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Winter Marshall-Allen sits on the Stefan Avant-Mercadante memorial bench in the hallway of Homer High School on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Avant-Mercadante was a former student of Marshall-Allen’s who passed away last year. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)

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Homer educator Winter Marshall-Allen honored with statewide award

The honor is awarded through the Alaska Governor’s Council on Disabilities Special Education, partnered with the Alaska State…

Kate Sheehan (left foreground), director of the Alaska Division of Personnel and Labor Relations, and Paula Vrana, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration, discuss an ongoing statewide salary study during a House State Affairs Committee meeting Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

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Dunleavy’s delay in releasing state salary study frustrates legislators, union leaders

Draft report to assess competitiveness completed last June, but not released publicly.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

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Amid calls for increased education funding, Dunleavy debuts reform package

KPBSD is facing a $17 million deficit driven by stagnant funding that’s failed to keep up with inflation.

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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Homer man convicted of burglary and theft

Sentencing is scheduled for May 19.

Logo for the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. (Image via Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection)

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Peninsula fire departments receive grant funding

Thirty-three rural fire departments within the state were awarded funds in a total amount of $306,292.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during a press conference Dec. 12, 2024, at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

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Updated: Move to pause federal funding leaves local groups reeling

Questions remain after a Monday night order pausing disbursement of federal grants and loans was rescinded Wednesday.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy delivers his State of the State speech at the Alaska State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, with Senate President Gary Stevens, at left, and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, at right, in the background. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)

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Gov. Dunleavy takes victory lap with selective portrayal of Alaska in second-to-last State of the State

Some legislators criticize “mixed messages” about cooperation, omission of problems needing work.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

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KPBSD, other school districts call on Legislature for increased funding

The district is facing a $17 million deficit.

The smaller Homer Education and Recreation Center building, also called HERC 2, is photographed on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023 in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

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City to conduct outreach on proposed recreation site

The Recreation Champions Working Group has narrowed down potential sites for a new recreation facility in Homer.

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Anchor River overruns highway

Prolonged rainfall incited flood warnings and watches for much of Southcentral Alaska last weekend.

Ryan Tunseth speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

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Borough considers Seward land purchase

A public hearing on Ordinance 2024-19-24 will be held at the Feb. 4 assembly meeting.

Alaska State Troopers logo.

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Troopers shoot, kill Kasilof man after they say he shot trooper

Troopers and a SWAT team responded to reports of a man yelling and firing a gun late Thursday…

Spurr, a 1-and-a-half-year-old colt, and his owners are photographed in January 2025, before his disappearance on Sunday in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Katie Klann)

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Community members search for missing horse

Anyone with information or sightings should report them to owners or police.