News

Vaughn Dosko is seen in this undated photo. Dosko was awarded region 3 principal of the year by the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals. (Photos courtesy of the Alaska Council of School Administrators)

Kenai Middle School administrator receives principal of the year award

Vaughn Dosko, the principal at Kenai Middle School, attributed the award to his students and staff

Vaughn Dosko is seen in this undated photo. Dosko was awarded region 3 principal of the year by the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals. (Photos courtesy of the Alaska Council of School Administrators)
(From left) Mike Frost, Monica Frost, Tara Sweeney and Sue Carter attend a campaign meet and greet at Addie Camp on Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Sweeney is running to fill the seat of former U.S. House Rep. Don Young, who died in March. (Photo courtesy Karina Waller)

Sweeney brings Congressional campaign to the central peninsula

She is one of 48 candidates vying for Alaska’s vacant U.S. House seat

(From left) Mike Frost, Monica Frost, Tara Sweeney and Sue Carter attend a campaign meet and greet at Addie Camp on Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Sweeney is running to fill the seat of former U.S. House Rep. Don Young, who died in March. (Photo courtesy Karina Waller)
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. In his annual address to state lawmakers, Sullivan was highly critical of the environmentally focused policies of the Biden Administration and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who’s visiting Alaska this week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Sullivan gives annual address to Legislature

The senator had harsh words for Haaland, White House

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. In his annual address to state lawmakers, Sullivan was highly critical of the environmentally focused policies of the Biden Administration and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who’s visiting Alaska this week. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Signs hang on the entryway wall at the Kenai Peninsula Education Association office in Soldotna, Alaska, in this Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, file photo. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘It’s time to go’

COVID stress, workload cited among reasons some staff are leaving the school district

Signs hang on the entryway wall at the Kenai Peninsula Education Association office in Soldotna, Alaska, in this Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, file photo. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A Forest Service fire crew gets brief during an operation. Fire crews from Alaska are frequently deployed to the Lower 48 to help combat wildfires that are growing larger and closer to urban areas in many cases. (Courtesy photo / Parker Anders)

Into the fire: Alaska’s wildlands firefighters eye coming dry season

Alaska’s wildlands firefighters lend a hand where needed nationwide.

A Forest Service fire crew gets brief during an operation. Fire crews from Alaska are frequently deployed to the Lower 48 to help combat wildfires that are growing larger and closer to urban areas in many cases. (Courtesy photo / Parker Anders)
Michael Patz, raised in Juneau, stands on the ice in front of the icebreaker S.A. Agulhas II next to a sign showing the location of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s vessel, the Endurance, in this March 2022 photo. The ship was rediscovered March 5, 2022, by searchers aboard the icebreaker. (Courtesy photo/Michael Patz)

‘My interest was in the adventure’: Man from Juneau talks role in finding long-lost ship near Antarctica

Cold ice, clear water and lots of sealife.

Michael Patz, raised in Juneau, stands on the ice in front of the icebreaker S.A. Agulhas II next to a sign showing the location of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s vessel, the Endurance, in this March 2022 photo. The ship was rediscovered March 5, 2022, by searchers aboard the icebreaker. (Courtesy photo/Michael Patz)
A fishing vessel fleet off the coast of Seward, Alaska, participates in oil spill response training hosted by the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (RCAC), along with members of the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘The prevention proves that it’s working’

Community seminar explores oil spill preparedness in Seward

A fishing vessel fleet off the coast of Seward, Alaska, participates in oil spill response training hosted by the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (RCAC), along with members of the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, on Thursday, April 14, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah, left, who say they will vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic nomination to the Supreme Court, smile as they greet each other outside the chamber, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Murkowski continues to have a substantial cash advantage over her opponent backed by former President Donald Trump, who has vowed revenge on the incumbent Alaska Republican. Murkowski brought in more than $1.5 million in the three-month period ending March 31, 2022, according to Federal Election Commission filings. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Murkowski maintains cash advantage over Trump-backed hopeful

Republican Kelly Tshibaka, who is challenging Murkowski, raised $673,383 during the last quarter

Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah, left, who say they will vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic nomination to the Supreme Court, smile as they greet each other outside the chamber, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Murkowski continues to have a substantial cash advantage over her opponent backed by former President Donald Trump, who has vowed revenge on the incumbent Alaska Republican. Murkowski brought in more than $1.5 million in the three-month period ending March 31, 2022, according to Federal Election Commission filings. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
UAS The Alaska State Capitol seen on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

