News

President Jimmy Carter holds up the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which declared 104 million acres in Alaska as national parks, wildlife refuges and other conservation categories, after signing it into law at a ceremony at the White House in Washington, on Dec. 2, 1980. Carter on Monday, May 9, 2022, took the unusual step of weighing in on a court case involving his landmark conservation act and a remote refuge in Alaska. Carter filed a amicus brief in the longstanding legal dispute over efforts to build a road through the refuge, worried that the latest decision to allow a gravel road to provide residents access to an all-weather airport for medical evacuations goes beyond this one case and could allow millions of acres (hectares) to be opened for “adverse development.” (AP Photo, File)

Carter asks court to defend Alaska’s ‘unrivaled wilderness’

Carter filed an amicus brief in the long-standing legal dispute over efforts to build a road through the refuge

  • May 9, 2022
  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press
  • State News
President Jimmy Carter holds up the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which declared 104 million acres in Alaska as national parks, wildlife refuges and other conservation categories, after signing it into law at a ceremony at the White House in Washington, on Dec. 2, 1980. Carter on Monday, May 9, 2022, took the unusual step of weighing in on a court case involving his landmark conservation act and a remote refuge in Alaska. Carter filed a amicus brief in the longstanding legal dispute over efforts to build a road through the refuge, worried that the latest decision to allow a gravel road to provide residents access to an all-weather airport for medical evacuations goes beyond this one case and could allow millions of acres (hectares) to be opened for “adverse development.” (AP Photo, File)
Christina Burns, librarian for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, packs food for the day at her home in Anchorage, Alaska, around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Starved for new listings’

Low inventory, local landscape fuel housing crisis in Seward

Christina Burns, librarian for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, packs food for the day at her home in Anchorage, Alaska, around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Courtesy photo / Dasha Pearson Dasha Pearson, second from right, with her sister Natalia Dontsova, center, and father Alexander Dontsov, second from right, in Seattle on March 8, 2022. Pearson’s family fled Ukraine when the war started, and now they and other displaced Ukrainians are trying to find a home in Alaska.

Fleeing war, Ukrainians are finding a home in Alaska

Many have family, others just can’t go home

Courtesy photo / Dasha Pearson Dasha Pearson, second from right, with her sister Natalia Dontsova, center, and father Alexander Dontsov, second from right, in Seattle on March 8, 2022. Pearson’s family fled Ukraine when the war started, and now they and other displaced Ukrainians are trying to find a home in Alaska.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaks during a Tribal Nations Summit during Native American Heritage Month, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, on Nov. 15, 2021, in Washington. Haaland on Thursday, May 5, 2022, announced the members of a commission that will craft recommendations on how the federal government can better tackle unsolved cases in which Native Americans and Alaska Natives have gone missing or have been killed. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

US panel to focus on Native American missing, slain cases

The panel includes members with diverse experiences and backgrounds

  • May 6, 2022
  • By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN and FELICIA FONSECA Associated Press
  • State News
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaks during a Tribal Nations Summit during Native American Heritage Month, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, on Nov. 15, 2021, in Washington. Haaland on Thursday, May 5, 2022, announced the members of a commission that will craft recommendations on how the federal government can better tackle unsolved cases in which Native Americans and Alaska Natives have gone missing or have been killed. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire State Sen. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, sat down with the Empire in Juneau on Friday to discuss his bid for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Revak was personally close with the late Don Young, and has earned the endorsement of Young’s widow.

Revak runs to replace Rep. Young

State senator wants to follow in Young’s footsteps.

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire State Sen. Josh Revak, R-Anchorage, sat down with the Empire in Juneau on Friday to discuss his bid for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Revak was personally close with the late Don Young, and has earned the endorsement of Young’s widow.
Anne Sears, the new lead investigator for the federally-funded Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Initiative, speaks during the annual rally at the Alaska State Capitol on May 5, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Hundreds gather for missing and murdered Indigenous people

More and more attention is being paid nationwide to the staggering violence rates.

Anne Sears, the new lead investigator for the federally-funded Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Initiative, speaks during the annual rally at the Alaska State Capitol on May 5, 2022. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
In this Oct. 1, 2017, photo, North America’s tallest peak, Denali, is seen from a turnout in Denali State Park, Alaska. National park rangers in Alaska on Friday, May 6, 2022, resumed an aerial search for the year’s first registered climber on North America’s tallest peak after he didn’t check in with a friend. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Rangers locate climber’s body on Alaska’s Denali

Rimml began his climb April 27 from the Kahiltna Glacier base camp at 7,200 feet, officials said.

