News

Megan Pacer / Homer News A giant silver salmon is paraded through Salmonfest on Aug. 3, 2019, in Ninilchik.

Umphrey’s McGee, Shakey Graves to headline Salmonfest 2022

The festival returns Aug. 5-7 in Ninilchik

Megan Pacer / Homer News A giant silver salmon is paraded through Salmonfest on Aug. 3, 2019, in Ninilchik.
Recycling signage is displayed on an upscaled dumpster used to collect plastics as part of a project to turn discarded plastic waste into artificial lumber, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Lori Landstrom)

Seward recycling program to turn plastic into lumber

The program was made possible by grant money awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency

Recycling signage is displayed on an upscaled dumpster used to collect plastics as part of a project to turn discarded plastic waste into artificial lumber, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Lori Landstrom)
This map shows a proposed rezone from rural residential to urban residential for the lower West Hill Road area. The Homer Planning Commission recommended only rezoning the area east of West Hill Road, and the Homer City Council introduced an ordinance at its June 27 meeting to just rezone the east side. (Map courtesy of city of Homer)

Homer council considers West Hill rezoning

East side of lower West Hill would be rezoned to urban residential

This map shows a proposed rezone from rural residential to urban residential for the lower West Hill Road area. The Homer Planning Commission recommended only rezoning the area east of West Hill Road, and the Homer City Council introduced an ordinance at its June 27 meeting to just rezone the east side. (Map courtesy of city of Homer)
In this Nov. 7, 2020, photo Jaimie Sekona holds a Trump flag on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol. The former president is scheduled to speak Saturday afternoon at a rally in Anchorage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Still time to trip out for Trump

A procession of guest speakers will be featured first, with Trump scheduled to speak at 4 p.m.

In this Nov. 7, 2020, photo Jaimie Sekona holds a Trump flag on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol. The former president is scheduled to speak Saturday afternoon at a rally in Anchorage. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Slash is piled at the City of Kenai’s slash disposal site on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough will use $300,000 in general funds to set up temporary slash disposal sites in multiple communities throughout the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs $300k for borough slash sites

The move is in response to the ongoing spruce bark beetle outbreak

Slash is piled at the City of Kenai’s slash disposal site on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough will use $300,000 in general funds to set up temporary slash disposal sites in multiple communities throughout the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID

COVID cases, hospitalizations, down from last week’s report

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

COVID
The cast of the Disney musical “Tarzan,” which is being performed at Soldotna Creek Park beginning Saturday, rides the Triumvirate Theatre float during the Kenai 4th of July Parade on Monday, July 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Swinging and singing

Triumvirate debuts the Disney musical “Tarzan” at Soldotna Creek Park

The cast of the Disney musical “Tarzan,” which is being performed at Soldotna Creek Park beginning Saturday, rides the Triumvirate Theatre float during the Kenai 4th of July Parade on Monday, July 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Tents are shown Wednesday, July 6, 2022, inside Centennial Park in Anchorage, Alaska. State wildlife officials have killed four black bears in a campground recently set aside for the city’s homeless population after Anchorage’s largest shelter was closed. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

4 bears killed in campground area reserved for homeless

The city closed its pandemic mass shelter at Sullivan Arena on June 30

  • Jul 6, 2022
  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press
  • State News
Tents are shown Wednesday, July 6, 2022, inside Centennial Park in Anchorage, Alaska. State wildlife officials have killed four black bears in a campground recently set aside for the city’s homeless population after Anchorage’s largest shelter was closed. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Window of opportunity’ seen for LNG Project

Brad Chastain presented the current status of the project Wednesday

Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Flathead Lake Biological Station researchers Erin Sexton (right) and Chris Sergeant watch spawning salmon in a groundwater channel of the mine-impacted Tulsequah River in British Columbia. (Courtesy Photo / Jonathan Moore, Simon Fraser University)

New paper sheds light on mining’s impact on salmon and transboundary watersheds

Decisions can have centuries of impact, according to researchers.

Flathead Lake Biological Station researchers Erin Sexton (right) and Chris Sergeant watch spawning salmon in a groundwater channel of the mine-impacted Tulsequah River in British Columbia. (Courtesy Photo / Jonathan Moore, Simon Fraser University)
Peonies used at Alaska Perfect Peony Farm to create bouquets for the tour group on July 9, 2021. Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News

3rd annual Peony Celebration starts

Events in July include art, farm tours

Peonies used at Alaska Perfect Peony Farm to create bouquets for the tour group on July 9, 2021. Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News
Megan Rapinoe’s “One Life” is seen at the Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Queer, beautiful, normal

Megan Rapinoe’s memoir tackles love, sports and breaking barriers

Megan Rapinoe’s “One Life” is seen at the Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
People line the streets in downtown Kenai, Alaska on Monday, July 4, 2022 for the annual Independence Day parade. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Red, white and blue all day

Kenai turns out for parade, activities to celebrate Independence Day

People line the streets in downtown Kenai, Alaska on Monday, July 4, 2022 for the annual Independence Day parade. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna, borough to continue 911 dispatch partnership

The assembly approved an agreement Tuesday

Central Emergency Services staff wait to receive doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

ATV accident leaves teen dead in Ninilchik

A 15-year-old girl was driving an ATV with a 14-year-old female passenger

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Cook Inlet can be seen at low tide from North Kenai Beach on June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Comment period on proposed Cook Inlet lease sale opens Friday

Cook Inlet is one of 11 locations described in the department’s Proposed Program for the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program

Cook Inlet can be seen at low tide from North Kenai Beach on June 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Pottery pieces are displayed as a part of the Kenai Potters’ Guild July show at the Kenai Art Center on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Throwing together

Potters’ Guild artists show off their clay creations

Pottery pieces are displayed as a part of the Kenai Potters’ Guild July show at the Kenai Art Center on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire This photo shows boats moored at Don D. Statter Harbor on a recent sunny day. According to statistics recently release by the U.S. Coast Guard, boating accidents were down in Alaska in 2021.

Boating fatalities trending down for 2021

Numbers met expectations, said safety instructors

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire This photo shows boats moored at Don D. Statter Harbor on a recent sunny day. According to statistics recently release by the U.S. Coast Guard, boating accidents were down in Alaska in 2021.
Fishermen took to the mouth of the Kasilof River for opening day of dipnetting, on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion file)

Kasilof dipnetting expanded, sockeye catch upped

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued multiple advisory announcements for sport anglers and dipnetters

Fishermen took to the mouth of the Kasilof River for opening day of dipnetting, on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion file)
Signs warn Fred Meyer customers to prepay if they thing they may go over limits while pumping gas on Friday, March 11, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Analysis: Inflation is up in Alaska

Alaska’s 2021 average inflation rate was the largest annual price increase since 1990

Signs warn Fred Meyer customers to prepay if they thing they may go over limits while pumping gas on Friday, March 11, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)