A boat is lifted out of the water at Northern Enterprises Boat Yard on Kachemak Drive. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Northern Enterprise Boat Yard in Homer expands business

The largest privately owned dry dock marina in Alaska is expanding its docks and boat-lifting capabilities

A boat is lifted out of the water at Northern Enterprises Boat Yard on Kachemak Drive. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
(Peninsula Clarion file)

Anchor Point Food Pantry looking for new home

The pantry has seen a sharp increase in patrons during the COVID-19 pandemic

(Peninsula Clarion file)
An aerial photo of the 102-acre Loon Lake Fire footprint taken at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Swan Lake is in the background to the right. (Kale Casey/Alaska DNR-Division of Forestry)

Loon Lake Fire 30% contained

The fire covered about 102 acres as of Wednesday.

An aerial photo of the 102-acre Loon Lake Fire footprint taken at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Swan Lake is in the background to the right. (Kale Casey/Alaska DNR-Division of Forestry)
Kenai Peninsula Borough IT Director Ben Hanson speaks with attendees at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers in Soldotna, Alaska. The attendees were concerned about voting measures approved by the assembly aimed at improving borough election security. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Borough)

Borough assembly approves election security measures

The new legislation only applies to borough elections. It does not apply to state or federal elections.

Kenai Peninsula Borough IT Director Ben Hanson speaks with attendees at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers in Soldotna, Alaska. The attendees were concerned about voting measures approved by the assembly aimed at improving borough election security. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Borough)
Tensions were running high during the Senate debate over the budget, and Sen. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, spoke to Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, about comments he made on the floor on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)

State avoids shutdown, but PFD questions remain

Capitol reopened, and lawmakers prepare for take off.

Tensions were running high during the Senate debate over the budget, and Sen. Mia Costello, R-Anchorage, spoke to Sen. Tom Begich, D-Anchorage, about comments he made on the floor on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. (Peter Segall/Juneau Empire)
Kids wait to hear the winners of the bike raffle during the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on June 15, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Nikiski ‘Midnight Sun’ festival to return

The event, which has been a staple of the peninsula since its debut in the 1960s, was canceled last year.

Kids wait to hear the winners of the bike raffle during the Family Fun in the Midnight Sun festival at the North Peninsula Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska, on June 15, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
In this Sept. 9, 2019, file photo, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. The Biden administration’s suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water was blocked Tuesday, June 15, 2021, by a federal judge in Louisiana. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty’s ruling came in a lawsuit filed in March by Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, Jeff Landry and officials in 12 other states. Doughty’s ruling granting a preliminary injunction to those states said his order applies nationwide. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Federal judge blocks Biden’s pause on new oil, gas leases

The decision is a blow to Democratic President Joe Biden’s efforts to rapidly transition the nation away from fossil fuels

  • Jun 16, 2021
  • By KEVIN McGILL Associated Press
  • State News
In this Sept. 9, 2019, file photo, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. The Biden administration’s suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water was blocked Tuesday, June 15, 2021, by a federal judge in Louisiana. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty’s ruling came in a lawsuit filed in March by Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, Jeff Landry and officials in 12 other states. Doughty’s ruling granting a preliminary injunction to those states said his order applies nationwide. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
Kale Casey/Alaska DNR-Division of Forestry
An aerial photo of the 102-acre Loon Lake Fire footprint taken at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Swan Lake is in the background to the right.

Burn suspension in effect as firefighters work to contain Loon Lake Fire

The fire, about 10 miles northeast of Sterling, had grown to just over 100 acres as of Tuesday.

Kale Casey/Alaska DNR-Division of Forestry
An aerial photo of the 102-acre Loon Lake Fire footprint taken at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Swan Lake is in the background to the right.
Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche prepares for the start of a brief Senate floor session on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Lawmakers were trying to reach resolution on a state spending package during the special legislative session. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Budget talks break down as shutdown looms

Legislative leadership met for most of the day Tuesday.

Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche prepares for the start of a brief Senate floor session on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Lawmakers were trying to reach resolution on a state spending package during the special legislative session. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion
The women’s field takes to the course in 2017 at the Mount Marathon Race in Seward.

800 expected for Mount Marathon Race

The race, traditionally held on the Fourth of July in Seward, will be held on July 7 this year.

Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion
The women’s field takes to the course in 2017 at the Mount Marathon Race in Seward.
Chinook salmon (Michael Humling/US Fish & Wildlife Service)
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Fish and Game restricts Kenai, Kasilof king fishing

King salmon of any size are restricted to catch and release from the mouth of the Kenai River upstream to the outlet of Skilak Lake.

