Early next week researchers from around the country will gather in Anchorage to address the state’s king salmon puzzle. One of the missing pieces they will attempt to nail down is a lack of consistent data between the state’s king-bearing rivers.

Scientists from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game released a draft version of a document outlining key gaps in the department’s knowledge about king salmon in both freshwater and marine environments statewide.

More than 100 people packed into the room at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District meeting Monday in Soldotna.

The group, made up of teachers, staff and union supporters, spoke for more than an hour about the lack of a contract between the school district and the two unions and how they thought the board of education members could help.

“I feel like you guys wield a lot of power,” said Terri Tidwell, a member of the KPESA bargaining team. “Power that holds all of the employees and all of the students in this district at your hand.”

Between hazardous material found in the library, the buckling roof on a city water tank and the second phase of the Binkley Street renovation project, the Soldotna City Council had expensive construction on its agenda during its Wednesday meeting.

The council approved a change order on the library expansion project, discussed a partial collapse of a supporting beam in its half a million gallon water tank and passed a resolution requesting state funding for its Binkley Street renovation project.

Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, fielded questions about the Pebble Mine, oil drilling in Alaska, his finances and stress level during a visit to Kenai Monday morning.

More than 60 seventh- and eighth-grade students had about half an hour to question the senator after he spoke briefly about his job, why it was important and upcoming issues in the government.

During his introductory speech, Begich said he spent a lot of time on airplanes.