News

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is coming up fast, landing on March 31.

Deadline approaching to apply for PFD

This year’s payout is still being decided.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is coming up fast, landing on March 31.
A would-be voter considers the candidates on a sample ballot released by the state of Alaska in March 2021. The Alaska Division of Elections has announced the dates for the special elections to select a replacement for Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who died recently. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)

Filing opens for election to fill US House seat

Filing deadline is April 1.

A would-be voter considers the candidates on a sample ballot released by the state of Alaska in March 2021. The Alaska Division of Elections has announced the dates for the special elections to select a replacement for Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who died recently. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
Fencing marks the boundaries of a planned dog park in Kenai near Daubenspeck Park on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai describes ‘path to completion’ for dog park

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander described needed work in a council memo

Fencing marks the boundaries of a planned dog park in Kenai near Daubenspeck Park on Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge trails in Soldotna, Alaska, are still covered with snow on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Refuge trails emerge from winter

It’s officially the end of the groomed winter trail season

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge trails in Soldotna, Alaska, are still covered with snow on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Ice juts out from Skilak Lake on Sunday, March 20, 2022, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Waiting on spring

While the spring season officially began on Sunday, it’s unclear if Alaska is quite ready to transition out of winter

Ice juts out from Skilak Lake on Sunday, March 20, 2022, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/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)

Board of Fisheries meeting begins Saturday

Board members will not only discuss fishing issues in Cook Inlet, but also in Kodiak and Prince William Sound

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)
Traffic moves north along the Sterling Highway shortly after the roadway reopened. A fatal crash closed the highway for several hours Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council voices support for lighting on Kenai Spur, Sterling highways

Additional lighting would be added to Kenai Spur Highway within city limits and along the Sterling Highway Safety Corridor

Traffic moves north along the Sterling Highway shortly after the roadway reopened. A fatal crash closed the highway for several hours Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Katherine Hayes waves a flag and a sign urging Alaska lawmakers to fund a full oil wealth fund check, known locally as the PFD or Permanent Fund Dividend, Monday, July 8, 2019, in Wasilla, Alaska. Momentum is building for a constitutional convention question that will be on the ballot this year in Alaska, and similar questions will go before voters in Missouri and New Hampshire. Critics say the times are too partisan and the country is too divided to reopen state constitutions for rewriting or amendments. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

State constitutional convention measures stoke partisan fear

PFD question is providing a tail wind for groups seeking to change the constitution to address a range of hot button topics

Katherine Hayes waves a flag and a sign urging Alaska lawmakers to fund a full oil wealth fund check, known locally as the PFD or Permanent Fund Dividend, Monday, July 8, 2019, in Wasilla, Alaska. Momentum is building for a constitutional convention question that will be on the ballot this year in Alaska, and similar questions will go before voters in Missouri and New Hampshire. Critics say the times are too partisan and the country is too divided to reopen state constitutions for rewriting or amendments. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai speaks at an Anchorage news conference on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, about the upcoming special election to fill the seat in U.S. House of Representatives vacated following the death of Rep. Don Young last week. (Screenshot)

State details timeline to fill vacant US House seat

The state plans to hold the special general election on Aug. 16, concurrently with the regular Alaska primary

Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai speaks at an Anchorage news conference on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, about the upcoming special election to fill the seat in U.S. House of Representatives vacated following the death of Rep. Don Young last week. (Screenshot)
In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, gathers with supporters in Anchorage, Alaska. Young, the longest-serving Republican ever in the U.S. House, died on Friday, March 18, 2022. Republican Nick Begich and Democrat Christopher Constant are running in a special election to finish his term in office. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)

Begich, Constant to run in special election

Rep. Don Young died Friday at age 88

In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, gathers with supporters in Anchorage, Alaska. Young, the longest-serving Republican ever in the U.S. House, died on Friday, March 18, 2022. Republican Nick Begich and Democrat Christopher Constant are running in a special election to finish his term in office. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)
U.S. Rep. Don Young answers a reporter’s question after filing paperwork for reelection at the Alaska Division of Elections in Anchorage, Alaska. Young, the longest-serving member of Alaska’s congressional delegation, died Friday, March 18, 2022. He was 88. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Rep. Don Young to lie in state at US Capitol

By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press WASHINGTON — Rep. Don Young, the longest-serving Republican in House history, will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol on… Continue reading

U.S. Rep. Don Young answers a reporter’s question after filing paperwork for reelection at the Alaska Division of Elections in Anchorage, Alaska. Young, the longest-serving member of Alaska’s congressional delegation, died Friday, March 18, 2022. He was 88. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID cases continue to decline

State data showed a 46% decrease in cases from the week of March 14 to the week prior

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Adam Crum (left), Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Alaska Sen. Peter Micciche (on screen) discuss the move to split the Department of Health and Social Services into two separate agencies, on Monday, March 21, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Screenshot)

Department of Health and Social Services split official; change to be implemented this summer

DHSS will be divided into two new agencies — the Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of Health.

Adam Crum (left), Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Alaska Sen. Peter Micciche (on screen) discuss the move to split the Department of Health and Social Services into two separate agencies, on Monday, March 21, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland stand near the entrance to the district’s Soldotna offices on Thursday, March 17, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD lays out its legislative goals

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has multiple bills it would like to see passed

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland stand near the entrance to the district’s Soldotna offices on Thursday, March 17, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signage hangs on the exterior of the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility on Monday, March 21, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Ice rink closures planned for Kenai, Soldotna this summer

Both cities are planning to renovate their respective facilities

Signage hangs on the exterior of the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility on Monday, March 21, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Buildings are perched above eroding bluffs on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. The Kenai Bluff erosion remains the City of Kenai’s top capital priority heading into the upcoming fiscal year. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Bluff erosion top capital priority for Kenai heading into next fiscal year

Kenai City Council members approved the city’s five-year capital improvement plan Wednesday

Buildings are perched above eroding bluffs on North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. The Kenai Bluff erosion remains the City of Kenai’s top capital priority heading into the upcoming fiscal year. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign along the Kenai Spur Highway welcomes travelers to Nikiski, Alaska, in January 2019. (Clarion file photo)

Task force seeks input on potential extension of Kenai Spur north of Nikiski

The proposal would expand on the North Road Extension Project

A sign along the Kenai Spur Highway welcomes travelers to Nikiski, Alaska, in January 2019. (Clarion file photo)
A sign instructing patients and visitors on the COVID-19 screening process is seen in the River Tower of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska, in this April 7, 2020, file photo. (Peninsula Clarion file)

CPH relaxes visitation guidelines for COVID-negative patients

The changes are effective March 15

A sign instructing patients and visitors on the COVID-19 screening process is seen in the River Tower of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska, in this April 7, 2020, file photo. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Rep. Don Young smiles during a sit-down in the Juneau Empire’s offices last June. Young died on Friday, according to the longtime U.S. representative’s office. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Rep. Don Young, longest-serving congressmember, dies at 88

His office announced Young’s death in a statement Friday night.

Rep. Don Young smiles during a sit-down in the Juneau Empire’s offices last June. Young died on Friday, according to the longtime U.S. representative’s office. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Attorney for the State of Alaska Matthew Singer defends the Alaska Redistricting Board to the Alaska Supreme Court on Friday, March 18, 2022. The Court will return a decision on the state’s new electoral districts by April 1. (Screenshot)

Alaska Supreme Court takes up redistricting case

A decision is expected by April 1.

Attorney for the State of Alaska Matthew Singer defends the Alaska Redistricting Board to the Alaska Supreme Court on Friday, March 18, 2022. The Court will return a decision on the state’s new electoral districts by April 1. (Screenshot)