News

October session on TransCanada buyout coming

It appears a fall special session is back on after Gov. Bill Walker met with a small group of legislators Monday to discuss issues key… Continue reading

  • Sep 22, 2015
  • By ELWOOD BREHMER

Alaska poverty rate jumps to 11.2 percent in 2014

New census data shows that poverty has increased in Alaska, but it may not be as simple as the numbers make it look. Alaska’s statewide… Continue reading

Seventh-grade student Shania Sommer of Palmer, Alaska, announces that nearly every Alaskan will receive $2,072 from this year's oil dividend check during a news conference Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, in Anchorage, Alaska. Sommer was chosen by the office of Gov. Bill Walker to reveal the amount of this year's check. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Photo: Show us the money

… Continue reading

  • Sep 21, 2015
Seventh-grade student Shania Sommer of Palmer, Alaska, announces that nearly every Alaskan will receive $2,072 from this year's oil dividend check during a news conference Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, in Anchorage, Alaska. Sommer was chosen by the office of Gov. Bill Walker to reveal the amount of this year's check. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

School district, associations start mediation

Closed mediation has begun between the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and the Kenai Peninsula Education and the Kenai Peninsula Education Support associations. Negotiating teams… Continue reading

  • Sep 21, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan
This Thursday, June 2, 2015 photo shows a so-called honey bucket _ a large bucket used as a toilet without running water _ at the tribal council office in the village of Kipnuk, Alaska. Flush toilets and running water remain elusive dreams for residents of at least 30 Alaska villages where indoor plumbing has historically cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to install in just one home. (Corey DiRutigliano, Cold Climate Housing Research Center via AP)

In 2015, nearly 3 dozen Alaska villages lack basic plumbing

ANCHORAGE — Flush toilets and running water are elusive dreams for Paul Dock and other residents of impoverished Alaska villages where indoor plumbing has historically… Continue reading

  • Sep 21, 2015
  • By Rachel D'oro
This Thursday, June 2, 2015 photo shows a so-called honey bucket _ a large bucket used as a toilet without running water _ at the tribal council office in the village of Kipnuk, Alaska. Flush toilets and running water remain elusive dreams for residents of at least 30 Alaska villages where indoor plumbing has historically cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to install in just one home. (Corey DiRutigliano, Cold Climate Housing Research Center via AP)

AK LNG makes technical progress, economics still a challenge

Alaska LNG Project managers presented an upbeat report on technical progress of the giant gas project in a Sept. 9 briefing to legislators, but also… Continue reading

  • Sep 21, 2015
  • By Tim Bradner

PFD payout: $2,072

ANCHORAGE (AP) — Most Alaskans will receive $2,072 each in this year's payout from state's oil investment fund, state officials announced today.… Continue reading

  • Sep 21, 2015

KRS Learning Center offering free NETS course

The Learning Center will be offering a free, ten-week workshop entitled, “NETS: Focusing on Success for ‘New’ Students,” from 1-3:30 p.m. beginning today, Sept. 21… Continue reading

  • Sep 20, 2015

Around the District

School board to meet The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. in the borough building at 148 N. Binkley… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Sixth grade student Kaytlyn Walden is crowned the new Queen of Reading for having read the most over the summer during a RIGS assembly on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 at Kalifornski Beach Elementary in Soldotna, Alaska.

Queen of Reading crowned at annual RIGS assembly

After one summer and 335,950 minutes of reading, students at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary are ready to jump back into the school year without missing a… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Sixth grade student Kaytlyn Walden is crowned the new Queen of Reading for having read the most over the summer during a RIGS assembly on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 at Kalifornski Beach Elementary in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Eager apple samplers file past several varieties and score them during an apple tasting on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, at O'Brien Garden and Trees in Nikiski, Alaska.

How do you like them apples?

A bushel of people waited patiently in line on a chilly Sunday afternoon to get a taste of the apples at O’Brien Garden and Trees… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion Eager apple samplers file past several varieties and score them during an apple tasting on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015, at O'Brien Garden and Trees in Nikiski, Alaska.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion From left to right: Brandi Kerley, Gail Knobf and Lois Pillifant discuss the barriers to getting young people to register to vote on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015 at a table set up by the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters at the Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska.

League of Women Voters reaches out to students

With local elections around the corner, members of the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters took to the halls of Kenai Peninsula College’s campus to… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion From left to right: Brandi Kerley, Gail Knobf and Lois Pillifant discuss the barriers to getting young people to register to vote on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015 at a table set up by the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters at the Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska.

Alaskans eager to learn amount of upcoming payout

ANCHORAGE — Oil prices are so low, they’re hovering at benchmarks not seen in years, plunging oil-dependent Alaska into a crippling budget deficit. But the… Continue reading

  • Sep 20, 2015
  • By Rachel D'oro
Kenaitze tribe member Jon Harris (left) and Tribal Doctor Estelle Thomson stand in front of the fire pit at the Dena'ina Wellness Center's new ceremonial area Ggugguyni T'uh during a dedication ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19 in Kenai.

Raven Plaza, traditional healing dedicated at Dena’ina Wellness Center

Ggugguyni T’uh is the name of the new outdoor ceremonial space dedicated on Saturday by the Kenaitze Indian Tribe at their Dena’ina Wellness Center in… Continue reading

Kenaitze tribe member Jon Harris (left) and Tribal Doctor Estelle Thomson stand in front of the fire pit at the Dena'ina Wellness Center's new ceremonial area Ggugguyni T'uh during a dedication ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19 in Kenai.

With cuts on horizon, UA needs budget hike just to stay level

The University of Alaska expects to need $27 million more next year from the Alaska Legislature to fund operations. The state’s Office of Management and… Continue reading

Task force addresses transit challenges

Getting around the peninsula without a car or license is a struggle — one that Trisha Lansing knows firsthand.After losing her license in March, Lansing… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Heidi Hatch, of Nikiski, talks about the affect of the Alaska LNG project on people who live in the Nikiski community where the project has been acquiring hundreds of acres of property in anticipation of building a liquefaction facility. During the Thursday Sept. 17 community meeting, Hatch and several others questioned representatives from the project about the footprint of the facility, the relocation of the Kenai Spur Highway and other rumors that have been made their way through the community as the project progresses.

Neighbors grill Alaska LNG project members during community meeting

It was a friendly gathering, but Alaska LNG project representatives found themselves in the hot seat on Thursday during the first of two informal community… Continue reading

  • Sep 17, 2015
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Heidi Hatch, of Nikiski, talks about the affect of the Alaska LNG project on people who live in the Nikiski community where the project has been acquiring hundreds of acres of property in anticipation of building a liquefaction facility. During the Thursday Sept. 17 community meeting, Hatch and several others questioned representatives from the project about the footprint of the facility, the relocation of the Kenai Spur Highway and other rumors that have been made their way through the community as the project progresses.

Renowned agrarian comes to Kenai

A nationally renowned agrarian, Severine Von Tscharner Fleming, is entering the conversation on food security in Alaska.Fleming is making two stops on the Kenai Peninsula… Continue reading

  • Sep 17, 2015
  • By Kelly Sullivan

Healthcare Task Force debates direction

The borough’s newly formed Healthcare Task Force attempted to more clearly define its direction Wednesday night to help catch the Kenai Peninsula’s health care system… Continue reading

UA regents say they failed to hear of HAARP restart

University of Alaska regents reacted with disappointment Thursday as president Jim Johnsen announced that the UA system will loan $2 million to the University of… Continue reading