Ashlyn O'Hara

ICE took this mom and her kids from Soldotna. Shock, outrage and sadness came next. Federal immigration officials detained and deported Sonia Espinoza Arriaga and two of her three sons, ages 5 and 16. As of Thursday, her oldest son remains in custody at an ICE detention center in Washington.

A family in Soldotna was swept up in an ICE operation — the mom and two younger children were quickly deported to Mexico while their eldest remains in detention in Washington. The case has sparked shock, community vigils and questions about due process.

ICE takes mother and children including 5-year-old into custody in Soldotna, lawyer says A group of clergy held a hastily convened media briefing Tuesday afternoon in support of the family and to publicize their apparent detention.

ICE officers took a mother and her three children, including a 5-year-old, into custody in Soldotna on Tuesday, according to the woman’s attorney.

A proposed mine in Lake Clark National Park faces growing opposition from nearby businesses A group of businesses that call the pristine wilderness home is mobilizing against the mine, with the goal of keeping the coast wild.

Contango Ore owns some or all of two mines already operating in Alaska – 30% of the Manh Cho gold mine near Tok and all of the Lucky Shot project near Willow.

Erfurth appeals criminal conviction In December, a Kenai superior court judge sentenced 37-year-old Nathaniel Erfurth to 77 years and one month in prison, with most of that suspended.

The former Soldotna High School teacher was sentenced to 77 years and one month in prison after being found guilty of more than two dozen charges of sexually abusing and exploiting a former student while she was a minor. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Kenai Conversation: Glacier sediment study with two scientists On today’s episode of the Kenai Conversation, we’re joined by Dr. Kiefer Forsch and Sarah Aarons to hear more about their study of two glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park.

On this week's episode of the Kenai Conversation, we’re joined by Dr. Kiefer Forsch and Sarah Aarons to hear more about their study of two glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/podcast/kena...

Soldotna enacts public naming policy for city buildings, parks Anyone can propose a new name for an eligible city asset. Preference is given to names that reflect local geography, indigenous heritage or community history and that consider the facility’s location ...

Anyone can propose a new name for an eligible city asset. Preference is given to names that reflect local geography, indigenous heritage or community history and that consider the facility’s location and function. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

State closes Kenai River sport king fishery, limits Kasilof king sport fishery Under a new restriction this year, any Kasilof angler who catches a hatchery king may not fish for the rest of that day — for any fish species — on the Kasilof River between the Sterling Highway bridg...

Under a new restriction this year, any Kasilof angler who catches a hatchery king may not fish for the rest of that day — for any fish species — on the Kasilof River between the Sterling Highway bridge and the river mouth. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Kenai student to advise state education board Josh Bolling, 17, is a junior at Kenai Central High School. Alaska’s state school board is a group created by state law to head up the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

Josh Bolling, 17, is a junior at Kenai Central High School. Alaska’s state school board is a group created by state law to head up the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Thirty-six-year-old Kirby Calderwood has accepted a plea deal through which he would serve 87 years in prison. This is a developing story and will be updated. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Kirby Calderwood pleaded guilty today to one count of murder in the second degree in the disappearance of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane in Homer in 2019. #KPBorough

Soldotna to launch library card design contest The library will accept designs Feb. 17 through the end of March. Then, a jury of library board members will review the submissions and winnow them down to three in each category. The public will vote...

A jury of library board members will review the submissions and winnow them down to three in each category. The public will vote on the finalists and winners will be announced during a celebration of Library Card Signup Week on Sept. 1 at the library. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

School board OKs Kenai charter high school program Aurora Borealis Charter School will welcome ninth and tenth graders to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s first charter high school program next school year.

Aurora Borealis Charter School will welcome ninth and tenth graders to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s first charter high school program next school year. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Soldotna protest opposes federal immigration operations Sunday’s protest came almost three weeks after immigration officers shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a nurse with a Minneapolis veteran’s hospital. Pretti’s death was captured on cell phone vi...

Sunday’s protest came almost three weeks after immigration officers shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a nurse with a Minneapolis veteran’s hospital. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Homer Rep. Vance faces ethics probe over official letter pressuring newspaper On her official social media page, Vance accused the Homer News of bias and "partisan spin." State law bars legislators from using public resources for “nonlegislative” or partisan political purposes.

The Alaska state House’s ethics committee has launched an investigation into whether Homer Republican Rep. Sarah Vance illegally used state resources for an official letter accusing the local newspaper of “partisan spin.”

Vance calls it “lawfare.”

#akleg

alaskapublic.org/news/politic...

