News

Jesse Bjorkman, right, participates in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who last month was elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska Senate, is vacating his seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. His last assembly meeting will be Jan. 3. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Applications now being accepted for assembly vacancy

Current assembly member Jesse Bjorkman was elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska Senate

Jesse Bjorkman, right, participates in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who last month was elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska Senate, is vacating his seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. His last assembly meeting will be Jan. 3. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lawmakers, staff and other workers inside the Alaska State Capitol are preparing this week for the upcoming session of the Alaska State Legislature that starts Jan. 17, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Alaska court: Anchorage Democrat qualified for House seat

A brief order from the state Supreme Court affirmed the superior court’s conclusion

  • Jan 13, 2023
  • Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • State News
Lawmakers, staff and other workers inside the Alaska State Capitol are preparing this week for the upcoming session of the Alaska State Legislature that starts Jan. 17, 2023. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
A home that was knocked off its foundation floats down Snake River during a severe storm in Nome, Alaska, is caught under a bridge on, Sept. 17, 2022. After the remnants of a rare typhoon caused extensive damage along Alaska’s western coast last fall, the U.S. government stepped in to help residents, largely Alaska Natives, recovery financially. (AP Photo/Peggy Fagerstrom, File)

FEMA fires group for nonsensical Alaska Native translations

Residents expecting to find instructions on how to file for aid in Alaska Native languages instead were reading bizarre phrases

  • Jan 13, 2023
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
A home that was knocked off its foundation floats down Snake River during a severe storm in Nome, Alaska, is caught under a bridge on, Sept. 17, 2022. After the remnants of a rare typhoon caused extensive damage along Alaska’s western coast last fall, the U.S. government stepped in to help residents, largely Alaska Natives, recovery financially. (AP Photo/Peggy Fagerstrom, File)
Attendees examine concept boards 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 leaders, community weigh in on future of riverfront

‘The sky’s the limit’

Attendees examine concept boards 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)
Motorists travel through the Swan Lake fire burn on the Sterling Highway on Sunday, May 22, 2022. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Prescribed fires along Sterling Highway to start this month

Areas most likely areas to experience smoke include Sterling Highway Mileposts 43, 45 and 53

Motorists travel through the Swan Lake fire burn on the Sterling Highway on Sunday, May 22, 2022. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school district calendars OK’d

School start and end dates were moved by one week

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman, left, and Justin Ruffridge take part in forums organized by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL ahead of the November 2022 election. Bjorkman and Ruffridge won seats in the Alaska State Senate and Alaska State House of Representatives, respectively, and are slated to begin work in Juneau on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (Composite photo)

Bjorkman, Ruffridge prepare for 1st legislative session

They will officially get to work on Jan. 17 — the first day of the 33rd Alaska Legislature’s first regular session

Jesse Bjorkman, left, and Justin Ruffridge take part in forums organized by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL ahead of the November 2022 election. Bjorkman and Ruffridge won seats in the Alaska State Senate and Alaska State House of Representatives, respectively, and are slated to begin work in Juneau on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (Composite photo)
Exxon Mobil Billings Refinery sits in Billings, Mont. Exxon Mobil’s scientists were remarkably accurate in their predictions about global warming, even as the company made public statements that contradicted its own scientists’ conclusions, a new study says. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)

Study: Exxon Mobil accurately predicted warming since 1970s

The Exxon-funded science was “actually astonishing” in its precision and accuracy, the study found

  • Jan 12, 2023
  • By Seth Borenstein and Cathy Bussewitz Associated Press
  • State News
Exxon Mobil Billings Refinery sits in Billings, Mont. Exxon Mobil’s scientists were remarkably accurate in their predictions about global warming, even as the company made public statements that contradicted its own scientists’ conclusions, a new study says. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the state Capitol, April 28, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Dunleavy outlined proposed legislation Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, for Alaska to capitalize on carbon markets, seeking to diversify state revenues long heavily reliant on proceeds from oil. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Dunleavy pitches plan to capitalize on carbon markets

