News

District reinstates 7.5 teaching positions

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education has approved a revised Fiscal Year 2018 budget that reinstates 7.5 teaching positions, but administrators remain… Continue reading

Assembly to consider bed tax

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly will consider whether to send a borough-wide bed tax to voters at its next meeting. The tax, proposed by Borough… Continue reading

Local leaders brainstorm on future economic development

Local business and government leaders discussed ways to expand the Kenai Peninsula and Alaska beyond relying primarily on resource extraction at a two-day forum at… Continue reading

Kenaitze Executive Director resigns

After 10 years as executive director of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, Jaylene Peterson-Nyren has resigned. Peterson-Nyren resigned effective June 16, according to a statement issued… Continue reading

Raindrops glisten on the petals of woolly geranium flowers growing near the boardwalk in Soldotna Creek Park on Sunday, July 9, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Heavy rainfall Saturday night cleared off briefly Sunday morning before turning back to heavy showers Sunday afternoon on the central peninsula, dousing anglers out fishing on the Kenai River briefly before abating and allowing a little blue sky to peek through. After a rainy weekend, the National Weather Service is predicting the weather to warm in the coming week and for the clouds to clear by Wednesday, with temperatures reaching the high 60s and low 70s. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo: Summer showers, wildflowers

Raindrops glisten on the petals of woolly geranium flowers growing near the boardwalk in Soldotna Creek Park on Sunday in Soldotna. Heavy rainfall Saturday night… Continue reading

Raindrops glisten on the petals of woolly geranium flowers growing near the boardwalk in Soldotna Creek Park on Sunday, July 9, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Heavy rainfall Saturday night cleared off briefly Sunday morning before turning back to heavy showers Sunday afternoon on the central peninsula, dousing anglers out fishing on the Kenai River briefly before abating and allowing a little blue sky to peek through. After a rainy weekend, the National Weather Service is predicting the weather to warm in the coming week and for the clouds to clear by Wednesday, with temperatures reaching the high 60s and low 70s. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Avery Walden, then 9, poses at the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with her father Chris Walden (right) and a family friend on Jan. 6, 2017. The group climbed the famous mountain in January, making Avery the youngest female to ascend the mountain. (Photo courtesy Chris Walden)

Mountain-climbing family plans rock gym, next adventures

Editor's note: This article has been edited to clarify that because Mt. Kilimanjaro is near the equator, January is not technically winter there. A little… Continue reading

Avery Walden, then 9, poses at the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with her father Chris Walden (right) and a family friend on Jan. 6, 2017. The group climbed the famous mountain in January, making Avery the youngest female to ascend the mountain. (Photo courtesy Chris Walden)

Cops vs cows: Kenai police corral unruly cattle

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with details from the resident who called the cattle incident in to the police department. Some cattle bent… Continue reading

Samson, a 15-week-old dogo argentino puppy, gets a scratch from owner Richard Politte of Sterling, while on a walk in Soldotna Creek Park on Thursday, July 6, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Politte said he adopted Samson about 5 weeks ago from a litter of puppies borne by a dog that escaped a house fire in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Politte and Samson were out enjoying the sunshine along with dozens of other people in the park Wednesday, where anglers were fishing for sockeye and children played in the shallows where Soldotna Creek meets the Kenai River. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo: Finding a good home

Samson, a 15-week-old dogo argentino puppy, gets a scratch from owner Richard Politte of Sterling, while on a walk in Soldotna Creek Park on Thursday… Continue reading

Samson, a 15-week-old dogo argentino puppy, gets a scratch from owner Richard Politte of Sterling, while on a walk in Soldotna Creek Park on Thursday, July 6, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Politte said he adopted Samson about 5 weeks ago from a litter of puppies borne by a dog that escaped a house fire in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Politte and Samson were out enjoying the sunshine along with dozens of other people in the park Wednesday, where anglers were fishing for sockeye and children played in the shallows where Soldotna Creek meets the Kenai River. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Study indicates boroughs are more dependent on state dollars

Since the turn of the century, Alaska’s boroughs have become much more dependent on state dollars to operate. That’s a problem their assemblies and administrations… Continue reading

Ethan Tyler to take over as Parks director

Alaska’s state parks have a new director. Ethan Tyler will take over the role of director at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources’ Division of… Continue reading

Peninsula food hub expands to Anchorage

The Kenai Peninsula Food Hub is expanding its reach to Anchorage with a weekly pickup in Spenard. The new location will open July 8 at… Continue reading

