Music lovers listen to a performance on the River Stage at Salmonfest on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Salmonfest to bring music, food and vendors to Ninilchik this weekend

65 bands and performers will participate in the three-day Ninilchik music festival

Music lovers listen to a performance on the River Stage at Salmonfest on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
A sample ballot for the Aug. 16, 2022, Alaska regular primary election for House District 7. (Courtesy Alaska Division of Elections)

A race to finish 4th in Alaska U.S. Senate primary

After Murkowski, Tshibaka and Chesbro, 16 candidates vie for last spot on general election ballot

A sample ballot for the Aug. 16, 2022, Alaska regular primary election for House District 7. (Courtesy Alaska Division of Elections)
(Black Press file photo)

Drug overdoses in state increase from 2020-2021

The Gulf Coast region, which includes the Kenai Peninsula as well as Kodiak Island and the Chugach census area, saw 30 deaths from drug overdoses in 2021

(Black Press file photo)
Congressional candidates Mary Peltola, left, Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III discuss Southeast Alaska and other issues during a midday forum Monday hosted by KINY radio. The three candidates are the finalists for the special election Aug. 16 fill the remainder of the late Rep. Don Young’s term and also are competing in the primary for the general election on that date. (Screenshot / KINY radio webcast)

3 House candidates debate in Juneau

Mary Peltola, Nick Begich III and Sarah Palin make cases before Aug. 16 special election

Congressional candidates Mary Peltola, left, Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III discuss Southeast Alaska and other issues during a midday forum Monday hosted by KINY radio. The three candidates are the finalists for the special election Aug. 16 fill the remainder of the late Rep. Don Young’s term and also are competing in the primary for the general election on that date. (Screenshot / KINY radio webcast)
Chastity Swafford, right, gives a free backpack and school supplies to Heather Perry, left, as part of Peninsula Community Health Center’s drive-thru backpack giveaway in Kenai, Alaska on Aug. 19, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

KidFest backpack giveaway Wednesday

500 backpacks would be available, up from 400 last year

Chastity Swafford, right, gives a free backpack and school supplies to Heather Perry, left, as part of Peninsula Community Health Center’s drive-thru backpack giveaway in Kenai, Alaska on Aug. 19, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
A fisherman walks along the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Sept. 8, 2018. (Clarion file)

Sockeye limits increased on Upper Kenai, Russian rivers

The change in regulations will be effective from 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 2 until 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 20.

A fisherman walks along the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Sept. 8, 2018. (Clarion file)
Central Emergency Services Fire Chief Roy Browning stands in the agency’s ambulance supply room on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Maxed out’ CES seeks new Soldotna station

Voters to decide on $16.5 million bond question on the Oct. 4 municipal ballot

Central Emergency Services Fire Chief Roy Browning stands in the agency’s ambulance supply room on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Copies of the Alaska State Constitution were available outside the lieutenant governor’s office on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. If voters choose to have a constitutional convention, the state’s foundational document could be rewritten entirely. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

Cost estimates for constitutional convention in Alaska range widely

Issues include the length of the session and the amount of support delegates will need

Copies of the Alaska State Constitution were available outside the lieutenant governor’s office on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. If voters choose to have a constitutional convention, the state’s foundational document could be rewritten entirely. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
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)
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)

Alaska reports 1st case of monkeypox

Monkeypox can spread through close, personal and, often, skin-to-skin contact

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)
Cars are seen at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Motorists will be unable to turn from the Sterling Highway onto East Redoubt Avenue temporarily next week. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Cars are seen at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Motorists will be unable to turn from the Sterling Highway onto East Redoubt Avenue temporarily next week. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Vendors sell locally grown and crafted products at the Soldotna Saturday Farmers Market during the 2019 season. (Photo provided)

Soldotna to observe Farmers Market Week

The city’s market convenes every Saturday

Vendors sell locally grown and crafted products at the Soldotna Saturday Farmers Market during the 2019 season. (Photo provided)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, holds a copy of House Bill 123, providing state recognition for Alaska’s 229 federally recognized Native tribes, at an event hosted by the Alaska Federation of Natives in Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Photo provided by the Alaska Federation of Natives)

Bill recognizing Alaska Native Tribes signed into law

The bill serves as the first formal recognition of Alaska’s Indigenous people

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, center, holds a copy of House Bill 123, providing state recognition for Alaska’s 229 federally recognized Native tribes, at an event hosted by the Alaska Federation of Natives in Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Photo provided by the Alaska Federation of Natives)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
A construction crew works near the entrance of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on June 14.

Soldotna council puts field house on city’s Oct. 4 ballot

Voters will decide whether or not the city should incur up to $15 million in debt for the project

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
A construction crew works near the entrance of the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on June 14.
The project area is about 10.5 miles of the Seward Highway from Mileposts 36.6, near the turnoff onto the Sterling Highway, to Milepost 25.5,
The project area is about 10.5 miles of the Seward Highway from Mileposts 36.6, near the turnoff onto the Sterling Highway, to Milepost 25.5,
Alaskans for Better Government members La quen náay Liz Medicine Crow, Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson and ‘Wáahlaal Gidáak Barbara Blake embrace on the floor of the Alaska State Senate on Friday, May 13, 2022, following the passage of House Bill 123, a bill to formally recognize the state’s 229 already federally-recognized tribes. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is scheduled to sign the bill during a ceremony Thursday during a ceremony in Anchorage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Alaska Natives welcome tribal recognition by state

Dunleavy to sign bill Thursday; advocates say it advances cooperative relations

Alaskans for Better Government members La quen náay Liz Medicine Crow, Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson and ‘Wáahlaal Gidáak Barbara Blake embrace on the floor of the Alaska State Senate on Friday, May 13, 2022, following the passage of House Bill 123, a bill to formally recognize the state’s 229 already federally-recognized tribes. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is scheduled to sign the bill during a ceremony Thursday during a ceremony in Anchorage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A stretch of the Seward Highway is pictured in this undated photo from a presentation by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. A planned project to rehabilitate parts of the highway has drawn protests from members of the Moose Pass community. (Photo via the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

Moose Pass highway project draws community protest

The project area is about 10.5 miles of the Seward Highway from Mileposts 36.6 to Milepost 25.5

A stretch of the Seward Highway is pictured in this undated photo from a presentation by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. A planned project to rehabilitate parts of the highway has drawn protests from members of the Moose Pass community. (Photo via the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID hospitalizations up nearly one-quarter from two weeks ago

Officials say hospitalization and recent death data is the most effective indicator of the prevalence of the virus

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Kenai council calls for 2022 east side setnet fishery season

There are more than 400 permit holders in Upper Cook Inlet’s East Side Setnet fishery

A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
A participant in the 2019 Disability Pride Celebration in Soldotna Creek Park tries his hand at the dunk tank on July 20, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Disability Pride event welcomes community

The celebration, which is part of a statewide initiative, will be an event for everyone

A participant in the 2019 Disability Pride Celebration in Soldotna Creek Park tries his hand at the dunk tank on July 20, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)