News

In this Monday, Dec. 1, 2014 photo, Alaska state health commissioner Valerie Davidson, left, Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, center, and Gov. Bill Walker attend a news conference to announce Davidson's appointment in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Medicaid expansion could be months away

JUNEAU — State health commissioner Valerie Davidson said it could be July before the state is in a position to begin enrolling Alaskans under expanded… Continue reading

  • Dec 14, 2014
  • By Becky Bohrer
In this Monday, Dec. 1, 2014 photo, Alaska state health commissioner Valerie Davidson, left, Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, center, and Gov. Bill Walker attend a news conference to announce Davidson's appointment in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Walker faced with widening deficit scenario

Gov. Bill Walker faces a grim budget scenario that may distract the new governor from other priorities, like a natural gas pipeline and an expansion… Continue reading

  • Dec 14, 2014
  • By TIM BRADNER,
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion At the end of a class, English as a Second Language students worked on a crossword puzzle on Thursday Dec. 11, 2014 at Kenai Peninsula College Kenai River Campus in Soldotna, Alaska.

20-year-old KPC program provides free language help to ESL students

At a large table in the corner of the Kenai Peninsula College’s Learning Center, nearly a dozen people sit and discuss what they did over… Continue reading

  • Dec 13, 2014
  • By IAN FOLEY
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion At the end of a class, English as a Second Language students worked on a crossword puzzle on Thursday Dec. 11, 2014 at Kenai Peninsula College Kenai River Campus in Soldotna, Alaska.

Kenai man arrested in snowmachine theft

While responding to a disturbance at Soldotna High School Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers located a Kenai man with a snowmachine that was reported stolen from… Continue reading

  • Dec 13, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas talks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, as the Senate considers a spending bill. The House has passed an additional stopgap spending to make certain the government doesn't shut down at midnight Saturday when current funding authority runs out. The move would give the Senate additional time to process a $1.1 trillion government-wide spending bill. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

Congress sends Obama $1.1 trillion spending bill

WASHINGTON — Congress cleared a $1.1 trillion spending bill for President Barack Obama’s signature late Saturday night after a day of Senate intrigue capped by… Continue reading

  • Dec 13, 2014
  • By DAVID ESPO and DONNA CASSATA
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas talks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, as the Senate considers a spending bill. The House has passed an additional stopgap spending to make certain the government doesn't shut down at midnight Saturday when current funding authority runs out. The move would give the Senate additional time to process a $1.1 trillion government-wide spending bill. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

Lockheed Martin wins Alaska spaceport bid

ANCHORAGE — The state-owned space agency on Friday named Lockheed Martin the winner of a bidding process to reconfigure a launch pad to accommodate larger… Continue reading

  • Dec 13, 2014
  • By Mark Thiessen

Program offers transportation to cancer patients

Cancer patients lacking means of transportation in communities around the Kenai Peninsula will soon be able to attend their treatments more easily, thanks to the… Continue reading

  • Dec 11, 2014
  • By IAN FOLEY

KPBSD meetings to increase transparency have been poorly attended

Early in 2014 school principals nominated community members to serve as intermediaries between the district and local schools dubbing them Key Communicators. Leaders from the… Continue reading

  • Dec 11, 2014
  • By Kelly Sullivan

Roach trial pushed back to February

A trial date in the case against the president of the Alaska Veterans Outreach Boxes for Heroes organization has been delayed another three months while… Continue reading

  • Dec 11, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
A group of people play pickleball at the Sterling Community Center.

Having a ball: Pickleball grows in popularity on peninsula

Despite its funny name, pickleball is getting serious attention around the Kenai Peninsula.In Sterling, Nikiski and Kenai, more and more people are participating in what… Continue reading

  • Dec 11, 2014
  • By IAN FOLEY
A group of people play pickleball at the Sterling Community Center.
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Fire Department Capt. James Dye talks to Kenai Firefighter Zach Pettit on Wednesday Dec. 10, 2014 outside of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe's administration building on Willow Street in Kenai. Firefighters responded to reports of smoke at about noon and worked to discover an ignition point in a portion of the building.

