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A school bus sits in the parking lot of the University of Southeast Alaska Tech Center downtown. In the fall of 2024, a new commercial driver’s license education training program is expected to be offered at the campus. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

UAS to establish Juneau-based CDL program amid driver shortage

New program could put driver shortage in the rear-view mirror.

A school bus sits in the parking lot of the University of Southeast Alaska Tech Center downtown. In the fall of 2024, a new commercial driver’s license education training program is expected to be offered at the campus. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Jon Boehmler grinds the floors at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, as part of a flooring renovation on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

New year, new floor, new shows

Kenai Art Center to open two exhibitions next week alongside debut of renovated floor

Jon Boehmler grinds the floors at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, as part of a flooring renovation on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye / Peninsula Clarion 
Ryanna Thurman, assistant Soldotna Public Library director, pulls a copy of “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe from the shelves on Tuesday, Below, examples of contemporary books that have been banned or challenged in recent years are displayed at the library on Sept. 24.

Library tackles controversial material in monthly Banned Book Club

The Banned Book Club was started as a one-time event

Jake Dye / Peninsula Clarion 
Ryanna Thurman, assistant Soldotna Public Library director, pulls a copy of “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe from the shelves on Tuesday, Below, examples of contemporary books that have been banned or challenged in recent years are displayed at the library on Sept. 24.
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Change 4 the Kenai community coalition is launching a 100% Alaska survey for the central Kenai Peninsula. (Promotional flyer)

Change 4 the Kenai gauging community access to vital services

Information collected in the survey will be used to address needs

Change 4 the Kenai community coalition is launching a 100% Alaska survey for the central Kenai Peninsula. (Promotional flyer)
Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, sits in the House on April 29 in Juneau . (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer, File)

Oath Keepers seek to overthrow government, judge says, but First Amendment protects Eastman

The Wasilla Republican had been accused of violating the Alaska Constitution’s disloyalty clause with his Oath Keepers membership

Alaska state Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, sits in the House on April 29 in Juneau . (AP Photo / Becky Bohrer, File)
Ryce-Tovar sketches “The Eagle” in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided by Ryce-Tovar)

‘Gentle’ tarot deck tells a story with Alaska’s nature

The deck includes images gathered during summer spent as a technician in Alaska Fish and Wildlife field camps

Ryce-Tovar sketches “The Eagle” in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided by Ryce-Tovar)
The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program conducts a preflight checklist before the Asteroid Bounce campaign Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Gakona, Alaska, as temperatures hit 40 below. The mission is slated for Dec. 27. (Photo courtesy UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta)

Alaska research site to send radio signal to asteroid

The purpose of the experiment is to probe the interior of the asteroid

The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program conducts a preflight checklist before the Asteroid Bounce campaign Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, in Gakona, Alaska, as temperatures hit 40 below. The mission is slated for Dec. 27. (Photo courtesy UAF/GI photo by JR Ancheta)
Dark clouds hang over Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, seen from the parking lot of the Quality Inn in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Ice and snow are expected Tuesday

The ice will make for slippery roads and hazardous conditions that could impact morning commutes

Dark clouds hang over Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, seen from the parking lot of the Quality Inn in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Frozen tree branches reach down over a purple sky in a field down Murwood Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas weekend to be cold and windy

Sunday night there will be a chance of snow

Frozen tree branches reach down over a purple sky in a field down Murwood Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

2 dead after head-on collision near Clam Gulch

The two drivers, the sole-occupants of their vehicles, were declared dead on the scene

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Chelsea Berg, a nurse at Peninsula Community Health Services, administers a flu shot during a free drive-thru flu shot event at Kenai Central High School on Oct. 24, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Flu and RSV reaching peaks in Alaska, officials report

Cases of influenza in the state have been reported in much greater quantities much earlier in the season than recent years

Chelsea Berg, a nurse at Peninsula Community Health Services, administers a flu shot during a free drive-thru flu shot event at Kenai Central High School on Oct. 24, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Lucas Wilcox at the Homer Public Library, Homer, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2022. (Photo by Christina Whiting/Homer News)

Homer man on a mission to share hot meals

Altruist Relief Kitchen serves free hot food to nearby residents and refugees

Lucas Wilcox at the Homer Public Library, Homer, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2022. (Photo by Christina Whiting/Homer News)
Commercial drift boat in Cook Inlet. Photo from Upper Cook Inlet Drift Association.

Council takes no action on finalizing EEZ plan

No action was taken on North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) Cook Inlet Salmon Fishery Management Plan.

Commercial drift boat in Cook Inlet. Photo from Upper Cook Inlet Drift Association.
A tree decorated by the Kenai Peninsula Outdoor Club is seen on the Moose Loop at Tsalteshi Trails on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Deck the ski trails

Festive skiers have a little longer to bring holiday spirit to Tsalteshi Trails

A tree decorated by the Kenai Peninsula Outdoor Club is seen on the Moose Loop at Tsalteshi Trails on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Skis poke out of the snow minutes before the start of StarLight StarBright: A Winter Solstice Ski Event on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022 at the Kenai Golf Course in Kenai, Alaska.

Bringing light to darkness

Skiers brave the cold to ski for charity during solstice event

Skis poke out of the snow minutes before the start of StarLight StarBright: A Winter Solstice Ski Event on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022 at the Kenai Golf Course in Kenai, Alaska.
The Alaska Department of Health logo and other information about the author organization behind the Alaska Vital Statistics 2021 Annual Report are seen in this screenshot of the front cover of the report. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Health)

DOH: Fewer births, more deaths in 2021 than in 2020

Average life expectancy has fallen in Alaska as more people are dying and fewer are being born, according to the state Department of Health. Marriages… Continue reading

The Alaska Department of Health logo and other information about the author organization behind the Alaska Vital Statistics 2021 Annual Report are seen in this screenshot of the front cover of the report. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Health)
Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Fish retention prohibited in Mackey and Derks lakes

Retention of all fish from three Soldotna lakes will remain prohibited in 2023, the State Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Sport Fish announced… Continue reading

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Bag limit imposed on arctic char and Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake

A bag and possession limit will be imposed on arctic char and Dolly Varden in Stormy Lake throughout 2023, the State Department of Fish and… Continue reading

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
The Christ Lutheran Church is seen on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas services scheduled for Saturday, Sunday

Local churches and religious organizations will be hosting special holiday services

The Christ Lutheran Church is seen on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)