A table used by parties to a case sits empty in Courtroom 4 of the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski man convicted of murdering his mother

River Aspelund, 23, was convicted in August for the 2022 killing.

A table used by parties to a case sits empty in Courtroom 4 of the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall is seen on a sunny Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai rezones 13 parcels that had multiple zone classifications

Irregularities on the city’s zoning map were created as parcels were merged or new zones were created.

Kenai City Hall is seen on a sunny Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai sets stage for roughly $25M in airport maintenance next summer

The grant is for improvements to the airport runway, to runway lighting systems, and to the airport’s storm drains.

The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs information campaign on ballot measures

The education campaign would highlight “challenges” related to citizen-led initiatives on this year’s ballot.

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche and Alaska Board of Fisheries Chair Märit Carlson-Van Dort participate in a panel on Alaska king salmon legislation and regulation during the Kenai Classic Roundtable hosted by the Kenai River Sportfishing Association at the Soldotna Field House on Aug. 20, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Salmon focus of annual KRSA roundtable

Discussions centered on the decline of the species in the Kenai River and across the state.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche and Alaska Board of Fisheries Chair Märit Carlson-Van Dort participate in a panel on Alaska king salmon legislation and regulation during the Kenai Classic Roundtable hosted by the Kenai River Sportfishing Association at the Soldotna Field House on Aug. 20, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sample ballots are displayed in Kenai City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voter registration deadline is Sunday

Election day is Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Sample ballots are displayed in Kenai City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Water pools alongside Big Eddy Road in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Update: Flood watch canceled for low-lying areas of Kenai River

A glacier dam near Skilak Lake may still release later this fall, the National Weather Service said.

Water pools alongside Big Eddy Road in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Natural Resources logo (graphic)

State issues quarantine order for 2 invasive trees

Mayday trees and chokecherry trees are barred from being imported, transported or sold under the order.

Alaska Department of Natural Resources logo (graphic)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Soldotna man dies in Monday morning crash on Sterling Highway

The crash took place near TJ Seggy’s and the Alaska Roadhouse between Soldotna and Kasliof, a trooper dispatch says.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to receive $1.6M federal grant for airport improvements

The city had previously appropriated around $519,000 for the project.

The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to Anchor Point residents during a community meeting held at the Virl "Pa" Haga VFW Post 10221 on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Sullivan discusses federal advocacy, legislation during Soldotna visit

During a visit to Soldotna last month, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan in a brief interview with the Clarion spotlighted visits to Alaska by cabinet officials,… Continue reading

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to Anchor Point residents during a community meeting held at the Virl "Pa" Haga VFW Post 10221 on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Sadie Friedman, Dale Eicher and Leslie Morton, candidates for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s Sterling and Funny River seat, participate in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sterling assembly candidates field questions at election forum

The forum was moderated by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM.

Sadie Friedman, Dale Eicher and Leslie Morton, candidates for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s Sterling and Funny River seat, participate in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Trees bend under gusts of wind near Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Strong winds cause power outages Friday

Winds were expected to diminish by Friday evening.

Trees bend under gusts of wind near Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
John Osenga, Michael Calhoon and Casie Warner participate in a Seward City Council candidate forum hosted by KBBI 890 AM and the Peninsula Clarion at the Seward Community Library and Museum in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

3 vie for Seward mayorship, 6 for council

Two candidate forums will be held at the Seward Community Library, on Sept. 11 and Sept. 29.

John Osenga, Michael Calhoon and Casie Warner participate in a Seward City Council candidate forum hosted by KBBI 890 AM and the Peninsula Clarion at the Seward Community Library and Museum in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The northbound shoulder of the Sterling Highway is washed out at Mile 157, near the intersection with Old Sterling Highway between Homer and Anchor Point, on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Department of Transportation

Rainfall causes road damage on Sterling Highway near Homer

Drivers are advised to use caution near Mile 157 of the Sterling Highway, just before the Old Sterling Highway intersection.

The northbound shoulder of the Sterling Highway is washed out at Mile 157, near the intersection with Old Sterling Highway between Homer and Anchor Point, on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Department of Transportation
COVID vaccine doses at a vaccination site at a shopping mall in Bayamn, Puerto Rico, Jan. 7, 2022. The FDA has approved updated Covid vaccines for the fall 2025 season that limit who can get the shots, the federal government’s most restrictive policy since the vaccines became available. (Erika P. Rodriguez/The New York Times)

FDA approves COVID shots with new restrictions

The policy is the federal government’s most restrictive since the vaccines became available

COVID vaccine doses at a vaccination site at a shopping mall in Bayamn, Puerto Rico, Jan. 7, 2022. The FDA has approved updated Covid vaccines for the fall 2025 season that limit who can get the shots, the federal government’s most restrictive policy since the vaccines became available. (Erika P. Rodriguez/The New York Times)
Haiyun Jiang / The New York Times
A container ship docks at Dutch Harbor in Unalaska, Aug. 13. Threatened by the president with political retribution, Republicans agreed to defund public broadcasting, imperiling a lifeline of communication in rural Alaska.

Public broadcast cuts hit rural areas, revealing a political shift

245 public broadcasting grantees in rural communities — including 27 stations in Alaska — are at risk of going off the air.

Haiyun Jiang / The New York Times
A container ship docks at Dutch Harbor in Unalaska, Aug. 13. Threatened by the president with political retribution, Republicans agreed to defund public broadcasting, imperiling a lifeline of communication in rural Alaska.
A map from a South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board resolution in support of the land buy ordinance shows the location of South Peninsula Hospital in regard to the steep slopes surrounding the property. Parcel #17504022 is one of the four properties assembly members unanimously voted to purchase on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
A map from a South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board resolution in support of the land buy ordinance shows the location of South Peninsula Hospital in regard to the steep slopes surrounding the property. Parcel #17504022 is one of the four properties assembly members unanimously voted to purchase on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Brent Johnson speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly calls on school district to fund Ninilchik, Seldovia pools

The pools were defunded as of July 1 but have been kept open temporarily with other funds and community donations.

Brent Johnson speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the food bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Food bank announces food drive with drop-offs at local grocery stores

The food bank is calling for donations at Walmart, Safeway, Three Bears, IGA, Save U More and Fred Meyer locations.

A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the food bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)