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Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speaks to Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, before a floor session to debate a bill over a disaster declaration in the state on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The debate would take lawmakers into the evening Wednesday, as over 40 amendments were submitted on the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Disaster debate drags out in Senate

Even if bill advances, governor might not sign it.

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, speaks to Sen. Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, before a floor session to debate a bill over a disaster declaration in the state on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The debate would take lawmakers into the evening Wednesday, as over 40 amendments were submitted on the bill. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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Change 4 the Kenai outlines strategies for curbing injection drug use

Coalition goals include changing social norms, increasing knowledge and promoting connectedness with the community.

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Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Dunleavy introduces recreational land sales bill

Eligible Alaskans may be able to nominate up to 10 acres of state-owned land for sale or lease as a remote recreational site.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)
Wildwood Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. (Alaska Department of Corrections)
Wildwood Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. (Alaska Department of Corrections)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Borough vaccination rate growing slower than state average

The number of fully vaccinated Kenai Peninsula Borough residents 16 and older has increased by 10.4% since April 5.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Terry Eubank (left) and Paul Ostrander address the Kenai City Council during a budget work session on Saturday, April 24, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai anticipates high hike in health care costs

The city paid just over $2.6 million on employee health care in FY21 and expects to pay about $2.8 million in FY22.

Terry Eubank (left) and Paul Ostrander address the Kenai City Council during a budget work session on Saturday, April 24, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
State officials are trying to facilitate the transfer of federal lands to the University of Alaska but where those lands are hasn't yet been determined. What is known is the lands will be drawn from the state's allotment of federal lands granted to it under statehood, seen here in this July 30, 2020 Bureau of Land Management map. (Courtesy image / U.S. Bureau of Land Management)
State officials are trying to facilitate the transfer of federal lands to the University of Alaska but where those lands are hasn't yet been determined. What is known is the lands will be drawn from the state's allotment of federal lands granted to it under statehood, seen here in this July 30, 2020 Bureau of Land Management map. (Courtesy image / U.S. Bureau of Land Management)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS reports 138 new positive cases, 3 on peninsula

Nearly 40% of Alaskans across all ages — 38.3% — had received at least one vaccine dose as of Tuesday.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A glass of refreshing lemonade officially welcomes the summer season, photographed on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kalifornsky Kitchen: When life gives you lemons …

Among the chaos and uncertainty 2020 and 2021 brought me, this column was one of the only consistent things I had in my life.

  • Apr 27, 2021
  • By Victoria Petersen For the Peninsula Clarion
  • Food and Drink
A glass of refreshing lemonade officially welcomes the summer season, photographed on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Mark Spano and Bob Loeffler hike in Chugach National Forest. (Photo courtesy Chris Beck/Alaska Trails Initiative)

Funding for 500-mile trail awaits lawmaker action

The proposed trail would run from Seward to Fairbanks.

Mark Spano and Bob Loeffler hike in Chugach National Forest. (Photo courtesy Chris Beck/Alaska Trails Initiative)
A day on Kachemak Bay (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer council puts brakes on some Jet Ski action

The legislation is a response to the repeal of a regulation banning the use of personal watercraft in the Fox River and Kachemak Bay Critical Habitat Areas.

A day on Kachemak Bay (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tshibaka shadowed by election post and anti-gay article

Many of the articles, blogs and posts have been deleted but some are available through archived internet pages.

  • Apr 27, 2021
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 12 new resident COVID deaths

The deaths were recorded after death certificate reviews.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
In this Jan. 20, 2020, file photo, census workers verify that their maps match up to the right amount of houses in Toksook Bay, Alaska, a mostly Yup’ik village on the edge of the Bering Sea. Alaska’s population grew by 23,160 people, or 3.3%, in the last decade, according to the first numbers released Monday for the 2020 Census. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

Alaska gains population, no new House seats

The 2020 census found Alaska has a resident population of 733,391 and an overseas population of 2,690.

In this Jan. 20, 2020, file photo, census workers verify that their maps match up to the right amount of houses in Toksook Bay, Alaska, a mostly Yup’ik village on the edge of the Bering Sea. Alaska’s population grew by 23,160 people, or 3.3%, in the last decade, according to the first numbers released Monday for the 2020 Census. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, meets with people near an outdoor COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Hyder, Alaska, on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Dunleavy said Alaska is in a fortunate position with its vaccine supply and he wants to share vaccines with people across the border in Stewart, British Columbia, a community that has close ties to Hyder. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Dunleavy shares vaccine with Canada

Dunleavy said he invited the state’s chief medical officer “on the spur of the moment” to accompany him.

  • Apr 26, 2021
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • Coronavirus
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, meets with people near an outdoor COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Hyder, Alaska, on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Dunleavy said Alaska is in a fortunate position with its vaccine supply and he wants to share vaccines with people across the border in Stewart, British Columbia, a community that has close ties to Hyder. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
In this Jan. 27, 2021 file photo, Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing in Juneau, Alaska. Alaska Airlines has banned the Alaska state senator for refusing to follow mask requirements. Last week Reinbold was recorded in Juneau International Airport arguing with Alaska Airlines staff about mask policies. A video posted to social media appears to show airline staff telling Reinbold her mask must cover her nose and mouth. Reinbold has been a vocal opponent to COVID-19 mitigation measures and has repeatedly objected to Alaska Airlines’ mask policy, which was enacted before the federal government’s mandate this year. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

State Sen. Reinbold drives, takes ferry after airline suspension

Reinbold said she had a “new appreciation” for the state ferry system.

In this Jan. 27, 2021 file photo, Alaska state Sen. Lora Reinbold, an Eagle River Republican, holds a copy of the Alaska Constitution during a committee hearing in Juneau, Alaska. Alaska Airlines has banned the Alaska state senator for refusing to follow mask requirements. Last week Reinbold was recorded in Juneau International Airport arguing with Alaska Airlines staff about mask policies. A video posted to social media appears to show airline staff telling Reinbold her mask must cover her nose and mouth. Reinbold has been a vocal opponent to COVID-19 mitigation measures and has repeatedly objected to Alaska Airlines’ mask policy, which was enacted before the federal government’s mandate this year. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
A sign describing bluff erosion is seen on Kenai North Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Aug. 6, 2020. The bluff stabilization project is one of several capital improvement projects on the City of Kenai’s agenda. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to tackle capital improvement projects

Bridge Access trail, Rec Center upgrades among projects Kenai plans to address this year.

A sign describing bluff erosion is seen on Kenai North Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Aug. 6, 2020. The bluff stabilization project is one of several capital improvement projects on the City of Kenai’s agenda. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The Alaska State Capitol remained closed to the public on Monday, April 26, 2021, but with high rates of vaccinations among staff, lawmakers have relaxed some of the health rules in place since the start of the session in January. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Capitol remained closed to the public on Monday, April 26, 2021, but with high rates of vaccinations among staff, lawmakers have relaxed some of the health rules in place since the start of the session in January. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State settles for $85K in retaliation case

Keren Lowell was barred from her job after criticizing Dunleavy’s proposed budget cuts, according to lawsuit.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Encouraging’ vaccine data showing no safety concerns for pregnant women

Pregnant women were excluded from vaccine clinical trials early on.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)