Those in favor said the bump is a necessary investment given financial trends, while those opposed said it would financially burden shoppers already feeling the strain of inflation.

The department says it already has good data from prior experimental beach seines, and that issuing new permits won’t fill remaining data gaps, like how many king salmon die after being released back into Cook Inlet.

The Kenai City Council last week agreed to spend $97,641.61 on the initiative, which includes decontaminating the city fire trucks.

The Fox Air lease is contingent on additional research on the company by the city, which received a letter raising concerns about Fox Air’s service.

On the central Kenai Peninsula, incumbents triumphed after almost 4,000 ballots were counted at the cooperative’s annual membership meeting Thursday.

Schools will get at least as much local money for operations as they did last year after borough assembly members on Tuesday pledged to give the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District around $62.5 million.

Soldotna's sales tax will increase by half a percent starting next year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration opts not to list Gulf of Alaska king salmon under the federal Endangered Species Act. Plus, state lawmakers mull making the giant green cabbage Alaska's official state vegetable.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will not issue experimental beach seine permits to Cook Inlet's east side setnet fishermen this summer. NOAA works to identify parts of Alaska waters ideal for aquaculture. Plus, Alaska Public Media previews the last session of the Alaska Legislature.

KDLL's staff talk about journalism, the station's outlook and the 2026 Spring Membership Drive

Clark Fair gives a presentation on Kenai's Agricultural Experiment Station at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center on April 16.