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Anchor Point collision kills 1, leaves 2 in hospital

The collision happened around Mile 160 of the Sterling Highway

Alaska State Troopers logo.
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to get first crack at proposed budget Tuesday

Lower property taxes and full funding for education are included in a draft version of the budget

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen is recognized for her contributions to the city during a council meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A privilege to do this work’

Stephanie Queen closes out term as Soldotna city manager in emotional council meeting

Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen is recognized for her contributions to the city during a council meeting on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A moose walks into the lobby of the Kenai Cinemas in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo courtesy Kenai Cinemas)

Video of movie theater moose encounter goes viral

As of Tuesday evening, the video had amassed more than 2.3 million views on TikTok

A moose walks into the lobby of the Kenai Cinemas in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Photo courtesy Kenai Cinemas)
The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bump in sales tax revenue, raises for city employees elements of Soldotna draft budget

The document will be Soldotna’s second biennial budget

The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Local fishers speak up for buyback bill

S.B. 82, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, would create the voluntary program

A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection staff stand with Smokey Bear at the 43rd Annual Home Show hosted by the Kenai Peninsula Builders Association on Sunday, April 23, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

From fire safety to fencing, home show vendors show off their wares

The Kenai Peninsula Builders Association was held this weekend at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex

Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection staff stand with Smokey Bear at the 43rd Annual Home Show hosted by the Kenai Peninsula Builders Association on Sunday, April 23, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai seeks to boost city workers

A work session is set to brainstorm ways to increase the number of people applying for vacant positions with the City of Kenai

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula reporter Ashlyn O’Hara, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporter Jake Dye pose with their 2022 Alaska Press Club awards, Monday, April 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Clarion writers win 8 Alaska Press Club awards

The Clarion swept the club’s best arts and culture criticism category

Kenai Peninsula reporter Ashlyn O’Hara, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporter Jake Dye pose with their 2022 Alaska Press Club awards, Monday, April 24, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Survey to measure quality of borough services

The seven-question survey asks residents to rate their overall experience with the borough

The Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Soldotna High School student Emerson Kapp, second-place winner, is joined on stage by judge Bruce Jackman as she presents the Kenai Peninsula Maze Board during the 33rd Caring for the Kenai competition at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, April 20, 2023.

Caring for the Kenai winners named at annual environmental event

Ccontest challenges peninsula students to devise ways of improving the environment or preparing for a natural disaster

Soldotna High School student Emerson Kapp, second-place winner, is joined on stage by judge Bruce Jackman as she presents the Kenai Peninsula Maze Board during the 33rd Caring for the Kenai competition at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
A sign offering tips on how to recreate safely around bears can be seen on Thursday, July 1, 2021, on Skilak Lake Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Workshops to focus on bear coexistence

Experts will discuss bear attractants, how bear-resistant electric fencing works, and how to get financial assistance

A sign offering tips on how to recreate safely around bears can be seen on Thursday, July 1, 2021, on Skilak Lake Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis speaks during a Soldotna City Council meeting in December 2022.

Soldotna to consider Kornelis as interim city manager

If appointed, Kornelis would officially serve from April 29 to May 14

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis speaks during a Soldotna City Council meeting in December 2022.
Kenai Fire Chief Tony Prior presents updates on the city’s spruce bark beetle mitigation efforts to Kenai City Council members during a council meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to mitigate hazard trees through mid-May

The city last year adopted the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Kenai Fire Chief Tony Prior presents updates on the city’s spruce bark beetle mitigation efforts to Kenai City Council members during a council meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A chart shows the number and type of Alaska residents receiving Medicaid coverage based on either 2022 Alaska Medicaid Claims data (yellow) or 2021 U.S. Census data (orange). More than 260,000 residents are currently enrolled, about 30,000 more than 2020, due to a federal provision that kept states from removing people during the COVID-19 pandemic. That provision ended April 1 and Alaska officials are scheduled review eligibility of all residents enrolled during the next 12 months. (Alaska Division of Public Assistance)

Department of Health to reevaluate every Medicaid beneficiary

The state has to begin redetermination for everyone receiving benefits by March 31

A chart shows the number and type of Alaska residents receiving Medicaid coverage based on either 2022 Alaska Medicaid Claims data (yellow) or 2021 U.S. Census data (orange). More than 260,000 residents are currently enrolled, about 30,000 more than 2020, due to a federal provision that kept states from removing people during the COVID-19 pandemic. That provision ended April 1 and Alaska officials are scheduled review eligibility of all residents enrolled during the next 12 months. (Alaska Division of Public Assistance)
Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30, 2023, why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Peninsula voices among ‘parental rights’ debate in Juneau

People who spoke in opposition outnumbered those who spoke in support by three to one

Apayauq Reitan, the first transgender woman to participate in the Iditarod, tells the House Education Committee on March 30, 2023, why she opposes a bill restricting sex and gender content in schools. A second meeting for public testimony is scheduled Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska Fairbanks Associate Professor Dr. Peter Westley, Department of Fish and Game Biologist Adam Reimer, and Cook Inletkeeper Science Director Sue Mauger listen to a question during a panel discussion for the Kenai Peninsula College Showcase "State of the Salmon" on Wednesday, April 20, 2023, at KPC in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Showcase paints a grim picture for future of salmon

Warming waters, more numerous predators, bycatch, parasites, increased competition all point to tremendous difficulty in species resurgence

University of Alaska Fairbanks Associate Professor Dr. Peter Westley, Department of Fish and Game Biologist Adam Reimer, and Cook Inletkeeper Science Director Sue Mauger listen to a question during a panel discussion for the Kenai Peninsula College Showcase "State of the Salmon" on Wednesday, April 20, 2023, at KPC in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Fencing marks the boundaries of a planned dog park in Kenai near Daubenspeck Park on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai eyes July for opening of city dog park

The opening of the dog park will cap a yearslong effort by community members

Fencing marks the boundaries of a planned dog park in Kenai near Daubenspeck Park on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, left, presents a proclamation recognizing members of the Kenai Central High School cheer team for wining their thrid straight Division II March Madness state competition during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, April 19 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. From left: Maya Montague, Genesis Trevino, Sarah Baisden, Taya Swick, Sylvia McGraw, Malena Grieme, Mackenzie Harden, Kalani Holmes, Brooklynn Reed, Brianna Force. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Cheer team gets kudos from Kenai council

KCHS team clinched the top title for Division II Alaska cheer championship for the third year in a row

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, left, presents a proclamation recognizing members of the Kenai Central High School cheer team for wining their thrid straight Division II March Madness state competition during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, April 19 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. From left: Maya Montague, Genesis Trevino, Sarah Baisden, Taya Swick, Sylvia McGraw, Malena Grieme, Mackenzie Harden, Kalani Holmes, Brooklynn Reed, Brianna Force. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A map shows what Native-owned land parcels fall within the current boundaries of the Nikiski Fire Service Area. The assembly is considering excluding those parcels from the coverage area of the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission, which currently has the same boundaries as the fire service area. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Assembly again bumps vote on Nikiski planning commission boundaries

The ordinance was first introduced by assembly members in December 2022

A map shows what Native-owned land parcels fall within the current boundaries of the Nikiski Fire Service Area. The assembly is considering excluding those parcels from the coverage area of the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission, which currently has the same boundaries as the fire service area. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)