News

House bill would access CBR by putting Permanent Fund earnings off limits

The House Finance Committee introduced a bill Tuesday that would put $6.4 billion from the Permanent Fund earnings reserve account into the Fund principal, putting… Continue reading

  • May 26, 2015
  • By ELWOOD BREHMER

Court sets high bar on states’ campaign contribution limits

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — States may cap political donors’ campaign contributions only if they can show that those limits are preventing corruption or the appearance… Continue reading

  • May 26, 2015
  • By MATT VOLZ
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10046 Chaplain Richard Williams speaks at the Soldotna Community Memorial Park in Soldotna during a Memorial Day ceremony.

Community pauses to remember

Residents around the central Kenai Peninsula paused Monday to remember those who have died in service of their country. Memorial Day began with the Posting… Continue reading

  • May 25, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10046 Chaplain Richard Williams speaks at the Soldotna Community Memorial Park in Soldotna during a Memorial Day ceremony.

Woman hanging on Shell ship since Friday ends drill protest

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — The woman who had been hanging off the anchor chain of a support ship that is part of Royal Dutch Shell’s… Continue reading

  • May 25, 2015
ADVANCE FOR RELEASE MONDAY MAY 25, 2015 AND THEREAFTER In this May 13, 2015 photo, artist Dan Bates poses with a mural he painted 25 years ago at the North Pole Grange in North Pole, Alaska. About 25 years ago, a judge ordered artist Dan Bates to paint a mural as the penalty for a youthful indiscretion. The painting of a tractor is still featured on the side of the North Pole Grange, which was built in 1964 to promote agriculture in the Interior. (Amanda Bohman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP)

Gallery at North Pole Grange is the picture of success

NORTH POLE (AP) — About 25 years ago, a judge ordered artist Dan Bates to paint a mural as the penalty for a youthful indiscretion.The… Continue reading

  • May 25, 2015
  • By AMANDA BOHMAN
ADVANCE FOR RELEASE MONDAY MAY 25, 2015 AND THEREAFTER In this May 13, 2015 photo, artist Dan Bates poses with a mural he painted 25 years ago at the North Pole Grange in North Pole, Alaska. About 25 years ago, a judge ordered artist Dan Bates to paint a mural as the penalty for a youthful indiscretion. The painting of a tractor is still featured on the side of the North Pole Grange, which was built in 1964 to promote agriculture in the Interior. (Amanda Bohman/Fairbanks Daily News-Miner via AP)
ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY, MAY 24 - In this photo taken May 6, 2015, Astronaut Steve Swanson signs autographs for a group of students at Fawn Mountain Elementary School in Ketchikan, Alaska. Swanson visited the school as part of American300's tour of Alaska. American300 is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that brings interesting and relevant guests to U.S. service stations around the world. (Taylor Balkom/Ketchikan Daily News via the AP)

Astronaut’s visit excites Ketchikan students

KETCHIKAN (AP) — It takes approximately eight minutes and 52 seconds for a shuttle carrying astronauts to the International Space Station to get to space,… Continue reading

  • May 25, 2015
  • By MEGAN PETERSEN
ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY, MAY 24 - In this photo taken May 6, 2015, Astronaut Steve Swanson signs autographs for a group of students at Fawn Mountain Elementary School in Ketchikan, Alaska. Swanson visited the school as part of American300's tour of Alaska. American300 is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that brings interesting and relevant guests to U.S. service stations around the world. (Taylor Balkom/Ketchikan Daily News via the AP)
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Nick Adamson, a wildland fire and resource technication with the state's Division of Forestry, wets the ground at the Robin Avenue wildfire where a one-half acre piece of land was charred Sunday May 24, 2015 in Funny River, Alaska. The fire was started with a man's burn pile got away from him.

Wildfire burns half-acre near Funny River Road

A ten-foot burn pile sparked a half-acre wildfire on Sunday after a man lost control of it near his Funny River home. Firefighters were called… Continue reading

  • May 24, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Nick Adamson, a wildland fire and resource technication with the state's Division of Forestry, wets the ground at the Robin Avenue wildfire where a one-half acre piece of land was charred Sunday May 24, 2015 in Funny River, Alaska. The fire was started with a man's burn pile got away from him.

