Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce (left) and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen (right) participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Group studying 4-day school week model takes shape

Members of a newly minted Kenai Peninsula Borough School District group convened for the first time Wednesday in Soldotna to refine their goals and purpose… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce (left) and committee Chair Jason Tauriainen (right) participate in the first meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Four Day School Week Ad Hoc Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Scott Daletas, Monte Roberts and Jerry Strieby, all of whom sit in sport fishing guide seats, discuss proposals during a meeting of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Optimal escapement goal supported at advisory committee meeting

How many king salmon does it take to rebuild a run, and what restrictions should be in place to protect king salmon? Those were questions… Continue reading

Scott Daletas, Monte Roberts and Jerry Strieby, all of whom sit in sport fishing guide seats, discuss proposals during a meeting of the Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (left) addresses constituents during a town hall event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman prefiles bills, says pressure is on for lawmakers this session

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman was well-represented on the list of bills prefiled by state lawmakers ahead of their upcoming session, which kicks off Jan. 16 in… Continue reading

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (left) addresses constituents during a town hall event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Wildwood inmate charged with assault

An inmate at Wildwood Pretrial was charged with two counts of fourth-degree assault for attacking two corrections officers Monday, Alaska State Troopers said Tuesday. According… Continue reading

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Around two dozen people gathered to snowshoe at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge stand for a photo near Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Refuge hosts guided snowshoe walks

Along trails near the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge’s Visitor Center, a procession of around two dozen snowshoers followed Park Ranger Leah Eskelin on a Saturday… Continue reading

Around two dozen people gathered to snowshoe at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge stand for a photo near Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes (left) presents preliminary fiscal year 2025 budge information during a school board committee meeting on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Budget deficit continues to steer school board talks

Warnings about the implications and scale of the budget deficit the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is facing for the upcoming fiscal year again dominated… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes (left) presents preliminary fiscal year 2025 budge information during a school board committee meeting on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Graduates throw their caps into the air at the end of Soldotna High School’s commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board mulls grad policy clarifications

High school graduates would only be permitted to participate in the commencement ceremonies of the school they are graduating from under a policy being considered… Continue reading

Graduates throw their caps into the air at the end of Soldotna High School’s commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

New policy clarifies filming, recording in borough facilities

A new Kenai Peninsula Borough policy that explains what is and isn’t allowed in borough buildings when it comes to photography, filming or recording became… Continue reading

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Fine Art Center is preparing for its first in-person gallery in July 2021. Photo taken on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Art Hive to debut Saturday

The Kenai Art Center will host the first session of the Kenai Peninsula Art Hive — a free session for creativity using donated art supplies… Continue reading

The Kenai Fine Art Center is preparing for its first in-person gallery in July 2021. Photo taken on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
A freshly stocked rainbow trout swims in Johnson Lake during Salmon Celebration on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Johnson Lake in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game accepting comment on sport fish stocking plan

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is accepting public comment on its 2024 Statewide Stocking Plan for Sport Fisheries until the end of the… Continue reading

A freshly stocked rainbow trout swims in Johnson Lake during Salmon Celebration on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Johnson Lake in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Finance Director David Swarner (left) and City Manager Terry Eubank (right) present city budget goals for Fiscal Year 2025 during a work session with Kenai City Council members on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai starts early budget talks

The City of Kenai on Wednesday kicked off its budget process for the upcoming fiscal year with a work session attended by council members and… Continue reading

Kenai Finance Director David Swarner (left) and City Manager Terry Eubank (right) present city budget goals for Fiscal Year 2025 during a work session with Kenai City Council members on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna Landfill is seen on June 27, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai to assist borough with leachate management

Leachate is the word for liquid that touches trash at a landfill

The Soldotna Landfill is seen on June 27, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
An 86 pound Kenai River king salmon is measured by fishing guide Jeff Moore in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 29, 1995. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion File)

A stock of concern: Board of Fish to consider action plan for king salmon management

Kenai River late-run king salmon have failed to meet the board-set optimal escapement goal in the four years it has been in place

An 86 pound Kenai River king salmon is measured by fishing guide Jeff Moore in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 29, 1995. (M. Scott Moon/Peninsula Clarion File)
A new sign welcoming people to the City of Soldotna stands near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Kenai River on May 1, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna RV park tenants sue landlords, alleging toxic water supply, fraudulent electricity charges

The suit also makes reference to the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Project

A new sign welcoming people to the City of Soldotna stands near the intersection of the Sterling Highway and Kenai River on May 1, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly calls on state to increase K-12 funding

School districts across Alaska lobbied lawmakers heavily last session for a meaningful increase to the base student allocation

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is March 31. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

PFD applications open for 2024

As of Tuesday evening, 37,000 people had submitted their application

The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is March 31. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Job Center is seen in Kenai, Alaska on April 15, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Minimum wage increased by $0.88

This year’s increase is the largest adjustment since the minimum wage began to be adjusted for inflation

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Job Center is seen in Kenai, Alaska on April 15, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Drag performer Jasper Dragful accepts a crown after speaking about the history of drag during Soldotna Pride in the Park on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Pride postpones drag story hour event, citing safety concerns

The story hour was one of three events scheduled as part of a “Happy New Queer Winter Celebration”

Drag performer Jasper Dragful accepts a crown after speaking about the history of drag during Soldotna Pride in the Park on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Clouds cover the beach at Lowell Point State Recreation Site on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 near Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Fee increases for State Park usage rescinded days before going into effect

The existing fees will continue to be apply “as if they were never replaced”

Clouds cover the beach at Lowell Point State Recreation Site on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 near Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Cracks split the siding outside of Soldotna High School on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. The siding is one of several projects in a bond package Kenai Peninsula voters will consider during the Oct. 4 municipal election next month. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Suit alleges fungal growth at 4 KPBSD schools caused health problems

The district has both acknowledged and responded to the complaint, KPBSD Superintendent Clayton Holland said

Cracks split the siding outside of Soldotna High School on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. The siding is one of several projects in a bond package Kenai Peninsula voters will consider during the Oct. 4 municipal election next month. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)