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Kenai to vote on budget, borough bed tax

The budget appropriates over $16 million in general fund spending.

Alaska House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, center, speaks to reporters after the House failed to accept a Senate rewrite of a crime bill, Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in Juneau, Alaska. Also pictured are state Reps. Matt Claman, left, and Chuck Kopp. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska House refuses to accept Senate crime bill

“Rubber-stamping changes of this magnitude is irresponsible.”

  • May 14, 2019
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
Alaska House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, center, speaks to reporters after the House failed to accept a Senate rewrite of a crime bill, Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in Juneau, Alaska. Also pictured are state Reps. Matt Claman, left, and Chuck Kopp. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
The Hotel Mod Housing Unit at Spring Creek Correctional Facility as seen after an overnight riot took place on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Photo courtesy Sarah Gallagher/DOC)

Spring Creek Riot investigation ongoing

Inmates in the Hotel Mod housing unit barricaded the entryway and began damaging property

The Hotel Mod Housing Unit at Spring Creek Correctional Facility as seen after an overnight riot took place on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Photo courtesy Sarah Gallagher/DOC)
Alaska Food Hub customer Roger Clyne picks up his order at one of the Food Hub’s designated locations in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Robbi Mixon/Alaska Food Hub)

Alaska Food Hub celebrates 4th year with open house and new location

Alaska Food Hub is an online marketplace that connects local producers with customers

Alaska Food Hub customer Roger Clyne picks up his order at one of the Food Hub’s designated locations in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Robbi Mixon/Alaska Food Hub)
‘A cloud of sadness’: Search and plane crash investigation efforts continue as Ketchikan mourns
‘A cloud of sadness’: Search and plane crash investigation efforts continue as Ketchikan mourns
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration, members from the Kenai Peninsula Education Association and the Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association meet at a collective bargaining session to continue contract negotiations for employees who have been without contracts for a year, on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

School district, employee associations continue contract talks

The district rejected one proposal from two employee associations and is analyzing another

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration, members from the Kenai Peninsula Education Association and the Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association meet at a collective bargaining session to continue contract negotiations for employees who have been without contracts for a year, on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska House and Senate negotiators meet for a conference committee on the state operating budget on Monday, in Juneau. The Legislature is trying to finish its work with a deadline for doing so looming. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Alaska lawmakers face looming deadline, big decisions

Wednesday will mark the 121st day of the regular session, the constitutional limit

  • May 13, 2019
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
Alaska House and Senate negotiators meet for a conference committee on the state operating budget on Monday, in Juneau. The Legislature is trying to finish its work with a deadline for doing so looming. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Kenai man charged with burglary and assault following reports of break-ins

Kenai man charged with burglary and assault following reports of break-ins

Soldotna Police received separate reports of overnight break-ins

Kenai man charged with burglary and assault following reports of break-ins
Emergency response crews transport an injured passenger to an ambulance at the George Inlet Lodge docks, Monday, May 13, 2019, in Ketchikan, Alaska. The passenger was from one of two sightseeing planes reported down in George Inlet early Monday afternoon and was dropped off by a U.S. Coast Guard 45-foot response boat. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP)

NTSB to investigate in Alaska after deadly plane crash

Four people were killed after the floatplanes carrying cruise ship tourists collided

  • May 13, 2019
  • By Rachel D’Oro And Mark Thiessen THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Emergency response crews transport an injured passenger to an ambulance at the George Inlet Lodge docks, Monday, May 13, 2019, in Ketchikan, Alaska. The passenger was from one of two sightseeing planes reported down in George Inlet early Monday afternoon and was dropped off by a U.S. Coast Guard 45-foot response boat. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP)
(File photo)

Schools briefs for the week of May 13, 2019

What’s happening this week

(File photo)
The Kenai River Paddling Film Festival returns to Soldotna May 18, 2019. (Photo provided by Steve Cothran)

Paddling film festival makes return to Soldotna

The Kenai paddling fest is featuring films from the Paddling Film Festival World Tour

The Kenai River Paddling Film Festival returns to Soldotna May 18, 2019. (Photo provided by Steve Cothran)
Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at a Kenai Peninsula Borough meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2018. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Residents react to mayor’s veto of education funding

Impassioned testimony came from residents who both opposed and supported the veto

Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks at a Kenai Peninsula Borough meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2018. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Tiffany Brand identifies some low bush cranberries along the vista trail at the Upper Skilak Lake Campground in Alaska on Saturday, May 11, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

In the business of adventure

Shop Talk: A Way in the Woods

Tiffany Brand identifies some low bush cranberries along the vista trail at the Upper Skilak Lake Campground in Alaska on Saturday, May 11, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, speaks about the House passing a crime bill during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Rep. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, speaks about the House passing a crime bill during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
LGBTQ equal rights bill unlikely to advance any further this year
LGBTQ equal rights bill unlikely to advance any further this year
The borough’s welcome sign is back on the road and ready to greet drivers as they enter the Kenai Peninsula on Milepost 75 of the Seward Highway, on Sunday, May 5, 2019, near Turnagain Pass, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Refurbished welcome sign back on highway

The sign was refurbished for weather-related wear and tear.

The borough’s welcome sign is back on the road and ready to greet drivers as they enter the Kenai Peninsula on Milepost 75 of the Seward Highway, on Sunday, May 5, 2019, near Turnagain Pass, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough introduces bed tax ordinance

The 12% bed tax would affect temporary lodging across the borough

The Kenai Peninsula Borough building, pictured Sept. 12, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska seeks to boost gun background check system reporting

Alaska seeks to boost gun background check system reporting

Some Republicans in the state Legislature have expressed support.

  • May 9, 2019
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
Alaska seeks to boost gun background check system reporting
A newborn bearded seal pup that was rescued on April 13, 2019 is seen here at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Chloe Rossman/Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center welcomes seal pup

The bearded seal pup was rescued from the shores of Shaktoolik.

A newborn bearded seal pup that was rescued on April 13, 2019 is seen here at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Chloe Rossman/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson testifies before state senators during a confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, in Juneau. (Becky Bohrer | Associated Press)

Attorney general: $20 million schools appropriation unconstitutional

Although the money has not been distributed, many districts have already budgeted the funds.

Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson testifies before state senators during a confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, in Juneau. (Becky Bohrer | Associated Press)