News

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

1 new COVID-19 case reported in Homer

The state of Alaska reported 59 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday — 56 resident cases and three nonresident cases. One of the new cases… Continue reading

 

Commercial fishing boats are rafted together in May 2016 in the harbor in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

States expands small business grants

The AK CARES Grant program is being modified in response to calls for changes.

 

Alaska Army National Guard soldiers use a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to remove an abandoned bus, popularized by the book and movie “Into the Wild,” out of its location in the Alaska backcountry. The state Department of Natural Resources said Thursday, July 30, that it intends to negotiate with the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North in Fairbanks to display the bus. (Sgt. Seth LaCount/Alaska National Guard via AP, File)

‘Into the Wild’ bus likely lands a new home

An infamous bus appears headed to a new home at a museum.

 

Sarah Vance poses for a photo on June 12, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Hannah Vance)

Sarah Vance runs for 2nd House of Representatives term

Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer) is making a run at a second term in office representing District 31 in the Alaska House of Representatives. She’s running… Continue reading

Sarah Vance poses for a photo on June 12, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Hannah Vance)
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

State reports 66 new COVID-19 cases; Education commissioner talks school start

Alaska Department of Education and Early Development Commissioner Michael Johnson said the state department is here to help individual school districts as they navigate how… Continue reading

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, talks to the media about his nomination for Speaker of the House in this February 2019 photo. Knopp died July, 31, in a plane crash near his home town. (Michael Penn/ Juneau Empire File)

Breaking: Soldotna Rep. Gary Knopp killed in plane crash

Developing story

Rep. Gary Knopp, R-Kenai, talks to the media about his nomination for Speaker of the House in this February 2019 photo. Knopp died July, 31, in a plane crash near his home town. (Michael Penn/ Juneau Empire File)
In this June 2019 photo, people gather outside U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office in Juneau, Alaska, to protest the proposed Pebble Mine. The Pebble Limited Partnership, which wants to build a copper and gold mine near the headwaters of a major U.S. salmon fishery in southwest Alaska, says it plans to offer residents in the region a dividend. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Mine developer sees review as positive for Alaska project

Pebble is on track to win key approvals. Critics say it has been rushed and is inadequate.

In this June 2019 photo, people gather outside U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office in Juneau, Alaska, to protest the proposed Pebble Mine. The Pebble Limited Partnership, which wants to build a copper and gold mine near the headwaters of a major U.S. salmon fishery in southwest Alaska, says it plans to offer residents in the region a dividend. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
AP FILE PHOTO BY James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel The bronze statue of 19th century Russian America Governor Alexander Baranov sports a hard hat and a reflective vest, after being moved from its original site in front of Centennial Hall in Sitka in February 2013. Far away from Confederate memorials, Alaska residents have joined the movement to eliminate statues of colonialists accused of abusing and exploiting Indigenous people. The effort has already resulted in the statue of Baranov being taken out of public view in the city.

Some Alaska residents are demanding statues tied to colonization be eliminated or relocated.

Efforts underway in Alaska to remove statues of colonialists

AP FILE PHOTO BY James Poulson/Daily Sitka Sentinel The bronze statue of 19th century Russian America Governor Alexander Baranov sports a hard hat and a reflective vest, after being moved from its original site in front of Centennial Hall in Sitka in February 2013. Far away from Confederate memorials, Alaska residents have joined the movement to eliminate statues of colonialists accused of abusing and exploiting Indigenous people. The effort has already resulted in the statue of Baranov being taken out of public view in the city.

Soldotna’s Greg Madden makes bid for Alaska Senate

Relative political newcomer Greg Madden of Soldotna is hoping to serve his first term in the Alaska Senate, and is one of the choices on… Continue reading

Gary Stevens looks to keep his Alaska Senate seat

Incumbent Gary Stevens is making a bid to keep his seat in the Alaska Senate. The senator for District P — which covers Kasilof, Homer,… Continue reading

John Cox makes a run at Senate District P seat

In a bid for what would be his freshman term in state office, John Cox of Anchor Point is throwing his hat into the race… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Additional hospital staff test positive for COVID-19 as state count continues to rise

Alaska recorded 91 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, with 67 new resident cases and 24 new cases in nonresidents. The single-day increase in resident… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Governor stands firm on mask mandate, announces travel rule changes

‘If we can’t have distance we have a mask.’

Photo by Peter Segall/Juneau Empire The MV LeConte as seen at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal, July 20, 2020.

Alaska Marine Highway group says $24M subsidy insufficient

JUNEAU, (AP) — The group tasked with reforming the Alaska Marine Highway System said a $24 million subsidy proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy to run… Continue reading

Photo by Peter Segall/Juneau Empire The MV LeConte as seen at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal, July 20, 2020.
In this July 2007, photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. The Pebble Limited Partnership, which wants to build a copper and gold mine near the headwaters of a major U.S. salmon fishery in southwest Alaska, says it plans to offer residents in the region a dividend. (AP Photo | Al Grillo, File)

Release of Pebble Mine review expected this week

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to release its final environmental review.

In this July 2007, photo, workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma. The Pebble Limited Partnership, which wants to build a copper and gold mine near the headwaters of a major U.S. salmon fishery in southwest Alaska, says it plans to offer residents in the region a dividend. (AP Photo | Al Grillo, File)

Homer residents briefly evacuate after quake, tsunami warning

Homerites and other coastal Alaskans were roused out of bed last night for an evacuation following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami warning for… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19 cases continue to rise; state records 19th Alaskan death associated with the disease

Alaska continues its steady climb in new COVID-19 cases each day, with an additional 94 cases recorded by the state on Wednesday. Of those, 92… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

New record set for largest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases

141 new cases driven in part by seafood industry outbreaks

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 75 new COVID-19 cases, 12 on peninsula

This brings the total number of resident cases to 1,693 and nonresident cases to 339.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy the CDC)

57 new COVID-19 cases in Alaska, none on Kenai Peninsula

The state of Alaska reported 57 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday — 53 resident cases and four nonresident cases. The Kenai Peninsula, with 209… Continue reading

COVID-19. (Image courtesy the CDC)
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