Dillon, who has managed Seldovia for more than 7 years, is planning to retire in March.

Survey: 18 percent of Alaska high schoolers use e-cigarettes

A new survey of Alaska high school students has found e-cigarette use higher than the national average. The results of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey,… Continue reading

  • Jan 27, 2016
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Josie Moore, a sixth-grader at Soldotna Elementary School, took first place at the school's spelling bee Wednesday. Moore, who also won last year, will go on to the state spelling bee in Anchorage to compete.

Photo: Super speller

… Continue reading

  • Jan 27, 2016
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Josie Moore, a sixth-grader at Soldotna Elementary School, took first place at the school's spelling bee Wednesday. Moore, who also won last year, will go on to the state spelling bee in Anchorage to compete.

Soldotna to work on wastewater permit

The City of Soldotna is moving forward in an effort to renew its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for its wastewater treatment facility.During its… Continue reading

  • Jan 27, 2016

Cooper Landing murder trial delayed again

The trial of a man accused of murder for the 2013 death of Genghis Muskox has been pushed back to April. Paul Vermillion, 32, of… Continue reading

Senate votes to remove records from CourtView

By a 19-1 vote on Wednesday, the Alaska Senate has approved a bill that calls for records of acquittals, dismissed cases and dropped cases to… Continue reading

Walker lays out expectations for gas line progress

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker said he wants the state and the North Slope’s major producers to reach agreement on key contracts and issues related… Continue reading

UA plan focuses on campus strengths

The University of Alaska Board of Regents and university President Jim Johnsen have agreed on a framework to restructure the system’s campuses at a time… Continue reading

CINGSA appeals Regulatory Commission decision

Editor's note: this story has been changed to remove an incorrect citation of Alaska State Code and to correct inaccurate information about the division of… Continue reading

Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage and Rep. Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage, discuss a HB 243, a measure that would allow felons whose convictions are overturned to be retroactively eligible for Permanent Fund Dividend checks, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Juneau, Alaska. Lynn introduced the bill after learning of the plight of a group of indigenous men known as the Fairbanks Four whose convictions were overturned after they spent 18 years in jail for the 1997 death of a Fairbanks teenager. A condition of their release was that they would not sue government entities. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)

Case inspires bill to allow dividend checks for cleared felons

JUNEAU — State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow Alaskans who have had felony convictions overturned and charges later dismissed to become eligible… Continue reading

Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage and Rep. Max Gruenberg, D-Anchorage, discuss a HB 243, a measure that would allow felons whose convictions are overturned to be retroactively eligible for Permanent Fund Dividend checks, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, in Juneau, Alaska. Lynn introduced the bill after learning of the plight of a group of indigenous men known as the Fairbanks Four whose convictions were overturned after they spent 18 years in jail for the 1997 death of a Fairbanks teenager. A condition of their release was that they would not sue government entities. (AP Photo/Rashah McChesney)

Walker permanent fund plan gets 1st hearing by Senate panel

JUNEAU — The chairman of the Senate State Affairs Committee said Tuesday that he wants to vet several ideas surrounding the use of Alaska Permanent… Continue reading