Former Assembly President Brent Johnson announces candidacy to represent southern Kenai Peninsula

Former Kenai Peninsula Assembly President Brent Johnson is taking another run at the House District 6 seat in the Alaska Legislature, a new program could give Alaskans warning of earthquakes before they happen, and a gathering at the Alaska Capitol last week attempted to rally support for bills to address the impacts of climate change.

A bill from Gov. Mike Dunleavy that aims to incentivize development of the Alaska LNG Project gets its first legislative hearing. March Madness attendees in Anchorage raise awareness about a missing Shaktoolik teen. Plus, the North Slope community of Kaktovik seeks to revive polar bear tourism.

School district officials spoke to attendees at the school for the third of four public meetings the district is holding at schools the board is proposing to close to save money.

Power was restored to all members less than an hour later.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District officials meet with parents, teachers and students at Sterling Elementary School, which is slated to be closed due to budget cuts. Plus, outgoing University of Alaska President Pat Pitney gives her final State of the University address.

The new rules significantly restrict the fleet’s fishing grounds.

Earlier this month, the board built three budget scenarios that assume different levels of funding from the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The borough is consistently the district’s second largest source of income, behind the state.

The Alaska Board of Fisheries approves major changes to the state's management plan for Upper Cook Inlet's commercial driftnet salmon fishery. Plus, a bipartisan elections bill passes the Alaska Legislature.

On today’s episode of the Kenai Conversation, we’re joined by three big players in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s ongoing contract negotiations.