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)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Kenai woman injured in bear attack

Search efforts had not located the bear as of Tuesday afternoon.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District IT Manager Jordan Chilson leads a tour of the district’s server infrastructure in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School district highlights importance of E-Rate program during meeting with Murkowski, FCC commissioner

The federal program provides funding for expansion and development of network infrastructure.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District IT Manager Jordan Chilson leads a tour of the district’s server infrastructure in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Teague Vanek grills up salmon during the 2025 Industry Appreciation Day at the Kenai Softball Greenstrip in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Industry Appreciation Day honors community leaders, businesses

Oil and gas, commercial fishing, tourism and health care industries were all recognized at the annual event.

Teague Vanek grills up salmon during the 2025 Industry Appreciation Day at the Kenai Softball Greenstrip in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Candidates for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s Kalifornsky seat, Teresa Mullican and Joan Corr, participate in a forum at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mullican, Corr talk borough services, taxes at first 2025 candidate forum

The candidates are vying for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s Kalifornsky seat.

Candidates for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s Kalifornsky seat, Teresa Mullican and Joan Corr, participate in a forum at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The downed aircraft near Haines, Alaska, Aug. 24, 2025. The pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft and had no reported injuries. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Air Station Sitka)

Coast Guard rescues man from downed aircraft near Haines

The rescued pilot was reported “in good condition”

The downed aircraft near Haines, Alaska, Aug. 24, 2025. The pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft and had no reported injuries. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Air Station Sitka)
A harbor seal is released into Cook Inlet by the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program at North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

SeaLife Center releases 2 harbor seals at Kenai beach

The two seals were admitted into the center’s Wildlife Response Program in June.

A harbor seal is released into Cook Inlet by the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program at North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Volunteers serve bowls of soup at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank’s annual Soup Supper fundraiser at the Soldotna Field House in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soup with a side of community support

Kenai Peninsula Food Bank hosted its 30th Annual Soup Supper fundraiser on Saturday.

Volunteers serve bowls of soup at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank’s annual Soup Supper fundraiser at the Soldotna Field House in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer community members line up for delicious offerings from multiple food trucks and booths at the Taste of Homer Food Truck Festival on Saturday, May 10, 2024 at the Baycrest KOA Campground in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Homer community members line up for delicious offerings from multiple food trucks and booths at the Taste of Homer Food Truck Festival on Saturday, May 10, 2024 at the Baycrest KOA Campground in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Homer community members line up for delicious offerings from multiple food trucks and booths at the Taste of Homer Food Truck Festival on Saturday, May 10, 2024 at the Baycrest KOA Campground in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Homer community members line up for delicious offerings from multiple food trucks and booths at the Taste of Homer Food Truck Festival on Saturday, May 10, 2024 at the Baycrest KOA Campground in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
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)

Homer man sentenced for sexual abuse of a minor

John Thomas Cowan was sentenced at the Kenai Courthouse on Aug. 13.

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)
Mount Spurr is seen from the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Spurr returned to normal alert status as activity declines

Spurr is located about 61 miles away from Kenai and 117 miles away from Homer.

Mount Spurr is seen from the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
An ultra-endurance long-range drone registered to Vanilla Unmanned crashed into a bluff near Ninilchik, Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Contributed photo)

Drone crashes on Ninilchik beach

NTSB is investigating the crash, which occurred Wednesday.

An ultra-endurance long-range drone registered to Vanilla Unmanned crashed into a bluff near Ninilchik, Alaska on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Contributed photo)
Snow blankets Homer City Hall on April 10, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Homer News file photo)

Homer City Council votes down rec center ballot proposition

Ordinance 25-52 would have asked voters whether the city should continue a percentage of city sales tax to fund a new community recreation center.

Snow blankets Homer City Hall on April 10, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Homer News file photo)