From left: Alaska House Reps. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak; Bill Elam, R-Nikiski; Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna; and Sarah Vance, R-Homer, take the oath of office at the Alaska Capitol on Tuesday in Juneau. (Photo by Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Peninsula legislators take oaths of office

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman and Reps. Justin Ruffridge, Bill Elam and Sarah Vance were among those sworn in.

From left: Alaska House Reps. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak; Bill Elam, R-Nikiski; Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna; and Sarah Vance, R-Homer, take the oath of office at the Alaska Capitol on Tuesday in Juneau. (Photo by Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Diane Peterson, Casady Herding and Jen Brighton stand with signs sharing Martin Luther King Jr. quotes are calling to “Resist” along the side of the Kenai Spur Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Trump inauguration marked by small Soldotna protest

The group stood alongside the Kenai Spur Highway across the parking lot from conservative social club and coffee shop Ammo-Can Coffee.

Diane Peterson, Casady Herding and Jen Brighton stand with signs sharing Martin Luther King Jr. quotes are calling to “Resist” along the side of the Kenai Spur Highway in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and City Manager Terry Eubank speak during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai sets goals for next budget

The goals will guide Kenai’s administration in preparing the budget document that will be considered in the spring.

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and City Manager Terry Eubank speak during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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‘Women’s rights are human rights’

The 2025 Women’s March on Homer was held Saturday in conjunction with marches across the country.

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Golden-yellow birch trees and spruce frame a view of Aurora Lagoon and Portlock Glacier from a trail in the Cottonwood-Eastland Unit of Kachemak Bay State Park off East End Road on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong)

State parks division seeks citizen advisory board members

Seats are available on the Seward, Kenai River Special Management Area and Kachemak Bay boards.

Golden-yellow birch trees and spruce frame a view of Aurora Lagoon and Portlock Glacier from a trail in the Cottonwood-Eastland Unit of Kachemak Bay State Park off East End Road on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong)
Luminaria light the path of the Third Annual StarLight StarBright winter solstice skiing fundraiser at the Kenai Golf Course in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

StarLight StarBright fundraiser canceled

The subpar trail conditions that caused the previous delay have not improved.

Luminaria light the path of the Third Annual StarLight StarBright winter solstice skiing fundraiser at the Kenai Golf Course in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Sarah Vance, candidate for State House District 6, participates in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Vance prefiles 2 bills targeting tech

Both bills are intended to safeguard children and maintain “societal integrity” in the face of rapidly advancing technologies.

Rep. Sarah Vance, candidate for State House District 6, participates in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Homer Courthouse. (Homer News file photo)
The Homer Courthouse. (Homer News file photo)

Plea change hearing scheduled for Mondragon-Lopez

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez Jr. was charged in October 2023 for the murder of Brianna Hetrick.

The Homer Courthouse. (Homer News file photo)
The Homer Courthouse. (Homer News file photo)
Volunteers sort winter gear prior to the start of the annual Community Resource Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at the SPARC in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Derotha Ferraro
Volunteers sort winter gear prior to the start of the annual Community Resource Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at the SPARC in Homer, Alaska. Photo provided by Derotha Ferraro
The logo for South Peninsula Hospital. Homer News file photo.

Measles case confirmed in Homer

South Peninsula Hospital will offer free MMR vaccines starting Monday.

The logo for South Peninsula Hospital. Homer News file photo.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche points to where the disconnected baler ram has bent piping at the Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, advocates seek path forward for recycling after baler failure

The borough needs to measure whether its actions are really reducing the impact of solid waste on the planet, mayor says.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche points to where the disconnected baler ram has bent piping at the Central Peninsula Landfill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference director Erin Coughlin Hollowell (right) welcomes attendees to the opening panel on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Registration open for Kachemak Bay Writers Conference

The 2025 conference will be held May 17-20 at Kachemak Bay Campus

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference director Erin Coughlin Hollowell (right) welcomes attendees to the opening panel on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
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Anchor River floods again

A ice dam on the Anchor River caused another flooding incident on Monday.

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Marty Askin and Brian Gabriel inspect a displayed model of a traditional Dena’ina home called a nichil during the grand reopening of the cultural center at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai visitor center revitalizes peninsula’s ‘rich history’

The vision for the space describes monthly rotation of exhibits and a speaker series.

Marty Askin and Brian Gabriel inspect a displayed model of a traditional Dena’ina home called a nichil during the grand reopening of the cultural center at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers badge. File photo.

Updated: Arson, burning charges dismissed in Homer fire case

Kimberly Ketter, 41, was arrested on Jan. 4 for several charges including arson.

Alaska State Troopers badge. File photo.
The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai man arrested after allegedly aiming shotgun into traffic

Multiple parents who were dropping children at nearby Mountain View Elementary reported the man, police said.

The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward Deputy Fire Chief Katherine McCoy stands for a photo with Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites and Assistant State Fire Marshal Mark Brauneis after McCoy was presented the 2024 Ken Akerley Fire Service Leadership Award at Seward Fire Department in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites)

Seward deputy fire chief earns state leadership award

Katherine McCoy this month received the 2024 Ken Akerley Fire Service Leadership Award.

Seward Deputy Fire Chief Katherine McCoy stands for a photo with Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites and Assistant State Fire Marshal Mark Brauneis after McCoy was presented the 2024 Ken Akerley Fire Service Leadership Award at Seward Fire Department in Seward, Alaska. (Photo provided by Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites)
Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Elam prepares for freshman legislative session

He’s excited to get onto the floor and start legislating.

Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Bjorkman readies for start of legislative session

His priorities this year won’t look much different from those of his freshman legislative session.

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks in favor of overriding a veto of Senate Bill 140 during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024 (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Tim Daugharty speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD launches conversation on $17 million deficit

The district says overcoming the deficit without heavy cuts would require a substantial increase to the BSA.

Tim Daugharty speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

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