News

State House District 6 candidates Rep. Sarah Vance, Dawson Slaughter and Brent Johnson participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

House District 6 candidates talk finance, schooling, fisheries

Candidates met Tuesday at the Homer Public Library for a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM

State House District 6 candidates Rep. Sarah Vance, Dawson Slaughter and Brent Johnson participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska House of Representatives District 8 candidates John Hillyer and Bill Elam shake answer questions during the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Hillyer, Elam debate issues in House District 8 forum

They met Monday at the Soldotna Public Library for a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM.

Alaska House of Representatives District 8 candidates John Hillyer and Bill Elam shake answer questions during the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Teams assemble towers during the Spontaneous Challenge portion of the Mind-A-Mazes competition at Skyview Middle School near Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Putting their minds to the test

District youth compete in annual engineering, problem-solving competition

Teams assemble towers during the Spontaneous Challenge portion of the Mind-A-Mazes competition at Skyview Middle School near Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Parents and supporters of Aurora Borealis Charter School fill the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Charter Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Aurora Borealis Charter School renewal application advanced

They will next be heard during a Nov. 4 work session of the school board

Parents and supporters of Aurora Borealis Charter School fill the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Charter Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A banner at Homer City Hall identifies the building as a voting precinct. Early voting runs at city hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Friday and Monday in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Early voting for Nov. 5 general election open in Kenai, Soldotna and Homer

Voters will cast ballots for U.S. president and U.S. representative, state House and Senate and decide on two ballot measures

A banner at Homer City Hall identifies the building as a voting precinct. Early voting runs at city hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Friday and Monday in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A pumpkin tumbles from a plane above the Kenai Airpark near Kenai, Alaska, during the Sixth Annual Kenai Aviation Pumpkin Drop on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Pumpkins dropped at annual aviation showcase

Kenai Aviation puts on 6th annual Pumpkin Drop

A pumpkin tumbles from a plane above the Kenai Airpark near Kenai, Alaska, during the Sixth Annual Kenai Aviation Pumpkin Drop on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Lilac Lane intersects with the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Lilac Lane resurfaced, council adds funds after project lands overbudget

Kenai’s Lilac Lane Roadway Project, completed last month, went nearly $50,000 over budget because of the extensive presence of bury pits — which required removal… Continue reading

Lilac Lane intersects with the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State House District 5 candidates Leighton Radner and Rep. Louise Stutes participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Seward Community Library in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Stutes, Radner talk spending, housing, child care at Seward forum

The candidate forum was moderated by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM

Alaska State House District 5 candidates Leighton Radner and Rep. Louise Stutes participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Seward Community Library in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer Public Library (Photo by Sarah Knapp)

Full state funding restored to libraries for FY25

A supplemental Public Library Assistance grant was awarded to Alaska libraries on Oct. 15

Homer Public Library (Photo by Sarah Knapp)
Kenai City Clerk Shelie Saner administers an oath of office to Sovala Kisena during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. Kisena won election to the council during the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai certifies election results

There were 673 total ballots cast, compared to 6,470 registered voters in Kenai

Kenai City Clerk Shelie Saner administers an oath of office to Sovala Kisena during a meeting of the Kenai City Council in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. Kisena won election to the council during the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Chair Patti Truesdell speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education Charter School Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD Committee hears charter applications from Kenaitze, Aurora Borealis

Both groups were asked to bring more information to Oct. 21 meeting

Chair Patti Truesdell speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education Charter School Oversight Committee in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Mount Spurr, raised to advisory on the Volcano Alert Level, can be seen in yellow northwest of the Kenai Peninsula. (Map courtesy Alaska Volcano Observatory/U.S. Department of the Interior)

Seismic activity at Mount Spurr prompts ‘advisory’ status, no eruption imminent

The mountain is located across Cook Inlet north of the Kenai Peninsula

Mount Spurr, raised to advisory on the Volcano Alert Level, can be seen in yellow northwest of the Kenai Peninsula. (Map courtesy Alaska Volcano Observatory/U.S. Department of the Interior)
Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion Alaska State House District 7 candidate Ron Gillham, left, and Rep. Justin Ruffridge participate in the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday.

Ruffridge, Gillham talk school funding, natural gas pipeline and state finance at forum

Justin Ruffridge and Ron Gillham, the two candidates for the District 7 seat in the Alaska House of Representatives, met Monday to discuss education, energy… Continue reading

Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion Alaska State House District 7 candidate Ron Gillham, left, and Rep. Justin Ruffridge participate in the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday.
Sockeye salmon are gathered together at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

CFEC to again consider dipnets as gear for commercial setnet fisheries

The commission is responding to “new petitions” for the gear to be added

Sockeye salmon are gathered together at a test site for selective harvest setnet gear in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

School board, district explore effects and uses of generative AI

AI advocate spoke to KPBSD Board of Education and teachers last week

Board President Zen Kelly speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Administrative Secretary Nikkol Sipes administers oaths of office to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Kelley Cizek and Sarah Douthit on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Cizek was reelected to represent Sterling and Funny River, Douthit was elected to represent Kenai during the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Board of Education swears in members, assigns leadership roles

The board held to a status quo organization

Administrative Secretary Nikkol Sipes administers oaths of office to Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education members Kelley Cizek and Sarah Douthit on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Cizek was reelected to represent Sterling and Funny River, Douthit was elected to represent Kenai during the Oct. 1 municipal election. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Downed trees are seen in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in September 2020. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Refuge opens for firewood collection Tuesday

Only trees that are dead and down within designated areas may be cut

Downed trees are seen in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in September 2020. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Metal reinforcements line the front of the Kenai Bluff at North Kenai Beach, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Construction of expanded seawall underway at Kenai Beach

The work is being undertaken by a group of property owners, with blessing from the City of Kenai

Metal reinforcements line the front of the Kenai Bluff at North Kenai Beach, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Clerk Johni Blankenship, right, administers oaths of office to Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings and Jordan Chilson during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna certifies election results

Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings and Jordan Chilson reelected to city council

Soldotna City Clerk Johni Blankenship, right, administers oaths of office to Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings and Jordan Chilson during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski), left, and Alaska House Rep. Ben Carpenter (R-Nikiski) participate in the Senate District D candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman, Carpenter talk economy, energy, education at forum

Whoever is elected to the seat will serve a four-year term ending in January 2029

Alaska State Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (R-Nikiski), left, and Alaska House Rep. Ben Carpenter (R-Nikiski) participate in the Senate District D candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)