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Assembly members participate in a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Special mayoral election will be Feb. 14

Kenai Peninsula Borough voters will get to cast their ballots for the next borough mayor on Feb. 14 following a vote by assembly members Tuesday… Continue reading

Assembly members participate in a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow is cleared from the parking lot at Kenai Cinema in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Winter storm brings heavier, more snow than expected

Heavy snowfall hit the Central Peninsula on Tuesday, following a weather advisory by the National Weather Service that warned of up to 5 inches of… Continue reading

Snow is cleared from the parking lot at Kenai Cinema in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News
A sign at the South Peninsula Hospital COVID-19 vaccine and testing clinic provides information and hours for testing and vaccines at the Bartlett Street building in Homer.

Hospitalizations continue to fall; COVID cases see uptick

According to the Alaska COVID-19 Data Hub, updated Wednesday, 19 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19. No patients are on ventilators. This is down from last… Continue reading

Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News
A sign at the South Peninsula Hospital COVID-19 vaccine and testing clinic provides information and hours for testing and vaccines at the Bartlett Street building in Homer.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship collects ballots from assembly members during a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly retains Johnson as president, makes Cox vice president

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly voted Tuesday to retain Brent Johnson and elect Tyson Cox as president and vice president, respectively. The body’s reorganization process… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship collects ballots from assembly members during a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce selects Edie Grunwald to be his running mate at a campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Grunwald announced Tuesday that she was withdrawing as his running mate in response to allegations of harassment made against Pierce. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Citing Pierce harassment allegations, Grunwald suspends lieutenant governor bid

The announcement came days after Pierce and the Kenai Peninsula Borough were named as defendants in a lawsuit

Alaska Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce selects Edie Grunwald to be his running mate at a campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. Grunwald announced Tuesday that she was withdrawing as his running mate in response to allegations of harassment made against Pierce. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Anchorage man dies in Sterling Highway crash

Troopers say they’re still investigating the cause and circumstances

Alaska State Troopers logo.
The Kenai Peninsula College Main Entrance on Aug. 18, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Roadshow to offer workshops and info for local businesses

Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership aims to advance industry and business as broader concepts within the state

The Kenai Peninsula College Main Entrance on Aug. 18, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Candidates for Alaska State House District 6 Ginger Bryant, on screen, left, and Louie Flora, on screen, right, participate remotely in a forum held at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Southern peninsula House candidates Zoom into Monday forum

Nonpartisan candidates Ginger Bryant and Louie Flora participated

Candidates for Alaska State House District 6 Ginger Bryant, on screen, left, and Louie Flora, on screen, right, participate remotely in a forum held at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Film fans enjoy reindeer sausages and hot dogs at the gala opening of the Homer Documentary Film Festival last Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Homer Theatre. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Homer Film Fest winners named

The festival spanned a week, Sept. 22 through Sept. 29

Film fans enjoy reindeer sausages and hot dogs at the gala opening of the Homer Documentary Film Festival last Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Homer Theatre. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Teens distribute the zombie cure — Zombie Skittles — after completing the escape room on Oct. 21, 2022, at Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Great escapes

Teens tackle faux zombie plague in Soldotna Library activity

Teens distribute the zombie cure — Zombie Skittles — after completing the escape room on Oct. 21, 2022, at Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican seeking reelection, answers a question during a candidate forum, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. She faces Republican Kelly Tshibaka and Democrat Pat Chesbro in the Nov. 8, 2022, election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Asylum seekers are Indigenous Siberians from Russia

The two landed earlier this month near Gambell, on Alaska’s St. Lawrence Island

  • Oct 24, 2022
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican seeking reelection, answers a question during a candidate forum, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. She faces Republican Kelly Tshibaka and Democrat Pat Chesbro in the Nov. 8, 2022, election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Charlie Pierce, a Republican candidate for Alaska governor, answers a question during a debate, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. A lawsuit filed a day earlier by an employee when he was mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough accuses Pierce of “constant unwanted physical touching, sexual remarks and sexual advances.” Pierce declined comment on the lawsuit to The Associated Press, and said he didn’t plan to suspend his gubernatorial campaign. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Lawsuit details allegations of sexual harassment by former borough mayor

The suit was filed by Charlie Pierce’s former executive assistant

Charlie Pierce, a Republican candidate for Alaska governor, answers a question during a debate, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. A lawsuit filed a day earlier by an employee when he was mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough accuses Pierce of “constant unwanted physical touching, sexual remarks and sexual advances.” Pierce declined comment on the lawsuit to The Associated Press, and said he didn’t plan to suspend his gubernatorial campaign. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
This combination image consisting of screenshots from the AFN convention livestream shows the four gubernatorial candidates who will appear on statewide ballots, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Democratic former state Rep. Les Gara, Republican former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce and independent former Gov. Bill Walker. (Screenshots)

Gubernatorial candidates take widely varying stances in AFN forum

Four contenders at AFN debate see different fixes for public safety, prison deaths and housing

This combination image consisting of screenshots from the AFN convention livestream shows the four gubernatorial candidates who will appear on statewide ballots, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Democratic former state Rep. Les Gara, Republican former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce and independent former Gov. Bill Walker. (Screenshots)
Graphic by Ashlyn O'Hara.

State minimum wage to increase $0.51 in January

The federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009

Graphic by Ashlyn O'Hara.
Voting booths are set up at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voting kicks off Monday

Early, absentee in-person voting begins Monday for November election

Voting booths are set up at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
In this Aug. 25, 2017, file photo, provided by NOAA Fisheries, a newborn beluga whale calf sticks its head out of the water in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. (NOAA Fisheries via AP, File)

BOEM proposes changes to Cook Inlet lease sale for wildlife, gillnet fishery

Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the sale must take place before the end of the year

In this Aug. 25, 2017, file photo, provided by NOAA Fisheries, a newborn beluga whale calf sticks its head out of the water in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. (NOAA Fisheries via AP, File)
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, left, acknowledges audience members singing a song of prayer for her at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage on Thursday. Peltola, a Democrat, is the first Alaska Native to be elected to Congress. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Peltola brings Young’s spirit to AFN

Congresswoman gets a warm welcome from convention attendees, predecessor’s family.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, left, acknowledges audience members singing a song of prayer for her at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage on Thursday. Peltola, a Democrat, is the first Alaska Native to be elected to Congress. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner, right, swears in Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai swears in 2 new council members, Mayor Gabriel

Alex Douthit and Victoria Askin will take seats on the council

Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner, right, swears in Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign warning residents of of bluff erosion is seen here at the end of Spur View Drive in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai looks to bid bluff project in April

The project, when completed, will mark the end of decadeslong efforts by the city to stabilize about 5,000 feet of bluff

A sign warning residents of of bluff erosion is seen here at the end of Spur View Drive in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game mailing annual sport fishing survey

The survey has been conducted annually since 1977

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