Kenai Fire Chief Jay Teague says structure fire risk tends to increase during the winter months, but the two recent hotel fires are anomalies.

Approval from the Alaska Board of Education came roughly two months after Kenai Peninsula school board members also signed off.

The announcement described a smattering of new nonbinding agreements that cover gas supplies from ExxonMobil and Hilcorp, roughly two-thirds of the steel needed for the pipeline and construction services.

Voters will consider whether to move city elections from October to November. The Kenai Peninsula Borough and the City of Soldotna made the same change after roughly two-thirds of peninsula voters enacted the change through a ballot proposition.

Through the partnership the company would “facilitate the construction and operation” of at least six liquefied natural gas carriers.

Building maintenance and upkeep shifted to the city when the building shut its doors. The closure comes as the city has identified a need for major improvements to or reconstruction of its existing public safety building.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski calls for an investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota. Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposes a fiscal plan that includes a temporary seasonal sales tax and a new Permanent Fund dividend formula. Plus, an oil rig nicknamed "The Beast" topples on the North Slope.

A fire at Kenai's Uptown Motel leaves on man dead. State education officials give the final OK to a proposed charter school in Nikolaevsk. Plus, Gov. Mike Dunleavy gives his final State of the State address.

Retired Kenai attorney looks back at victory, defeat in Exxon Valdez Oil Spill litigation

The initiative aims to raise awareness about declining king salmon runs within the Kenai watershed.