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Angelique Ramirez, chief medical officer at Foundation Health Partners in Fairbanks, poses for a photograph in front of the emergency entrance at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on Friday, Oct. 1, said it activated the Crisis Standards of Care policy because of a critical shortage of bed capacity, staffing and monoclonal antibody treatments, along with the inability to transfer patients to other facilities. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

3rd Alaska hospital invokes crisis care mode in COVID spike

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital said Friday it activated the Crisis Standards of Care policy

Angelique Ramirez, chief medical officer at Foundation Health Partners in Fairbanks, poses for a photograph in front of the emergency entrance at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, in Fairbanks, Alaska. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital on Friday, Oct. 1, said it activated the Crisis Standards of Care policy because of a critical shortage of bed capacity, staffing and monoclonal antibody treatments, along with the inability to transfer patients to other facilities. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Kenn Carpenter is running for reelection to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s east peninsula seat. (Courtesy photo)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidate Kenn Carpenter

Election 2021

Kenn Carpenter is running for reelection to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s east peninsula seat. (Courtesy photo)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski attends a joint Soldotna and Kenai Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Murkowski campaign updates paperwork to continue to allow fundraising

Murkowski has not yet stated whether or not she intends to run for reelection in 2022.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski attends a joint Soldotna and Kenai Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
State health officials urged pregnant people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an urgent health advisory. (File)

‘Urgent’ CDC advisory recommends pregnant people get vaccinated against COVID-19

In August, 22 pregnant individuals died of COVID in the United States, officials said.

State health officials urged pregnant people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an urgent health advisory. (File)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly President Brent Hibbert is running unopposed for the Kalifornsky seat, which he has held since 2017. (Photo via Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidate Brent Hibbert

Election 2021

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly President Brent Hibbert is running unopposed for the Kalifornsky seat, which he has held since 2017. (Photo via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Courtesy photo/ Alaska Court System Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Daniel Winfree spoke with the Empire about Alaska’s court system and its judicial selection process. Winfree is the first Chief Justice to be born in Alaska, and spent 25 years in private practice before joining the court.

Chief Justice: Cases decided on merit, not politics

Merit-based system.

Courtesy photo/ Alaska Court System Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court Daniel Winfree spoke with the Empire about Alaska’s court system and its judicial selection process. Winfree is the first Chief Justice to be born in Alaska, and spent 25 years in private practice before joining the court.
(Image courtesy CDC)

State COVID-19 cases continue surge

Alaska remains the state with the highest number of new cases per capita in the country.

(Image courtesy CDC)
Elia Samuelson, left, of Bethel is announced as the winner of a $49,000 scholarship for the third week of the “Give AK a Shot” COVID-19 vaccine incentive program. His mother Carol also won $10,000 cash. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Fairbanks man, Bethel teen win this week’s vaccine lottery

“Give AK a Shot” awards funds to one newly vaccinated adult resident and one newly vaccinated child resident.

Elia Samuelson, left, of Bethel is announced as the winner of a $49,000 scholarship for the third week of the “Give AK a Shot” COVID-19 vaccine incentive program. His mother Carol also won $10,000 cash. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
The very first FreeWire ultrafast Electric Vehicle charger in Alaska was installed at AJ's Steakhouse last week. The charging station is the first of nine EV charging stations that will connect Homer to Fairbanks. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Fast-charging station for electric vehicles installed at AJ’s OldTown Steakhouse

New charging station installed with grant support from Alaska Energy Authority.

The very first FreeWire ultrafast Electric Vehicle charger in Alaska was installed at AJ's Steakhouse last week. The charging station is the first of nine EV charging stations that will connect Homer to Fairbanks. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
Version 3 of the Alaska Redistricting Board’s proposal for the Kenai Peninsula keeps intact most of District 31, now called District 6, but puts the Fritz Creek and Fox River areas into a new District 5 that includes the southern shore of Kachemak Bay and Kodiak Island. (Photo courtesy of Alaska Redistricting Board)

Board seeking input on maps redrawing state, peninsula legislative districts

The Alaska State Redistricting Board will collect public input on six maps.

