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

City of Kenai extends restrictions on public access to city facilities

Affected buildings include the library, the airport terminal, the ice rink, City Hall and the senior center.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Health care workers help distribute flu vaccines to thousands of Juneau residents at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Local health authorities said the drive-thru clinic was a practice run for an eventual mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Health care workers help distribute flu vaccines to thousands of Juneau residents at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Local health authorities said the drive-thru clinic was a practice run for an eventual mass distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Commercial fishing vessels are moored in the Kenai harbor on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to take up legislation opposing closure of federal inlet waters to commercial fishing

The assembly will discuss the resolution at their Dec. 1 meeting

Commercial fishing vessels are moored in the Kenai harbor on July 10, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign detailing the store’s mask policy stands outside Safeway in Soldotna on July 21, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough attorney signs letter refuting state’s claim that second-class boroughs can mandate masks

The letter describes specific statutes barring them from enacting mask mandate

A sign detailing the store’s mask policy stands outside Safeway in Soldotna on July 21, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport screening site on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

State addresses COVID-19 case data backlog

More than 1,600 positive cases were reported late by new commercial lab in Anchorage

Emergency worker Melanie Chavez takes a COVID-19 test sample at the Juneau International Airport screening site on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion 
Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna. The school was recently shuttered and classes combined with Soldotna High School.

Borough to enter into Soldotna Prep use agreements

The borough will enter into agreements with the Boys and Girls Club of the Kenai Peninsula and Central Emergency Services

Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion 
Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna. The school was recently shuttered and classes combined with Soldotna High School.
Elizabeth Shaw, left, and Nathaniel Shaw, center, pick out a grab bag in the hopes of winning a free quilt from Karri Ambrosini, right, during the Sterling Fall Festival at the Sterling Community Center on Nov. 28, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Getting in the spirit

Local vendors offer holiday wares at Sterling fest

Elizabeth Shaw, left, and Nathaniel Shaw, center, pick out a grab bag in the hopes of winning a free quilt from Karri Ambrosini, right, during the Sterling Fall Festival at the Sterling Community Center on Nov. 28, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
An Arctic Ringed Seal, which is listed as a “threatened” subspecies of ringed seal under the Endangered Species Act. (Courtesy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Feds reject petition to delist Arctic ringed seals as threatened

Since 2013, three subspecies of ringed seal — the Arctic, Okhotsk and Baltic — have been listed as threatened.

An Arctic Ringed Seal, which is listed as a “threatened” subspecies of ringed seal under the Endangered Species Act. (Courtesy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: four additional deaths tied to COVID-19

Homer has 44 new positive cases reported in one day

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 2nd-highest daily case increase; 10 new cases at Heritage Place

100% remote learning continues for central pen. schools through Dec. 18

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Safety officials warn of home fire risks

Placing combustible materials too close to heat sources is also a common cause of fire death.

In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)

Trump administration denies Pebble permit

The rejection was a surprise.

  • Nov 25, 2020
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
In this July 13, 2007, file photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. (AP Photo / Al Grillo)
Ben Weagraff, Olivia Orth and Brian Mazurek stand next to a freshly cut black spruce off Funny River Road in Soldotna, Alaska on Dec. 8, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Peterson)

Refuge opens for holiday tree-cutting

Through Dec. 25 people can chop down a tree for Christmas in many areas of the refuge.

Ben Weagraff, Olivia Orth and Brian Mazurek stand next to a freshly cut black spruce off Funny River Road in Soldotna, Alaska on Dec. 8, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Peterson)
People are seen walking into Walmart on Wednesday, November 25 in Kenai, Alaska.

Stores adjust Black Friday shopping to pandemic

National retailers, local businesses and craft fairs will offer sales while emphasizing safety

People are seen walking into Walmart on Wednesday, November 25 in Kenai, Alaska.
File

Seward face covering mandate goes into effect Wednesday

It remains in effect for 30 days or until the declaration of emergency expires and is not renewed

File
Kenai Harbor in Cook Inlet is photographed on May 14, 2020. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

City of Kenai voices opposition to potential closure of federal Cook Inlet waters to salmon fishing

The council voted unanimously in support of the resolution.

Kenai Harbor in Cook Inlet is photographed on May 14, 2020. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

13 COVID deaths announced, 3 on peninsula

DHSS reported 583 new cases in Alaska on Tuesday

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Image via Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
Image via Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File
In this Tuesday, Nov. 17 file photo, manager Yllka Murati waits for a delivery driver to pick up takeout orders behind a partition displaying a sign to remind customers to wear a mask, at the Penrose Diner, in south Philadelphia. Despite the expected arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in just a few weeks, it could take several months — probably well into 2021 — before things get back to something close to normal in the U.S. and Americans can once again go to the movies, cheer at an NBA game or give Grandma a hug.

Officials: Keep Thanksgiving small; celebrate virtually

CDC and public health offer guidelines for Thanksgiving celebrations

AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File
In this Tuesday, Nov. 17 file photo, manager Yllka Murati waits for a delivery driver to pick up takeout orders behind a partition displaying a sign to remind customers to wear a mask, at the Penrose Diner, in south Philadelphia. Despite the expected arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in just a few weeks, it could take several months — probably well into 2021 — before things get back to something close to normal in the U.S. and Americans can once again go to the movies, cheer at an NBA game or give Grandma a hug.