News

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)
Photo via Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Bear bait regs posted by Fish and Game

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will allow bear bait stations to be registered via telephone this year, according to a release from the… Continue reading

Photo via Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Nikiski North Star Elementary given all clear after ‘suspicious’ phone message

The school was placed in ‘stay put’ mode for about three hours Thursday

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Kenai Peninsula Re-Entry Coalition President Katie Cowgill speaks about the organization’s reentry simulation event during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Re-Entry Coalition event aims to reduce stigma, raise awareness

The event is targeted to community leaders

Kenai Peninsula Re-Entry Coalition President Katie Cowgill speaks about the organization’s reentry simulation event during a meeting of the Kenai City Council on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The House Finance Committee hears a presentation from Department of Revenue Chief Economist Dan Stickle on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. It was a busy day at the Alaska State Capitol Wednesday with both the House of Representatives and the Senate passing multiple bills. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State House passes campaign contribution limits bill

The bill would set a $2,000 limit on what an individual could contribute to a candidate each campaign period

The House Finance Committee hears a presentation from Department of Revenue Chief Economist Dan Stickle on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. It was a busy day at the Alaska State Capitol Wednesday with both the House of Representatives and the Senate passing multiple bills. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Kenai City Council participate in a council meeting on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Council formalizes support for field facilities fundraising

Kenai Central High School issued an open call for help funding the $250,000 project

Members of the Kenai City Council participate in a council meeting on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID cases plateauing in Alaska

Varying vaccination rates and mitigation policies are affecting outbreaks in other parts of the world

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, talks with a reporter after attending at an event to celebrate the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Washington. Murkowski spoke the the Alaska House of Representatives Special Committee on Tribal Affairs Thursday about what the bill means for Alaska. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Alaskans laud Violence Against Women Act reauthorization

Reauthorization will create pilot program for Alaskan tribal courts

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, talks with a reporter after attending at an event to celebrate the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, in Washington. Murkowski spoke the the Alaska House of Representatives Special Committee on Tribal Affairs Thursday about what the bill means for Alaska. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Community members participate in the St. Patrick’s Parade in Soldotna on March 17, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Green on the streets

Soldotna turns out for St. Patrick’s Day parade

Community members participate in the St. Patrick’s Parade in Soldotna on March 17, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Charli Byrd (left) and Selia Butler, who play Little Red Ridinghood and the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods,” run through voice exercises with vocal director Rosemary Bird at the Kenai Performers building in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, March 14, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Performers take the stage for Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods’

The show follows characters and storylines from well-known folklore

Charli Byrd (left) and Selia Butler, who play Little Red Ridinghood and the Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods,” run through voice exercises with vocal director Rosemary Bird at the Kenai Performers building in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, March 14, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Florence Given’s “Women Don’t Owe You Pretty” is a modern take on feminism and a reflection on the many ways patriarchy is still present in the lives of Generation Z’s young women. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: ‘Women Don’t Owe You Pretty,’ a modern take on Generation Z feminism

The informal guidebook-style text explores many themes within feminism’s realm

Florence Given’s “Women Don’t Owe You Pretty” is a modern take on feminism and a reflection on the many ways patriarchy is still present in the lives of Generation Z’s young women. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Origami cranes are folded to symbolize peace in Ukraine. (Photo provided by the Kenai Art Center)

Folding for peace

Community event will create paper cranes for Ukraine

Origami cranes are folded to symbolize peace in Ukraine. (Photo provided by the Kenai Art Center)
The House Finance Committee hears a presentation from Department of Revenue Chief Economist Dan Stickle on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. It was a busy day at the Alaska State Capitol Wednesday with both the House of Representatives and the Senate passing multiple bills. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Senate passes bill banning vaccine requirements

House debates on campaign contribution goes late again

The House Finance Committee hears a presentation from Department of Revenue Chief Economist Dan Stickle on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. It was a busy day at the Alaska State Capitol Wednesday with both the House of Representatives and the Senate passing multiple bills. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Department of Law The FBI is seeking more information about the activities of a former Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service officer Bert Christopher Heitstuman.

FBI seeking further information ex-DHS officer charged with sexual assault

They’re investigating his activities inside Anchorage as well as elsewhere.

Alaska Department of Law The FBI is seeking more information about the activities of a former Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service officer Bert Christopher Heitstuman.
Swim coach Angie Brennan speaks in support of lower user fees for Kenai Peninsula Borough School District pools during a Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board mulls school pool user fees

Noncommercial user groups say they’re being charged too much

Swim coach Angie Brennan speaks in support of lower user fees for Kenai Peninsula Borough School District pools during a Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 14, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)