  • May 6, 2022
  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press
  • State News
In this Oct. 1, 2017, photo, North America’s tallest peak, Denali, is seen from a turnout in Denali State Park, Alaska. National park rangers in Alaska on Friday, May 6, 2022, resumed an aerial search for the year’s first registered climber on North America’s tallest peak after he didn’t check in with a friend. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Kenai City Council members on behalf of the city accept check for $50,000 from Kenai Senior Connection Inc. during a council meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai seniors donate funds to city

The senior center’s fundraising group presented a check to the Kenai City Council on Wednesday

Kenai City Council members on behalf of the city accept check for $50,000 from Kenai Senior Connection Inc. during a council meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska state Senate President Peter Micciche, center, looks on as lawmakers gather in front of him on the Senate floor on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A bill dealing with the annual dividend paid to residents was bumped from the Senate floor on Wednesday. Micciche said it did not have the votes to pass. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

State lawmakers struggle with dividend debate

Legislative leaders have said they see resolving the divisive debate as critical

Alaska state Senate President Peter Micciche, center, looks on as lawmakers gather in front of him on the Senate floor on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. A bill dealing with the annual dividend paid to residents was bumped from the Senate floor on Wednesday. Micciche said it did not have the votes to pass. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Anchorage Police Det. Dave Cordie, left, addresses reporters Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska, about the disappearance nine years ago of a 6-year-old boy and hopes that the public will provide new leads on the whereabouts of Deshawn McCormick. On the right is attorney Rachel Gernat with the Office of Special Prosecutions, which provides legal assistance to the police on cold cases. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Anchorage police seek new leads in missing child cold case

DeShawn McCormick disappeared nine years ago when he was 6 years old

Anchorage Police Det. Dave Cordie, left, addresses reporters Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska, about the disappearance nine years ago of a 6-year-old boy and hopes that the public will provide new leads on the whereabouts of Deshawn McCormick. On the right is attorney Rachel Gernat with the Office of Special Prosecutions, which provides legal assistance to the police on cold cases. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Statewide COVID case numbers remain steady

Cases have increased by just 1% from the week of April 20-26

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Kenai City Council members Henry Knackstedt, left, and James Baisden participate in a council meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai mulls ending Zoom participation for city meetings

The service was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic

Kenai City Council members Henry Knackstedt, left, and James Baisden participate in a council meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

Kenai dentist charged with 84 counts of tax evasion, fraud

The indictment was made public April 28 for Glenn and Saray Lockwood

Gavel (Courtesy photo)
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File A Carnival Cruise Lines vessel similar to one due in Juneau following a COVID outbreak aboard steams past Douglas in 2021.

City contacting ship on way to town following COVID outbreak

The ship, due to arrive here Saturday, experienced an outbreak enroute from Miami to Seattle.

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire File A Carnival Cruise Lines vessel similar to one due in Juneau following a COVID outbreak aboard steams past Douglas in 2021.
Joe Spady as Algnernon Moncrieff, left, and Devin Boyle as Jack Worthing rehearse a scene from the Kenai Performers’ production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kalifornsky, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Performers)

‘A trivial show for very serious people’

Kenai Performers takes on Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”

Joe Spady as Algnernon Moncrieff, left, and Devin Boyle as Jack Worthing rehearse a scene from the Kenai Performers’ production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kalifornsky, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Performers)
Assembly member Richard Derkevorkian (second from right) speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voters to decide whether to add 2 seats to board of education, assembly

The goal of reapportionment is to get the population of each assembly and board of education district as close to a “target population” as possible

Assembly member Richard Derkevorkian (second from right) speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lawmakers held a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, to vote to confirm Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s appointments to state boards and commissions. All nominees were confirmed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers confirm Dunleavy appointees, work on PFD

Senate attempts to rework dividend formula

Lawmakers held a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, to vote to confirm Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s appointments to state boards and commissions. All nominees were confirmed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, left, speaks during a “State of the City” address while Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel looks on at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Officials: Kenai sees strong sales growth, business climate

City leaders gave their fourth “State of the City” address Wednesday

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, left, speaks during a “State of the City” address while Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel looks on at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sterling Elementary School Principal Denise Kelly speaks at a surprise assembly held at the school to celebrate her being named Alaska Elementary Principal of the Year on Monday, May 2, 2022, in Sterling, Alaska. On the right, Kelly’s daughter, Freya, attends. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Making a place where staff and students want to be

Sterling principal recognized in surprise ceremony

Sterling Elementary School Principal Denise Kelly speaks at a surprise assembly held at the school to celebrate her being named Alaska Elementary Principal of the Year on Monday, May 2, 2022, in Sterling, Alaska. On the right, Kelly’s daughter, Freya, attends. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Birders check out shorebirds on the outgoing tide on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at Mud Bay on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Put on your boots and grab your binoculars — It’s Shorebird Festival

This year is the 30th anniversary of the festival

Birders check out shorebirds on the outgoing tide on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at Mud Bay on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)