Home

Fireworks are displayed during the 2016 Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration. (Kat Sorensen/Clarion file)

Fireworks banned in most places on peninsula

The City of Kenai allows use for a 48-hour period over the New Year’s holiday.

Fireworks are displayed during the 2016 Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration. (Kat Sorensen/Clarion file)
Alaska Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer speaks during a press conference announcing the administration’s push for changes to the state’s election system on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kevin Goodman, State of Alaska)

Governor proposes sweeping changes to election system

Dunleavy plans to put the “election integrity” bill before the Alaska Legislature next session.

Alaska Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer speaks during a press conference announcing the administration’s push for changes to the state’s election system on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kevin Goodman, State of Alaska)
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. The Capitol will be the site of a committee hearing next month that will focus on the recent firing of Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. The Capitol will be the site of a committee hearing next month that will focus on the recent firing of Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Staff members at the Alaska SeaLife Center near Seward attend to a harbor seal pup. This summer, one of the pups in the center’s care came from Juneau. The seal received treatment at the center and was released into the wild in September. (Courtesy photo/Alaska SeaLife Center/Kaiti Chritz)

To the rescue: Marine animals get 2nd chance at SeaLife Center

Named Spaetzle, the seal pup benefited from an extensive rehabilitation that prepared him for life in the wild.

Staff members at the Alaska SeaLife Center near Seward attend to a harbor seal pup. This summer, one of the pups in the center’s care came from Juneau. The seal received treatment at the center and was released into the wild in September. (Courtesy photo/Alaska SeaLife Center/Kaiti Chritz)
An emergency worker holds a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport in Juneau, Alaska, in October 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

COVID tests at airports catch 6K cases since June 2020

The program to test travelers will stop at Alaska airports at the end of January.

An emergency worker holds a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport in Juneau, Alaska, in October 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
A map shows the location of difficult road conditions on the central peninsula, as of 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (Screenshot from Alaska 511)

Winter weather advisory issued due to ice

The advisory is in effect until 9 p.m.

A map shows the location of difficult road conditions on the central peninsula, as of 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (Screenshot from Alaska 511)
A sign in downtown Seldovia is photographed on Sept. 27, 2021. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Seldovia looks to revamp community building

The stated goal of the project is to improve the quality of life for “low and moderate-income residents.”

A sign in downtown Seldovia is photographed on Sept. 27, 2021. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A sign welcoms people to the City of Soldotna on May 1, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Clarion file)

Soldotna scholarship application period begins

In all, scholarship committees will award up to a combined total of about $66,000.

A sign welcoms people to the City of Soldotna on May 1, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Clarion file)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

More omicron cases reported

Alaska will no longer offer testing at airports in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau beginning Feb. 1.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
This photo shows the stern of the MV Matanuska on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Matanuska delayed as repair work continues

Jan. 24 sailing to Bellingham canceled.

This photo shows the stern of the MV Matanuska on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
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 council to consider additional funds for dog park

The additional $65,000 would be support design and construction needs

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)

Shortest day behind us, peninsula gaining light

The central peninsula received less than six hours of daylight during the winter solstice on Tuesday, which officially marked the end of fall. While the… Continue reading

A sticker promoting COVID mitigation measures is photographed at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. (Clarion file)

COVID, year 2

Vaccines, new strains, protests and hospital overflows marked 2021’s volatile year

A sticker promoting COVID mitigation measures is photographed at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. (Clarion file)
The Homer Police Station as seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Man killed in Tuesday crash

Single-vehicle crash on Sterling Highway killed Drew Brown, 25, after he was thrown from truck.

The Homer Police Station as seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
A beach on the eastern side of Cook Inlet is photographed at Clam Gulch, Alaska, in June 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)

High clam mortality rate forces closure on east Cook Inlet next year

The closure prohibits harvesting any clam species from the mouth of the Kenai River to the southernmost tip of the Homer Spit.

A beach on the eastern side of Cook Inlet is photographed at Clam Gulch, Alaska, in June 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Soldotna to receive funds from state fish tax program

The amount of money received this fiscal year will be determined, in part, by population.

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
A graphic shows the enrollment numbers for the Kenai Peninsula School District from 2016 to 2021. (Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara)
A graphic shows the enrollment numbers for the Kenai Peninsula School District from 2016 to 2021. (Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara)
Certified nursing assistant KaDaisjah Roberts, left, and nurse Debbie Aubin, right, work at the “Y” vaccine clinic in Soldotna on Dec. 22, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘An enormous help’

Alaska’s temporary health care workers head home after COVID surge

Certified nursing assistant KaDaisjah Roberts, left, and nurse Debbie Aubin, right, work at the “Y” vaccine clinic in Soldotna on Dec. 22, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Upper Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone can be seen on this map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Image via fisheries.noaa.gov)

Municipalities still working to oppose EEZ closure

The waters in question run from south of Kalgin Island to about Anchor Point

Upper Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone can be seen on this map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Image via fisheries.noaa.gov)
This chart in the Dec. 13, 2021, Homer City Manager’s Report shows a general increasing trend for third-quarter sales tax revenues. Revenues declined for 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but set a record for 20201. (Chart by City of Homer Finance Department)

Homer sets record for sales tax revenues

Third-quarter sales taxes are 85% of projected revenues for budget.

This chart in the Dec. 13, 2021, Homer City Manager’s Report shows a general increasing trend for third-quarter sales tax revenues. Revenues declined for 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but set a record for 20201. (Chart by City of Homer Finance Department)