COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Officials still emphasize vaccines as COVID hospitalizations rise

Vaccines still provide the best protection against COVID, according to health officials

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Hospital to expand surgery services

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members approved the hospital’s purchase of the Surgery Center of Kenai

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Vicke Kukowski (left) and Kathy Romain (right) unveil a plaque dedicating the Kenai Senior Center’s greenhouse to Bill Osborn during a ceremony on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Senior Center dedicates greenhouse

Tucked snugly next to the Kenai Senior Center is a greenhouse brimming with lush cucumber plants and black gardening boxes. On Tuesday afternoon, pale gray… Continue reading

Vicke Kukowski (left) and Kathy Romain (right) unveil a plaque dedicating the Kenai Senior Center’s greenhouse to Bill Osborn during a ceremony on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dipnetters fish at North Kenai Beach on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Dipnetters wade in

Kenai River personal use salmon fishery opened Sunday

Dipnetters fish at North Kenai Beach on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Nila Sanchez, left, and Alexa Menzel advertise their lemonade business along the Kenai Spur Highway during Lemonade Day in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 29, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Lemonade Day scheduled for this weekend

The goal is for the children to learn entrepreneurial basics

Nila Sanchez, left, and Alexa Menzel advertise their lemonade business along the Kenai Spur Highway during Lemonade Day in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 29, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Lisa Gabriel is honored for her 28 years of service to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District during a Board of Education meeting on Monday, July 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School district honors retiring secretary

Lisa Gabriel has worked for the school district for 28 years

Lisa Gabriel is honored for her 28 years of service to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District during a Board of Education meeting on Monday, July 11, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Earthquake Center reported a preliminary magnitude 4.7 earthquake at approximately 11:25 p.m. on Monday, July 22, 2022. (Screenshot)

4.7 magnitude earthquake strikes Cook Inlet

The quake hit approximately 23 miles northeast of Nikiski and 9 miles southeast of Tyonek

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Earthquake Center reported a preliminary magnitude 4.7 earthquake at approximately 11:25 p.m. on Monday, July 22, 2022. (Screenshot)
In this provided by NOAA Fisheries a North Pacific right whale swims in the Bering Sea west of Bristol Bay on Aug. 6, 2017. The U.S. government on Monday, July 11, 2022, agreed to a request from environmental groups to study increasing critical habitat designations in Alaska waters for North Pacific right whales, one of the rarest whale species in the world. (NOAA Fisheries via AP,File)

Agency studies rare whale habitat expansion request

There are about 30 of the whales left after centuries of hunting, ship strikes and fishing gear entanglements

  • Jul 11, 2022
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
In this provided by NOAA Fisheries a North Pacific right whale swims in the Bering Sea west of Bristol Bay on Aug. 6, 2017. The U.S. government on Monday, July 11, 2022, agreed to a request from environmental groups to study increasing critical habitat designations in Alaska waters for North Pacific right whales, one of the rarest whale species in the world. (NOAA Fisheries via AP,File)
Community members gather for a meet-and-greet with Sen. Lisa Murkowski at Everything Bagels in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Murkowski takes campaign to Soldotna

The senator emphasized the need for bipartisanship, bringing people together

Community members gather for a meet-and-greet with Sen. Lisa Murkowski at Everything Bagels in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A sample ballot for the Aug. 16, 2022, Alaska regular primary election for House District 7. (Courtesy Alaska Division of Elections)

Reminder: Voter registration deadline is July 17

Alaskans will cast ballots in the state’s special general election and the regular primary election

A sample ballot for the Aug. 16, 2022, Alaska regular primary election for House District 7. (Courtesy Alaska Division of Elections)
Donald Trump addresses attendees at a Save America rally on Saturday, July 9, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Trump in Anchorage

Former U.S. president speaks to a crowd of 5,000, endorses Tshibaka, Palin

Donald Trump addresses attendees at a Save America rally on Saturday, July 9, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/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)