Chinook salmon (Michael Humling/US Fish & Wildlife Service)
Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Alaska House and Senate members who make up a budget conference committee are shown before starting a meeting in Juneau, Alaska, on Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)

Lawmakers decry ‘bully tactics’ in budget proposal

The proposal allocates an Alaska Permanent Fund dividend payment of $1,100 but splits the funding sources for the payment.

Alaska House and Senate members who make up a budget conference committee are shown before starting a meeting in Juneau, Alaska, on Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer)
A sign and road blocker at the head of the Hidden Creek Trail on Skilak Lake Road warns people about bear activity on Sunday, June 13, 2021 in Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Campers kayak to safety after Skilak bear attack

They were at the mouth of Hidden Creek along the shoreline of Skilak Lake

A sign and road blocker at the head of the Hidden Creek Trail on Skilak Lake Road warns people about bear activity on Sunday, June 13, 2021 in Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign indicates the turn for Jims’ Landing on Skilak Lake Road on Sunday, June 13, 2021 near Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Input on environmental impact of Jims’ Landing improvements due Saturday

The boat launch is located in the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area, near Milepost 58 of the Sterling Highway.

A sign indicates the turn for Jims’ Landing on Skilak Lake Road on Sunday, June 13, 2021 near Skilak Lake on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Setnetters make their way back to the beach near a site on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Personal-use setnetting opening Tuesday on Kasilof

The hours for fishing in the restricted area of the Kasilof River on Tuesday are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Setnetters make their way back to the beach near a site on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
This photo taken at 11:30 a.m. today, Monday, June 14, reveals little smoke rising from the Loon Lake Fire following Sunday’s aerial attack by water and retardant bombing aircraft. The fire denoted by the burned area at the edge of the lake. (Jason Jordet/Division of Forestry Air Attack)

Flight restriction issued over Loon Lake Fire, now 15% contained

The fire was first reported on Saturday evening.

This photo taken at 11:30 a.m. today, Monday, June 14, reveals little smoke rising from the Loon Lake Fire following Sunday’s aerial attack by water and retardant bombing aircraft. The fire denoted by the burned area at the edge of the lake. (Jason Jordet/Division of Forestry Air Attack)
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Juneau residents place hundreds of pairs of children’s shoes in front of the statue at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Saturday as they mourned for the 215 dead children uncovered at a residential school in Canada.

Juneau community holds vigil for residential school victims

Many of the residential schools in Alaska ran until the late 20th century.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire
Juneau residents place hundreds of pairs of children’s shoes in front of the statue at Mayor Bill Overstreet Park on Saturday as they mourned for the 215 dead children uncovered at a residential school in Canada.
Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion
A participant in the Soldotna Pride March celebrates on Saturday. A group spanning five blocks marched from the Soldonta Regional Sports Complex through downtown Soldotna and gathered at Soldotna Creek Park. <strong>See story Page 2</strong>

‘A celebration of love and community’

Pride March makes its way through Soldotna

Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion
A participant in the Soldotna Pride March celebrates on Saturday. A group spanning five blocks marched from the Soldonta Regional Sports Complex through downtown Soldotna and gathered at Soldotna Creek Park. <strong>See story Page 2</strong>
Krista Schooley (left) testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Board of Education on Monday, June 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)

A ‘groundswell’: Conservative coalition seeks to expand influence on school policy

The vision of KPCCC is to “restructure and build the foundation of the 7 Mountains of Influence in our society through conservative action.”

Krista Schooley (left) testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Board of Education on Monday, June 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)
In this July 31, 2013, file photo, tourists visiting the Mendenhall Glacier in the Tongass National Forest are reflected in a pool of water as they make their way to Nugget Falls in Juneau. The federal government has announced plans to repeal or replace a decision by the Trump administration to lift restrictions on logging and road building in a southeast Alaska rainforest that provides habitat for wolves, bears and salmon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plans for the Tongass National Forest were described as consistent with a January 2021 executive order from President Joe Biden that called for reviewing agency actions during the Trump administration that could be at odds with Biden’s environmental priorities. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

US will revisit Trump-era decision on Tongass

Conservationists cheered the announcement as a positive step.

  • Jun 13, 2021
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
  • State News
In this July 31, 2013, file photo, tourists visiting the Mendenhall Glacier in the Tongass National Forest are reflected in a pool of water as they make their way to Nugget Falls in Juneau. The federal government has announced plans to repeal or replace a decision by the Trump administration to lift restrictions on logging and road building in a southeast Alaska rainforest that provides habitat for wolves, bears and salmon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plans for the Tongass National Forest were described as consistent with a January 2021 executive order from President Joe Biden that called for reviewing agency actions during the Trump administration that could be at odds with Biden’s environmental priorities. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)