Local organizations and topics
Numbers are stories in the last 30 days.
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Week of May 18
Kenai approves $30K more for gas storage lease consulting
Kenai City Council approved an extra $30,000 for consultants to evaluate two competing natural gas storage proposals at the municipal airport, bringing the total contract to $60,000.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Kenai Parks Commission approves master plan, sends to City Council
Kenai Parks Commission unanimously approved a 10-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan on May 7 and sent it to City Council, which will review it May 20 and vote in June.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Planning commission approves variance for multifamily housing on corner lot
Kenai Planning Commission unanimously approved a variance allowing two multifamily buildings 10 feet from Cacnew Way instead of the standard 20 feet on a corner lot, citing safety improvements and housing demand.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Kenai garden tour set for Aug. 11, focus on Leif Hansen Park
Kenai Beautification Commission hosts a free garden tour August 11 at 5:30 p.m. to showcase landscaping at Leif Hansen Park and the visitor center.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Kenai airport main runway closed May 14 through September; pilots use temporary runway
Kenai airport main runway closed May 14 for three month rebuild • Pilots use temporary runway with initial restrictions • FAA clearance documents needed before normal operations resume • Work finishes by end of September if weather allows
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Alutiiq Air ends Kenai service; airport eyes Fox Air contract
Alutiiq Air stopped flying to Kenai, leaving Grant Aviation as sole carrier. City pursuing Fox Air contract pending investigation of citizen complaint. Main runway closed three weeks for repairs, operations on temporary runway pending FAA approvals. Terminal cafe closing May 23, seeking new operator by July 1.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Week of May 11
Senate Panel Advances Bill Tying Hunting Rights to 180-Day Residency
Alaska Senate panel advanced a bill tying resident hunting licenses to a 180-day residency standard, matching Permanent Fund Dividend rules to stop non-residents from claiming cheaper resident tags.
by Alaska News6mo ago6 min read
Week of May 4
Bank of America Files Four Debt Suits Against Kenai Residents in One Day
Bank of America filed four debt collection lawsuits against Kenai-area residents in early May 2026, according to Alaska Court System records.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago1 min readMore from Kenai
Kenai health office closed May 7 due to plumbing problems
Alaska Department of Health's Kenai office at 630 Barnacle Way closes May 7 for plumbing repairs, with remote workers staying home and essential staff reporting as usual.
by Alaska News6mo ago1 min readWeek of Apr 27
Senate panel advances gas pipeline tax overhaul with $610M revenue target
Alaska Senate panel voted to replace property tax on gas pipelines with a volumetric tax projected to generate $610 million annually once Alaska LNG reaches full capacity.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago4 min read
Alaska House panel hears bill to overhaul school funding timelines
House Bill 261 would let Alaska school districts budget using enrollment numbers from July instead of October, letting them offer teacher contracts months earlier when more candidates are available.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago4 min read
Senate panel advances property tax assessment cap bill
Senate panel advanced a bill letting cities cap annual property tax increases on owner-occupied homes, despite assessors warning it creates unfair burdens between longtime and new homeowners.
by Alaska News6mo ago3 min read
House Finance hears $8.4M in governor's budget amendments
House Finance heard $8.4 million in budget amendments, including salary increases for public safety workers and a reversal of pay raises for newly unionized University of Alaska employees.
by Alaska News6mo ago8 min read
Week of Apr 20
House Education Committee advances CPR training bill with rural flexibility
House Education Committee approved CPR training for Alaska schools with rural flexibility, delaying the requirement to July 2027 to pursue a state grant.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago3 min read
Kenai Peninsula CTE students achieve 97% graduation rate
Kenai Peninsula students in career and technical programs reached a 97 percent graduation rate while earning industry certifications.
by Alaska Newsadded 6mo ago4 min read
Week of Apr 13
Alaska residents share bear and moose encounters as spring wildlife season begins
Alaskans are posting spring bear and moose sightings on social media as animals emerge from winter across the Kenai Peninsula and Interior, following typical seasonal patterns.
by Alaska News6mo ago2 min readComing up
Kenai Planning & Zoning Commission Special Meeting
Kenai City Council Chambers, 210 Fidalgo Avenue, Kenai, AK, and Zoom (registration required)
Meeting
Kenai City Council Enactment Vote on Carl F. Ahlstrom Park Public Purpose Designation
Meeting
Kenai City Council Regular Meeting
Meeting
Power Plant Comedy: Claude Stuart
Performance
2026 Bristol Bay Next Gen Kenai - Youth & Young Adult Event
Community event
About Kenai
Kenai, also called Shk'ituk't, is a city on the Kenai Peninsula where the Kenai River meets Cook Inlet. Its economy draws on commercial and sport salmon fishing and on the oil and gas industry, including natural gas storage beneath the city.
The city council and the planning and zoning commission decide land use, including permits for day cares, gravel pits and other businesses, and the parks and recreation commission shapes projects such as playgrounds and courts. The city also operates Kenai Municipal Airport.
Kenai sits within the Kenai Peninsula Borough, whose assembly makes decisions for residents across the peninsula. Nearby communities include Nikiski, Soldotna, Sterling and Kasilof, and hunting, fishing and road safety are shared concerns across the area.
More from Kenai
Alaska Rural Health Program Flooded with 'Surprising' Number of Quality Ideas
Alaska's rural health grant program has too many good ideas for its limited federal budget. The state is now hunting for private partners to fund the leftovers.
by Alaska Newsadded 7mo ago3 min read