Johnson Tract officials brief Kenai on metal mine status Owners say the project, which would be at the base of Mount Iliamna in Lake Clark National Park, continues to gather momentum as they prepare to conduct more site work this year.

Owners say the project, which would be at the base of Mount Iliamna in Lake Clark National Park, continues to gather momentum as they prepare to conduct more site work this year. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Project Homeless Connect returns to Soldotna with resources, more space Attendees at the annual homeless outreach event can learn about local housing options, get their haircut, take a shower and leave with a backpack full of supplies and winter clothing, among other thin...

Attendees at the annual homeless outreach event can learn about local housing options, get their haircut, take a shower and leave with a backpack full of supplies and winter clothing, among other things. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Kenai Conversation: State foresters on the decline of spruce bark beetle activity On today’s episode of the Kenai Conversation, we’re joined by Jason Moan and Diane Campbell, with the Alaska Division of Forestry to talk about all things spruce bark beetles.

On today’s episode of the Kenai Conversation, we’re joined by two state foresters to talk all things spruce bark beetles — from the latest outbreak's ebb to efforts to create a beetle repellant for trees. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/podcast/kena...

Nikolaevsk Charter School gets final OK Approval from the Alaska Board of Education came roughly two months after Kenai Peninsula school board members also signed off.

Approval from the Alaska Board of Education came roughly two months after Kenai Peninsula school board members also signed off. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Separate Kenai hotel fires leave one dead, Cannery Lodge damaged Kenai Fire Chief Jay Teague says structure fire risk tends to increase during the winter months, but the two recent hotel fires are anomalies.

Kenai Fire Chief Jay Teague says structure fire risk tends to increase during the winter months, but the two recent hotel fires are anomalies. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

The ask for assessment caps has been requested by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Facing deficit, school board revisits school closures, pool operations Early estimates put the district about $8.5 million in the red if it maintained the same staffing and programs next school year.

Estimates put the district about $8.5 million in the red if it maintained the same staffing and programs next school year. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Peninsula-raised musician, designer among Rasmuson artist awardees Keeley Boyle and Lester Nelson-Gacal both explore family in their respective projects, for which they each received a $10,000 grant.

Keeley Boyle and Lester Nelson-Gacal both explore family in their respective projects, for which they each received a $10,000 grant. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Kenai Conversation: Kenai Watershed Forum's "Save the King" initiative The initiative aims to raise awareness about declining king salmon runs within the Kenai watershed.

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Trent Dodson and Dave Atcheson to talk about the Kenai Watershed Forum’s “Save the King” initiative, which aims to raise awareness about declining king salmon runs within the Kenai watershed. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/podcast/kena...

www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) said during an interview today he was part of a briefing on the United States' three-phase plan for Venezuela following the capture and arrest of Nicolás Maduro last weekend. Story + full interview to come. #AKleg

A group of Homer folks launched their own news publication this morning, with Homer News veteran @maarmstrong.bsky.social at the helm as editor! Exciting things happening for the south pen!
#aknews
homerindependentpress.com/2026/01/01/h...

Kenai Conversation: Alaska Legislature preview with local lawmakers On today’s episode of the Kenai Conversation, we’re joined by the central Kenai Peninsula’s Alaska State Legislative delegation – Reps. Bill Elam and Justin Ruffridge, and Sen. Jesse Bjorkman.

What unfinished business awaits state lawmakers in Juneau? How might the state's financial outlook drive what bills get passed? The central Kenai Peninsula's state legislative delegation joins us on the Kenai Conversation to discuss. #KPBorough #akleg www.kdll.org/podcast/kena...

For one woman, jail death of former Kenai church leader leaves void of accountability Alaska State Troopers say 45-year-old Aaron “Scott” Merritt was found unresponsive in his Anchorage cell on Nov. 21 and was pronounced dead five days later. A Kenai Grand Jury indicted Merritt on 20 f...

“I wanted to be in a courtroom with him," she said. "I wanted to share what happened with me. I wanted to prove that what he did back then didn't break me.” #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Strong 2025 sockeye run roughly doubles value of local commercial fisheries Fishermen caught more than $40 million worth of salmon across all species in both Upper and Lower Cook Inlet, according to preliminary harvest data released earlier this month.

Fishermen caught more than $40 million worth of salmon across all species in both Upper and Lower Cook Inlet, according to preliminary harvest data released earlier this month. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Decades of silence preceded a painful reckoning for a Jehovah’s Witness congregation on the Kenai Peninsula

State prosecutors say Aaron Scott Merritt sexually abused at least four girls in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Some of the victims say the abuse was well known by Jehovah’s Witness congregation leaders in Kenai for years. www.adn.com/alaska-news/...