After polls closed on Election Day, Chuck Winters led incumbent Paul Whitney by 36 votes. But Whitney pulled ahead after Soldotna’s election officials counted hundreds more absentee and question ballots.

About 42% of visitors used the elevated walking track, which department staff say is the facility’s most popular component.

City Manager Janette Bower penned the ordinance, which she said would help curb behavior that disrupts city services or threatens public safety. She now says those are rules the city can implement and enforce without council permission.

Results are still preliminary and unofficial. The results so far do not include all absentee and early votes. The Alaska Division of Elections plans to publish more results on Nov. 10 and to certify the election by Nov. 25.

Early General Election results show central Kenai Peninsula precincts went overwhelmingly to incumbents U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, and gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson – all Republicans.

The unofficial results do not include absentee and questioned ballots and won't become official until certified.

Soldotna's Parks and Recreation Department says more than 19,000 people have visited the Soldotna Field House since it opened last summer. Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Mary Peltola widens her lead over Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan after more ballots are counted. Plus, Alaskans reflect on a 48-star American flag and the legacy of WWII in Unalaska.

On today’s episode of the Kenai Conversation, we’re joined by Soldotna Republican Rep. Justin Ruffridge to talk about his work on Alaska’s Joint Legislative Task Force on Education Funding, and a group of draft recommendations that task force published this week.