News

Quilters work on quilts for charity at the Funny River Community Center on Thursday, April 27, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

State cuts ripple through borough budget

Quilts covered the walls at the Funny River Community Center, the result of hours of work by charity-minded community members. But on a Thursday afternoon,… Continue reading

Quilters work on quilts for charity at the Funny River Community Center on Thursday, April 27, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
This photo taken July 3, 2015 shows cars lined up on the Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm in after a fatal accident in which a trooper vehicle struck and killed a motorcyclist it was pursuing closed the highway for several hours. Troopers have reduced their coverage of a stretch from about mile 75 of that highway to south of McHugh Creek due to budget cuts. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Agencies struggle to fill Seward Highway gap left by trooper withdrawal

Drivers on the Seward Highway between McHugh Creek and the Turnagain Pass are facing a potential law enforcement coverage gap as Alaska State Troopers withdraw… Continue reading

This photo taken July 3, 2015 shows cars lined up on the Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm in after a fatal accident in which a trooper vehicle struck and killed a motorcyclist it was pursuing closed the highway for several hours. Troopers have reduced their coverage of a stretch from about mile 75 of that highway to south of McHugh Creek due to budget cuts. (Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough commits to school funding

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly committed to spending at least $48.3 million on education in fiscal year 2018, a slight increase from fiscal year 2017.… Continue reading

Homer man arrested after Seward Highway car chase

A Homer man is in custody after leading Alaska State Troopers on a long chase Sunday along the Seward Highway near the Hope Junction. Troopers… Continue reading

Borough’s health care costs decreased in 2016

After years of escalation, the Kenai Peninsula Borough saw a decrease in its employee health care costs in 2016. Across all departments, the borough is… Continue reading

Soldotna woman, 75, earns black belt

Soldotna woman, 75, earns black belt

The test began and ended with a moment of meditative silence, infused with intense focus and anticipation. Six Tang Soo Do practitioners stood at attention… Continue reading

Soldotna woman, 75, earns black belt

Murkowski, groups want to see Gulf of Alaska military exercise moved to fall

Environmental activists, coastal Alaskans and Sen. Lisa Murkowski are all asking the U.S. Navy to move a biennial training exercise in the Gulf of Alaska… Continue reading

Bobbie Larrivee, a special education teacher at West Homer High School, waits to receive a certificate honoring her as one of the 2017 BP Teachers of Excellence at an awards banquet Thursday, April 27, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. BP recognized five teachers from around the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District for excellence in teaching with certificates, $500 gift cards and $500 donations to their schools. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

BP honors Kenai Peninsula teachers

Five teachers from Kenai Peninsula Borough School District were honored Thursday at the annual BP Teachers of Excellence awards banquet. Stephanie Cronin of Seward High… Continue reading

Bobbie Larrivee, a special education teacher at West Homer High School, waits to receive a certificate honoring her as one of the 2017 BP Teachers of Excellence at an awards banquet Thursday, April 27, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. BP recognized five teachers from around the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District for excellence in teaching with certificates, $500 gift cards and $500 donations to their schools. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Maps of proposed culvert improvements on several Kasilof-area streams stand in a multipurpose room at Tustumena Elementary School during an Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities open house on a proposed safety improvement project on the Sterling Highway between Soldotna and Clam Gulch on Wednesday in Kasilof. The project, scheduled for summer 2018 and 2019, will include widened shoulders, improved signage, a safety edge and culvert replacements, among other improvements. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Sterling Highway shoulder widening to improve fish passage

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is working on a final set of plans to widen the shoulders of the Sterling Highway between… Continue reading

Maps of proposed culvert improvements on several Kasilof-area streams stand in a multipurpose room at Tustumena Elementary School during an Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities open house on a proposed safety improvement project on the Sterling Highway between Soldotna and Clam Gulch on Wednesday in Kasilof. The project, scheduled for summer 2018 and 2019, will include widened shoulders, improved signage, a safety edge and culvert replacements, among other improvements. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

2 lawsuits against borough moving through courts

Two entangled lawsuits against the Kenai Peninsula Borough are winding their way through the court system, one toward trial and another toward dismissal. The borough… Continue reading

