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Friends and family of Louie Flora wave signs in support of the candidate for District 6 State House Representative on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Chelsea Jones, Jon Flora, Sandy the dog, Sarah Banks and Mikee Flora. Louie Flora’s children Sidney and Rocco are in the tent to the right. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News) Friends and family of Louie Flora wave signs in support of the candidate for District 6 State House Representative on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Chelsea Jones, Jon Flora, Sandy the dog, Sarah Banks and Mikee Flora. Louie Flora’s children Sidney and Rocco are in the tent to the right. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Stevens, Vance lead in preliminary results.

If results hold, incumbents could win on first round of ranked-choice voting.

Friends and family of Louie Flora wave signs in support of the candidate for District 6 State House Representative on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Chelsea Jones, Jon Flora, Sandy the dog, Sarah Banks and Mikee Flora. Louie Flora’s children Sidney and Rocco are in the tent to the right. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News) Friends and family of Louie Flora wave signs in support of the candidate for District 6 State House Representative on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, on Pioneer Avenue in Homer, Alaska. From left to right are Chelsea Jones, Jon Flora, Sandy the dog, Sarah Banks and Mikee Flora. Louie Flora’s children Sidney and Rocco are in the tent to the right. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Kit Hill checks in a voter at the Kenai Mall, voting place for Kenai’s Precinct #1 in Kenai, Alaska on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Enthusiasm, busy polls mark local Election Day

Residents throughout Kenai and Soldotna ventured into snowy conditions to make their voices heard

Kit Hill checks in a voter at the Kenai Mall, voting place for Kenai’s Precinct #1 in Kenai, Alaska on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Michael O’Rourke and another supporter wave signs for Justin Ruffridge on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Preliminary results: Ruffridge, Bjorkman lead in state House, Senate races

The two are competing in races for Senate District D and House District 7

Michael O’Rourke and another supporter wave signs for Justin Ruffridge on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola waves a sign during the morning rush hour in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday Nov. 8, 2022. Peltola, who became the first Alaska Native elected to Congress when she won a special election earlier this year, faces Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich and Libertarian Chris Bye in the general election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Peltola holds early lead in Alaska House race

Peltola embraced the legacy of her Republican predecessor, the late Rep. Don Young

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola waves a sign during the morning rush hour in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday Nov. 8, 2022. Peltola, who became the first Alaska Native elected to Congress when she won a special election earlier this year, faces Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich and Libertarian Chris Bye in the general election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Susie Smalley demonstrates during the Many Voices Ukraine vigil on Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

KCHS grad returns to discuss war in Ukraine at Soldotna library

The presentation is titled “What the He** is He Thinking: Putin’s War in Ukraine.”

Susie Smalley demonstrates during the Many Voices Ukraine vigil on Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign directs early voters to the polling station at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday. The mall is one of two early voting locations in Juneau, but more than a dozen polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Election Day is finally here

Many winners of Alaska’s first ranked choice general election won’t be known until Thanksgiving

A sign directs early voters to the polling station at the Mendenhall Mall on Monday. The mall is one of two early voting locations in Juneau, but more than a dozen polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Nikiski residents arrested in Moose Pass drug bust

The arrests happened after a traffic stop

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Soldotna man killed in Seward Highway wreck

The wreck happened around Mile 47.5 of the Seward Highway

Alaska State Troopers logo.
A variety of fliers with varying amounts of accuracy from candidates and groups are filling mailboxes leading up to the Nov. 8 general election. TV and other ads also range from pure nonsense to completely accurate, although many fall into the “true from a certain point of view” category. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Fact-checking political advertisements

What’s accurate, what’s nonsense and what’s “true from a certain point of view”

A variety of fliers with varying amounts of accuracy from candidates and groups are filling mailboxes leading up to the Nov. 8 general election. TV and other ads also range from pure nonsense to completely accurate, although many fall into the “true from a certain point of view” category. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Former Alaska Gov. Bill Sheffield smiles as he holds a The Anchorage Times newspaper in his Capitol office in Juneau, Alaska, on Aug. 5, 1985, after he survived an impeachment effort during July and August 1985. A statement provided by friends says he died Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, at his home in Anchorage. He was 94. Sheffield was governor from 1982 to 1986. (Brian Wallace/The Juneau Empire via AP, File)

