Rep. Ron Gillham is seen here in this undated photo. (Courtesy Ron Gillham)

Gillham says he’s doing well after heart attack

The lawmaker said he began having discomfort late last Wednesday

Rep. Ron Gillham is seen here in this undated photo. (Courtesy Ron Gillham)
Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer man in mistaken FBI raid runs for lieutenant governor

Hueper and his wife, Marilyn, attended a rally for Trump in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021

Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The Seward Boat Harbor can be seen on Sept. 24, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

New seafood processor to set up shop in Seward

Bornstein Seafoods has taken over Polar Seafood’s lease on the east side of Resurrection Bay

The Seward Boat Harbor can be seen on Sept. 24, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Oct. 8, 2021.
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Oct. 8, 2021.
Copies of the Alaska State Constitution are available outside the Lt. Governor’s office at the Alaska State Capitol. A Senate bill with bipartisan support is seeking to enhance civics education for Alaskan students. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

Bill seeks to strengthen civics education

Students would have to take exam similar to citizenship test

Copies of the Alaska State Constitution are available outside the Lt. Governor’s office at the Alaska State Capitol. A Senate bill with bipartisan support is seeking to enhance civics education for Alaskan students. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
U.S. Navy / Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Montemarano
The USS Hopper (DDG 70) prepares to moor in Homer, Alaska, for a scheduled port visit in conjunction with its participation in Northern Edge 2017 in Homer, Alaska, April 29, 2017. The Navy is proposing to considerably expand its exercise area in the Gulf of Alaska.

Navy proposes expanding Gulf of Alaska exercise area

The proposal would more than quadruple the sea room for ships and aircraft to manuever in

U.S. Navy / Petty Officer 3rd Class Joseph Montemarano
The USS Hopper (DDG 70) prepares to moor in Homer, Alaska, for a scheduled port visit in conjunction with its participation in Northern Edge 2017 in Homer, Alaska, April 29, 2017. The Navy is proposing to considerably expand its exercise area in the Gulf of Alaska.
The state ferry M/V Tustumena pulls into the Homer Harbor on Monday, June 8, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Tustumena down for repairs

The ship is set to return to service on July 15

The state ferry M/V Tustumena pulls into the Homer Harbor on Monday, June 8, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
The newly renovated historic Kenai Jail is seen at the Kenai Art Center on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Beer, bars and ink

Kenai Art Center debuts renovated jail with printmaking show and custom ale

The newly renovated historic Kenai Jail is seen at the Kenai Art Center on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Republican state Rep. David Eastman speaks on the floor of the Alaska House on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House tabled action Monday on a proposal to remove from legislative committees Eastman, who has said he joined the Oath Keepers far-right organization years ago. The House Committee on Committees voted 5-2 to remove Republican Rep. Eastman of Wasilla from his committee assignments, said Joe Plesha, communications director for the House’s bipartisan majority. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

House tables vote affecting lawmaker with Oath Keepers ties

Eastman last week told The Associated Press he joined the Oath Keepers “a little over 12 years ago”

Alaska Republican state Rep. David Eastman speaks on the floor of the Alaska House on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. The Alaska House tabled action Monday on a proposal to remove from legislative committees Eastman, who has said he joined the Oath Keepers far-right organization years ago. The House Committee on Committees voted 5-2 to remove Republican Rep. Eastman of Wasilla from his committee assignments, said Joe Plesha, communications director for the House’s bipartisan majority. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Hospital capacity steady amid statewide omicron surge

On Monday, the facility was at about 80% capacity with “a handful” of COVID patients

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on February 26, 2019 in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on February 26, 2019 in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Kenai resident dead after Turnagain car crash

Parts of the western Kenai Peninsula have seen increased snow accumulation over the past wee

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Esau Sinnok of Shishmaref, Alaska, speaks at a news conference after the Alaska Supreme Court heard arguments on Oct. 9, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska, in a lawsuit that claims state policy on fossil fuels is harming the constitutional right of young Alaskans to a safe climate. The Alaska Supreme Court on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by 16 Alaska youths, who claimed long-term effects of climate change will devastate Alaska and interfere with their individual constitutional rights. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Alaska court rules against youths in climate change lawsuit

16 young Alaskans claimed long-term effects of climate change will devastate Alaska and interfere with their individual constitutional rights

Esau Sinnok of Shishmaref, Alaska, speaks at a news conference after the Alaska Supreme Court heard arguments on Oct. 9, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska, in a lawsuit that claims state policy on fossil fuels is harming the constitutional right of young Alaskans to a safe climate. The Alaska Supreme Court on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by 16 Alaska youths, who claimed long-term effects of climate change will devastate Alaska and interfere with their individual constitutional rights. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Soldotna City Council member Justin Ruffridge, who owns Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, filed a letter of intent to run the Alaska House of Representatives. (Courtesy photo)

Ruffridge seeks state House seat

The local pharmacy owner is challenging current representative Ron Gillham

Soldotna City Council member Justin Ruffridge, who owns Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, filed a letter of intent to run the Alaska House of Representatives. (Courtesy photo)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

4 more deaths, hospitalizations top 200

The newly reported deaths come during another COVID wave driven by the omicron variant of the virus.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire
This photo shows Kayla Svinicki, director and owner of Little Moon Child Care on Friday. Svinicki said that providing child care is essential but that the economics of the situation make the work difficult. She said she hopes the country starts to treat child care as part of the nation’s infrastructure.

Report: 61% of Alaskans live in child care deserts

Local providers say the struggle is real

Dana Zigmund / Juneau Empire
This photo shows Kayla Svinicki, director and owner of Little Moon Child Care on Friday. Svinicki said that providing child care is essential but that the economics of the situation make the work difficult. She said she hopes the country starts to treat child care as part of the nation’s infrastructure.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks at the Peninsula Clarion office on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Murkowski weighs in on issues

Alaska’s senior senator talks local, national politics ahead of reelection campaign

Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks at the Peninsula Clarion office on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Restrictions on sport fishing announced

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced summer sport fishing regulations Wednesday

A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
University of Alaska Interim President Pat Pitney, bottom left, spoke to UA students in a virtual forum on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, and was joined by several UA administrators including UA Southeast President Karen Carey, bottom left, and UA Anchorage Vice Chancellor Bruce Schultz, top left. At top right, an American Sign Language professional provides translation services. (Screenshot)

UA President: University has turned a corner on funding

System sees modest increase in budget for first time in years

University of Alaska Interim President Pat Pitney, bottom left, spoke to UA students in a virtual forum on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, and was joined by several UA administrators including UA Southeast President Karen Carey, bottom left, and UA Anchorage Vice Chancellor Bruce Schultz, top left. At top right, an American Sign Language professional provides translation services. (Screenshot)