News

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)
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)