Bill Sheffield, former Alaska governor, dies at age 94

Sheffield was governor from 1982 to 1986

  • Nov 4, 2022
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • State News
Former Alaska Gov. Bill Sheffield smiles as he holds a The Anchorage Times newspaper in his Capitol office in Juneau, Alaska, on Aug. 5, 1985, after he survived an impeachment effort during July and August 1985. A statement provided by friends says he died Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, at his home in Anchorage. He was 94. Sheffield was governor from 1982 to 1986. (Brian Wallace/The Juneau Empire via AP, File)
Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion Laura Black, owner of Fireweed Bakery, sells some of her wares during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska on Nov. 7, 2020.

Getting into the holiday spirit with crafts, bazaars and expos

Wares from local businesses and craftspeople will be on sale each weekend in November

Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion Laura Black, owner of Fireweed Bakery, sells some of her wares during the Merry Little Christmas Market at the Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska on Nov. 7, 2020.
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)

Project would convert landfill methane to energy

The project would located at the Central Peninsula Landfill

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)
Campaign signs decorate the outside of Paradisos Restaurant on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Election season nears conclusion

Last day to vote is Tuesday

Campaign signs decorate the outside of Paradisos Restaurant on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
As measured by the CDC, dispensing rate reflects the number of prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons per year. While the United States’ dispensing rate peaked at 81.3 in 2012, the Kenai Peninsula’s rate was 100 or higher every year between 2001 and 2015. Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara.

Borough opioid grant program accepting applications through end of month

The program was launched in August and has not yet received applications

As measured by the CDC, dispensing rate reflects the number of prescriptions dispensed per 100 persons per year. While the United States’ dispensing rate peaked at 81.3 in 2012, the Kenai Peninsula’s rate was 100 or higher every year between 2001 and 2015. Graphic by Ashlyn O’Hara.
Steller Secondary School seniors gather in the sunshine outside their school on Oct. 27. From left are Pauline Mallari, Samantha Antonio and Zane Barber, all bound for college. They all enjoy the Alaska outdoors lifestyle, but they all expressed lack of confidence in Alaska as a place for young people to build careers. Demographic data shows that young adults are leaving Alaska, contributing to nine straight years of net outmigration. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Angst over youth outmigration emerges in Alaska campaign rhetoric and debates

University funding, career prospects and lifestyle amenities are factors cited as important to young Alaskans pondering their futures

Steller Secondary School seniors gather in the sunshine outside their school on Oct. 27. From left are Pauline Mallari, Samantha Antonio and Zane Barber, all bound for college. They all enjoy the Alaska outdoors lifestyle, but they all expressed lack of confidence in Alaska as a place for young people to build careers. Demographic data shows that young adults are leaving Alaska, contributing to nine straight years of net outmigration. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander speak at the Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai plans to hire new manager by end of month

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander announced he will not be renewing his contract with the city

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel and Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander speak at the Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Two residents stand in voter booths on the first day of early and absentee in-person voting across the state for the Nov. 8 general election. Recent filings for candidates in statewide races shows spending ramping up as the big day approaches. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)

Spending spree as campaigns near end

APOC reports one week before election show ad blitz in governor’s race and by convention foes

Two residents stand in voter booths on the first day of early and absentee in-person voting across the state for the Nov. 8 general election. Recent filings for candidates in statewide races shows spending ramping up as the big day approaches. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Snow is cleared from a parking lot at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Central peninsula again walloped by snowstorm

6 to 20 inches were reported in areas from Ninilchik to Nikiski

Snow is cleared from a parking lot at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Cases rising; hospitalizations steady

The state reported no new resident deaths from COVID-19 this week

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A recent photo of Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department) A photo of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. Kirby Calderwood, 32, of Ogden, Utah, is charged in the murder and kidnapping of Murnane. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)

Calderwood to be extradited to Alaska

Man accused of killing Anesha “Duffy” Murnane pleads guilty to Utah charges, will come back to Alaska.

A recent photo of Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department) A photo of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. Kirby Calderwood, 32, of Ogden, Utah, is charged in the murder and kidnapping of Murnane. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)