Site Logo
A ballot partition is at the Kenai No. 2 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Alaska primary election is on Tuesday

Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Moderator Merrill Sikorski and organizer Robert Wall introduce a debate between Rep. Ben Carpenter and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, both R-Nikiski, organized by the District 8 Alaska Republican Party at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Bjorkman, Carpenter meet for debate hosted by local Republicans

More than 100 people turned out to hear the Nikiski lawmakers talk policy ahead of next week’s primary…

The Alaska State Capitol on March 1, 2024. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion

Opinion: The Alaska State House has only itself to blame

Past the deadline, the House continued to vote and approve legislation

Gov. Mike Dunleavy signs energy bills into law in Anchorage, Alaska, on July 31, 2024. (Provided by the Office of the Governor)

News

Gov. Dunleavy signs 3 energy bills

Local representative warns of possible increases in rates amid looming natural gas shortage

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldona Chambers of Commerce at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 31. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Ruffridge updates chambers on legislative efforts

He discussed the successes of his freshman session in the Alaska Legislature

Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, walks down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, during the Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Rep. Ben Carpenter endorses controversial ‘Project 2025,’ writes ‘What’s not to like?’

The set of conservative policy proposals were compiled by the Heritage Foundation and other conservative groups

Voters fill out their ballots at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, Alaska on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Incumbents show lead in fundraising for state offices

Candidate spending is detailed in disclosure forms due Monday

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, speaks in support of debating an omnibus education bill in the Alaska House Chambers on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Dunleavy signs Ruffridge bill expanding Alaska Performance Scholarship

The scholarship is paid out from the Alaska Higher Education Investment Fund

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Bjorkman talks freshman legislative session, spotlights bills passed

Bjorkman spoke at a joint luncheon of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in June

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, speaks in support of debating an omnibus education bill in the Alaska House Chambers on Monday, Feb. 19 in Juneau.

News

Ruffridge talks successes, unfinished business after freshman session in Juneau

Ruffridge is up for election this year, facing a challenger in former-Rep. Ron Gillham

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks to the joint Soldotna and Kenai chambers of commerce at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday.

News

Carpenter gives wrap up on session as he nears end of House term

Carpenter is seeking election to state Senate District D

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman: Session ends with budget, dividend and bills passed

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, and Rep. Mike Prax, R-North Pole, discuss a proposed amendment to a bill sponsored by Allard restricting transgender students’ participation in school sports during a House floor session on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

After accusations of ‘lying’ and ‘hate’ fly, House passes bill restricting transgender students in sports

Bill passes 22-18 after filibuster by minority, but declared dead in Senate as end of session nears

Rep. Ben Carpenter, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in opposition to overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion

Rep. Ben Carpenter: Revolutionizing our budgeting practices with realistic reforms

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman: Collegiality matters

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

The Alaska State Capitol on March 1. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Opinion

Opinion: Physicians oppose Alaska Senate Bill 115 — Independent Practice for PAs

Alaskans don’t want access to just any health care, they want access to high quality care

Rep. Ben Carpenter, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in opposition to overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion

Rep. Ben Carpenter: Alaska can do without energy solutions that cost us more and create more problems

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opinion

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman: Wrapping up session with bills passed and a budget in the works

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, confers with other senators and legislative staff moments before gavelling in the start of this year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

News

Senate’s draft operating budget includes outstanding KPBSD pandemic relief funds

Public education advocates, students and staff have doggedly lobbied lawmakers for an increase to the state’s K-12 funding…

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, speaks in support of debating an omnibus education bill in the Alaska House Chambers on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Ruffridge discusses allotment program for correspondence students at virtual town hall

The fate of the program is in limbo following a superior court ruling handed down last month