Kenai

Alaska road cut off by massive landslide to reopen Friday

May 24, 2022 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — Officials this week intend to reopen a road that has been closed for more than two weeks following a massive landslide that cut off access to the city of Seward from a smaller community.

Star of ‘The Bear Whisperer’ accused of illegal bear kill

May 12, 2022 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A man who stars on a TV show called “The Bear Whisperer” has been accused of illegally killing a black bear in Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Park and lying about where it was killed.

Pierce to run with Grunwald in his run for Alaska governor

March 8, 2022 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — Republican Charlie Pierce has picked Edie Grunwald to be his running mate as he runs for governor in Alaska.

Pierce, the Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, made the announcement over the weekend, the Peninsula Clarion reported.

Alaska lawmaker says he’s doing well after heart attack

By BECKY BOHRERFebruary 2, 2022 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska lawmaker said he is doing well after suffering what he described as a near-fatal heart attack last week.

Republican Rep. Ron Gillham of Soldotna said he began having discomfort late last Wednesday that he first thought might be indigestion.

Alaska proposal seeks funding for ocean farming, aquaculture

December 20, 2021 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — Ocean farming and aquaculture in Alaska’s coastal regions could get a boost from a federal grant program.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration is taking grant applications as part of the American Rescue Plan that provides pandemic relief funding.

Kenai Peninsula Borough nixes assembly meetings beyond Kenai

KENAIDecember 9, 2021 GMT

Members of the governing body of an Alaska borough roughly the size of West Virginia won’t hold meetings in 2022 outside the governing city, a practice that became a casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.

Russian River campground, road to close for improvement work

November 24, 2021 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) —

A popular Kenai Peninsula recreation spot near Cooper Landing will be closed for nearly a year to partially rebuild a road and reinforce parts of the hillside along the Kenai River, U.S.

Soldotna seeks to create new ‘main street’ along Kenai River

October 29, 2021 GMT

SOLDOTNA, Alaska (AP) — The city of Soldotna wants to create a new “main street” running parallel to the Kenai River.

City officials on Thursday applied for a $360,000 federal grant that they hope would fund planning for the project that is also expected to boost capital investment in the area, the Peninsula Clarion reported.

Alaskans raise funds for library amid cries of censorship

October 27, 2021 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — An impromptu fundraiser to allow an Alaska library to purchase books amid cries of censorship has twice surpassed its goal.

The fund was established after the Kenai City Council delayed accepting a grant until the library director provide a list of the books that would be purchased with the money.

Soldotna cemetery expansion project provides 400 new plots

October 20, 2021 GMT

SOLDOTNA, Alaska (AP) — An expansion project that will provide 400 new plots at the Soldotna city cemetery is nearing completion, officials said.

Soldotna Community Memorial Park became the city’s first cemetery when it opened in 2011, the Peninsula Clarion reported.

Agency: Alaska inmate death related to COVID-19

October 12, 2021 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A man serving time in an Alaska corrections facility died in a Soldotna hospital and his death was related to COVID-19, the state Department of Corrections announced Monday.

The department, in a statement, said the 68-year-old man died Friday.

Alaska mayor promotes debunked treatment for COVID-19

August 25, 2021 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska borough mayor, who says he is not a medical professional, has promoted a debunked treatment for COVID-19 that is intended more for farm animals.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce has publicly backed the use of ivermectin, an anti-parasitic deworming drug, the Peninsula Clarion reported Wednesday.

Kenai officials: Critical race theory not part of curriculum

July 14, 2021 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — The new Kenai Public Schools superintendent told a crowd at his first school board meeting that critical race theory is not part of the district’s curriculum but said the district will continue teaching students history.

Montana man reunites with puppy after bear attack in Alaska

July 1, 2021 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A Montana man was reunited with his 14-week-old border collie two days after the dog disappeared following a bear attack on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.

Jason Umbriaco was hospitalized after the brown bear with two cubs bit him twice Sunday, Alaska’s News Source reported.

Alaska lawmaker shares post comparing media to Nazis

June 30, 2021 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska state legislator shared on social media a post that likened members of the media and medical professionals who provide information about COVID-19 vaccines to Nazis who were executed for war crimes, though the Soldotna Republican said he meant “nothing” by it.

US approves $47.5M to build new Alaska airport, repair 2

April 5, 2021 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved funding for about $47...

Alaska to acquire habitat along Kasilof River via US grant

April 1, 2021 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — Alaska will acquire about a half square mile (1.3 square kilometers) of habitat along the Kasilof River through a federal grant...

EPA settles for $130K with Alaska company over disposal well

March 22, 2021 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a $130,000 settlement with an Alaska construction company after allegations that the firm violated the Safe Drinking Water Act by having a disposal well...

Kenai Peninsula one of Alaska’s top areas for virus relief

January 7, 2021 GMT

KENAI, Alaska (AP) — The Kenai Peninsula Borough received more state and municipal coronavirus relief funds than almost anywhere else in Alaska, a new report said.

An analysis by the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District found the area in southern Alaska received just under $50 million, the Peninsula Clarion reported Tuesday.

Midair collision kills state legislator, 6 others in Alaska

By MARK THIESSENAugust 1, 2020 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Seven people, including an Alaska state lawmaker, died Friday when two small airplanes collided in midair near the airport in Soldotna, a small community on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula...

Alaska peninsula residents, official discuss LGBTQ safety

January 7, 2020 GMT

SOLDOTNA, Alaska (AP) — Residents, law enforcement officials and elected representatives have come together at an Alaska town hall meeting to address public safety for the LGBTQ community...

Pastafarian pastor leads prayer at Alaska government meeting

September 18, 2019 GMT

HOMER, Alaska (AP) — A pastor wearing a colander on his head offered the opening prayer on behalf of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster to open a local government meeting in Alaska, the latest blessing from a nontraditional church since a court ruling...

Troopers say Agafia (Ag-AH'-fia) Polushkin (Pole-OOSH'-kin) died at the scene of the Sunday crash in the Russian settlement of Voznesenka (Voz-neh-SENK'-ah).