The Republican governor and members of his administration outlined the proposal at a news conference in Anchorage.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the state Capitol, April 28, 2022, in Juneau, Alaska. Dunleavy outlined proposed legislation Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, for Alaska to capitalize on carbon markets, seeking to diversify state revenues long heavily reliant on proceeds from oil. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Newly appointed Soldotna City Council member Chera Wackler (center) participates in her first council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council appoints Wackler to vacancy

In all, four people threw their hat in the ring for consideration for the term

Newly appointed Soldotna City Council member Chera Wackler (center) participates in her first council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dr. April Walgenbach stands in one of the examination rooms at Peninsula Community Health Services Eye Clinic in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

SoHi grad leads eye clinic at PCHS

Throughout her education, Dr. April Walgenbach said she always intended to return to her hometown

Dr. April Walgenbach stands in one of the examination rooms at Peninsula Community Health Services Eye Clinic in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who has held the seat since 2019, was elected to the Alaska Senate last year. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to choose Bjorkman successor Tuesday

Bjorkman was elected to the Alaska Senate last year

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who has held the seat since 2019, was elected to the Alaska Senate last year. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Kenai/Prince William Sound Superintendent Jack Blackwell fields questions about the Kasilof River Drift Boat Retrieval project at the Gilman River Center on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Construction of Kasilof boat retrieval to begin this summer

Efforts to build a public takeout facility on the lower Kasilof River began in 2011

Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Kenai/Prince William Sound Superintendent Jack Blackwell fields questions about the Kasilof River Drift Boat Retrieval project at the Gilman River Center on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Angie Brennan directs swimmers as they prepare for a workout set during a Top of the World Swimming practice on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. Brennan will be in the water instructing for Adult Learn to Swim. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Adult swim lessons return next month

Adult Learn to Swim is for any non-swimmer or beginner swimmer 18 or older who would like to learn the basics of swimming

Angie Brennan directs swimmers as they prepare for a workout set during a Top of the World Swimming practice on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. Brennan will be in the water instructing for Adult Learn to Swim. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education convenes on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School district forecasts $13.1M budget deficit

The deficit stems from total expenditures exceeding anticipated revenue and a reduction in funding from the State of Alaska

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education convenes on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Statewide cases and hospitalizations up

That makes the largest increase reported since Sept. 14

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Anthime “Baked Alaska” Gionet, who livestreamed himself storming the U.S. Capitol in Jan. 6, arrives at federal court in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Capitol riot far-right internet personality gets 60 days

Gionet incriminated himself and other rioters with the video that he streamed to a live audience of roughly 16,000 followers

  • Jan 10, 2023
  • By Michael Kunzelman Associated Press
  • State News
Anthime “Baked Alaska” Gionet, who livestreamed himself storming the U.S. Capitol in Jan. 6, arrives at federal court in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Shawnda O’Brien, the just-departed state Director of the Division of Public Assistance, talks Dec. 27 about the problems that are resulting in months-long backlogs in processing applications for benefits commonly referred to as food stamps. Her departure as director was announced Monday following weeks of widespread media coverage about the backlog that is expected to take additional months to resolve. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Head of state’s troubled food stamps program replaced

Director of the Division of Public Assistance departs in wake of months-long backlog.

Shawnda O’Brien, the just-departed state Director of the Division of Public Assistance, talks Dec. 27 about the problems that are resulting in months-long backlogs in processing applications for benefits commonly referred to as food stamps. Her departure as director was announced Monday following weeks of widespread media coverage about the backlog that is expected to take additional months to resolve. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Megan Pacer / Homer News file Grace Fleming of Seward competes in the seal hop March 7, 2020, during the Kachemak Bay Traditional Games, a Native Youth Olympics invitational, at Homer High School.

Native Youth Olympics Invitational to kick off season this weekend

Native Youth Olympics are a series of events derived from traditional Alaska Native feats of athleticism

Megan Pacer / Homer News file Grace Fleming of Seward competes in the seal hop March 7, 2020, during the Kachemak Bay Traditional Games, a Native Youth Olympics invitational, at Homer High School.
The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Advisory Committee supports expansion of wolverine hunting, rejects trapping restrictions

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee met Monday

The Kenai/Soldotna Fish and Game Advisory Committee meets on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)