Workers at Alaska Salmon Purchasers sort sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet in this July 2016 photo near Nikiski, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

2017 sockeye forecast weak for Cook Inlet

Upper Cook Inlet’s commercial salmon fishermen are predicted to have another slow season, if the forecast proves accurate. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s… Continue reading

Workers at Alaska Salmon Purchasers sort sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet in this July 2016 photo near Nikiski, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
In this December 2016 photo, the sun peeks through the trees on the Tsalteshi Trails system near Soldotna, Alaska. The Tsalteshi Trails Association has applied to the Kenai Peninsula Borough for a Community Trails Management Agreement to expand the popular trail system to the south, providing a space for non-skiers to enjoy the trails in the winter. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Tsalteshi applies to expand trail system

More trails may be coming soon to the Tsalteshi Trails system. The nonprofit Tsalteshi Trails Association, which maintains about 25 kilometers of trails in a… Continue reading

In this December 2016 photo, the sun peeks through the trees on the Tsalteshi Trails system near Soldotna, Alaska. The Tsalteshi Trails Association has applied to the Kenai Peninsula Borough for a Community Trails Management Agreement to expand the popular trail system to the south, providing a space for non-skiers to enjoy the trails in the winter. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Borough to restore bank behind River Center

Borough to restore bank behind River Center

A heavily trafficked stretch of the Kenai River’s southern bank will get some restoration work in time for the sockeye season. Fishermen who have visited… Continue reading

Borough to restore bank behind River Center

Bill would authorize individuals to get fish enhancement permits

Individual Alaskans, private companies and nonprofits could jump into the world of incubating and releasing salmon under a bill being discussed in the Legislature. House… Continue reading

Governor’s bill would cut CFEC commissioners’ pay

Gov. Bill Walker has introduced a bill to trim the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission. The CFEC, the state agency that manages commercial fishing limited entry… Continue reading

CIRCAC, state to evaluate old pipelines in Cook Inlet

After a turbulent spring with multiple oil and gas infrastructure failures in Cook Inlet, a citizen’s advisory group and the state agency tasked with environmental… Continue reading

KPBSD holds back on open positions

On the surface, it looks like the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District isn’t hiring, but uncertainty surrounding next year’s budget has the district posting positions… Continue reading

In this undated photo, crew members haul scallops up onto the deck of a fishing vessel from a dredge. Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff have been researching the increasing incidence of a condition called “weak meats” in Alaska scallops, which makes the product unmarketable. (Photo courtesy the Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Researchers identify widespread parasite in Alaska scallops

A lot of Alaska’s scallops are sick, and scientists are trying to figure out why. Alaska’s scallop fishery is a small one — in recent… Continue reading

In this undated photo, crew members haul scallops up onto the deck of a fishing vessel from a dredge. Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff have been researching the increasing incidence of a condition called “weak meats” in Alaska scallops, which makes the product unmarketable. (Photo courtesy the Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Bill looks to fund education with raffle

The Alaska Senate is recruiting lady luck to help fund education with a raffle that residents can enter using their Permanent Fund Dividends. Senate Bill… Continue reading

Orion Brandon, a 2-year-old from Sterling, visits the Kenai Fire Station for a free car-seat check up provided by Safe Kids Kenai Peninsula on Monday, April 17, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Jane Fellman, of Safe Kids and Central Peninsula Hospital, weighs Brandon to ensure he’s in the right size car seat. Safe Kids is offering another check on Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Nikiski Fire Station. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)

Nothing beats safe seats

Orion Brandon, a 2-year-old from Sterling, visits the Kenai Fire Station for a free car-seat check up provided by Safe Kids Kenai Peninsula on Monday,… Continue reading

Orion Brandon, a 2-year-old from Sterling, visits the Kenai Fire Station for a free car-seat check up provided by Safe Kids Kenai Peninsula on Monday, April 17, 2017 in Kenai, Alaska. Jane Fellman, of Safe Kids and Central Peninsula Hospital, weighs Brandon to ensure he’s in the right size car seat. Safe Kids is offering another check on Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Nikiski Fire Station. (Kat Sorensen/Peninsula Clarion)