Attendees of the 2024 Alaska State of the State address applaud Rose Dunleavy, Alaska’s first lady, on Tuesday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

At annual legislative speech, Gov. Dunleavy calls for more Alaska development projects

The governor asked legislators to pass bills related to education, agriculture, home ownership, and the supply of natural gas for Southcentral Alaska

Attendees of the 2024 Alaska State of the State address applaud Rose Dunleavy, Alaska’s first lady, on Tuesday. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, testifies Saturday during a House Rules Committee meeting. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Peninsula residents weigh in on school funding debate

More than a dozen comments were made by residents of the Kenai Peninsula on S.B. 140

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, testifies Saturday during a House Rules Committee meeting. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A graph showing the week by week case counts of RSV, the flu and COVID-19 in Alaska, part of the State Department of Health’s Respiratory Virus Snapshot. (Courtesy Alaska Department of Health)

COVID, RSV trend downward in state data

While a COVID spike has been observed state- and nationwide for much of December and January, the same rise hasn’t been so sharp on the Kenai Peninsula

A graph showing the week by week case counts of RSV, the flu and COVID-19 in Alaska, part of the State Department of Health’s Respiratory Virus Snapshot. (Courtesy Alaska Department of Health)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic)
Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, confers with other senators and legislative staff moments before gavelling in the start of this year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Lawmakers open session with education discussion

Early effort to overturn veto of one-time school funding fails in House

Senate President Gary Stevens, a Kodiak Republican, confers with other senators and legislative staff moments before gavelling in the start of this year’s legislative session at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State data: Kenai Peninsula Borough not seeing statewide rise in COVID activity

A state and nationwide upward trend in COVID-19 activity has seen spikes in case counts and hospitalizations, but state data indicates the surge hasn’t made… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (left) addresses constituents during a town hall event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman prefiles bills, says pressure is on for lawmakers this session

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman was well-represented on the list of bills prefiled by state lawmakers ahead of their upcoming session, which kicks off Jan. 16 in… Continue reading

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman (left) addresses constituents during a town hall event on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is March 31. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

PFD applications open for 2024

As of Tuesday evening, 37,000 people had submitted their application

The deadline for the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, which comes from the fund managed by the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, is March 31. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Job Center is seen in Kenai, Alaska on April 15, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Minimum wage increased by $0.88

This year’s increase is the largest adjustment since the minimum wage began to be adjusted for inflation

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Job Center is seen in Kenai, Alaska on April 15, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Clouds cover the beach at Lowell Point State Recreation Site on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 near Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Fee increases for State Park usage rescinded days before going into effect

The existing fees will continue to be apply “as if they were never replaced”

Clouds cover the beach at Lowell Point State Recreation Site on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 near Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Joel Isaak speaks during a Celebration of Life for Dr. Alan Boraas at Kenai Peninsula College on Jan. 17, 2020. Isaak was named deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development on Friday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Local Dena’ina linguist named DEED deputy commissioner

Joel Isaak teaches Dena’ina at Kenai Peninsula College and works as a linguist for the Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Joel Isaak speaks during a Celebration of Life for Dr. Alan Boraas at Kenai Peninsula College on Jan. 17, 2020. Isaak was named deputy commissioner of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development on Friday. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Madyson Knudsen a bandage at the Kenai Public Health Center after the 10-year-old received her first COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

Department of Health urges flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines

Only 18.5% of Alaskans have received a flu vaccine as of last week

Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Madyson Knudsen a bandage at the Kenai Public Health Center after the 10-year-old received her first COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Report: Adverse childhood experiences ‘common’ in Alaska

ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood

Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Callie Giordano’s first grade Mountain View Elementary School students practice literacy skills on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska’s adjusted school spending trails national average, UAA researchers say

Funding for K-12 education is expected to be a top issue in the upcoming legislative session

Callie Giordano’s first grade Mountain View Elementary School students practice literacy skills on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Michael Daniel. (Photo via Daniel for House)

Homer chamber board head enters race for state House

Michael Daniel, a Republican, is challenging Alaska House Rep. Sarah Vance.

Michael Daniel. (Photo via Daniel for House)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, answers questions from constituents during a legislative update at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Ruffridge predicts school funding, energy security will be top issues in Juneau next session

Ruffridge has represented District 7, which includes Kenai and Soldotna, in the Alaska House of Representatives since January

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, answers questions from constituents during a legislative update at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard is the aftermath of a landslide in Wrangell, Alaska on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (U.S. Coast Guard photo via AP)

Girl dead, woman rescued, 5 missing after landslide hits isolated Alaska fishing community

The slide — estimated to be about 450 feet wide — occurred at about 9 p.m. Monday during a significant rain- and windstorm near Wrangell

  • Nov 21, 2023
  • By BECKY BOHRER, MARK THIESSEN and JOHN RABY Associated Press
  • NewsState News
In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard is the aftermath of a landslide in Wrangell, Alaska on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (U.S. Coast Guard photo via AP)
Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Parking fees at state parks to go up in 2024

Parking fees at state parks to go up in 2024

Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

2022 overdose deaths slightly down from previous year

Deaths still far surpassed those recorded during last decade

Department of Health logo. (Graphic by Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)