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Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion In this Nov. 13, 2015 file photo, convicted murderer Demarqus Green reacts after Kenai Superior Court Judge Anna Moran decided to reschedule a sentencing hearing in Kenai, Alaska. Green has been sentenced to 40 years in jail for a 2012 shooting.

Green gets 40 years for 2012 shooting

Finding a need for community condemnation and to isolate him from society, Kenai Superior Court Judge Anna Moran on Monday sentenced Demarqus Green to 40… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion In this Nov. 13, 2015 file photo, convicted murderer Demarqus Green reacts after Kenai Superior Court Judge Anna Moran decided to reschedule a sentencing hearing in Kenai, Alaska. Green has been sentenced to 40 years in jail for a 2012 shooting.

Minimum wage rising to $9.75 an hour in Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska’s minimum wage will increase by a dollar an hour, to $9.75, starting Friday.The state labor department estimates 12,000 jobs in… Continue reading

  • Dec 30, 2015

Police to release video of altercation with autistic man

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Kodiak Police Department says it will release video and written reports of a physical encounter between three officers and an… Continue reading

  • Dec 30, 2015

Cause of death for Soldotna woman still unknown

Officials have released few additional details about the death of Soldotna resident Yvonne Anderson, whose body was found in the woods on Saturday.Anderson, 45, was… Continue reading

Protest of alleged spice sales organized

On Sunday afternoon demonstrators bearing signs with slogans such as “morals before money” and “no poison for profit” will gather in front of Tobacco Distress,… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Seventh grader Brady Evoy tinkers with a few of his own Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. Evoy is not officially part of Alaska's Upward Bound "The Modern Blanket Toss" program, but attends most meetings because drone flying is a personal interest.

Flight preparations: Drone program exposes students to STEM field

One day in early December, an up-and-coming engineering firm in Nikiski was bustling. Employees, all of whom are 18 and younger, aside from Vice President… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Seventh grader Brady Evoy tinkers with a few of his own Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. Evoy is not officially part of Alaska's Upward Bound "The Modern Blanket Toss" program, but attends most meetings because drone flying is a personal interest.

Out of the ashes

After losing their home and everything in it, Bob Hensler and Helen Hunt-Hensler said being able to laugh about it is sometimes the best medicine.… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Devin Every, Travis Every and Damien Redder pick fish from a setnet Wednesday July 9, 2014 in Kenai, Alaska.

Board of Fish seeks information on coastal erosion impacts to set gillnetters

The Alaska Board of Fisheries has formed a new committee to study the effects of coastal erosion impacts on set gillnet operations after its 2015… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Devin Every, Travis Every and Damien Redder pick fish from a setnet Wednesday July 9, 2014 in Kenai, Alaska.

Soldotna woman found dead in woods

A Soldotna woman was found dead on Saturday after walking into the woods on the side of the Kenai Spur Highway.Alaska State Troopers found the… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2015

Kenai man collides with road grader

Police say a drunk driver crashed into a road grader in Soldotna on Monday night.The Soldotna Police Department, Central Emergency Services and Alaska State Troopers… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2015
Firefighters stand near a piece of wreckage after a small plane slammed into a commercial building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, early Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015. Authorities say at least one person aboard died. Assistant Fire Chief Alex Boyd said there were no injuries on the ground.(AP Photo/Rachel D'Oro)

Small plane crashes into Alaska building, killing at least 1

ANCHORAGE — The pilot of a small plane that smashed into a building in downtown Anchorage on Tuesday was not authorized to fly the aircraft… Continue reading

  • Dec 29, 2015
  • By RACHEL D'ORO,
Firefighters stand near a piece of wreckage after a small plane slammed into a commercial building in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, early Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015. Authorities say at least one person aboard died. Assistant Fire Chief Alex Boyd said there were no injuries on the ground.(AP Photo/Rachel D'Oro)
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Brenna Belluomini and Kayla White take pictures in the makeup room before their first performance in Vergine's Dance Studio Annual Recital Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska.

