News

Santa Claus is seen with a child at Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Parade, bonfire and fireworks ring in the Christmas season

Christmas comes to Kenai

Santa Claus is seen with a child at Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
During a hearing at the Juneau Courthouse, 34-year-old Anthony Michael Migliaccio pleaded not guilty after he was arrested on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of a 55-year-old Juneau woman. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Man arrested in Juneau killing pleads not guilty

News follows a two-month investigation.

During a hearing at the Juneau Courthouse, 34-year-old Anthony Michael Migliaccio pleaded not guilty after he was arrested on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of a 55-year-old Juneau woman. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Kenai Finance Director Terry Eubank presents during a budget work session on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai tries again to fill city manager position

After 1st round of negotiations fall through, Kenai to pursue Eubank for role

Kenai Finance Director Terry Eubank presents during a budget work session on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Montessori Charter School kindergartners parade with balloons around the school playground on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Balloons on parade

Montessori kids put spin on traditional Macy’s parade

Soldotna Montessori Charter School kindergartners parade with balloons around the school playground on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
David Hartman, of David Hartman Signs, is seen with his product on display ahead of the Kenai Arts & Crafts Fair during early set up at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Crafts for everyone: Fair returns with an array of offerings

Kenai Arts Crafts Fair back for 44th year

David Hartman, of David Hartman Signs, is seen with his product on display ahead of the Kenai Arts & Crafts Fair during early set up at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sarah Palin, left, a Republican, is shown before a debate for Alaska’s sole U.S. House seat on Oct. 26, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. Palin re-emerged in Alaska politics over a decade after resigning as governor with hopes of winning the state’s U.S. House seat. She had unbeatable name recognition, the backing of former President Donald Trump and an unrivaled ability to attract national media attention. But she struggled to catch fire with voters and ran what critics saw as a lackluster campaign against a breakout Democrat who pitched herself as a regular Alaskan and a Republican backed by state GOP leaders. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Next act for Palin unclear after Alaska House losses

Palin lost two elections for the House seat Republican Don Young held for 49 years before his death in March

  • Nov 24, 2022
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • State News
Sarah Palin, left, a Republican, is shown before a debate for Alaska’s sole U.S. House seat on Oct. 26, 2022, in Anchorage, Alaska. Palin re-emerged in Alaska politics over a decade after resigning as governor with hopes of winning the state’s U.S. House seat. She had unbeatable name recognition, the backing of former President Donald Trump and an unrivaled ability to attract national media attention. But she struggled to catch fire with voters and ran what critics saw as a lackluster campaign against a breakout Democrat who pitched herself as a regular Alaskan and a Republican backed by state GOP leaders. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
Some of the Homer Public Library books a citizens group has asked be removed from the children’s section lie on a table at the meeting of the Library Advisory Board on Nov. 15, 2022, in the Cowles Council Chambers at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Testimony on LGQBT+ library books runs 4 hours

Library board will consider issue at its Jan. 17 meeting.

Some of the Homer Public Library books a citizens group has asked be removed from the children’s section lie on a table at the meeting of the Library Advisory Board on Nov. 15, 2022, in the Cowles Council Chambers at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Clockwise from upper left: Mary Peltola, Lisa Murkowski, Mike Dunleavy and Jesse Bjorkman

After ranked-choice tabulation, Murkowski, Peltola win reelection

The tabulation process was streamed live by KTOO

Clockwise from upper left: Mary Peltola, Lisa Murkowski, Mike Dunleavy and Jesse Bjorkman
Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas trees can be taken from wildlife refuge starting Thursday

Only hand tools can be used to cut trees, which cannot be taller than 20 feet

Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
An aerial assessment document provided to Kenai City Council members shows a parcel of land near Outside Way and the Kenai Bible Church in Old Town Kenai at the toe of the bluff. The parcel is being purchased as part of a bluff stabilization project. (Map via City of Kenai)

Kenai to buy land parcel for bluff project

The project aims to stabilize about 5,000 feet of bluff on the north shore of the Kenai River

An aerial assessment document provided to Kenai City Council members shows a parcel of land near Outside Way and the Kenai Bible Church in Old Town Kenai at the toe of the bluff. The parcel is being purchased as part of a bluff stabilization project. (Map via City of Kenai)
File

Kenai man indicted for murder

Kevin Lee Park was arrested in connection with a shooting last week on California Avenue

File
A decorated truck owned by Kenai Peninsula Driving Instruction participates in the “Christmas Comes to Kenai” parade on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas comes to the Kenai Peninsula

Kickoff events will be hosted in Kenai, Soldotna and Nikiski in the next two weeks offering free festive fun

A decorated truck owned by Kenai Peninsula Driving Instruction participates in the “Christmas Comes to Kenai” parade on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Hospitalizations rise for 3 consecutive weeks

For the period of Nov. 13 to Nov. 19, 434 new resident COVID-19 cases were reported

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Morganette Finch is seen at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Leaving behind a legacy of ‘love for people’

Long-time food bank worker Morganette Finch retires

Morganette Finch is seen at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is seen on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Residents, borough task force: Further extend Kenai Spur north

A previous extension of the road was completed in 2021 and came after years of work.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is seen on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Jill Schaefer, one of the sharks, presents Anna Mercier with a novelty check for $4000 at the Spark Soldotna Shark Tank Event on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at The Lone Moose Lodge in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sparking new ideas

Soldotna sharks award scholarship to mobile beverage cart

Jill Schaefer, one of the sharks, presents Anna Mercier with a novelty check for $4000 at the Spark Soldotna Shark Tank Event on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at The Lone Moose Lodge in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

More details emerge in Kenai killing

The man accused of killing 31-year-old Stephanie Henson told police the two were friends, charging documents state

The entrance to the Kenai Police Department, as seen in Kenai, Alaska, on April 1, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Food Bank seeking donations amid soaring turkey costs

The food bank is holding a fundraiser asking members of the community to adopt a turkey

A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski prepares to meet officials at the Sealaska Heritage Institute during a visit to Juneau on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Murkowski takes narrow lead in U.S. Senate race

As of 5:50 p.m. on Friday, Murkowski was leading Tshibaka by fewer than 1,000 votes

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski prepares to meet officials at the Sealaska Heritage Institute during a visit to Juneau on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Roy Williams receives a dinner from a student volunteer on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at the Area-Wide Senior Dinner at Kenai Seniors Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Thankful to be together

Local seniors gather to give thanks for their community

Roy Williams receives a dinner from a student volunteer on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at the Area-Wide Senior Dinner at Kenai Seniors Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)