Soldotna students receive graduation lectures from faculty

The two Soldotna High School staff members that the graduating class of 2015 chose to deliver keynote speeches during their Tuesday graduation ceremony at the… Continue reading

Man found dead in Kenai park

A man was found dead Sunday in Kenai’s Municipal Park. Kenai Police were called to the scene at about 8:30 a.m. after getting a report… Continue reading

  • May 24, 2015

Fast response, wary public keeping Alaska wildfires down

ANCHORAGE — A rapid and aggressive response to the start of Alaska wildfire season has keep burned acreage to a minimum despite persistent hot and… Continue reading

  • May 24, 2015
  • By Dan Joling

Fire consumes home near Soldotna

A Sunday morning fire destroyed a Sport Lake Road home.Central Emergency Services firefighters were called to a home on Rafie Street that had been engulfed… Continue reading

  • May 24, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney

Firefighters contain Funny River Road wildfire

This is a breaking news story that will be updated periodically. Firefighters had a wildfire nearly 14 miles down Funny River Road controlled and contained… Continue reading

  • May 24, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion George Spady led a foraging group searching for morel mushrooms Saturday, May 23, 2015, in Funny River, Alaska.

Mushroom hunters find tasty harvest on the Kenai Peninsula

The Central Kenai Peninsula is projected to yield a bountiful harvest of morel mushrooms this season. Mushroom hunters are already on the move, combing through… Continue reading

  • May 23, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion George Spady led a foraging group searching for morel mushrooms Saturday, May 23, 2015, in Funny River, Alaska.

Rough seas blamed for Cook Inlet fuel spill

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding a fuel spill near Port Graham Cook Inlet. Several agencies responded to an area in southeastern Cook Inlet after… Continue reading

  • May 23, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Norwegian king scheduled to visit Homer next week

Norwegian king scheduled to visit Homer next week

His Royal Highness King Harald V of Norway visits Anchorage and Homer next week for the first visit by the king to Alaska. King Harald… Continue reading

Norwegian king scheduled to visit Homer next week
Demarqus Green, 23, is lead out of the Homer Courtroom by a corrections officer after being convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting of Demain Sagerser on July 7, 2012, at Sagerser's Stariski Creek home.

Green found guilty of second-degree murder

After three days of deliberation, a Homer jury on Thursday afternoon found Demarqus Green, 23, of Anchorage, guilty of second-degree murder in the death of… Continue reading

Demarqus Green, 23, is lead out of the Homer Courtroom by a corrections officer after being convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting of Demain Sagerser on July 7, 2012, at Sagerser's Stariski Creek home.

Cook Inlet Harbor Safety Committee seeking members

The proposed Cook Inlet Harbor Safety Committee is another step closer to reality. After writing and receiving comments on a draft charter, the group’s convening… Continue reading

Firefighters battle 61-acre blaze near Hope

This is a breaking news story that will be updated periodically.  Updated at 8 p.m. Saturday Fire officials are reporting that the burn has been… Continue reading

  • May 22, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney

Emotional testimony ends first day of Heiman trial

Editor’s note: The Peninsula Clarion does not identify victims in sexual assault cases and will refer to the two women involved in this trial by… Continue reading

  • Apr 11, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Firefighters from the Soldotna office of the Alaska Division of Forestry draw water out of Sport Lake during a brief training on Tuesday May 19, 2015 in Soldotna, Alaska. Firefighters said conditions are hot and dry enough to merit concern and an elevated level of fire danger on the Kenai Peninsula.

Firefighters urge caution heading into Memorial Day weekend

Division of Forestry firefighters in Soldotna headed to their 18th wildland fire of the season Thursday as Kenai Peninsula departments prepared for the Memorial Day… Continue reading

  • May 21, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Firefighters from the Soldotna office of the Alaska Division of Forestry draw water out of Sport Lake during a brief training on Tuesday May 19, 2015 in Soldotna, Alaska. Firefighters said conditions are hot and dry enough to merit concern and an elevated level of fire danger on the Kenai Peninsula.