Brandi Harbaugh gives a presentation during a joint work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Mill rate decrease, max school funding included in proposed borough budget

The final document is subject to approval by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

Brandi Harbaugh gives a presentation during a joint work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Renewable IPP CEO Jenn Miller presents information about solar power during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly OKs new tax exemptions for independent power producers

The ordinance was brought forth in response to a proposed solar farm on the Kenai Peninsula

Renewable IPP CEO Jenn Miller presents information about solar power during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central High School graduates throw caps at the end of their commencement ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Make a great life’

Kenai Central High School graduates more than 75 students

Kenai Central High School graduates throw caps at the end of their commencement ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Finance Director Terry Eubank, left, and Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander present during a budget work session on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Flat mill rate, sales tax included in Kenai budget proposal

The budget proposal is subject to final approval by the Kenai City Council

Kenai Finance Director Terry Eubank, left, and Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander present during a budget work session on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Graduates laugh during teacher Jesse Bjorkman’s 2022 commencement address at Nikiski Middle/High School on Monday, May 16, 2022 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Graduates laugh during teacher Jesse Bjorkman’s 2022 commencement address at Nikiski Middle/High School on Monday, May 16, 2022 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
Kenai City Council members on behalf of the city accept check for $50,000 from Kenai Senior Connection Inc. during a council meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai seniors donate funds to city

The senior center’s fundraising group presented a check to the Kenai City Council on Wednesday

Kenai City Council members on behalf of the city accept check for $50,000 from Kenai Senior Connection Inc. during a council meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council members Henry Knackstedt, left, and James Baisden participate in a council meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai mulls ending Zoom participation for city meetings

The service was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic

Kenai City Council members Henry Knackstedt, left, and James Baisden participate in a council meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly member Richard Derkevorkian (second from right) speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Voters to decide whether to add 2 seats to board of education, assembly

The goal of reapportionment is to get the population of each assembly and board of education district as close to a “target population” as possible

Assembly member Richard Derkevorkian (second from right) speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, left, speaks during a “State of the City” address while Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel looks on at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Officials: Kenai sees strong sales growth, business climate

City leaders gave their fourth “State of the City” address Wednesday

Kenai City Manager Paul Ostrander, left, speaks during a “State of the City” address while Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel looks on at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)