This combination image consisting of screenshots from the AFN convention livestream shows the four gubernatorial candidates who will appear on statewide ballots, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Democratic former state Rep. Les Gara, Republican former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce and independent former Gov. Bill Walker. (Screenshots)

Gubernatorial candidates take widely varying stances in AFN forum

Four contenders at AFN debate see different fixes for public safety, prison deaths and housing

This combination image consisting of screenshots from the AFN convention livestream shows the four gubernatorial candidates who will appear on statewide ballots, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Democratic former state Rep. Les Gara, Republican former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce and independent former Gov. Bill Walker. (Screenshots)
Graphic by Ashlyn O'Hara.

State minimum wage to increase $0.51 in January

The federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009

Graphic by Ashlyn O'Hara.
Voting booths are set up at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voting kicks off Monday

Early, absentee in-person voting begins Monday for November election

Voting booths are set up at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
In this Aug. 25, 2017, file photo, provided by NOAA Fisheries, a newborn beluga whale calf sticks its head out of the water in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. (NOAA Fisheries via AP, File)

BOEM proposes changes to Cook Inlet lease sale for wildlife, gillnet fishery

Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the sale must take place before the end of the year

In this Aug. 25, 2017, file photo, provided by NOAA Fisheries, a newborn beluga whale calf sticks its head out of the water in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. (NOAA Fisheries via AP, File)
U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, left, acknowledges audience members singing a song of prayer for her at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage on Thursday. Peltola, a Democrat, is the first Alaska Native to be elected to Congress. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)

Peltola brings Young’s spirit to AFN

Congresswoman gets a warm welcome from convention attendees, predecessor’s family.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, left, acknowledges audience members singing a song of prayer for her at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage on Thursday. Peltola, a Democrat, is the first Alaska Native to be elected to Congress. (AP Photo / Mark Thiessen)
Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner, right, swears in Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai swears in 2 new council members, Mayor Gabriel

Alex Douthit and Victoria Askin will take seats on the council

Kenai City Clerk Shellie Saner, right, swears in Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel during a Kenai City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign warning residents of of bluff erosion is seen here at the end of Spur View Drive in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai looks to bid bluff project in April

The project, when completed, will mark the end of decadeslong efforts by the city to stabilize about 5,000 feet of bluff

A sign warning residents of of bluff erosion is seen here at the end of Spur View Drive in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Fish and Game mailing annual sport fishing survey

The survey has been conducted annually since 1977

Raymond Bradbury preserves his salmon while dipnetting in the mouth of the Kenai River on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Vials of of the Jynneos vaccine for monkeypox are removed from a box containing 20 doses, in the vaccine hub at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Friday, July 29, 2022, in San Francisco. (Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Monkeypox on ‘steep downward trajectory’

The topic was discussed during Public Health ECHO held via Zoom and broadcast live on Facebook on Wednesday

Vials of of the Jynneos vaccine for monkeypox are removed from a box containing 20 doses, in the vaccine hub at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Friday, July 29, 2022, in San Francisco. (Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
AP Photo / Mark Thiessen 
The four candidates for Alaska governor are shown preparing for a televised debate Wednesday, in Anchorage, ahead of the 2022 general election. From left are Republican Charlie Pierce; Democrat Les Gara; former Gov. Bill Walker, an independent; and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican.

Dunleavy defends record in debate with Gara, Walker, Pierce

Dunleavy argued the state is “better off today than it was four years ago”

AP Photo / Mark Thiessen 
The four candidates for Alaska governor are shown preparing for a televised debate Wednesday, in Anchorage, ahead of the 2022 general election. From left are Republican Charlie Pierce; Democrat Les Gara; former Gov. Bill Walker, an independent; and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaskan Republican candidates pose for a group photo at a “Get Out the Vote” rally at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. From left: Alaska Senate candidate Heath Smith; gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce; U.S. House candidate Nick Begich III; U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka; Alaska House Reps. Sarah Vance and Ron Gillham; and Alaska Senate candidate Tuckerman Babcock. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Republican political candidates rally in Soldotna

Tuesday’s lineup included Kelly Tshibaka, Nick Begich III, Charlie Pierce, Tuckerman Babcock, Heath Smith, Sarah Vance, Ron Gillham and Ben Carpenter

Alaskan Republican candidates pose for a group photo at a “Get Out the Vote” rally at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. From left: Alaska Senate candidate Heath Smith; gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce; U.S. House candidate Nick Begich III; U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka; Alaska House Reps. Sarah Vance and Ron Gillham; and Alaska Senate candidate Tuckerman Babcock. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Chelsea Berg, a nurse at Peninsula Community Health Services, administers a flu shot during a free drive-thru flu shot event at Kenai Central High School on Oct. 24, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

State starting to see flu cases

151 cases of the flu have been confirmed in Alaska in laboratory tests

Chelsea Berg, a nurse at Peninsula Community Health Services, administers a flu shot during a free drive-thru flu shot event at Kenai Central High School on Oct. 24, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19 hospitalizations hit low not seen since April

For the period of Oct. 12 to Oct. 18, 349 new COVID-19 cases were reported

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on Feb. 26, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)

Kenai Superior Court vacancy draws 11 applicants

The Superior Court vacancy is created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Jennifer K. Wells

Kenai Courthouse is photographed on Feb. 26, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Bill Howell, assistant professor of process technology, shows Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, training equipment at the Career and Technical Education Center at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Murkowski tours KPC workforce development programs

It’s an issue that’s come up multiple times as she has traveled around Alaska, Murkowski said

Bill Howell, assistant professor of process technology, shows Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, training equipment at the Career and Technical Education Center at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
An Alaska Coach Tours bus sits parked beside the cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau. Alexandra Pierce, the CBJ tourism manager, said this year’s season went “relatively smoothly” and said the revival of tourism was overall well received by the residents and downtown businesses.

Final cruise ship of 2022 leaves Juneau

Capital city says farewell to its last ship of the season

Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire
An Alaska Coach Tours bus sits parked beside the cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau. Alexandra Pierce, the CBJ tourism manager, said this year’s season went “relatively smoothly” and said the revival of tourism was overall well received by the residents and downtown businesses.
Dr. Adam Dunstan, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Kenai Peninsula College, gives a tour of the newly dedicated Alan ‘Tiqutsex’ Boraas Anthropology Lab at KPC on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Dunstan will be leading the first Kenai Peninsula College Showcase of the year on Thursday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Anthropology spotlighted at return of KPC showcase

“The Past is Closer Than You Think, The Lands of Kenai River Campus: A Priceless Heritage,” is about centuries-old Dena’ina sites

Dr. Adam Dunstan, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Kenai Peninsula College, gives a tour of the newly dedicated Alan ‘Tiqutsex’ Boraas Anthropology Lab at KPC on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Dunstan will be leading the first Kenai Peninsula College Showcase of the year on Thursday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
From left: Alaska Senate District D candidates Tuckerman Babcock, Jesse Bjorkman and Andy Cizek participate in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State Senate candidates talk fiscal stability, energy security at Monday forum

The forum was the seventh of nine forums being hosted by The Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM

From left: Alaska Senate District D candidates Tuckerman Babcock, Jesse Bjorkman and Andy Cizek participate in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Tom Kizzia poses with a stack of his book, “Cold Mountain Path,” on Sept. 1, 2021. (Photo provided)
Tom Kizzia poses with a stack of his book, “Cold Mountain Path,” on Sept. 1, 2021. (Photo provided)