Former Alaska governor and current congressional hopeful Sarah Palin speaks with attendees at a meet-and-greet event outside of Ginger’s Restaurant on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Palin brings congressional bid to Soldotna

The former governor took time Saturday to sign autographs and take pictures with attendees

Former Alaska governor and current congressional hopeful Sarah Palin speaks with attendees at a meet-and-greet event outside of Ginger’s Restaurant on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
One tree stands in front of the Kenai Post Office on Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai taking down hazard beetle trees

The city hopes to leverage grant funds for most of the work

One tree stands in front of the Kenai Post Office on Thursday, May 12, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Graphic by Ashlyn O'Hara

Borough, school district finalizing $65M bond package

Efforts to fund maintenance and repairs at school district facilities have been years in the making

Graphic by Ashlyn O'Hara
The Alaska Division of Forestry’s White Mountain crew responds to a fire burning near Milepost 46.5 of the Sterling Highway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Cooper Landing Emergency Services)

Officials encourage residents to firewise homes

The central peninsula has already had its first reported fires of the season

The Alaska Division of Forestry’s White Mountain crew responds to a fire burning near Milepost 46.5 of the Sterling Highway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Cooper Landing Emergency Services)
In this September 2017 file photo from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, beluga whales arch their backs through the surface of the water. Of Alaska’s five distinct beluga whale populations, only Cook Inlet’s is listed as endangered. (Courtesy the Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Celebrate belugas with virtual programming next week

The three-day event will include conferences and activities

In this September 2017 file photo from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, beluga whales arch their backs through the surface of the water. Of Alaska’s five distinct beluga whale populations, only Cook Inlet’s is listed as endangered. (Courtesy the Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Emergency orders, fishing conditions updated

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish released a Northern Kenai fishing report Friday

A man fishes in the Kenai River on July 16, 2018, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
Informatin about Cook Inletkeeper is displayed next to artwork for sale as part of the "ART Sale 258" at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Biden admin cancels Cook Inlet lease sale

The lease sale would have opened more than 1 million acres of Cook Inlet to oil and gas development

Informatin about Cook Inletkeeper is displayed next to artwork for sale as part of the "ART Sale 258" at the Cook Inletkeeper Community Action Studio on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Water and debris cover the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing on Thursday, May 12, 2022 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)

One lane of traffic open near Cooper Landing after Sterling Highway landslide

The landslide is the fourth environmental incident to strike the Kenai Peninsula this week

Water and debris cover the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing on Thursday, May 12, 2022 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities)
Alaska gubernatorial candidate Les Gara campaigns on Friday, May 6, 2022, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Nate Graham, courtesy of Les Gara)

Gara brings gubernatorial bid to peninsula

The former state lawmaker announced last summer that he would be challenging incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy

Alaska gubernatorial candidate Les Gara campaigns on Friday, May 6, 2022, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Nate Graham, courtesy of Les Gara)
Presley Jackson waits in line before releasing her rainbow trout at the 21st annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration in Kasilof on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Grins, fins and lessons

Kids get caught up in releasing fish during annual celebration

Presley Jackson waits in line before releasing her rainbow trout at the 21st annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration in Kasilof on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker stands in the Peninsula Clarion office on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘We need to invest in ourselves’

Walker highlights infrastructure opportunities, centrist status in campaign visit to peninsula

Gubernatorial candidate Bill Walker stands in the Peninsula Clarion office on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A landslide blocks Lowell Point Road in Seward, Alaska on Sunday, May 8, 2022. (City of Seward)

Blasting work to begin on Seward landslide

The Kenai Peninsula Borough will facilitate a town hall for Lowell Point residents Friday

A landslide blocks Lowell Point Road in Seward, Alaska on Sunday, May 8, 2022. (City of Seward)
A wildfire burns near Milepost 46.5 of the Sterling Highway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Cooper Landing Emergency Services)

Mop-up efforts continue at Cooper Landing fire

The fire was first reported on Tuesday evening

A wildfire burns near Milepost 46.5 of the Sterling Highway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Cooper Landing Emergency Services)
Kenai Peninsula College Kenai River Campus valedictorian Sophia Nelson speaks at her virtual class graduation on Thursday, May 5, 2022. (Screenshot)

KPC graduates look to future

Students awarded diplomas in virtual ceremony

Kenai Peninsula College Kenai River Campus valedictorian Sophia Nelson speaks at her virtual class graduation on Thursday, May 5, 2022. (Screenshot)
Demonstrators in support of abortion rights stand at the intersection of the Kenai and Sterling highways on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Locals rally for abortion rights

A leaked draft opinion signaled the Supreme Court’s intent to overturn Roe v. Wade

Demonstrators in support of abortion rights stand at the intersection of the Kenai and Sterling highways on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Vice President and Outreach Chair Poppy Benson collects litter from the side of the highway at the refuge in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Spring cleanups sweep across area

Events are taking place this month

Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Vice President and Outreach Chair Poppy Benson collects litter from the side of the highway at the refuge in Soldotna, Alaska on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A wildfire burns near Milepost 46.5 of the Sterling Highway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Cooper Landing Emergency Services)

Emergency services responding to wildfire near Cooper Landing

The fire is located at Milepost 46.5 of the Sterling Highway

A wildfire burns near Milepost 46.5 of the Sterling Highway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Cooper Landing Emergency Services)
A recent photo of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)
A recent photo of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)
A member of the Gannet Glacier Type 2 Initial Attack Crew uses a drip torch during a burnout operation at the Swan Lake Fire on June 18, 2019. (Photo courtesy Alaska Division of Forestry)

Wind, dry conditions trigger burn suspension

Burns of all sizes requiring permits are prohibited, including burn barrels, lawn burning and brush piles

A member of the Gannet Glacier Type 2 Initial Attack Crew uses a drip torch during a burnout operation at the Swan Lake Fire on June 18, 2019. (Photo courtesy Alaska Division of Forestry)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the Soldotna Senior Center with Executive Director Loretta Knudson-Spalding on Friday, May 6, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy drops in for senior center celebration

The center celebrated the purchase of two new Meals on Wheels vehicles

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the Soldotna Senior Center with Executive Director Loretta Knudson-Spalding on Friday, May 6, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)