House passes bill to protect higher education funding

Bills aims to exempt scholarships from annual ‘sweep’ debate

UAS The Alaska State Capitol seen on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen (center) speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna gets green light to tackle beetle-killed trees

The work will be done independently of delayed federal funding

Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen (center) speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Veto of Triumvirate funds sustained

Divided Soldotna council upholds mayoral veto of money for the troupe’s production of ‘Tarzan’

The Soldotna City Council convenes on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Commercial fishing and other boats are moored in the Homer Harbor in this file photo. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Seawatch: Bristol Bay sockeye run could stress processors

Bristol Bay is expected to see a return of as many as 75 million sockeye salmon

Commercial fishing and other boats are moored in the Homer Harbor in this file photo. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Jonathan Freeman displays his first place photography piece during the opening reception of the Kenai Art Center’s annual student show on Thursday, April 7, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Students show their stuff

Kenai Art Center’s annual student showcase will be on display through May

Jonathan Freeman displays his first place photography piece during the opening reception of the Kenai Art Center’s annual student show on Thursday, April 7, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaskans for Better Elections Executive Director Jason Grenn presents information about Alaska’s news election systems during a joint chamber of commerce luncheon on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Info on new election systems presented at joint chamber luncheon

Summer emerged as the clear favorite season in a mock ranked choice election held at Wednesday’s joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce luncheon in… Continue reading

Alaskans for Better Elections Executive Director Jason Grenn presents information about Alaska’s news election systems during a joint chamber of commerce luncheon on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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Central peninsula hopping with Easter events

The central peninsula is hopping with Easter events this weekend. Thursday, the Kenai Community Library will host an Easter egg basket building event from 4… Continue reading

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COVID

COVID still leveling off in state

COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases are still plateauing pretty low in Alaska, health officials said during a public science session Wednesday. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne… Continue reading

COVID
Elin Antaya, a Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior, was awarded the Hoffman-Greene Ocean Youth Award by the Alaska SeaLife Center for work supporting and stewarding the ocean. (Courtesy photo / ASC)

Making waves: Juneau teen wins statewide award for ocean stewardship

Her involvement with the ocean ranges across all aspects of her life.

Elin Antaya, a Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior, was awarded the Hoffman-Greene Ocean Youth Award by the Alaska SeaLife Center for work supporting and stewarding the ocean. (Courtesy photo / ASC)
Jay Marley, left, captain of the Fly Dough, holds up the John Hillstrand Memorial Award for running the boat that had the winning fish in the 28th annual Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament. Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center executive director Brad Anderson is at right. Marley’s son, Weston Marley, won the top prize with a 27.38-pound king salmon. Jay Marley also was the top captain in 2021 when his son Andrew also won the tournament. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Team Marley wins again

For the second year in a row, a Marley boy wins the Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament.

Jay Marley, left, captain of the Fly Dough, holds up the John Hillstrand Memorial Award for running the boat that had the winning fish in the 28th annual Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament. Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center executive director Brad Anderson is at right. Marley’s son, Weston Marley, won the top prize with a 27.38-pound king salmon. Jay Marley also was the top captain in 2021 when his son Andrew also won the tournament. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Alaska SeaLife Center Animal Care Specialist Savannah Costner releases a 1-year-old female elephant seal back to the ocean on March 24, 2022, after the animal was admitted as a patient to the ASLC Wildlife Response Program. The 320-pound animal was released near Lowell Point in Seward, Alaska. (Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center rehabs baby elephant seal

The seal is the first mammal admitted to the center’s Wildlife Response Program this year

Alaska SeaLife Center Animal Care Specialist Savannah Costner releases a 1-year-old female elephant seal back to the ocean on March 24, 2022, after the animal was admitted as a patient to the ASLC Wildlife Response Program. The 320-pound animal was released near Lowell Point in Seward, Alaska. (Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Snow falls on studded tires on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. For Alaskans living above the 60 North Latitude line, which includes all portions of the Sterling Highway, studded tires must be removed by May 1, 2022. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Studded tires off May 1 on peninsula

Studded tires cause damage on dry pavement, officials said

Snow falls on studded tires on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. For Alaskans living above the 60 North Latitude line, which includes all portions of the Sterling Highway, studded tires must be removed by May 1, 2022. (Peninsula Clarion file)