Site Logo
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation helped a Nikiski resident dispose of over 43 tons of contaminated soil after a home heating oil spill in November<ins> 2025</ins>. DEC on Friday launched a program to help eligible homeowners cover cleanup costs relating to home heating oil spills. Photo courtesy of the Department of Environmental Conservation

News

State launches home heating oil spill cleanup program

The Department of Environmental Conservation formally announced the program statewide on Friday.

A map presented by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources during a virtual meeting on Dec. 11, 2025, shows the location of a potential Kenai Peninsula State Forest. Screenshot.

News

Community meeting in Homer to focus on proposed state forest

The Department of Natural Resources will continue to gather community input on the potential establishment of a Kenai…

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District logo.

News

School district projects $7.5 million budget deficit for fiscal year 2027

Decreased enrollment and increased property values mean less local and state funding.

A map presented by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources during a virtual meeting on Dec. 11, 2025, shows the location of a potential Kenai Peninsula State Forest. The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection must gather community perspectives before creating a proposal, and so far they’ve received “mixed” input. Screenshot.

News

DNR receives “mixed” public input on proposed Kenai Peninsula State Forest

The potential proposal would expand the Tanana Valley State Forest by 600,000 acres.

Cook Inlet Region, Inc. President and CEO Sophie Minich speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Nikiski Shelter of Hope on Friday, May 20, 2022 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

News

Peninsula organizations awarded mental health trust grants

Organizations in Nikiski and Kenai received funding from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

Snow-covered trees and peaks are pictured from a frozen pond near the Herbert Glacier trail in Juneau<ins>, Alaska,</ins> on Thursday, Dec. 11<ins>, 2025</ins>. (Chloe Anderson/Peninsula Clarion)

Community

Out of the Office: Breaking the winter cycle

There’s a learning curve to every new season and every new sport.

A diagram presented by Seward City Manager Kat Sorenson during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Dec. 2, 2025, shows the expected timeline for the Port of Seward Vessel Shore Power Implementation Project. Screenshot

News

Seward shore power project moves into preliminary design phase

The project will create jobs, reduce cruise ship emissions and provide a backup power grid.

Photo courtesy of Sophie Tapley Kenai Central’s Sophie Tapley (center) on Nov. 26<ins>,</ins><ins> 2025,</ins> commits to playing volleyball at the University of Alaska Anchorage during the 2026-2027 school year. Tapley was a varsity hitter for three years at Kenai Central.

Sports

Kenai Central’s Sophie Tapley signs with UAA volleyball

Tapley will trade her Kardinals jersey for a Seawolf one during the 2026-2027 academic year.

The U.S. Forest Service Porcupine Campground offers gorgeous views of the Kenai Mountains and Turnagain Arm, as seen here on July 20, 2020, near Hope, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

News

Department of Natural Resources seeks public input on proposed Kenai Peninsula State Forest

DNR is gathering community perspectives during several meetings this week.

The Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill” act requires the Bureau of Ocean Energy management to hold at least six offshore oil and gas lease sales in Alaska between 2026-2028 and 2030-2032. The first of these sales — known as “Big Beautiful Cook Inlet 1,” or BBC1— is scheduled for March 2026. Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

News

Cook Inletkeeper launches petition against federal government

The organization is calling for transparency in Cook Inlet offshore oil and gas sales.

Starting Dec. 2, Aleutian Airways will offer roundtrip flights between Anchorage and Unalakleet every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

News

Aleutian Airways to offer roundtrip flights between Anchorage and Unalakleet

Starting Dec. 2, Aleutian Airways will offer three roundtrip flights per week.

Photo courtesy Pete Dickinson The SoHi junior varsity and varsity wrestling teams compete in the Battle for the Bird at Soldotna High School on Wednesday, Nov. 26. The Kenai Peninsula Athletics Sapphire dance team performed the halftime show.

Sports

SoHi, Nikiski wrestling teams compete for Thanksgiving dinner

The Stars and Bulldogs faced off during the Battle for the Bird duals last Wednesday.

The Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center hosted the annual Christmas Comes to Kenai on Nov. 28, 2025. The beloved event began over 40 years ago, and this year over 1,000 attendees enjoyed hot chocolate, fireworks, pictures with Santa and shopping. Photo courtesy of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce

News

Christmas Comes to Kenai and Soldotna Turkey Trot kick off a month full of holiday festivities

The weekend’s holiday festivities drew folks from all over the Kenai Peninsula.