Assembly Vice President Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly won’t pursue further discussion on tabled bed tax resolution

Members say they’re going to work on a new version of the idea this winter

Assembly Vice President Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy pictured with members of the House majority after signing the fiscal year 2025 budget bills, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska. From left to right: Reps. Stanley Wright, Tom McKay, Thomas Baker, Craig Johnson, Kevin McCabe, Julie Coulombe and Laddie Shaw. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy signs capital budget with $3.7M in state funding for Kenai Peninsula, vetoes $3.3M

Roughly $90 million in federal funding also allocated to Kenai Peninsula

Gov. Mike Dunleavy pictured with members of the House majority after signing the fiscal year 2025 budget bills, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Anchorage, Alaska. From left to right: Reps. Stanley Wright, Tom McKay, Thomas Baker, Craig Johnson, Kevin McCabe, Julie Coulombe and Laddie Shaw. (Photo provided by Office of the Governor)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Soldotna man arrested Friday after 30-minute police chase

The man had an outstanding warrant for felony probation violation

Alaska State Troopers logo.
The Tustumena Lake fire, about 20 miles south of Soldotna, can be seen from above in July 2024 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Dale Eicher)

Tustumena Lake Fire response demobilized

An update from the division on Sunday says that minimal fire activity has been observed for around a full week

The Tustumena Lake fire, about 20 miles south of Soldotna, can be seen from above in July 2024 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Dale Eicher)
A screenshot of the front page of e-edition of the Anchorage Daily News on Monday.

Anchorage Daily News cuts print editions to twice a week, will continue e-paper six days a week

Change effective July 15 “reflects changing reader habits and rising costs,” according to newspaper.

A screenshot of the front page of e-edition of the Anchorage Daily News on Monday.
A map created within the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s parcel viewer in September 2017 displays in green the Swanson Square property and in blue the property of the Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai, Alaska. Because the properties are within 500 feet of one another, the City of Kenai has now twice rejected marijuana retail operations in Swanson Square. (Map by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion File)

Kenai resolution asks state not to issue license for proposed marijuana retailer

City council previously rejected a marijuana retailer at the same property in 2017

A map created within the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s parcel viewer in September 2017 displays in green the Swanson Square property and in blue the property of the Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai, Alaska. Because the properties are within 500 feet of one another, the City of Kenai has now twice rejected marijuana retail operations in Swanson Square. (Map by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion File)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce, left, and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce, left, and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Tustumena Lake fire, about 20 miles south of Soldotna, can be seen from above in July 2024 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Dale Eicher)

Tustumena fire contained, cleanup continues

The fire was caused by an escaped campfire and discovered last weekend

The Tustumena Lake fire, about 20 miles south of Soldotna, can be seen from above in July 2024 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Dale Eicher)
A harbor seal pup rescued from near the Copper River Delta is photographed at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Alaska SeaLife Center)

2 more seals admitted to SeaLife Center

Wildlife response team is now caring for six harbor seal pups

A harbor seal pup rescued from near the Copper River Delta is photographed at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Alaska SeaLife Center)
The Soldotna Little League proceeds down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, during the Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Celebrating Independence in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Fourth of July Parade

The Soldotna Little League proceeds down the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, during the Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, speaks in support of debating an omnibus education bill in the Alaska House Chambers on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy signs Ruffridge bill expanding Alaska Performance Scholarship

The scholarship is paid out from the Alaska Higher Education Investment Fund

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, speaks in support of debating an omnibus education bill in the Alaska House Chambers on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Juneau, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
An Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulatory marker is seen at the outlet of Skilak Lake near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
An Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulatory marker is seen at the outlet of Skilak Lake near Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Russian River Sanctuary Area is seen in the area labeled B in this map provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (courtesy)

Russian River Sanctuary opens early for sockeye fishing

The area will be open for fishing through July 14

The Russian River Sanctuary Area is seen in the area labeled B in this map provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (courtesy)
The Tustumena Lake fire. (Photo courtesy Dale Eicher)

Tustumena Lake fire reported 25% contained

The fire was caused by an escaped campfire

The Tustumena Lake fire. (Photo courtesy Dale Eicher)
Council member Deborah Sounart speaks during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Council member Deborah Sounart speaks during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD reverses budget cuts after Dunleavy approves one-time funding increase

The additional funding KPBSD will receive includes around $11.4 million in per-student money and $740,000 for student transportation.

Kelley Cizek speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A map shows the location of the Tustumena Lake fire (large blue circle) near Kasilof, Alaska, on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Courtesy Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection)

Updated: Kasilof fire reported at 20 acres, nearby campgrounds evacuated

The fire near Tustumena Lake in Kasilof was discovered around 3 p.m. Saturday

A map shows the location of the Tustumena Lake fire (large blue circle) near Kasilof, Alaska, on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (Courtesy Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection)
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena Bishop and Gov. Mike Dunleavy discuss his veto of an education bill during a press conference March 15, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

State correspondence allotment program to continue unchanged

Alaska Supreme Court sides with state, overturns Superior Court ruling that called program ‘unconstitutional’

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Deena Bishop and Gov. Mike Dunleavy discuss his veto of an education bill during a press conference March 15, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Assembly member Brent Hibbert speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly tables bed tax, will pick a date for further consideration at next meeting

The resolution says that the proposed borough tax would be “up to” 12%

Assembly member Brent Hibbert speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman talks freshman legislative session, spotlights bills passed

Bjorkman spoke at a joint luncheon of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in June

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)