A photo provided by the National Park Service shows 32 Chunk, a bear at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, Sept. 15, 2025. Fat Bear Week, a bracket-style competition to pick the bear best suited for winter at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, was won by Chunk. (The National Park Service/T Carmack via The New York Times) — NO SALES; EDITORIAL USE ONLY —

Meet this year’s Fat Bear contest winner

After a weeklong battle to the finish, this year’s Fat Bear Week victor has been crowned. Congratulations to 32 Chunk, a brown bear who weighed… Continue reading

  • Oct 2, 2025
A photo provided by the National Park Service shows 32 Chunk, a bear at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, Sept. 15, 2025. Fat Bear Week, a bracket-style competition to pick the bear best suited for winter at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, was won by Chunk. (The National Park Service/T Carmack via The New York Times) — NO SALES; EDITORIAL USE ONLY —
Contributed/UAF 
Xochitl Muñoz (left) is a master’s student in paleontology at UAF; Willa Johnson (right) is pursuing a master’s degree in marine biology in the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.

Alaska graduate students awarded national research fellowship for work in sciences

Willa Johnson and Xochitl Muñoz are recipients of the 2025-2026 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

  • Oct 2, 2025
  • By News Staff Peninsula
Contributed/UAF 
Xochitl Muñoz (left) is a master’s student in paleontology at UAF; Willa Johnson (right) is pursuing a master’s degree in marine biology in the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.
Sunset hues color the sky and the snow at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus on Feb. 26, 2024. The University of Alaska system and the union representing nearly 1,100 faculty members and postdoctoral fellows are headed into federal mediation in January. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Biomedical research gets $21.25-million boost in Alaska

The award was established in 2001 and led by University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • Oct 1, 2025
Sunset hues color the sky and the snow at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus on Feb. 26, 2024. The University of Alaska system and the union representing nearly 1,100 faculty members and postdoctoral fellows are headed into federal mediation in January. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai man sentenced to 50 years in prison for sexual abuse of 2 nieces

Bobby Alexie found guilty in April on 9 counts of sexual abuse of a minor

  • Oct 1, 2025
  • By Lauren Collins
Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Vessels in the Bering Sea commercial crab fishing fleet are seen in Dutch Harbor in October of 2020 as they undergo preparations for that year’s harvest. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is scheduled this week to discuss the condition of snow crab and king crab stocks and make harvest recommendations, but a federal government shutdown may interfere with that and other council work. (Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Holly Hugunin/U.S. Coast Guard)

Challenges and shutdowns force changes for North Pacific Fishery Management Council

The council, which manages fisheries in federal waters off Alaska, shifted to an online-only October meeting and now may postpone some of its planned work

  • Oct 1, 2025
Vessels in the Bering Sea commercial crab fishing fleet are seen in Dutch Harbor in October of 2020 as they undergo preparations for that year’s harvest. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is scheduled this week to discuss the condition of snow crab and king crab stocks and make harvest recommendations, but a federal government shutdown may interfere with that and other council work. (Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Holly Hugunin/U.S. Coast Guard)
A man holds an American flag at a vigil for Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Homer holds vigil for Charlie Kirk; highlights opening of local Turning Point Education private school

The vigil was organized in part by District 6 Rep. Sarah Vance.

A man holds an American flag at a vigil for Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 at Mariner Park on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
A sign along a trail to Exit Glacier marks the spot to where the toe of the glacier reached in 2010, photographed on June 22, 2018. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

2 attacked by bear near Seward

The trail was closed by the National Park Service.

A sign along a trail to Exit Glacier marks the spot to where the toe of the glacier reached in 2010, photographed on June 22, 2018. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Ash-Lee Waddell and Gayle Claus, candidates for the District 9 seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, answer questions during an election forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI AM 890 on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

South peninsula school board candidates talk funding, future of district

Ash-Lee Waddell and Gayle Claus discussed their takes on multiple issues facing the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in an election forum last week.

Ash-Lee Waddell and Gayle Claus, candidates for the District 9 seat of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, answer questions during an election forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI AM 890 on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to spend an additional $70,000 on policing this year

The city was expected to spend roughly $3.8 million on its police department this fiscal year

Foliage surrounds the Soldotna Police Department sign on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Project Manager Jason Graf points to a map while answering questions from attendees on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Open House at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna delays riverfront zoning legislation for 2nd time

The two ordinances being considered would first establish a new “Riverfront Mixed-Use District.”

Project Manager Jason Graf points to a map while answering questions from attendees on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Open House at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Shoppers browse locally grown produce during the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Local produce, homemade pies and lots of dancing

Harvest Moon Local Food Festival offered much to see and do at Saturday event.

Shoppers browse locally grown produce during the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Patti Truesdell, Donna Anderson and Shelby Oden, candidates for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, participate in a forum at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Patti Truesdell, Donna Anderson and Shelby Oden, candidates for the Kalifornsky seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education, participate in a forum at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Man found dead at remote residence east of Seward

He had failed to meet a landing craft on Sept. 13 and had not been in contact with his family for several days.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Soldotna man arrested after allegedly shooting off gun during ‘road rage’ incident

Police say the man pointed a gun at another motorist and fired multiple “warning” shots.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Organizers stand alongside carts filled with food collected during the Freedom from Hunger community food drive at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank near Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Community drive helps replenish food bank shelves

The Freedom From Hunger event brought in roughly 3,100 pounds of food.

Organizers stand alongside carts filled with food collected during the Freedom from Hunger community food drive at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank near Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Lily Craig, second from right and youth winner of the Ninth Annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby, stands with officials from the City of Kenai, Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Marathon Petroleum as she’s awarded a novelty check for $1,000 at Kenai City Hall in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai silver salmon derby winners awarded

The winning anglers snagged the fish closest to the grand prize “magic weight” of 6.77 pounds.

Lily Craig, second from right and youth winner of the Ninth Annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby, stands with officials from the City of Kenai, Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Marathon Petroleum as she’s awarded a novelty check for $1,000 at Kenai City Hall in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Mount Roberts Tramway car nears the top of its run above Juneau, Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Cruise ship passenger dies after fall from Juneau mountain trail

The man is among a handful of people to die this summer while exploring Juneau’s outdoors.

The Mount Roberts Tramway car nears the top of its run above Juneau, Alaska. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Christine Cunningham, left, and Mary Bondurant, right, both members of the Kenai Bronze Bear Sculpture Working Group, stand for a photo with Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and a small model of the proposed sculpture during a luncheon hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai accepts grant funds for bronze bear installation

The sculpture of three bears, a mother and two cubs, is set to be installed at the airport.

Christine Cunningham, left, and Mary Bondurant, right, both members of the Kenai Bronze Bear Sculpture Working Group, stand for a photo with Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and a small model of the proposed sculpture during a luncheon hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Homer Public Library. File photo

Homer library receives annual state grant

The Homer City Council approved an ordinance accepting and appropriating grant funds for the Homer Public Library.

The Homer Public Library. File photo
Homer Mayor Rachel Lord smiles as Homer High School counselor Paul Story and others raise a fist in jubilation for the completion of the new entrance to the school on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

Borough celebrates new front entrance for Homer High School

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Thursday, Sept. 11.

Homer Mayor Rachel Lord smiles as Homer High School counselor Paul Story and others raise a fist in jubilation for the completion of the new entrance to the school on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)