Camille Botello

Greg and Teresa Groeneweg pose with their dog, Ace, who is wearing a lifesaver medal Greg received from the Anchorage Fire Department years ago. He said Ace deserves it now more than him, for fighting off a bear. (Courtesy Greg Groeneweg)

Couple rescued after dog takes on brown bear

“He’s got the bear … and now he’s going to get killed.”

 

House Rep. Ben Carpenter speaks at a town hal meeting in Nikiski on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Election changes dominate town hall

Carpenter addressed ranked choice, legislation aimed at voter fraud

 

Alaska Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce selects Edie Grunwald to be his running mate at a campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce taps Grunwald, former parole board chair, as running mate

KENAI —Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce, a hopeful for the Alaska governor’s seat, has tapped Edie Grunwald as his running mate. Pierce made the… Continue reading

Alaska Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Pierce selects Edie Grunwald to be his running mate at a campaign event at Paradisos restaurant in Kenai on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports dozens of new COVID deaths

New deaths are reported through death certificate review each Wednesday

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Image via labor.alaska.gov.

Wages up from a decade ago

Yearly wages rose 11% when adjusted for inflation — or approximately $5,809 annually — from 2010 to 2020

Image via labor.alaska.gov.
A graphic shows employment by Alaska region and features the percent change in jobs from December 2020 to December 2021. (Graphic via February 2022 Alaska Economic Trends reports from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)

Report: Alaska economy rebounding; inflation up

Prices in Alaska increased by 4.9% in 2021

A graphic shows employment by Alaska region and features the percent change in jobs from December 2020 to December 2021. (Graphic via February 2022 Alaska Economic Trends reports from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development)
Anne Zink, Alaska chief medical officer, participates in a briefing with Department of Health and Social Services officials to discuss the rise of the omicron variant of the corona virus, on Nov. 29, 2021. (screenshot)

Health officials speak on misinformation as pandemic nears end of 2nd year

Nearing the end of the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic — at a time when many people are wary of the health care system… Continue reading

Anne Zink, Alaska chief medical officer, participates in a briefing with Department of Health and Social Services officials to discuss the rise of the omicron variant of the corona virus, on Nov. 29, 2021. (screenshot)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19 4th leading cause of death in 2020

COVID was responsible for 231 deaths in 2020

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce is photographed at the Kenai Peninsula Clarion office in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 25, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor joins race for governor

The borough mayor notified local officials in an email Thursday

Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce is photographed at the Kenai Peninsula Clarion office in Kenai, Alaska, on Sept. 25, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Image via Alaska Board of Fisheries

Statewide shellfish meeting rescheduled

This comes after the board bumped back its Southeast and Yakutat shellfish meeting

Image via Alaska Board of Fisheries
Charles Maier fills goodie bags at the Kenai Senior Center on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 for next weekend’s drive-through trick-or-treat event. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘This has been a lifesaver’

Seniors seek human connection as pandemic continues.

Charles Maier fills goodie bags at the Kenai Senior Center on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 for next weekend’s drive-through trick-or-treat event. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Otis, the four-time Fat Bear Week champion, fishes at Katmai National Park on Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)
Otis, the four-time Fat Bear Week champion, fishes at Katmai National Park on Sept. 16, 2021. (Photo courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)
A bear feasts on the salmon run at Katmai National Park and Preserve on July 13, 2021. (Courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)

Bears show off full bellies at Katmai for Fat Bear Week

KENAI — The bears of Katmai National Park and Preserve are preparing to show the world their beefy bodies starting today for this year’s Fat… Continue reading

A bear feasts on the salmon run at Katmai National Park and Preserve on July 13, 2021. (Courtesy of Lian Law, National Parks Service)
James Varsos, also known as “Hobo Jim,” poses for a photo during the August 2016, Funny River Festival in Funny River, Alaska, in August 2016. (Peninsula Clarion file)
James Varsos, also known as “Hobo Jim,” poses for a photo during the August 2016, Funny River Festival in Funny River, Alaska, in August 2016. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A sign advertises free COVID-19 vaccines at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on July 13, 2021, in Anchorage, Alaska. The state announced a new initiative that gives newly vaccinated Alaskans an opportunity to win $49,000. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Newly vaccinated get chance to win cash

Incentive campaign to grant $49,000 cash and scholarship prizes to weekly winners

A sign advertises free COVID-19 vaccines at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on July 13, 2021, in Anchorage, Alaska. The state announced a new initiative that gives newly vaccinated Alaskans an opportunity to win $49,000. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Officials debunk COVID vaccine misinformation

State doctors say ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine aren’t effective at treating COVID-19.

A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
Two black bears walk along Skilak Lake Road on Monday, June 14, 2021 near Skilak Lake, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears and dogs don’t mix

The best way to enjoy bear country with pups is by keeping them close.

Two black bears walk along Skilak Lake Road on Monday, June 14, 2021 near Skilak Lake, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A letter from the Alaska Broadcasters Association was sent to Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham, R-Kenai-Soldotna, on July 1, 2021, condemning a post he shared on Facebook that compared journalists and medical professionals who disseminate information about COVID-19 to Nazis executed for war crimes. (Letter provided by the Alaska Broadcasters Association)
Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham. (Courtesy Ron Gillham)

Broadcasters group decries lawmaker’s Facebook post

House Rep. Ron Gillham, who represents the Kenai-Soldotna area, posted a meme comparing journalists, medics to Nazis.

A letter from the Alaska Broadcasters Association was sent to Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham, R-Kenai-Soldotna, on July 1, 2021, condemning a post he shared on Facebook that compared journalists and medical professionals who disseminate information about COVID-19 to Nazis executed for war crimes. (Letter provided by the Alaska Broadcasters Association)
Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham. (Courtesy Ron Gillham)
Rep. Ron Gillham is seen here in this undated photo. (Clarion file/courtesy)

Kenai lawmaker shares photo comparing media and medical officials to Nazi war criminals

Republican Ron Gillham represents the Kenai-Soldotna area in the Alaska State House of Representatives.

Rep. Ron Gillham is seen here in this undated photo. (Clarion file/courtesy)