Small fire closes Kenaitze Tribal building Wednesday

An electrical shortage sparked a small fire inside the walls of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s headquarters at 110 North Willow Street in Kenai on Wednesday.… Continue reading

  • Dec 10, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Fire Department Capt. James Dye talks to Kenai Firefighter Zach Pettit on Wednesday Dec. 10, 2014 outside of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe's administration building on Willow Street in Kenai. Firefighters responded to reports of smoke at about noon and worked to discover an ignition point in a portion of the building.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion In this July 16, 2012 file photo, commercial fishermen offload the day's catch of salmon from the Inlet Raider. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a moratorium on EPA regulations which would require vessels such as this one to monitor and get a permit to discharge things like fish guts, gray water and rainwater from the vessel. The measure is set to be taken up by the U.S. House before the current session ends.

Moratorium on vessel discharges passed in U.S. Senate

The U.S. Senate voted to extend a moratorium on an EPA regulation which could affect nearly every commercial fishing boat in Cook Inlet if the… Continue reading

  • Dec 10, 2014
  • By Rashah McChesney
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion In this July 16, 2012 file photo, commercial fishermen offload the day's catch of salmon from the Inlet Raider. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a moratorium on EPA regulations which would require vessels such as this one to monitor and get a permit to discharge things like fish guts, gray water and rainwater from the vessel. The measure is set to be taken up by the U.S. House before the current session ends.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Peninsula Oilers' Adam Sonabend waits for a catch as Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks' Chance Gusbeth heads to first during their game Friday July 5, 2013 in Kenai, Alaska.

Oilers to play ball in 2015

The Peninsula Oilers are going for it. Facing a severe financial shortfall, the Oilers board of directors had considered taking the 2015 season off. But… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Peninsula Oilers' Adam Sonabend waits for a catch as Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks' Chance Gusbeth heads to first during their game Friday July 5, 2013 in Kenai, Alaska.

Assembly prepares agenda for 2015

Without any items up for public hearing at Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting, the assembly approved several new business items on its consent agenda… Continue reading

  • Dec 10, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER

Alaska faces $3.5 billion deficit amid lower oil prices

JUNEAU (AP) — Slumping oil prices have helped push Alaska’s potential budget deficit this year to $3.5 billion — an increase of $2.1 billion from… Continue reading

  • Dec 10, 2014

Council concerned about charter commission

Soldotna Mayor Nels Anderson expressed concerns about the city’s push to develop a home rule municipal charter, during Wednesday’s city council meeting. Anderson said he… Continue reading

  • Dec 10, 2014
  • By Kelly Sullivan

Assembly prepares agenda for 2015

Without any items up for public hearing at Tuesday’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting, the assembly approved several new business items on their consent agenda… Continue reading

  • Dec 10, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski resident Paul Hadella pays for his groceries while cashier Chasityanne Kameroff bags up his items Monday, Dec. 8, 2014 at the Country Foods IGA in Kenai. A petition that aims to repeal a Kenai Peninsula Borough ordinance that authorizes general law cities to collect sales taxes on non-prepared food in the winter months, was certified Friday and will be on the October 2015 ballot. Petition organizer James Price said he also plans to start an initiative in Kenai to end the city's sale tax on groceries.

Grocery tax relief measure makes 2015 ballot

Editors note: This story has been changed to add an estimated figure from the borough finance department. A petition that aims to rescind a Kenai… Continue reading

  • Dec 8, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Photo by Dan Balmer/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski resident Paul Hadella pays for his groceries while cashier Chasityanne Kameroff bags up his items Monday, Dec. 8, 2014 at the Country Foods IGA in Kenai. A petition that aims to repeal a Kenai Peninsula Borough ordinance that authorizes general law cities to collect sales taxes on non-prepared food in the winter months, was certified Friday and will be on the October 2015 ballot. Petition organizer James Price said he also plans to start an initiative in Kenai to end the city's sale tax on groceries.
Kenai and Nikiski firefighters responded to a noon fire at the Kenaitze Indian Tribe's administration building on Wednesday Dec. 10, 2014 at 110 N. Willow in Kenai, Alaska.

Fire breaks out at Kenaitze Tribal headquarters

Update: 4:40 p.m. On Wednesday an electrical shortage sparked a small fire inside the walls of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s headquarters at 110 North Willow… Continue reading

  • Dec 10, 2014
  • By DAN BALMER
Kenai and Nikiski firefighters responded to a noon fire at the Kenaitze Indian Tribe's administration building on Wednesday Dec. 10, 2014 at 110 N. Willow in Kenai, Alaska.

Filing period open for Soldotna charter commission candidates

Soldotna’s period for Home Rule Charter Commission member candidates to submit nomination petitions opened Monday and will close 4:30 p.m., Dec. 19. Soldotna’s Special City… Continue reading

  • Dec 9, 2014
  • By Kelly Sullivan