Four schools will be closed, librarians will be eliminated, pools will be defunded and teachers will lose their jobs under a budget adopted Monday by the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education.
#aknews
homerindependentpress.com/2026/04/09/p...
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s board voted today to close Tustumena Elementary, Sterling Elementary, Seward Middle and River City Academy. Those schools have a combined enrollment of 380 students. There will be no school in Kasilof or Sterling — kids will commute to Soldotna.
#aknews
🚨 HELP FIND DARLENE MARTIN 🚨
26-year-old Anchorage woman missing since Friday morning near Turnagain Blvd. Police are worried—mental health concerns. She needs us! ❤️
Full details + how to help: tinyurl.com/34dyj7av 👀
#MissingPerson #AnchorageAK #FindDarlene #AKNews #HelpFindHer #Missing #Alaska
Though it wasn’t on the agenda and isn’t a topic likely to see action for several months, discussion on school funding dominated Tuesday’s meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly.
#aknews
homerindependentpress.com/2026/03/19/n...
A budget proposal advanced by the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday would close Seward Middle School, Sterling Elementary School, Tustumena Elementary School and River City Academy. That’s in addition to closing pools and libraries and making deep cuts to staff and programs.
#aknews
Mat-Su families are facing a tough week: 🚍 routes halted, 💰 big cuts ahead. Here’s how to make your voice heard: tinyurl.com/yc74uyau
#MatSuCommunity #AKNews #ParentsMatter #MatSuSchools #Education
Homer’s city council on Monday approved a pair of IT capital projects, authorized the purchase of a dump truck, and decided to reopen their conversations about taxing short-term rentals.
#aknews
homerindependentpress.com/2026/02/26/c...
The filing period for the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s municipal elections will be held later in the year, and there will be a new seven-day window for candidates to withdraw after seeing the field, following unanimous passage of an ordinance by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday.
#aknews
More than six years after the disappearance of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane in Homer, and nearly four years after a man in Utah was arrested on charges of kidnapping and murdering her, 36-year-old Kirby Calderwood pled guilty to a single charge of second-degree murder for her death on Thursday.
#aknews
A phased proposal for Kenai Peninsula school consolidations, planned for consideration in March, describes the closure of Seward Middle School this year, followed by Paul Banks Elementary, Tustumena Elementary and Sterling Elementary as soon as 2027
#aknews
homerindependentpress.com/2026/02/05/s...
Another shutdown. Another warning for Alaska ⚠️
Homeland Security funding is stuck, and that could ripple through airports, coastal operations, and emergency planning statewide. What to watch right now:👇
👉 Read here: tinyurl.com/yc66j4ub
#AKNews #HomelandSecurity #FederalShutdown #AlaskaLife ✈️🚢
New byline just dropped; covering Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly for the Homer Independent Press. This week’s meeting was not the most thrilling, but they accepted money from the state and asked the legislature to let them give volunteer firefighters a bigger tax break.
#aknews
⚡ Weekend chaos + community shine in Alaska! Alleged stabbings in Anchorage, school bus drama in Glennallen, and celebrations across the state 🌲🎉
See what’s shaking 👉🏿 tinyurl.com/ycxw8772
#AlaskaNow #AKNews #TroopersRespond #CommunityVibes #LastFrontierLife #Alaska #Stabbing #WalkingWithOurAncestors
Alaska State Troopers are back on TV tonight 🚔📺
New season. New episodes. Real Alaska.
Plus weather warnings and travel updates you should see first.
👉 http s://tinyurl.com/2zn34fdh
#AlaskaStateTroopers #AlaskaTV #AKNews #AlaskaStrong #BlizzardWarning #Kodiak #WinterStorms #News #Weather ❄️🚓
Oh, one note: To limit the inclusion of more personal posts, the feed only includes posts from journalists tagged with: #aknews #akgov #akelect #akleg
A group of Homer folks launched their own news publication this morning, with Homer News veteran @maarmstrong.bsky.social at the helm as editor! Exciting things happening for the south pen!
#aknews
homerindependentpress.com/2026/01/01/h...
Markets are continuing to bounce back from recent lows in Southeast commercial salmon fisheries, and a pair of Wrangell gillnetters said they are hopeful to see continued improvement in the chum salmon fishery.
#aknews
www.wrangellsentinel.com/stories/fewe...