Late-run salmon restrictions in place; dipnetting starts Sunday

Alaska Department of Fish and Game North Kenai sport fishing report

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A couple of visitors watch preparations Friday afternoon for the Save America Rally scheduled Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Anchorage preps for Trump visit

Arena for rally mostly tranquil 24 hours before speakers take stage

A couple of visitors watch preparations Friday afternoon for the Save America Rally scheduled Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Danger Money plays at the Rock’N the Ranch at the RustyRavin Music Festival in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 8, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Rockin’ weekend

RustyRavin Ranch hosts the sixth annual Rock’N the Ranch music festival

Danger Money plays at the Rock’N the Ranch at the RustyRavin Music Festival in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 8, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
In this photo provided by Eric Kiehn, Northwest Incident Management Team 10, Alaska Division of Forestry, a fixed-wing aircraft drops water on the Clear Fire near Anderson, Alaska, July 6, 2022. One home has been destroyed by the wildfire burning in Alaska’s interior, while a majority of people under evacuation orders are sheltering in place. (Eric Kiehn, Northwest Incident Management Team 10, Alaska Division of Forestry via AP)

1 home destroyed, 155 people told to evacuate Alaska fire

Only 25 have evacuated with 130 people sheltering in place

  • Jul 8, 2022
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
In this photo provided by Eric Kiehn, Northwest Incident Management Team 10, Alaska Division of Forestry, a fixed-wing aircraft drops water on the Clear Fire near Anderson, Alaska, July 6, 2022. One home has been destroyed by the wildfire burning in Alaska’s interior, while a majority of people under evacuation orders are sheltering in place. (Eric Kiehn, Northwest Incident Management Team 10, Alaska Division of Forestry via AP)
Ted Kubacki gets a lick from the family golden retriever, Lulu, outside their house after being reunited in Sitka, Alaska, on Thursday, July 7, 2022. The elderly, blind dog who had been missing three weeks, was found Tuesday, July 5, 2022, by a construction crew in salmonberry bushes after initially confusing her for a bear. Behind Ted is his wife, Rebecca, and their children Ella, Viola, Star, Lazaria and Olive. (James Poulson/The Daily Sitka Sentinel via AP)

Blind, older dog found in Alaska 3 weeks after wandering off

Lulu was barely alive after being found Tuesday

Ted Kubacki gets a lick from the family golden retriever, Lulu, outside their house after being reunited in Sitka, Alaska, on Thursday, July 7, 2022. The elderly, blind dog who had been missing three weeks, was found Tuesday, July 5, 2022, by a construction crew in salmonberry bushes after initially confusing her for a bear. Behind Ted is his wife, Rebecca, and their children Ella, Viola, Star, Lazaria and Olive. (James Poulson/The Daily Sitka Sentinel via AP)
Bear Mountain is seen in Seward, Alaska, on Sunday, July 2, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Seismic and survey work for Seward tunnel project to start next week

Contractors with the Corps will work in Lowell Canyon, west of the current tunnel and diversion dam, July 12 through July 15

Bear Mountain is seen in Seward, Alaska, on Sunday, July 2, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
This photo shows a sample ballot for the Aug. 16 special general election to determine who will fill the months remaining on Don Young’s term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Alaska’s longtime representative died in March. The three candidates vying to fill Young’s term are also among those running for a full two-year term and will appear on primary ballot the same day. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Dunleavy, Begich, Murkowski remain favorites in new poll

Ranked choice voting could shake up U.S. House race, as Peltola has slim edge against Palin

This photo shows a sample ballot for the Aug. 16 special general election to determine who will fill the months remaining on Don Young’s term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Alaska’s longtime representative died in March. The three candidates vying to fill Young’s term are also among those running for a full two-year term and will appear on primary ballot the same day. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Demonstrators in support of abortion rights stand at the intersection of the Kenai and Sterling highways on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

With post-Roe focus on abortion access, Alaska advocates plan events for Saturday

July 9 events taking place in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Homer

Demonstrators in support of abortion rights stand at the intersection of the Kenai and Sterling highways on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)