This section of a property ownership map shows some of Cook Inlet Region Incorporated’s lands along the Kenai River near Soldotna, with surface ownership depicted in dark red. CIRI has erected signs this year letting the public know where its privately owned lands are and asking people not to use them to fish without a permit, which is available for free through the corporation. (Courtesy Cook Inlet Region Incorporated)

CIRI steps up enforcement on Kenai River lands

Kenai River anglers will have to keep an eye out for private property this year as Cook Inlet Region Incorporated steps up its efforts to… Continue reading

This section of a property ownership map shows some of Cook Inlet Region Incorporated’s lands along the Kenai River near Soldotna, with surface ownership depicted in dark red. CIRI has erected signs this year letting the public know where its privately owned lands are and asking people not to use them to fish without a permit, which is available for free through the corporation. (Courtesy Cook Inlet Region Incorporated)

Commercial fishing season kicks off with higher prices, slow runs

Commercial fishermen in Upper Cook Inlet have been out since late June, kicking off what’s predicted to be a fairly slow sockeye salmon season. As… Continue reading

Man arrested after ramming car, damaging Anchor Point store

An Anchorage man is in jail for the 4th of July after using his car to ram another car and causing damage to the Anchor River… Continue reading

Kenai hunters required to complete moose orientation

Hunters aiming to take home some moose meat this year on the Kenai Peninsula will have to take an additional step before heading out —… Continue reading

In this July 2016, a fishing guide pilots a boat up the Kenai River near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Late king run starts off with bait in lower river

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct an error. On the Kenai River, bait is allowed between the mouth of the river and… Continue reading

In this July 2016, a fishing guide pilots a boat up the Kenai River near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Clouds drift above the peak of Slaughter Ridge and Kenai Lake on Saturday, July 1, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Southcentral Alaska so far has had a cool, wet summer, and may see below-normal temperatures with above-normal precipitation over the next eight to 14 days, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center. Sunday was rainy on the central peninsula, with temperatures hovering in the mid-50s. However, the sun is predicted to make a steadier appearance for the Fourth of July week, with temperatures rising to the low 60s by Tuesday and some sunshine, according to a Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service. “The warm and mostly dry weather pattern looks like it will hold through at least the end of the week,” the announcement states. “There may still be some afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms forming on area mountains, but sunshine will be abundant for the valleys.” (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Photo: Warmer weather on the way

Clouds drift above the peak of Slaughter Ridge and Kenai Lake on Saturday near Cooper Landing. Southcentral Alaska so far has had a cool, wet… Continue reading

Clouds drift above the peak of Slaughter Ridge and Kenai Lake on Saturday, July 1, 2017 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Southcentral Alaska so far has had a cool, wet summer, and may see below-normal temperatures with above-normal precipitation over the next eight to 14 days, according to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center. Sunday was rainy on the central peninsula, with temperatures hovering in the mid-50s. However, the sun is predicted to make a steadier appearance for the Fourth of July week, with temperatures rising to the low 60s by Tuesday and some sunshine, according to a Special Weather Statement from the National Weather Service. “The warm and mostly dry weather pattern looks like it will hold through at least the end of the week,” the announcement states. “There may still be some afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms forming on area mountains, but sunshine will be abundant for the valleys.” (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Apple Bus Company contract to start July 1

Although the first day of school is a month away, Apple Bus Company’s first day on the job is Saturday. After 18 months of preparation… Continue reading

A bald eagle fends off a speculating magpie from his meal of salmon on the Anchor River on Sunday, June 25, 2017 near Anchor Point, Alaska. Though the Anchor River is closed to sportfishing for king salmon now, the salmon are still returning to the river, with about 4,064 kings past the weirs on the north and south forks of the river, within the escapement goal of 3,800&

Dinner on the water

A bald eagle fends off a speculating magpie from his meal of salmon on the Anchor River on Sunday near Anchor Point. Though the Anchor… Continue reading

A bald eagle fends off a speculating magpie from his meal of salmon on the Anchor River on Sunday, June 25, 2017 near Anchor Point, Alaska. Though the Anchor River is closed to sportfishing for king salmon now, the salmon are still returning to the river, with about 4,064 kings past the weirs on the north and south forks of the river, within the escapement goal of 3,800&
Halibut hang from the display rack at North Country Charters on the Homer Spit on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Study shows Homer halibut charters stay closer to town

A pair of University of Alaska researchers want to know more about how halibut charter fishermen in the state carry out their trips. Halibut have… Continue reading

Halibut hang from the display rack at North Country Charters on the Homer Spit on Sunday, June 25, 2017 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)