A missing person search in Anchorage has turned into a death investigation. Police believe there may be people with information who have not yet come forward.
👉 tinyurl.com/5akkh7rw
#AlaskaNews #AnchorageAlaska #CommunityAlert #AKnews #MissingWoman #DeathInvestigation #Alaska #AlaskaHeadlineLiving
The number of elk hunt permits issued for Zarembo Island will be doubled next year, from one elk bull available for harvest to two.
#aknews
www.wrangellsentinel.com/stories/stat...
Only a couple of years after first being spotted in SE Alaska, European green crabs are knocking on Wrangell's door. The State Department of Fish and Game is calling for folks to keep an eye out and report sightings of the invasive species.
#aknews
www.wrangellsentinel.com/stories/fish...
We haven't set a firm deadline yet but our survey will probably be open another week or two if anyone from the #akleg #alaskasky #aknews crowd wants to provide feedback on a new party effort we're exploring.
Any #aknews / Alaska press folks are welcome to swipe my No Kings photos and use them free of charge w\ attribution if they're helpful in filling out your story.
Digital archivists Elizabeth Kell and Kevin Allen have been capturing forgotten visions of Alaska history by digitizing aging VHS tapes for nearly two years. A recent find has them seeking subjects of images from a decades-old depiction of Haines.
#aknews
www.chilkatvalleynews.com/2025/10/15/d...
The Haines Borough School District’s school board is considering a policy that would require students to stow their cellphones and other devices in designated areas in each classroom.
#aknews
www.chilkatvalleynews.com/2025/10/09/s...
Sophia Hedden was the lone racer for Haines High School at the ASAA Cross Country Division I State Championships in Palmer on Saturday. She landed a 15th-place finish by completing the five-kilometer run in 23 minutes and 3.13 seconds.
#aknews
www.chilkatvalleynews.com/2025/10/06/l...
Erik Thompson and Kaia Mangaccat landed the top finishes for Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kalé on Saturday at the Alaska School Activities Association Cross Country Division I State Championships in Palmer.
#aknews
www.juneauindependent.com/post/thompso...
Freshman Jenna Meissner led the Wrangell girls to their first state title — in any sport — in her school's history at the state cross-country Division III championships in Palmer on Saturday.
#aknews
www.wrangellsentinel.com/stories/girl...
![The first page of a resignation letter by Regional Editor Erin Thompson, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporters Chloe Pleznac and Jake Dye.
[Excerpt because the letter is too long to include in full]
"Vance also said in the letter that she was “fully aware” of an effort to boycott Homer News advertising — stating that the paper would experience financial and reputational harm if it did not change its approach to covering community events. Rep. Vance never contacted the Homer News editorial team to discuss her concerns.
Without consulting the editor of the Homer News or the reporter who wrote the story, Carpenter Media removed the original article from the Homer News website, only to republish a modified version several hours later that reflected the changes demanded by Rep. Vance.
In the modified version republished by Carpenter management, there was no note to indicate the article had been changed.
We want to be clear: We have no problem with Rep. Vance expressing her opinion of our coverage. We cover difficult and sometimes controversial topics. Respectful dialogue about that coverage is welcome. As a community newspaper, we regularly provide Rep. Vance with a forum to discuss her views.
What we do have a problem with is Carpenter Media management changing a story at the behest of an elected official. We believe this destroys the credibility the public has placed in us as reporters and editors.
This willingness to acquiesce to a public official’s editorial demands and have conversations with her about the direction of our coverage is a betrayal not just of the journalists who work for Carpenter Media, but of the company’s integrity as a purveyor of news."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xgdov2xhtzjkjzi7niusqdmv/bafkreiemz3ncgw7xq3277rps363kwbxhcfyknnnay2gycel3nekacpf5sm)
The first page of a resignation letter by Regional Editor Erin Thompson, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporters Chloe Pleznac and Jake Dye. [Excerpt because the letter is too long to include in full] "Vance also said in the letter that she was “fully aware” of an effort to boycott Homer News advertising — stating that the paper would experience financial and reputational harm if it did not change its approach to covering community events. Rep. Vance never contacted the Homer News editorial team to discuss her concerns. Without consulting the editor of the Homer News or the reporter who wrote the story, Carpenter Media removed the original article from the Homer News website, only to republish a modified version several hours later that reflected the changes demanded by Rep. Vance. In the modified version republished by Carpenter management, there was no note to indicate the article had been changed. We want to be clear: We have no problem with Rep. Vance expressing her opinion of our coverage. We cover difficult and sometimes controversial topics. Respectful dialogue about that coverage is welcome. As a community newspaper, we regularly provide Rep. Vance with a forum to discuss her views. What we do have a problem with is Carpenter Media management changing a story at the behest of an elected official. We believe this destroys the credibility the public has placed in us as reporters and editors. This willingness to acquiesce to a public official’s editorial demands and have conversations with her about the direction of our coverage is a betrayal not just of the journalists who work for Carpenter Media, but of the company’s integrity as a purveyor of news."