Version 3 of the Alaska Redistricting Board’s proposal for the Kenai Peninsula keeps intact most of District 31, now called District 6, but puts the Fritz Creek and Fox River areas into a new District 5 that includes the southern shore of Kachemak Bay and Kodiak Island. (Photo courtesy of Alaska Redistricting Board)
KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Building opportunity from the ground up

Development district works with local operations to hone goals, find funding.

KPEDD Executive Director Tim Dillon sits in his office on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 north of Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
(Image courtesy CDC)

State reports dwindling monoclonal antibody supply

Some shipments on backorder started to arrive Thursday, but supplies are still limited.

(Image courtesy CDC)
Christine Hill cuts out yellow Stars of David before an Anchorage Assembly meeting where the body heard public testimony from people about a proposed mask mandate on Wednesday in Anchorage. Hill, who is opposed to a mask mandate, had printed out the stars at home and was handing them out for others to wear during the meeting. She said she wore a star as a comparison to the oppression and genocide of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson apologized Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, for his comments supporting some residents’ use of Holocaust imagery to liken a proposed citywide mask mandate to the oppression of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)

Bronson apologizes for backing use of Holocaust imagery

He defended the use of the yellow stars, with the words “Do not comply,” worn by some attendees opposing the mask mandate.

Christine Hill cuts out yellow Stars of David before an Anchorage Assembly meeting where the body heard public testimony from people about a proposed mask mandate on Wednesday in Anchorage. Hill, who is opposed to a mask mandate, had printed out the stars at home and was handing them out for others to wear during the meeting. She said she wore a star as a comparison to the oppression and genocide of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson apologized Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, for his comments supporting some residents’ use of Holocaust imagery to liken a proposed citywide mask mandate to the oppression of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. (Loren Holmes/Anchorage Daily News via AP)
Community members participate in a walk-in at Seward Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 27 in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Erfurth)

Seward walk-in supports COVID mitigation strategies

In a post shared to the KPEA Facebook page Monday, the group reiterated the shortcomings of the district’s current mitigation plan.

Community members participate in a walk-in at Seward Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 27 in Seward, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Erfurth)
Tables and chairs are set up outside of Everything Bagels on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn OՈara/Peninsula Clarion)

Outdoor dining expands in Soldotna

Opportunities to dine outdoors in Soldotna just became a lot more plentiful. That’s thanks to a program offered by the City of Soldotna that offered… Continue reading

Tables and chairs are set up outside of Everything Bagels on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn OՈara/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Students struggle to hit 50% proficiency locally, statewide

Yearly standardized testing results for Alaska’s third through ninth grade students show higher overall proficiency rates in math and English among local students than statewide… Continue reading

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, photographed on Feb. 26, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Former Pop Warner president indicted for fraud, theft

The former president of the nonprofit Kenai Peninsula Pop Warner football club was indicted by a Kenai grand jury on counts of theft and fraudulent… Continue reading

The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, photographed on Feb. 26, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreal at the Residence in Mission (TRIM). (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 1,009 cases, 4 deaths from COVID

The state Department of Health and Social Services reported another four COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, which pushes the statewide total to 546 since the pandemic began.… Continue reading

Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreal at the Residence in Mission (TRIM). (Image courtesy CDC)
A bear feasts on the salmon run at Katmai National Park and Preserve on July 13, 2021. (Courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)

Bears show off full bellies at Katmai for Fat Bear Week

The bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve are preparing to show the world their beefy bodies starting today for this year’s Fat Bear Week.… Continue reading

A bear feasts on the salmon run at Katmai National Park and Preserve on July 13, 2021. (Courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a meeting with members of his cabinet at the Aspen Hotel on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy holds cabinet meeting in Soldotna

Soldotna’s Aspen Hotel hosted Gov. Mike Dunleavy and members of his cabinet Tuesday morning, when the group convened for a routine meeting. The meeting was… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at a meeting with members of his cabinet at the Aspen Hotel on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)