President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Pfizer’s COVID vaccine gets full FDA approval

The Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday for people 16 and older, according to a press release… Continue reading

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Alaska State Troopers investigate a shooting of a trooper at the Anchor Point Warehouse on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/ Homer News)

Troopers seek 60-year-old man after Anchor Point shooting injures 1

Herrick is considered armed and dangerous.

Alaska State Troopers investigate a shooting of a trooper at the Anchor Point Warehouse on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/ Homer News)
A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Officials debunk COVID vaccine misinformation

State doctors say ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine aren’t effective at treating COVID-19.

A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
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)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog/Screenshot
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog/Screenshot
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog/Screenshot
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog/Screenshot
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

‘We have tools, let’s please try to use them’

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink said the surge has imposed challenges on hospitals and health care workers.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Alaska state Rep. Kevin McCabe, center, speaks to Reps. Laddie Shaw, left, and Ben Carpenter, right, during a break in the House floor session on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Lawmakers are meeting in special session, with the annual dividend paid to residents a key topic. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

PFD size up for debate in legislative session

Dunleavy, in a bill outlined Thursday, proposed a payout of about $2,350.

Alaska state Rep. Kevin McCabe, center, speaks to Reps. Laddie Shaw, left, and Ben Carpenter, right, during a break in the House floor session on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Lawmakers are meeting in special session, with the annual dividend paid to residents a key topic. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen speaks at a meeting of the Sodotna City Council on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna, Kenai to mull partnership for 911 dispatch services

Queen floated the idea of partnering with Kenai to offer dispatch services.

Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen speaks at a meeting of the Sodotna City Council on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Nikiski Fire Station 3 on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

An investment in safety

Leaders, community celebrate opening of Nikiski Fire Station 3.

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Nikiski Fire Station 3 on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign at Main Street Tap and Grill on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 alerts customers of a temporary closure due to a staff shortage and COVID-19 cases. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Businesses balance COVID during summer surge

Doors start closing again due to increasing peninsula case counts.

A sign at Main Street Tap and Grill on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 alerts customers of a temporary closure due to a staff shortage and COVID-19 cases. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Prosecutors vet Tshibaka fishing license case

Kelly Tshibaka received the license during an event on the Kenai River in 2019.

Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Almost 20 people wait in line at a Capstone Clinic pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. The clinic offers same-day testing from noon-7:30 p.m. today and noon-4 p.m. Friday. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News).

Homer businesses shut down out of COVID-19 concerns

Numerous businesses close for a day or longer for testing of staff as 400th Alaskan dies of COVID-19.

Almost 20 people wait in line at a Capstone Clinic pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. The clinic offers same-day testing from noon-7:30 p.m. today and noon-4 p.m. Friday. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News).
The Sterling Highway is seen June 14, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai, Soldotna endorse bus pilot program

The Kenaitze Indian Tribe is working to expand public transportation on the central Kenai Peninsula.

The Sterling Highway is seen June 14, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Spruce trees infested with beetles can be seen on July 2, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai signs onto beetle funding request

The peninsula’s latest spruce bark beetle outbreak has impacted more than 1 million acres in Southcentral Alaska.

Spruce trees infested with beetles can be seen on July 2, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

State cases numbers remain high

686 COVID cases reported statewide on Thursday

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Gavin Hunt, 13, receives his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the walk-in clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

State to offer 3rd dose for immunocompromised, boosters likely to follow

Safeway issued a press release on Thursday stating that additional doses are available at its pharmacies.

Gavin Hunt, 13, receives his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the walk-in clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
In this June 1, 2001 file photo Caribou graze in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason, on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, has thrown out the Trump administration’s approval for a massive oil project on Alaska’s North Slope, saying the federal review was flawed and didn’t include mitigation measures for polar bears. (AP Photo/File)

Trump-era oil project approvals tossed

An Anchorage judge vacated permits for ConocoPhillips’ Willow Project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

  • Aug 18, 2021
  • By Mark Thiessen and Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • State News
In this June 1, 2001 file photo Caribou graze in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason, on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, has thrown out the Trump administration’s approval for a massive oil project on Alaska’s North Slope, saying the federal review was flawed and didn’t include mitigation measures for polar bears. (AP Photo/File)
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

4 new deaths, more than 600 new cases statewide

83 resident cases and four nonresident cases were reported on the peninsula.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)