Petitioners cited private property rights and safety issues from lack of infrastructure. But others say privatizing the road would shutter a longstanding community fishing spot and limit already-sparse river access.

The U.S. National Weather Service says excessive runoff may cause flooding in rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying areas.

“This has been billed as the bill that either makes a pipeline be built or does not make a pipeline be built, and that just really is not true,” said Soldotna Republican Rep. Justin Ruffridge.

The most expensive item on the list is $450,000 for early-stage work toward improving the ice rink at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. The money would pay for preliminary engineering and design documents for replacement of the rink’s refrigeration system.

Alaska State Troopers say 31-year-old Jonas Perletti sexually abused a family friend in a private residence when she was 14.

Dr. Karen Davis O’Hara most recently served as executive dean of a Sierra College campus in California.

State lawmakers order an audit of the Alaska Board of Fisheries. The state opens a resident-only muskox hunt on an island where at least five are stranded. Plus, Seward unveils a community wellness vending machine.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission votes to keep a Kenai River access point in Sterling open to the public. Plus, researchers study why the number of women setnetters in Bristol Bay is declining.

On this week's episode of the Kenai Conversation, we're joined by Juli Lucky, executive director of Alaskans for Better Elections. During the hour, we talk about Alaska's history with open primary elections and ranked-choice voting, including what Alaskans will encounter at the ballot box this autumn.

On today’s episode of the Kenai Conversation, we’re joined by Republican State Sen. Jesse Bjorkman to talk about the Alaska Legislature’s ongoing special session and the Alaska LNG Project tax break driving debate.