Two commercial troll fishing boats pass each other on June 2, 2020, at Mountain Point in Ketchikan, Alaska. A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, halted a lower court ruling that would have shut down southeast Alaska’s chinook salmon fishery for the summer to protect endangered orca whales that eat the fish. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP, File)

King salmon season back on in Alaska after federal appeals court lets fishery open July 1

The ruling by a three-judge 9th Circuit Court panel means the summer king salmon season will start as usual next week

  • Jun 21, 2023
  • By MARK THIESSEN and AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press
  • State News
Two commercial troll fishing boats pass each other on June 2, 2020, at Mountain Point in Ketchikan, Alaska. A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, halted a lower court ruling that would have shut down southeast Alaska’s chinook salmon fishery for the summer to protect endangered orca whales that eat the fish. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP, File)
Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs ZipMart demolition

The building, located on Swanson River Road, started to collapse earlier this year

Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signage points the way to the Swan Lake Cabin in the Chugach National Forest on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Comment sought for proposed public use cabins

The five cabins are set to be constructed in four locations in the Glacier and Seward Ranger Districts

Signage points the way to the Swan Lake Cabin in the Chugach National Forest on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna, Alaska, is seen on June 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Assembly strengthens borough protections against malfeasance

Legislation overhauls the sections of borough code that discuss employee protection, surety bonds, liability for conduct and indemnification

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna, Alaska, is seen on June 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
The Kenai Public Health Center is seen on Feb. 6, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Health department: Congenital syphilis increased ‘dramatically’ over past 5 years

The condition occurs when the bacteria that causes syphilis is transmitted from a pregnant person to a developing fetus

The Kenai Public Health Center is seen on Feb. 6, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Girdwood resident dies in Clam Gulch motorcycle crash

The crash took place near Sterling Highway Mile Post 115 between Clam Gulch and Johnson Lake

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the Kenai Classic Roundtable at Kenai Peninsula College on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy budget vetoes include peninsula projects, bonus funding for schools

Funding for Kenai Peninsula projects and a slash to the extra money approved by state lawmakers for K-12 education are among the vetoes made by… Continue reading

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the Kenai Classic Roundtable at Kenai Peninsula College on Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Wasilla man arrested on charges of sexual assault, burglary

The incidents are alleged to have taken place in Soldotna

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna Elementary School Principal Dr. Austin Stevenson points out corroded insulation outside of the school building on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska.

School district moves ahead with bond projects

$65.5 million in bonds will fund deferred maintenance projects at 10 KPBSD schools

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Soldotna Elementary School Principal Dr. Austin Stevenson points out corroded insulation outside of the school building on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska.
Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska LNG Project gets mixed response at Kenai meeting

The proposed 800-mile pipeline would move gas from the North Slope to Nikiski for shipment overseas

Alaska LNG Project Manager Brad Chastain presents information about the project during a luncheon at the Kenai Chamber Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Special Olympics Alaska Central Peninsula swim team stands together for a photo at the 2023 Special Olympics Alaska Summer Games at Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo provided by Special Olympics Alaska Central Peninsula)
The Special Olympics Alaska Central Peninsula swim team stands together for a photo at the 2023 Special Olympics Alaska Summer Games at Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo provided by Special Olympics Alaska Central Peninsula)

Swimming to success

Special Olympics swim team brings home more than 30 medals, celebrates community

The Special Olympics Alaska Central Peninsula swim team stands together for a photo at the 2023 Special Olympics Alaska Summer Games at Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo provided by Special Olympics Alaska Central Peninsula)
The Special Olympics Alaska Central Peninsula swim team stands together for a photo at the 2023 Special Olympics Alaska Summer Games at Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo provided by Special Olympics Alaska Central Peninsula)
LaDawn Druce asks Sen. Jesse Bjorkman a question during a town hall event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Druce returns as head of teachers union

The special election followed the firing of former president Nathan Erfurth, who was arrested in May on charges of sexual abuse of a minor

LaDawn Druce asks Sen. Jesse Bjorkman a question during a town hall event on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Muddy runners move down the Tsalteshi Trails’ Porcupine Loop in Soldotna, Alaska, as they participate in the KDLL Mud Run on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo provided by KDLL 91.9 FM)

Becoming ‘one with the mud’

Runners get dirty in support of public radio

Muddy runners move down the Tsalteshi Trails’ Porcupine Loop in Soldotna, Alaska, as they participate in the KDLL Mud Run on Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo provided by KDLL 91.9 FM)
Sarah Chesser works a Nikiski Fire Department hose during Family Fun in the Midnight Sun on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Families enjoy Nikiski community event

Family Fun in the Midnight Sun is hosted by the North Peninsula Recreation Service Area

Sarah Chesser works a Nikiski Fire Department hose during Family Fun in the Midnight Sun on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)
A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)
Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Sockeye salmon bag limits increased for Russian River and part of Kenai River

The increase comes because of strong numbers of sockeye salmon being counted at the Russian River weir

Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A pavillion under construction marks the entrance to the future Kenai Dog Park on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Work underway at Kenai dog park

The city has eyed July for a grand opening

A pavillion under construction marks the entrance to the future Kenai Dog Park on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough looks to demolish collapsed ZipMart building

It’s been more than 20 years since the Sterling business, a convenience store and gas station, was in operation

Building materials pile up at the site of the former ZipMart on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Sterling, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A harbor seal pup is treated by staff at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, June 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy Peter Sculli/Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center rescues 5 more harbor seal pups

The center currently has 9 pups in their care

A harbor seal pup is treated by staff at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, June 8, 2023. (Photo courtesy Peter Sculli/Alaska SeaLife Center)