News

U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small speaks at a news conference at the Alaska State Library and Museum on Thursday, March 31, 2022, to announce roughly $9 million in development grants to 25 programs throughout Southeast Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

USDA announces $9M investment in 25 Southeast programs

Grants are meant to diversify local economies

U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small speaks at a news conference at the Alaska State Library and Museum on Thursday, March 31, 2022, to announce roughly $9 million in development grants to 25 programs throughout Southeast Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Michael Heimbuch attends a memorial service for the late Drew Scalzi on Aug. 5, 2005, at the Seafarers Memorial on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Heimbuch appointed to Board of Fish

Homer fisherman, former city council member appointed to Board of Fish

Michael Heimbuch attends a memorial service for the late Drew Scalzi on Aug. 5, 2005, at the Seafarers Memorial on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The Alan G with C & C Diving and Salvage tows the Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response Inc. barge Redoubt away from the Mud Bay beach in Kachemak Bay off Kachemak Drive at about 2:20 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Barge runs aground in Mud Bay

Tug hauls vessel off Homer beach on high tide

The Alan G with C & C Diving and Salvage tows the Cook Inlet Spill Prevention and Response Inc. barge Redoubt away from the Mud Bay beach in Kachemak Bay off Kachemak Drive at about 2:20 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
State and municipal public safety employees gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Captiol on Thursday, March 31, 2022, to urge senators to act on a bill to rework the state’s pension system for police, fire fighters and other public safety employees. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Public safety employees promote pension plan

Police, firefighters urge action on bill for defined benefits for pensions

State and municipal public safety employees gathered on the steps of the Alaska State Captiol on Thursday, March 31, 2022, to urge senators to act on a bill to rework the state’s pension system for police, fire fighters and other public safety employees. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew This photo from the same series that gave “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” its cover image shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau in December 2021. Heist’s debut album “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau.

Roots music: New album draws from memories and connections made in Southeast Alaska

Steel (pedal) yourself for new music.

Courtesy Photo / Annie Bartholomew This photo from the same series that gave “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” its cover image shows Erin Heist on stage in Juneau in December 2021. Heist’s debut album “From the Land of Rusted Dreams” is set to be released on April 8. The album is heavily shaped by connections Heist has made through the Alaska Folk Festival, which is held annually in Juneau.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The chamber of the Alaska House of Represenatives was empty on Wednesday after floor sessions in the body were canceled as three Republican lawmakers refuse to comply with masking requirements reinstated amid an outbreak of COVID-19 among House members and their staff.

House cancels floor sessions until next week

Some lawmakers refuse to comply with temporarily reinstated masking requirements

Peter Segall / Juneau Empire The chamber of the Alaska House of Represenatives was empty on Wednesday after floor sessions in the body were canceled as three Republican lawmakers refuse to comply with masking requirements reinstated amid an outbreak of COVID-19 among House members and their staff.
Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, speaks on the floor of the Alaska Senate on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in favor of a bill that would prohibit discrimination against people for wearing their natural hairstyles in schools and workplaces. The bill passed with only one nay vote. (Screenshot)

Natural hairstyles bill passes Senate

Bill prohibits dress codes restricting natural hairstyles in schools, workplaces

Sen. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, speaks on the floor of the Alaska Senate on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in favor of a bill that would prohibit discrimination against people for wearing their natural hairstyles in schools and workplaces. The bill passed with only one nay vote. (Screenshot)
Bing’s Landing boat launch is seen in this undated photo. (Photo via Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation/dnr.alaska.gov)

Bing’s Landing to close for most of April

State crews will make improvements to the boat launch

Bing’s Landing boat launch is seen in this undated photo. (Photo via Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation/dnr.alaska.gov)
An aerial photo of the 102-acre Loon Lake Fire footprint taken at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Kale Casey/Alaska DNR-Division of Forestry)

Burn permits required starting Friday

The wildfire season ends on Aug. 31 — unless extended via an emergency order

An aerial photo of the 102-acre Loon Lake Fire footprint taken at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2021. (Kale Casey/Alaska DNR-Division of Forestry)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Soldotna man arrested on murder, assault charges

Troopers allege the suspect shot a man “several times” with a handgun

Alaska State Troopers logo.
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State officials report cases leveling off

CDC updated its COVID booster information Tuesday, and authorized additional doses for certain groups

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings attends a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Farnsworth-Hutchings was one of two names submitted for the Soldotna seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission after a monthslong standoff between the city and borough mayor over the appointment. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Monthslong commission delay could end next week

Tautfest’s appointment, if approved, would cap a 10-month process to fill the vacancy

Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings attends a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Farnsworth-Hutchings was one of two names submitted for the Soldotna seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission after a monthslong standoff between the city and borough mayor over the appointment. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Loretta Knudson-Spalding, left, and Regional Director of the Office of the Governor Jill Schaefer, right, pose next to the Soldotna Senior Center’s new cars in Soldotna on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Senior meals program gets a lift

Soldotna Senior Center uses federal rescue funds for new Meals on Wheels vehicles

Loretta Knudson-Spalding, left, and Regional Director of the Office of the Governor Jill Schaefer, right, pose next to the Soldotna Senior Center’s new cars in Soldotna on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Salmon runs projected to be weaker than average

A run of around 4.97 million sockeye is projected to return to Upper Cook Inlet

A sockeye salmon’s tail protrudes above the edge of a bin on a setnet site July 11, 2016, near Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
The City of Kenai Boat Launch into Cook Inlet is photographed May 14, 2020. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Copper River Seafoods halting Kenai operations this salmon season

The company salmon cited the fisheries management plan, rising production costs and the poor forecast

The City of Kenai Boat Launch into Cook Inlet is photographed May 14, 2020. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD student enrollment higher than projected

Historical enrollment numbers were presented to the KPBSD Board of Education

KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna mayor vetoes financial support for Triumvirate production

The council voted to use up to $25,000 to support an outdoor community theater production

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
House Chaplain Margaret G. Kibben speaks during a ceremony for the late Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, as he lies in state in Statuary Hall, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the Capitol in Washington. Young, the longest-serving member of Alaska’s congressional delegation, died Friday, March 18, 2022. He was 88. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)

Washington honors Young

The fiery, tireless defender in U.S. House lies in state in the Capitol

  • Mar 29, 2022
  • By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press
  • State News
House Chaplain Margaret G. Kibben speaks during a ceremony for the late Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, as he lies in state in Statuary Hall, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at the Capitol in Washington. Young, the longest-serving member of Alaska’s congressional delegation, died Friday, March 18, 2022. He was 88. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)
A notice board at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, shows the cancellation of the House of Representatives floor session for that morning. For the second day running the House has canceled floor sessions over disagreements between caucuses over masking rules amid an outbreak of COVID-19 among some lawmakers and their staff. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House again cancels floor session amid masking debate

Some lawmakers resist mask requirements amid COVID-19 outbreak

A notice board at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, shows the cancellation of the House of Representatives floor session for that morning. For the second day running the House has canceled floor sessions over disagreements between caucuses over masking rules amid an outbreak of COVID-19 among some lawmakers and their staff. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson smiles during a meeting with Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, March 28, 2022. Following Judge Jackson’s confirmation hearing last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee meets today to begin moving her nomination to the floor but Republicans on the panel are expected to delay the process.

Alaska’s senators say minds aren’t made up as Jackson’s confirmation pushes ahead

No Republican senators have signaled support for Jackson

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson smiles during a meeting with Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, March 28, 2022. Following Judge Jackson’s confirmation hearing last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee meets today to begin moving her nomination to the floor but Republicans on the panel are expected to delay the process.