With her studio all grown up, Vergine says goodbye

A local dance instructor is stepping down after almost 30 years teaching dancers in Soldotna. Vergine (pronounced “Vair-geen-ay”) had her studio in an empty storefront… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Brenna Belluomini and Kayla White take pictures in the makeup room before their first performance in Vergine's Dance Studio Annual Recital Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Nicole Harmon reaches for a resistance band she will use in a rowing exercise, part of her physical therapy, on Thursday Dec. 10 at the Dena'ina Wellness Center in Kenai. Harmon's physical therapist Sabrina Royster said the exercise is "meant to help her brain re-educate the muscles of her arm to balance muscle contractions. "

Writing a new chapter

Nicole Harmon was told she would die twice within the last 12 years. Despite two extreme physical traumas, the 30-year-old Kenai woman has defied odds… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Nicole Harmon reaches for a resistance band she will use in a rowing exercise, part of her physical therapy, on Thursday Dec. 10 at the Dena'ina Wellness Center in Kenai. Harmon's physical therapist Sabrina Royster said the exercise is "meant to help her brain re-educate the muscles of her arm to balance muscle contractions. "

Sweeney’s burgled early Christmas morning

Mike Sweeney, owner of Sweeney’s Clothing in Soldotna, spent his Monday calling his insurance provider and changing the store’s locks after a Christmas morning break-in.Members… Continue reading

Stevens: Election year poses challenges for fiscal plan

It’s going to be a long five months.Before Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, starts packing for the trip to Juneau after the New Year, he stopped… Continue reading

Walker reflects on first full year in office, looks ahead

JUNEAU — Gov. Bill Walker likened his first year in office to moving into a new house that catches fire on move-in day, with low… Continue reading

  • Dec 28, 2015
  • By Becky Bohrer
FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2014 file photo, men haul sections of whale skin and blubber, known as muktuk, as a bowhead whale is butchered in a field near Barrow, Alaska. The environment is changing and the Inuit, who consider themselves a part of it, want measures taken to protect their culture. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

Inuit link steady food supply to environment health

ANCHORAGE — Alaska Inuit hunter John Goodwin for decades has hunted oogruk, the bearded seal, a marine mammal prized for its meat, oil and hide.The… Continue reading

  • Dec 28, 2015
  • By Dan Joling
FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2014 file photo, men haul sections of whale skin and blubber, known as muktuk, as a bowhead whale is butchered in a field near Barrow, Alaska. The environment is changing and the Inuit, who consider themselves a part of it, want measures taken to protect their culture. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Jay Kane (left) and Kole McCaughey (right) manned Nikiski Fire Station 1 on Christmas Day. Usually, Christmas Day is pretty slow, and the two had plans to make a ham to celebrate.

Central Peninsula first responders spend quiet Christmas Day at stations

Editor's Note: This story has been edited to correct the spelling of Kole McCaughey's and Justin Horton's names.  Other than the carols ringing from a… Continue reading

Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion Jay Kane (left) and Kole McCaughey (right) manned Nikiski Fire Station 1 on Christmas Day. Usually, Christmas Day is pretty slow, and the two had plans to make a ham to celebrate.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Ted Nichols, 12, and his father John Nichols, of Chugiak, dig for clams at Whiskey Gulch Saturday May 17, 2014 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The two were targetting razor clams.

Eastside Cook Inlet clams to remain closed

Clams on the eastside Cook Inlet beaches will remain off-limits for sport and personal use clamming in 2016 after a 2015 survey showed continued low… Continue reading

  • Dec 27, 2015
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Ted Nichols, 12, and his father John Nichols, of Chugiak, dig for clams at Whiskey Gulch Saturday May 17, 2014 in Anchor Point, Alaska. The two were targetting razor clams.
Photo courtesy Alaska Aerial Media Two endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales, as shown from an image captured by an unmanned aircraft system last August, stranded in the Turnagain Arm on the mudflats.

Drones to help spot stranded belugas

When the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales strand, it can be a guessing game as to how many and how old they are. The National… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Alaska Aerial Media Two endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales, as shown from an image captured by an unmanned aircraft system last August, stranded in the Turnagain Arm on the mudflats.