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Alaska Oil and Gas Association President Kara Moriarty, right, gives a presentation to the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce during a virtual luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Also pictured: Kenai Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Brittany Brown, left, and Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shanon Davis. (Screenshot)

Industry advocate: Oil confronts uncertainty in wake of pandemic

Oil and Gas Association president says it’s too soon to tell if the price of oil will be high enough to return to previous levels of employment and production.

Alaska Oil and Gas Association President Kara Moriarty, right, gives a presentation to the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce during a virtual luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Also pictured: Kenai Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Brittany Brown, left, and Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shanon Davis. (Screenshot)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

More than 35,000 Alaskans have received inital COVID vaccine dose

More than 7,000 have already received both doses of their vaccine

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
The entrance to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services building in downtown Juneau on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has proposed splitting the department in two to try and spread out the administrative burden, but health care workers and tribal leaders say they weren't consulted on changes and Alaska Natives will likely be negatively impacted. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Health department split would hurt Alaska Natives, leaders say

Tribal leaders say a proposal to break up the Department of Health and Social Services would worsen outcomes.

The entrance to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services building in downtown Juneau on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Gov. Mike Dunleavy has proposed splitting the department in two to try and spread out the administrative burden, but health care workers and tribal leaders say they weren't consulted on changes and Alaska Natives will likely be negatively impacted. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

1 dead in Seward highway collision

The car collided with a road grader owned by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Kenai man charged with kidnapping, sexual assault

This article contains details about sexual assault that some readers may find disturbing. A Kenai man has been charged with kidnapping and sexual assault following… Continue reading

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

As in-person learning resumes, parents ask for more changes

Many called for allowing students in all grades to resume in-person learning five days a week or for eliminating mask requirements for student athletes while active.

Sanitization equipment is seen inside of a classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Peter Micciche (R-Soldotna) listens to testimony in Juneau, Alaska, in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Peter Micciche)

Local lawmakers prefile first bills of 32nd legislature

State Sens. Peter Micciche and Gary Stevens and State Rep. Sarah Vance have prefiled bills

Sen. Peter Micciche (R-Soldotna) listens to testimony in Juneau, Alaska, in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Peter Micciche)
Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion
Kenneth Russell and his dog Ichabod, aka “Icky,” pose for the camera on Jan. 29 during the 2020 Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna.
Kenneth Russell and his dog Ichabod, aka “Icky”, pose for the camera during the 2020 Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Jan. 29, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Pandemic shifts format of homeless outreach event

Project Homeless Connect this year will be spread out over two weeks and across different locations on the peninsula.

Brian Mazurek / Peninsula Clarion
Kenneth Russell and his dog Ichabod, aka “Icky,” pose for the camera on Jan. 29 during the 2020 Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna.
Kenneth Russell and his dog Ichabod, aka “Icky”, pose for the camera during the 2020 Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska on Jan. 29, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

159 new cases, 10 on peninsula

Affected peninsula communities include Kenai, Homer, Soldotna, Anchor Point and Sterling

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
An area set up to administer doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
An area set up to administer doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Large vaccine clinics to happen later this month

Clinics are being offered by Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Nikiski Fire/OEM

An area set up to administer doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
An area set up to administer doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Vaughn Dosko adjusts a basket for sanitizing rags at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More students resume in-person learning

Students returned to in-person learning on Monday in response to downward trends in COVID-19 case trajectories

Vaughn Dosko adjusts a basket for sanitizing rags at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

Vaccinations for 65-plus expected to continue through February

The state opened up vaccinations for Alaskans 65 and older earlier this month

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
U.S. Marine Corps / Lance Cpl. Koby I. Saunders
U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornets assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 prepare to take off from the flightline during Red Flag-Alaska 17-2 on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in June 2017.

Elected officials welcome Navy’s new Arctic strategy

The Arctic — and the Navy’s strategy — are changing.

U.S. Marine Corps / Lance Cpl. Koby I. Saunders
U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornets assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 prepare to take off from the flightline during Red Flag-Alaska 17-2 on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in June 2017.
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai facility restrictions begin to loosen

Some restrictions are being relaxed in response to decreasing COVID-19 case numbers

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Vaughn Dosko (left) and Sarah Hutchison (right) discuss COVID-19 mitigation in Hutchison’s classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A change in culture’: Kenai Middle prepares for return of more students

The school is one of many preparing for the return of more students to in-person learning on Monday

Vaughn Dosko (left) and Sarah Hutchison (right) discuss COVID-19 mitigation in Hutchison’s classroom at Kenai Middle School on Friday, Jan. 8 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Murkowski becomes 1st GOP senator to say Trump should resign

“I want him to resign. I want him out. He has caused enough damage,” Murkowski told the Anchorage Daily News.

  • Jan 9, 2021
  • By MARK THIESSEN and ALAN FRAM Associated Press
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during an interview at the Juneau Empire on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)
In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

Weekly cases higher than last week

Alaska finished the week by reporting 411 new COVID-19 cases in the state on Friday

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

Scheduling system prompts confusion in vaccine rollout

Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink took to Twitter to clarify some of the confusion surrounding the scheduling process.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sea otter pups Juniper (left) and Pushki meet each other for the first time at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)

Rescued sea otter pup going strong at SeaLife Center

Juniper is the latest addition to the Center’s Wildlife Response Program and was admitted in December.

Sea otter pups Juniper (left) and Pushki meet each other for the first time at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)