EMT Jason Tauriainen administers a COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, Jan. 23 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of the Nikiski Senior Center)
EMT Jason Tauriainen administers a COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, Jan. 23 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of the Nikiski Senior Center)
Pegge Erkeneff (left) virtually interviews Dr. Clayton Holland (right) on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. (screenshot)

Superintendent finalists share experience, visions

Ahead of interviews, the three candidates participated in QAs with the district’s communications director

Pegge Erkeneff (left) virtually interviews Dr. Clayton Holland (right) on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. (screenshot)
Homer High School. (Homer News file photo)

Homer High has 1st COVID-19 case since reopening

Close contacts have been quarantined; school schedule not interrupted

Homer High School. (Homer News file photo)
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer leaves the Alaska House of Representatives chamber Monday, Jan. 25, 2020 after presiding over yet another floor session in which lawmakers were unable to elect leadership. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer leaves the Alaska House of Representatives chamber Monday, Jan. 25, 2020 after presiding over yet another floor session in which lawmakers were unable to elect leadership. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
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Seward reminds public about face mask requirement

The city has received complaints about people not adhering to the mask requirement

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Kenai Peninsula Borough Superintendent John O’Brien (courtesy photo)

School board to interview superintendent candidates

The new superintendent, who will replace Superintendent John O’Brien, will begin serving on July 1.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Superintendent John O’Brien (courtesy photo)
Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke with the Empire in his office at the Capitol on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. He said he was hopeful about finding a path forward for the state and that he wanted better communication between the Legislature and the public. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

‘It must be done this year’: Senate president eyes fiscal plan

“We have to solve this problem.”

Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke with the Empire in his office at the Capitol on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. He said he was hopeful about finding a path forward for the state and that he wanted better communication between the Legislature and the public. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai passes voucher program to boost small business

The $350,000 program is dubbed “Shop Here all Year in Kenai”

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Image via Kenai Peninsula School District

Eastern peninsula students to return full time on Monday

Includes Seward Elementary, Seward Middle, Seward High and Moose Pass schools,

Image via Kenai Peninsula School District
Protesters march for women’s rights in Juneau in 2020. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced a bipartisan bill Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 to move forward the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, granting equal legal protection to the sexes, stalled in its ratification stage since 1972. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Murkowski co-sponsors bipartisan bill to affirm ratification of Equal Rights Amendment

Stalled since 1972, the ERA would guarantee equal legal protection to all sexes.

Protesters march for women’s rights in Juneau in 2020. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced a bipartisan bill Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 to move forward the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, granting equal legal protection to the sexes, stalled in its ratification stage since 1972. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Volunteers Bill Kelley and Frank Alioto prepare bags of food to be distributed during the upcoming Project Homeless Connect even at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, Alaska on Jan. 23, 2021. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

A community effort

Volunteers prepare for Project Homeless Connect

Volunteers Bill Kelley and Frank Alioto prepare bags of food to be distributed during the upcoming Project Homeless Connect even at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, Alaska on Jan. 23, 2021. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

CPH treating no COVID patients; more than 70,000 vaccinated

Central Peninsula Hospital was treating no patients who were COVID-positive for the first time in months

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Man arrested after allegedly shooting at parked cars

Two people reported being shot at by a man while they were parked outside his home.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. The school was recently shuttered and classes combined with Soldotna High School. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Prep lease authorized for Boys and Girls Clubs

The short-term lease will last for the rest of the school year and continue on a month-to-month basis

Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. The school was recently shuttered and classes combined with Soldotna High School. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
RN Rachel Verba (right) administers a dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Dr. Chris Michelson (left) on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Bruce Richards/CPH)

Kenai will help pay for rides to vaccine clinics

The Kenai City Council approved $5,000 for the program on Wednesday

RN Rachel Verba (right) administers a dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to Dr. Chris Michelson (left) on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Bruce Richards/CPH)
The Endeavour-Spirit of Independence jack up rig is seen here in early April 2013, at the Cosmopolitan site in lower Cook Inlet near Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Smith/Peninsula Clarion)

Feds release draft Environmental Impact Statement for Cook Inlet oil and gas leases

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management moved forward a proposed oil and gas lease sale in lower Cook Inlet last Friday when it announced the… Continue reading

The Endeavour-Spirit of Independence jack up rig is seen here in early April 2013, at the Cosmopolitan site in lower Cook Inlet near Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Smith/Peninsula Clarion)
Todd Duwe hands a food box to Brad Nyquist as Mark Larson looks on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna, Alaska. The church volunteers were distributing food from the United States’ Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program, delivered by the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai extends funding for food boxes

The city council approved another $50,000 to cover the cost of the food boxes from a portion of the city’s unused CARES Act funds.

Todd Duwe hands a food box to Brad Nyquist as Mark Larson looks on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, at Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna, Alaska. The church volunteers were distributing food from the United States’ Department of Agriculture’s Farmers to Families Food Box Program, delivered by the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. ( Courtesy Photo / Austin McDaniel, Office of the Governor)

Dunleavy pitches dividend change amid legislative splits

No clear direction has emerged from lawmakers.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses the public during a virtual town hall on Sept. 15, 2020 in Alaska. ( Courtesy Photo / Austin McDaniel, Office of the Governor)
Kenai Peninsula students participate in a simulated space mission at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, Alaska, in this undated photo. (Courtesy Colette Gilmour/Challenger Learning Center)

Donation helps students take flight

A $25,000 donation will be used to fund several STEM programs offered by the Challenger Learning Center

Kenai Peninsula students participate in a simulated space mission at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, Alaska, in this undated photo. (Courtesy Colette Gilmour/Challenger Learning Center)
Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, left, leaves the Alaska House of Representatives chamber Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, with George Rauscher, R-Sutton, after a brief floor session where lawmakers failed to nominate a temporary speaker. Meyer will preside over the body until a leadership is elected. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House members optimistic, but still deadlocked

‘Not everyone stand at once here.’

Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer, left, leaves the Alaska House of Representatives chamber Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, with George Rauscher, R-Sutton, after a brief floor session where lawmakers failed to nominate a temporary speaker. Meyer will preside over the body until a leadership is elected. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)