Raynelle Hoskie attaches a hose to a water pump to fill tanks in her truck outside a tribal office on the Navajo reservation in Tuba City, Ariz., on April 20, 2020. A massive infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden signed this week includes billions of dollars to address long-standing issues with water and sanitation on tribal land. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Tribes welcome infusion of money in infrastructure bill

President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion deal earlier this week that includes about $11 billion in benefits for Indian Country.

  • Nov 18, 2021
  • By FELICIA FONSECA Associated Press
  • State News
Raynelle Hoskie attaches a hose to a water pump to fill tanks in her truck outside a tribal office on the Navajo reservation in Tuba City, Ariz., on April 20, 2020. A massive infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden signed this week includes billions of dollars to address long-standing issues with water and sanitation on tribal land. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
A map of Kachemak Bay State Park showing proposed land additions A, B and C in House Bill 52 and the Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery. (Map courtesy of Alaska State Parks)

‘Cure’ sought for Tutka Bay hatchery land issue

HB 52 would take hatchery out of Kachemak State Park and add also lands to park.

A map of Kachemak Bay State Park showing proposed land additions A, B and C in House Bill 52 and the Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery. (Map courtesy of Alaska State Parks)
Bethany Wortham, under the Twitter handle @petuniawings, posts that Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, blocked her account on Oct. 23, 2021. Wortham sued Micciche for blocking her account but has now decided to drop the lawsuit. (Screenshot)

Micciche constituent drops lawsuit over Twitter dispute

The constituent sued Micciche after he blocked her on Twitter.

Bethany Wortham, under the Twitter handle @petuniawings, posts that Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, blocked her account on Oct. 23, 2021. Wortham sued Micciche for blocking her account but has now decided to drop the lawsuit. (Screenshot)
A woman stands next to an antenna at an NYU base camp at the Helheim glacier in Greenland on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. In an effort to combat climate change and help develop Arctic communities, the Department of Energy Wednesday announced it was seeking to develop new sustainable energy projects in Alaska. (AP Photo / Felipe Dana)
A woman stands next to an antenna at an NYU base camp at the Helheim glacier in Greenland on Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. In an effort to combat climate change and help develop Arctic communities, the Department of Energy Wednesday announced it was seeking to develop new sustainable energy projects in Alaska. (AP Photo / Felipe Dana)
A little library at La Baleine on the Homer Spit is one of several around town, as seen here in July 2015. (Homer News file photo)

New little libraries up for discussion at Homer council meeting

If passed, five new little free libraries will be installed next spring at popular local spots.

A little library at La Baleine on the Homer Spit is one of several around town, as seen here in July 2015. (Homer News file photo)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

2 new COVID deaths reported as cases decline

The deaths pushed the total number of statewide deaths to 812 since the pandemic began.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
The intersection of Willow Street and the Kenai Spur Highway shows the stoplights were out Wednesday night as approximately 2,700 people experienced a Homer Electric Association power outage. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Outage knocks out power to much of Kenai

Power had been restored by about 9 p.m.

The intersection of Willow Street and the Kenai Spur Highway shows the stoplights were out Wednesday night as approximately 2,700 people experienced a Homer Electric Association power outage. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Clouds over the sky over Lazy Mountain and the Matanuska River on March 23, 2016, in Palmer, Alaska. Lights from downtown Palmer and Pioneer Peak can be seen in the lower right. Some critics say a new map of state political boundaries drawn following the last Census short-changes the fast-growing area north of Anchorage seen as a hotbed of conservatism. (AP Photo/Dan Joling, File)

Critics raise concerns with new Mat-Su redistricting

Republican Rep. Christopher Kurka, said the Matanuska-Susitna region is “getting Cheated, Shortchanged, and Hosed.”

  • Nov 17, 2021
  • Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • State News
Clouds over the sky over Lazy Mountain and the Matanuska River on March 23, 2016, in Palmer, Alaska. Lights from downtown Palmer and Pioneer Peak can be seen in the lower right. Some critics say a new map of state political boundaries drawn following the last Census short-changes the fast-growing area north of Anchorage seen as a hotbed of conservatism. (AP Photo/Dan Joling, File)
Justin Ruffridge and Dave Carrey attend a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna tweaks mini grant program

The council limited who can participate and what programs are eligible.

Justin Ruffridge and Dave Carrey attend a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Children wave as Santa Claus arrives on top of a firetruck Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, at the Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Time for the season

Kenai rolls out holiday events

Children wave as Santa Claus arrives on top of a firetruck Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, at the Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly President Brent Johnson presides over a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association looks to put weir at Delight Creek

The borough assembly passed legislation supporting the association’s application for grant funds.

Assembly President Brent Johnson presides over a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Carolyn Massey paints 10-year-old Kenny Smith’s hand to add to the helping hands tree at the Children’s Advocacy Center on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Helping hands

Children’s services organization celebrates World Children’s Day with outreach event.

Carolyn Massey paints 10-year-old Kenny Smith’s hand to add to the helping hands tree at the Children’s Advocacy Center on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2016, file photo, a marijuana bud is seen before harvest at a rural area near Corvallis, Ore. Alaska Marijuana Industry Association President Lacy Wilcox said federal legalization could potentially hurt Alaska's cannabis cultivators who could lose out to other states such as Oregon where production is cheaper. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2016, file photo, a marijuana bud is seen before harvest at a rural area near Corvallis, Ore. Alaska Marijuana Industry Association President Lacy Wilcox said federal legalization could potentially hurt Alaska's cannabis cultivators who could lose out to other states such as Oregon where production is cheaper. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky, File)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Statewide COVID cases continue to drop; 7 new deaths

The state has an estimated rolling average of 381.9 cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Jessie Duke, of Soldotna, browses books with 7-month-old Danny Dommek on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, at River City Books in Soldotna, Alaska. River City Books participated in the 2020 shop local program in Soldotna. The city is bringing the program back for a second time this holiday season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna shop local returns for 2nd year

The city council set aside $350,000 in leftover CARES funds for the program.

Jessie Duke, of Soldotna, browses books with 7-month-old Danny Dommek on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, at River City Books in Soldotna, Alaska. River City Books participated in the 2020 shop local program in Soldotna. The city is bringing the program back for a second time this holiday season. (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)

Set-net rules for Cook Inlet could be eased

The board voted to deliberate on an adopted proposal to amend the Kenai River Late-Run King Salmon Management Plan.

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)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

State Trooper arrested on charges of domestic violence

The Wasilla and Kenai police departments investigated the allegations.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Borough looks to tap rescue funds for projects

About $3.4 million of American Rescue Plan Act was allocated for “pay-go” infrastructure projects.

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

CPH sees fewer COVID patients as statewide cases recede

On Monday, there were only 37 total inpatients with fewer than 11 COVID patients.

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Upper Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone can be seen on this map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Image via fisheries.noaa.gov)

Fisherman challenge EEZ closure

The closure affects an area of Cook Inlet from south of Kalgin Island to about Anchor Point.

Upper Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone can be seen on this map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Image via fisheries.noaa.gov)