A recent photo of Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)

Calderwood pleads guilty to murder of Homer woman

Kirby Calderwood pleaded guilty to the 2019 murder of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane on Feb. 5, four years after his arrest in 2022.

 

State of Alaska Department of Law logo. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Law

Kenai man sentenced for sexual abuse charges

Ollie Garrett, 62, will serve 15 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor.

 

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Seward student to present salt brine alternative to Alaska Senate

Hannah Leatherman, winner of the 35th annual Caring for the Kenai competition, will travel to Juneau to present her idea to the Senate transportation committee.

 

State of Alaska Department of Law logo. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Law

Indiana man arrested after Alaska indictment for sexual felonies

Jacob Lemaitre, 29, faces numerous criminal charges related to sexual abuse allegations in Soldotna and Elkhart County, Indiana.

State of Alaska Department of Law logo. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Law
Nikolaevsk School is photographed on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Nikolaevsk School is photographed on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Nikolaevsk, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Jan Krehel waves at cars passing by as she holds a "Stand With Minnesota" banner during the "ICE OUT" demonstration on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Homer stands with Minneapolis

Nearly 300 people took part in an “ICE OUT” demonstration on Sunday.

Jan Krehel waves at cars passing by as she holds a "Stand With Minnesota" banner during the "ICE OUT" demonstration on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at WKFL Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
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Juneau protestors urge lawmakers to defund Homeland Security after Minneapolis killings

Hundreds gathered hours before congressional delegation voted on whether to extend ICE funding.

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File photo.

Kenai man sentenced to 66 years for 2022 murder

Kevin Park pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the killing of Stephanie Henson.

File photo.
A tsunami is not expected after a 4.4-magnitude earthquake northwest of Anchorage Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (U.S. Geological Survey)

No tsunami expected after 4.4-magnitude earthquake in Alaska

U.S. Geological Survey says 179 people reported feeling the earthquake.

  • Feb 4, 2026
  • Lauren Collins
A tsunami is not expected after a 4.4-magnitude earthquake northwest of Anchorage Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (U.S. Geological Survey)
A young male ringed seal, rescued from an oilfield in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea on Dec. 17, 2025, is receiving care at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center

Sealife center takes in ringed seal

This response is one of only 30 ringed seal cases in the Alaska SeaLife Center’s 28-year history.

A young male ringed seal, rescued from an oilfield in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea on Dec. 17, 2025, is receiving care at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center
A sample LiDAR meteorological assembly is seen. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska
A sample LiDAR meteorological assembly is seen. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska
Macelle Joseph, a member of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé chapter of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, writes “It’s Native blood in the soil, not your oil” outside the Alaska State Capitol building on Jan. 24<ins>, 2026</ins>. Dozens of Juneauites participated in the student-led protest against the LNG pipeline.

Juneau activists speak out against Alaska LNG pipline on Capitol steps

“Alaska’s greatest resources aren’t just buried in the ground,” said protestor Atagan Hood.

Macelle Joseph, a member of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé chapter of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, writes “It’s Native blood in the soil, not your oil” outside the Alaska State Capitol building on Jan. 24<ins>, 2026</ins>. Dozens of Juneauites participated in the student-led protest against the LNG pipeline.
Photo courtesy of Shea Nash
River City Academy teacher Donica Nash is pictured during her history class on Jan. 26.

Civic nonprofit names River City Academy teacher for award

Soldotna’s Donica Nash will use the award money to fund a field trip to Juneau.

Photo courtesy of Shea Nash
River City Academy teacher Donica Nash is pictured during her history class on Jan. 26.
Photo courtesy of Sargeant Truesdell
Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor Peter Micchiche (left) and assembly member Sargeant Truesdell, District 4, Soldotna (right), pose for a photo with the Soldotna High School girls’ wrestling team during an assembly meeting on Jan. 20. The Stars secured SoHi’s first three-peat title during the state championship tournament Dec. 19-20.
Photo courtesy of Sargeant Truesdell
Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor Peter Micchiche (left) and assembly member Sargeant Truesdell, District 4, Soldotna (right), pose for a photo with the Soldotna High School girls’ wrestling team during an assembly meeting on Jan. 20. The Stars secured SoHi’s first three-peat title during the state championship tournament Dec. 19-20.
Cooper Landing Fire and Emergency Medical Services respond to a trailer fire on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, near Mile 38 Seward Highway near Cooper Landing, Alaska. The fire destroyed the trailer carrying U.S. Mail from Anchorage to the Southern Kenai Peninsula. (Photo courtesy of Cooper Landing Fire and EMS)

Assembly asks legislature to increase exemptions for EMS, firefighters

The change would allow municipalities to increase property tax exemptions to “an amount deemed appropriate.”

Cooper Landing Fire and Emergency Medical Services respond to a trailer fire on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, near Mile 38 Seward Highway near Cooper Landing, Alaska. The fire destroyed the trailer carrying U.S. Mail from Anchorage to the Southern Kenai Peninsula. (Photo courtesy of Cooper Landing Fire and EMS)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District logo.

Board of education considers school consolidations

Paul Banks Elementary in Homer and Seward Middle School are currently under consideration for closure in the next academic year.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District logo.
Glenfarne Group CEO and Founder Brendan Duval and Alaska LNG President Adam Prestidge stand in the gallery of the House Chamber during Governor Mike Dunleavy’s State of the State address on Thurday, Jan. 22.

State of the State: Dunleavy reveals snippets of a fiscal plan

Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivered his eighth and final State of the State address Thursday evening.

Glenfarne Group CEO and Founder Brendan Duval and Alaska LNG President Adam Prestidge stand in the gallery of the House Chamber during Governor Mike Dunleavy’s State of the State address on Thurday, Jan. 22.
Delcenia Cosman / Homer News
Demonstrators gather at WKFL Park in Homer<ins>, Alaska</ins> on Saturday, Jan. 24<ins>, 2026</ins>, for the “No Kings, No ICE” protest organized by the Homer Women of Action.

300 stand for 3rd ‘No Kings’ protest

The rally held Saturday in Homer coincided with demonstrations nationwide protesting the Trump administration and recent ICE shootings.

Delcenia Cosman / Homer News
Demonstrators gather at WKFL Park in Homer<ins>, Alaska</ins> on Saturday, Jan. 24<ins>, 2026</ins>, for the “No Kings, No ICE” protest organized by the Homer Women of Action.
Volunteers sort winter gear prior to the start of the annual Community Resource Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at the SPARC in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Derotha Ferraro

Community Resource Connect returns next week

The annual free event will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at the SPARC tent in Homer.

Volunteers sort winter gear prior to the start of the annual Community Resource Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at the SPARC in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Derotha Ferraro
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Former refuge manager speaks on loving the land

Robin West presented his talk, “Looking Back, Looking Forward,” in Soldotna on Tuesday evening.

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