Kenai City Council members James Baisden and Teea Winger deliberate at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai mulls benefit of rec center as repair costs add up

The Kenai City Council voted this month to consolidate project funding for the building

Kenai City Council members James Baisden and Teea Winger deliberate at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Freezing rain creates icy conditions on Wednesday, Feb. 16. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna asks for more snow removal money

The City of Soldotna estimates it will spend more than expected on snow removal services this winter. Citing above average snowfall, the city’s streets and… Continue reading

Freezing rain creates icy conditions on Wednesday, Feb. 16. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Sterling Highway crash sends woman, child to Anchorage for intensive care

The Tuesday collision occurred near the Sterling Transfer Facility

Alaska State Troopers logo.
A green Little Free Library stands at the edge of Daubenspeck Family Park on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Proposal would bring more Little Free Libraries to Kenai

The proposal to expand the program came from Friends of the Kenai Library

A green Little Free Library stands at the edge of Daubenspeck Family Park on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Data from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services show that some regions of Alaska have dropped to "low" COVID alert level, while most others remain at "high" alert level, as of Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (Screenshot)

1,773 new COVID cases reported, no new peninsula deaths

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services only reports new deaths on Wednesdays

Data from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services show that some regions of Alaska have dropped to "low" COVID alert level, while most others remain at "high" alert level, as of Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (Screenshot)
Tuckerman Babcock stands in The Peninsula Clarion office on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Babcock enters state Senate race

Babcock will challenge incumbent Peter Micciche for the seat containing Kenai and Soldotna

Tuckerman Babcock stands in The Peninsula Clarion office on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, gave her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday at the Capitol in Juneau. Murkowski’s speech emphasized bipartisanship and making Alaska ready for the opportunities brought by the recent infrastructure package.

Murkowski highlights infrastructure during speech to Legislature

Infrastructure and resource development were among the issues discussed by Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski during an address to the Alaska Legislature during a joint… Continue reading

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, gave her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature on Tuesday at the Capitol in Juneau. Murkowski’s speech emphasized bipartisanship and making Alaska ready for the opportunities brought by the recent infrastructure package.
Kenai Public Health Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Love Inc. Director Leslie Rohr a COVID-19 booster shot during the Project Homeless Connect event in Soldotna on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Project Homeless Connect participation down from last year

Organizers site the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

Kenai Public Health Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Love Inc. Director Leslie Rohr a COVID-19 booster shot during the Project Homeless Connect event in Soldotna on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska's 511 app shows travel on central peninsula roads to be "difficult" as of 6:50 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (Screenshot)

More snow forecast for peninsula

A winter weather advisory was issued through Tuesday morning

Alaska's 511 app shows travel on central peninsula roads to be "difficult" as of 6:50 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (Screenshot)
Colleen Mondor speaks about the history of missing aircraft in Alaska during a lecture presented by the Cook Inlet Historical Society on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Colleen Mondor speaks about the history of missing aircraft in Alaska during a lecture presented by the Cook Inlet Historical Society on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly convenves on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly approves $30,000 cybersecurity contract following incident

The borough’s IT director said no public data was compromised

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly convenves on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
State Rep. Ron Gillham speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 6. at Kenai Municipal Airport.

Gillham targets school reform in Juneau

Gillham said Friday that his bills are aimed at expanding parent choice in education

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
State Rep. Ron Gillham speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 6. at Kenai Municipal Airport.
Alaska road maintenance crews conduct avalanche clearing work along the Seward Highway on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 near Girdwood, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Wintry weather causes avalanches around Southcentral

At least two avalanches, as well as excessive snow, caused road closures Friday

Alaska road maintenance crews conduct avalanche clearing work along the Seward Highway on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 near Girdwood, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska's chief medical officer, addresses reporters during a Wendesday, March 25, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

As COVID cases drop, long-term questions remain

As COVID-19 cases are falling in Alaska and nationwide once again, health officials are pondering what other kinds of health implications survivors of the disease… Continue reading

Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska's chief medical officer, addresses reporters during a Wendesday, March 25, 2020 press conference in the Atwood Building in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)
From left, Tiana McGahan, Aaron Hughes, Victor Thompson, McKayla Chadburn and Dawn Rimer keep warm around the fire during the 2020 Frozen RiverFest at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Feb. 15, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Frozen RiverFest returns Saturday

Beer, cider and cocoa around a bonfire — what could be more fitting for a central Kenai Peninsula winter? This year’s Frozen RiverFest will have… Continue reading

From left, Tiana McGahan, Aaron Hughes, Victor Thompson, McKayla Chadburn and Dawn Rimer keep warm around the fire during the 2020 Frozen RiverFest at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska on Feb. 15, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference on Thursday in Juneau. (Photo courtesy Kevin Goodman, Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy reiterates budget priorities from Juneau

The governor has emphasized public safety, the PFD and education

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference on Thursday in Juneau. (Photo courtesy Kevin Goodman, Office of the Governor)
Kenai City Council member Deborah Sounart deliberates at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council member Deborah Sounart deliberates at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly member Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Split assembly voices opposition to proposed statewide sales tax

The resolution approved Tuesday opposes the implementation of a statewide sales tax in Alaska

Assembly member Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents the borough’s new timber harvesting program to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents the borough’s new timber harvesting program to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A health care worker holds a vial of Sotrovimab, a covid-19 monoclonal antibody treatment. (ice_blue/Shutterstock)

Officials report new COVID deaths, emphasize early treatment options

The state Department of Health and Social Services reported 27 more COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, pushing the total to 1,108 Alaska resident deaths since the pandemic… Continue reading

A health care worker holds a vial of Sotrovimab, a covid-19 monoclonal antibody treatment. (ice_blue/Shutterstock)