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)
Member Jordan Chilson speaks in support of an ordinance that would establish a residential property tax exemption during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna defines legislative priorities for upcoming session

Roof replacement, signalization study and road improvements top the list.

Member Jordan Chilson speaks in support of an ordinance that would establish a residential property tax exemption during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

HEA extends contract with Enstar

HEA also plans to reduce its annual consumption of natural gas by approximately 21% over the next three years.

The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Vance, Bjorkman prefile bills ahead of session

In total, 37 House bills, 39 Senate bills and five Senate joint resolutions had been filed as of Friday.

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough accepts fishery disaster funds, calls for proclamation of fishery disaster

The funding stems from fishery disasters that were first recognized and allocated in 2022.

Sockeye salmon caught in a set gillnet are dragged up onto the beach at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Students embrace Aubrie Ellis after she was named National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025 by the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals at Mountain View Elementary School in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mountain View assistant principal earns national recognition

Aubrie Ellis named Alaska’s National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025.

Students embrace Aubrie Ellis after she was named National Outstanding Assistant Principal of 2025 by the Alaska Association of Elementary School Principals at Mountain View Elementary School in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Project Manager Jason Graf points to a map while answering questions from attendees on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Open House at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna PZ Commission gets 1st look at draft Riverfront Redevelopment zoning plan

The draft document describes a new riverfront mixed-use district.

Project Manager Jason Graf points to a map while answering questions from attendees on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Open House at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Company in talks to helm Alaska pipeline project says LNG is key to ‘global energy transition’

Glenfarne Group said they had entered into an agreement with AGDC to develop the Alaska LNG Project.

Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

New York-based company in talks to develop Alaska LNG Pipeline

Though the state declined to name the partner, a statement from New York-based Glenfarne Group on Wednesday said they had entered into an exclusive agreement with AGDC for development of the project.

Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes travelers to the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State population climbs slightly, Kenai Peninsula continues growth

That increase is much larger than the increases reported in recent years.

A sign welcomes travelers to the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A chart shows the unemployment rate of Alaska compared to that of the United States, included in data from the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development announcing job growth for 2024. (Courtesy Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)

Alaska added 7,700 jobs in 2024

The number exceeds the department’s projection of 5,400 published in its “Alaska Economic Trends” in January of last year

A chart shows the unemployment rate of Alaska compared to that of the United States, included in data from the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development announcing job growth for 2024. (Courtesy Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
Soldotna High School Student Council President Emma Glassmaker and executive board members Cammy Kincaid and Will Klein speak to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna gives 1st student council presentation to borough assembly

The presentation period was created during the assembly’s June 4 meeting.

Soldotna High School Student Council President Emma Glassmaker and executive board members Cammy Kincaid and Will Klein speak to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough taking applications to fill assembly seat vacated by Elam

Elam resigned his position after winning election in November to the Alaska House of Representatives.

Bill Elam speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Patricia Bouton speaks in opposition to a proposed ordinance to modify public comment to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly kills ordinance that would have cut one public comment period

Opposition was brought forward by several last month when the ordinance was introduced.

Patricia Bouton speaks in opposition to a proposed ordinance to modify public comment to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their meeting in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes presents information on the district’ fiscal year 2024 budget at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD to hold community budget meetings in Homer, Kenai and Seward

The school district prepares budgets for fiscal years that run from July 1 to June 30

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Finance Director Liz Hayes presents information on the district’ fiscal year 2024 budget at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Public comments show support for Seward air service

The proposal aims to restore federally subsidized essential air service to Seward

A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Homer man arrested for Cooper Landing burglaries

He is accused of at least five different burglaries, troopers said

Alaska State Troopers logo.
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Christmas Bird Count spots more than 8,000 birds

Count Day was held on Dec. 21, after a weeklong postponement due to heavy snow

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State of Alaska Department of Law logo. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Law

Dayan convicted of 2020 murder

Keith Huss, 57, was found dead on Sept. 29, 2020, at a rest area in Turnagain Pass

State of Alaska Department of Law logo. Photo courtesy of the State of Alaska Department of Law
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Updated: Troopers take into custody ‘person of interest’ in Cooper Landing burglaries

Troopers asked people in Cooper Landing to be vigilant and urged against picking up hitchhikers

Alaska State Troopers logo.