News

Peninsula residents attend the Community Health Fair at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, AK on March 23, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Free flu shots and discounted lab tests at Central Peninsula Hospital health fair

Soldotna residents will soon have the opportunity to access discounted lab testing, free flu shots and more later this month. Central Peninsula Hospital is inviting… Continue reading

  • Oct 15, 2025
  • By Peninsula Clarion Staff
Peninsula residents attend the Community Health Fair at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, AK on March 23, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Juneau Empire file The University of Alaska Southeast sign stands at the campus’ main entrance.

UAS to offer in-state tuition for all

The change in tuition rates will begin in fall 2026

Juneau Empire file The University of Alaska Southeast sign stands at the campus’ main entrance.
Bridget Grieme speaks during a forum with candidates for Kenai mayor and city council at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai elects new mayor

The Soldotna City Council holds the status quo, with both candidates unopposed.

Bridget Grieme speaks during a forum with candidates for Kenai mayor and city council at the Kenai Community Library in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
FILE – Strips of salmon are ready to be strung up for smoking during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

This TikTok food trend is more than 10,000 years old

Indigenous communities across Alaska continue to uphold the practice of cold-smoking salmon

  • Oct 9, 2025
  • New York Times
FILE – Strips of salmon are ready to be strung up for smoking during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A voter fills out their ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at the Anchor Point Community and Senior Center in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Preliminary borough election results favor new local election date, reveal new assembly members

Voters in a proposed Ninilchik Recreation Service Area appear to oppose the proposition that would have created the service area.

A voter fills out their ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at the Anchor Point Community and Senior Center in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion FILE - Alaska Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom speaks during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024.

Alaska Lt. Governor certifies U.S. citizen voting requirement initiative

Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom has certified application for Ballot Initiative 25USCV

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion FILE - Alaska Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom speaks during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024.
FILE — Cew of the USS Hampton, a Los Angeles class submarine, out on the ice after surfacing in the Beaufort Sea during Operation Ice Camp, March 16, 2024. The Trump administration is emphasizing defense concerns instead of climate research in the rapidly warming Arctic region. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

In the Arctic, U.S. shifts focus from climate research to security

The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the planet and is one of the most rapidly changing places on Earth.… Continue reading

  • Oct 6, 2025
  • New York Times
FILE — Cew of the USS Hampton, a Los Angeles class submarine, out on the ice after surfacing in the Beaufort Sea during Operation Ice Camp, March 16, 2024. The Trump administration is emphasizing defense concerns instead of climate research in the rapidly warming Arctic region. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)
Signage outside the Capitol Hill visitors center notifies the public of its closure due to the government shutdown in Washington, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. The first government shutdown in nearly six years left federal agencies in flux and many of their employees in a state of confusion on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, as they received last-minute and conflicting instructions from managers. (Alex Kent/The New York Times)

Alaska braces for federal government shutdown

The shutdown will take its toll on government land, services and workers

Signage outside the Capitol Hill visitors center notifies the public of its closure due to the government shutdown in Washington, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. The first government shutdown in nearly six years left federal agencies in flux and many of their employees in a state of confusion on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, as they received last-minute and conflicting instructions from managers. (Alex Kent/The New York Times)
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)

Kalifornsky school board candidates discuss funding, curriculum and school closings at election forum

Patti Truesdell, Donna Anderson and Shelby Oden are all vying for the seat.

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)