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Image via labor.alaska.gov

Uncertainty clouds future of state’s economy; modest job growth expected

That’s according to the January edition of “Alaska Economic Trends”

Image via labor.alaska.gov
Cars drive along the Kenai Spur Highway near Eagle Rock Drive on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2021 near Kenai, Alaska. The highway will be widened under a state transportation project. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

2nd phase of project to widen Kenai Spur to start this summer

The first phase of the project widened the highway between Swires Road and Eagle Rock Drive

Cars drive along the Kenai Spur Highway near Eagle Rock Drive on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2021 near Kenai, Alaska. The highway will be widened under a state transportation project. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Internet cables (Peninsula Clarion file)

ACS outage restored after phones, internet go down

The company isolated a fiber issue between Kenai and Soldotna

Internet cables (Peninsula Clarion file)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, leave the chamber after a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, early Wednesday, May 10, 2017. Jay Allen Johnson, 65, who faced charges of sending a series of profanity-laced voice messages to the two senators, entered guilty pleas, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in federal court in Fairbanks, Alaska, to two counts of threatening to kill a U.S. official. U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline accepted Johnson’s pleas and set sentencing for April 8. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Alaska man who threatened to kill senators pleads guilty

He faces up 10 years in jail on each charge.

  • Jan 4, 2022
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, leave the chamber after a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, early Wednesday, May 10, 2017. Jay Allen Johnson, 65, who faced charges of sending a series of profanity-laced voice messages to the two senators, entered guilty pleas, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in federal court in Fairbanks, Alaska, to two counts of threatening to kill a U.S. official. U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline accepted Johnson’s pleas and set sentencing for April 8. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation building in October 2020. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire file)

PFD filing period opens

The 2022 PFD application period opened Jan. 1 and will close on March 31.

The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation building in October 2020. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire file)
The Alaska State Capitol is seen here in this June 7, 2021, file photo. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Higher Alaska lawmaker salary, allowance cut proposed

The proposal would raise the annual salary for Alaska lawmakers from $50,400 to $64,000

The Alaska State Capitol is seen here in this June 7, 2021, file photo. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Birds grow at Dana Armstrong’s farm in Nikiski, Alaska. Armstrong is the director of the Kenai Peninsula Poultry Project — a 501(c)3 organization with the goal of providing healthy poultry options for central peninsula residents in need. (Courtesy of Dana Armstrong)

Local farmer aims to donate poultry to residents in need

She said she will process and donate both live poultry and cuts of meat to the local food banks and church pantries.

Birds grow at Dana Armstrong’s farm in Nikiski, Alaska. Armstrong is the director of the Kenai Peninsula Poultry Project — a 501(c)3 organization with the goal of providing healthy poultry options for central peninsula residents in need. (Courtesy of Dana Armstrong)
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks with U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell after a House select committee hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill in Washington, on July 27, 2021. (Jim Bourg/Pool via AP, File)

Jan. 6 committee prepares to go public

In the coming months, members of the panel will start to reveal their findings

  • Jan 3, 2022
  • By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press
  • State News
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks with U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell after a House select committee hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill in Washington, on July 27, 2021. (Jim Bourg/Pool via AP, File)
A DHSS graphic shows most regions of Alaska to be at high alert level as of Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. (Screenshot)

2022 kicks off with a rush of COVID cases

More than 2,800 cases reported over last five days

A DHSS graphic shows most regions of Alaska to be at high alert level as of Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. (Screenshot)
A Ravn Airlines plane arrives in Anchorage to transport passengers to Kenai after more than two hours of delay on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. Windy conditions delayed flights to and from the peninsula over the weekend. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)”

Severe winds hammer Southcentral

The winds caused flight cancellations, power outages and local road closures

A Ravn Airlines plane arrives in Anchorage to transport passengers to Kenai after more than two hours of delay on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. Windy conditions delayed flights to and from the peninsula over the weekend. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)”
Alaska State Troopers logo.

State to test AMBER Alert System next week

The system is mean to help rescue abducted children

Alaska State Troopers logo.
The homepage of KPBSD’s new website. (Screenshot)

School district soliciting feedback on new website

The redesign is meant to make the site more accessible and responsive

The homepage of KPBSD’s new website. (Screenshot)
A map shows 7-day COVID-19 case rates per 100,000 people by borough and census area, as of Dec. 29. (Screenshot from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services)

7-day COVID rates creeping up

The state announced nearly 1,000 new cases reported in Alaska from Dec. 27 to Dec. 28

A map shows 7-day COVID-19 case rates per 100,000 people by borough and census area, as of Dec. 29. (Screenshot from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services)
Pike prey on rearing salmon. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Fish retention at some peninsula lakes restricted in 2022 due to pike impacts

Restrictions exist for East and West Mackey, Sevena, Union, Derks and Stormy lakes in 2022

Pike prey on rearing salmon. (Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
Humpback whales breach the ocean’s surface in this undated Juneau photograph. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)

To the rescue: Volunteers stand ready to help stranded marine animals

When animals need help, a network of dedicated volunteers are trained and ready to pitch in.

Humpback whales breach the ocean’s surface in this undated Juneau photograph. (Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File)
KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Industry outlook forum kicks off next week

The annual forum is put on by the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District

KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A screenshot from around 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021 shows the location of reported power outages experienced by members of Homer Electric Association. (Screenshot)

Power restored in Soldotna after outage that affected 7,000

The company was still repairing some single outages Wednesday.

A screenshot from around 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021 shows the location of reported power outages experienced by members of Homer Electric Association. (Screenshot)
Stakeholders cut a ribbon at the Soldotna Community Based Outpatient Clinic on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Here to keep the promise’

New clinic serving peninsula veterans opens in Soldotna

Stakeholders cut a ribbon at the Soldotna Community Based Outpatient Clinic on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Alaska reports nearly 1,000 new COVID cases

Six cases of the omicron variant have been detected in Alaska.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
The sun sets on a backroad near Kalifornsky Beach Road on Dec. 21, 2021. New regulations allowing all-purpose vehicles on some roads go into effect Jan. 1, 2022. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

New rules kick in for all-purpose vehicles Saturday

ATVS, other all-purpose vehicles allowed on certain roads starting Jan. 1.

The sun sets on a backroad near Kalifornsky Beach Road on Dec. 21, 2021. New regulations allowing all-purpose vehicles on some roads go into effect Jan. 1, 2022. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)