![The second page of a resignation letter by Regional Editor Erin Thompson, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporters Chloe Pleznac and Jake Dye.
[Excerpt because the letter is too long to include in full]
These actions were taken despite there being no immediate urgency to remove the content — Rep. Vance's criticisms were raised regarding what she perceived as political bias, not factual inaccuracy.
Despite requests, we have not been informed of the content of dialogue between Rep. Vance and Carpenter Media management. In discussion with management our editor was told that the article did not meet their editorial standards and that the editing and reporting was “juvenile.”
We cannot live up to the core responsibility of a community newspaper in such an environment. We, employees of both the Homer News and Peninsula Clarion, are resigning our positions, effective Oct. 13, 2025.
Leaving these newspapers, at which we have spent a combined four decades, is not a decision we make lightly. We are proud of the work that we do covering local government as well as the arts, food, history, outdoors and sports. Though this decision is extremely painful for all of us, it is not difficult. We cannot do our jobs knowing that pressure from an elected official can mean our stories are edited without prior consultation with us.
Because we care deeply about the work we do and what it means to the community, we are all giving the standard two weeks’ notice instead of resigning outright. We hope Carpenter Media takes the opportunity to get personnel in place to continue the legacies of the Peninsula Clarion and Homer News. We hope this incident provides incentive for Carpenter Media to handle threats from officials in a way that safeguards the valued trust that readers have in newspapers.
The community deserves it."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:xgdov2xhtzjkjzi7niusqdmv/bafkreiaejzvjz2aomn6hwgikpev4qrxfldq6bfnbk3qclyzqminsrli7da)
The second page of a resignation letter by Regional Editor Erin Thompson, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporters Chloe Pleznac and Jake Dye. [Excerpt because the letter is too long to include in full] These actions were taken despite there being no immediate urgency to remove the content — Rep. Vance's criticisms were raised regarding what she perceived as political bias, not factual inaccuracy. Despite requests, we have not been informed of the content of dialogue between Rep. Vance and Carpenter Media management. In discussion with management our editor was told that the article did not meet their editorial standards and that the editing and reporting was “juvenile.” We cannot live up to the core responsibility of a community newspaper in such an environment. We, employees of both the Homer News and Peninsula Clarion, are resigning our positions, effective Oct. 13, 2025. Leaving these newspapers, at which we have spent a combined four decades, is not a decision we make lightly. We are proud of the work that we do covering local government as well as the arts, food, history, outdoors and sports. Though this decision is extremely painful for all of us, it is not difficult. We cannot do our jobs knowing that pressure from an elected official can mean our stories are edited without prior consultation with us. Because we care deeply about the work we do and what it means to the community, we are all giving the standard two weeks’ notice instead of resigning outright. We hope Carpenter Media takes the opportunity to get personnel in place to continue the legacies of the Peninsula Clarion and Homer News. We hope this incident provides incentive for Carpenter Media to handle threats from officials in a way that safeguards the valued trust that readers have in newspapers. The community deserves it."
Editors and reporters of the Homer News and Peninsula Clarion submitted their notices of resignation today, after management from Carpenter Media Group made changes to a published story last week in response to intimidation from a state lawmaker and without input from our newsrooms.
#aknews
Glenfarne, the majority owner of the Alaska LNG Project, is holding an open house in Nikiski next month, on the heels of two new agreements announced a couple of weeks ago. #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...
For the second time, Soldotna’s city council has delayed action on legislation to rezone the area that is set to be part of the Riverfront Redevelopment Project. The council now will not consider the move until February.
#aknews
www.peninsulaclarion.com/news/soldotn...
