Home

Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on March 28 in Juneau. Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire) Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

House bill aims to boost Alaska Performance Scholarship use

The scholarship is awarded to support education after high school graduation

Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on March 28 in Juneau. Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire) Rep. Justin Ruffridge works in the Alaska State Capitol building on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Community members participate in the Kenai Peninsula Job and Career Fair at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Thursday, April 7, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Job fair to spotlight opportunities and tools for career development

50 vendors together to connect with job seekers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Community members participate in the Kenai Peninsula Job and Career Fair at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Thursday, April 7, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The aftermath of a small grass fire off East Hill Road near Homer, Alaska is seen here on April 8, 2020. The fire was started by a discarded cigarette. (Photo by Matt James/Alaska Division of Forestry)

Wildland fire season starts; burn permits now required

Burn permits are available from the Division of Forestry Fire Prevention

The aftermath of a small grass fire off East Hill Road near Homer, Alaska is seen here on April 8, 2020. The fire was started by a discarded cigarette. (Photo by Matt James/Alaska Division of Forestry)
The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory Committee to make proposals to change fishing regulation

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex to hold an election and discuss… Continue reading

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Students place pinwheels in snow painted a vibrant blue at The Study in Soldotna, Alaska, as they commemorate Go Blue Day on Friday, March 31, 2023, to kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Go Blue Day’ kicks off Child Abuse Prevention Month

“There’s no excuse for child abuse.”

Students place pinwheels in snow painted a vibrant blue at The Study in Soldotna, Alaska, as they commemorate Go Blue Day on Friday, March 31, 2023, to kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. (Clarise Larson/Juneau Empire File)

School staff eye retirement reform

S.B. 88, sponsored by Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, would establish a new defined benefit system

This photo shows the Alaska State Capitol. (Clarise Larson/Juneau Empire File)
A spectator throws a ball lost in the snow back down to Bridger Beck during a soccer game at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, March 30, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Clear it, and they will come

The Kardinals boys soccer team played and won their first match Thursday against Dimond High School on a field neighbored by feet of snow. The… Continue reading

A spectator throws a ball lost in the snow back down to Bridger Beck during a soccer game at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, March 30, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward mulls sale of electric utility to HEA

Voters will get the final say during a special election on May 2

Signs direct visitors at Seward City Hall on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is coming up fast, landing on March 31, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

PFD application deadline is Friday

Today is the deadline for Alaskans to file for their 2022 Alaska Permanent Fund dividend. The Alaska Department of Revenue has already received nearly 600,000… Continue reading

The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is coming up fast, landing on March 31, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Jonathan Parducho, a pharmacist, removes a tray of vials of of the Jynneos vaccine for monkeypox from a box containing 20 doses, in the vaccine hub at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Friday, July 29, 2022, in San Francisco. (Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Only 5 cases of mpox detected in Alaska

An epidemiology bulletin released by the State Department of Health on Wednesday provides a summary of Alaska’s public health response to the 2022 outbreak of… Continue reading

Jonathan Parducho, a pharmacist, removes a tray of vials of of the Jynneos vaccine for monkeypox from a box containing 20 doses, in the vaccine hub at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Friday, July 29, 2022, in San Francisco. (Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Owners Suwannasa Piwon and Phatcharin Apaipak sit for a photo at the new location of their Siam Noodles and Food in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo provided by Siam Noodles and Food)

Siam Noodles and Food to hold Grand Opening of new location

Siam Noodles and Food will open in its new location next weekend, starting with a grand opening on Saturday, April 8, at 11 a.m. The… Continue reading

Owners Suwannasa Piwon and Phatcharin Apaipak sit for a photo at the new location of their Siam Noodles and Food in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo provided by Siam Noodles and Food)
Alaska Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce speaks at a campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough assembly to discuss Pierce harassment lawsuit

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly will meet Tuesday in executive session to discuss a sexual harassment claim filed last year against former Mayor Charlie Pierce… Continue reading

Alaska Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce speaks at a campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The 11th Annual Alaskans Choose Respect Awareness Event proceeds down Frontage Road in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaskans Choose Respect returns, LeeShore Center focuses on prevention

Nearly 40 people gathered and walked together down Frontage Road from Leif Hansen Memorial Park to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on… Continue reading

The 11th Annual Alaskans Choose Respect Awareness Event proceeds down Frontage Road in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is seen on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough looks to mitigate flooding around Big Eddy Road

The Kenai Peninsula Borough wants to better mitigate flooding around Big Eddy Road near Soldotna that stems from gravel pit operations. Kenai Peninsula Planning Director… Continue reading

The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is seen on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Homer Spit is evacuated during the July 28 tsunami warning at about 10:50 p.m. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Tsunami warning test scheduled for Wednesday morning

The National Weather Service will conduct a statewide test of the tsunami warning system Wednesday morning. Sirens may be heard in Port Graham, Nanwalek, Homer,… Continue reading

The Homer Spit is evacuated during the July 28 tsunami warning at about 10:50 p.m. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)

Soldotna designates field house funds

Construction of a field house in Soldotna took a step forward last week, when the Soldotna City Council formally designated money it plans to use… Continue reading

A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)
Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks during a meeting of the House State Affairs committee on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Carpenter, Ruffridge target state finances

The central Kenai Peninsula’s representatives in the Alaska House of Representatives have their eyes on state finances this week. Reps. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, and Ben… Continue reading

Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks during a meeting of the House State Affairs committee on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Local cases fall after last week’s spike

After a spike of 50 new COVID-19 cases was reported in the Kenai Peninsula Borough last week, numbers have fallen almost as sharply — with… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A tripod set by the Soldotna and Kenai Rotary Clubs stands over the ice of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Local Rotary Clubs testing new contest for next winter

The Rotary Clubs of Soldotna and Kenai are performing a test in preparation to launch a new local fundraiser next year. Inspired by the Nenana… Continue reading

A tripod set by the Soldotna and Kenai Rotary Clubs stands over the ice of the Kenai River in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

State Trooper convicted of attempted sexual abuse of a minor

Vance Peronto, formerly an Alaska State Trooper based in Soldotna, was convicted Friday of one count of attempted sexual abuse of a minor in the… Continue reading

Alaska State Troopers logo.