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There’s three candidates for Kenai City Council and only two seats up for grabs! We’ll be at the Kenai Community Library *tonight* at 6 pm (or live on KDLL 91.9 FM) for the latest in the candidate forum series to hear these competing visions for Kenai’s Bright Future™️. #aknews

An updated flyer for KDLL’s 2026 Candidate Forum Series lists remaining events through Election Day on Nov. 3. All forums start at 6 pm and, with the exception of the Sept. 30 event in Kenai, all are held at the Soldotna Public Library

Sept. 30 — Kenai City Council
Oct. 7 — KPBSD school board part 1
Oct. 15 — KPB Assembly part 2
Oct. 21 — Soldotna City Council and mayor
Oct. 29 — KPBSD school board part 2

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

In addition to usual demands of winter, the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank says changes to SNAP benefits mean more people may be struggling with groceries this year. The Freedom From Hunger drive runs through September in an effort to replenish food stores before it gets cold. #aknews

kdll.org

Freedom from Hunger drive seeks to bolster food bank ahead of winter

Donation bins are out near the entrances of grocery stores in Kenai, Soldotna and Nikiski, including Walmart, Fred Meyer, Save-U-More, Three Bears, Safeway, IGA and M&M Market.

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Reposted by Jake Dye

Jason Kint @kint.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Eye popping. Court just unsealed Summary Judgment motions in New York Times v OpenAI / Microsoft. Easy to see why the AI companies had so many redactions (pink). Their own people wrote the lede for NYT, the "largest theft of labor in human history"... "more and more substitutive..." /1

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday called on state and federal governments to restrict or regulate weather modification or geoengineering activities — like a cloud seeding operation that says it generated rain in Homer in late August. #aknews homerindependentpress.com/2026/09/17/a...

homerindependentpress.com

Assembly urges restriction, regulation of weather modification

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Transactions at the Soldotna Public Library are getting more colorful. The facility debuted a set of limited edition, locally designed library cards Tuesday. In September, library card holders can get access to deals around town and be entered into giveaways by checking out library materials #aknews

kdll.org

Community designs, deals encourage new library card sign ups in Soldotna

Soldotna Public Library marks National Library Card Sign-Up Month with celebration, giveaways, and partnerships.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Kenai Peninsula Borough voters will decide in November whether to implement term limits for the local school board. It’s a redo of a successful ballot measure from 2007 because state law was changed last month to make that a thing municipalities can legally do. #aknews

homerindependentpress.com

Assembly puts school board term limits question to voters

By Jake Dye Special to the Homer Independent Press Borough voters will be asked in November whether members of the local school board should be subject to term limits. The Kenai Peninsula Borough A…

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Listen to the our first evening of forum fun, with candidates for state house district 7, here! Join us tomorrow at 6pm with the three candidates for district 8! www.kdll.org/podcast/kena...

kdll.org

Kenai Conversation: House District 7 candidate forum

On this episode of the Kenai Conversation, we're airing the first installment in our 2026 candidate forum series. Up first are the candidates for House District 8.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I’m in this, repping the Kenai Peninsula!

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

We’re sooo back with a fifth year of local candidate forums organized by KDLL and the KPen LWV. The action starts Monday and runs all the way through Oct. 21 with candidates for legislature, city councils, school board and borough assembly. Join us in person or tune in live online or on air. #aknews

A flyer announces the 2026 Candidate Forum Series.
Aug. 31: House District 7
Sept. 3: House District 8
Sept. 10: KPB Assembly
Sept. 17: KPB Assembly
Sept. 24: KPBSD School Board
Sept. 30: KPBSD School Board
Oct. 7: KPB Mayor
Oct. 15: Kenai City Council
Oct. 21: Soldotna City Council

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Thrilled to report that I claimed the dubious honor of being the first person to fall down in Hockey 101

KDLL reporters Jake Dye and Ashlyn O’Hara are kitted out to look like hockey players at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Racing pigs, rodeo action, a magic show and a pie eating contest were only some of the attractions at last weekend's Kenai Peninsula Fair. #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Jack Money, armed with a cowbell, chases a pair of racing pigs at the Kenai Peninsula Fair in Ninilchik, Alaska, on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A couch and donuts were the toughest obstacles on the Eighth Annual .5K Brewery to Bathroom, held Sunday between Kenai River Brewing and Soldotna Creek Park. The event has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society. #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

kdll.org

Short walk, snack breaks raise funds for cancer patients

Annual .5K Brewery to Bathroom returns to Soldotna to tackle a tough subject with a lighthearted tone.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Just sent a fax for the first time in my life, AMA

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

An immersive theater murder mystery capped off the Soldotna Library’s summer reading program last month, where actors mingled with guests as they unraveled a conspiracy set in a 1700s era women’s rights convention. www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

kdll.org

Soldotna library wraps summer reading program with mystery, history

Audience seek clues, interact with characters in immersive theater performance.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

For the second year in a row, five Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly seats will be on the ballot. That’s after Central district member Michael Hicks, elected in October 2025, moved to Oregon this month. #aknews homerindependentpress.com/2026/08/06/h...

homerindependentpress.com

Hicks resigns from KPB Assembly

New assembly member will be appointed to serve for several months before November election. By Jake Dye Special to the Homer Independent Press Michael Hicks has resigned from the Kenai Peninsula Bo…

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

The Kenai Performers are debuting a new show this weekend. The production, “Mystery at the Black Dog Tavern,” is being staged for the first time, making its world premiere in Soldotna as part of the American Association of Community Theater’s 2026 NewPlayFest. #aknews

kdll.org

Kenai Performers stage world premiere murder mystery

Local company one of six organizations around the country debuting a new show through American Association of Community Theater’s 2026 NewPlayFest.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

An Anchorage couple say reckless behavior on a Kenai beach is responsible for the death of their service dog, who was hit by a speeding ATV last week. Daniel Charlie Cortes had traveled from Anchorage to dipnet when two-year old Juana was struck. #aknews

kdll.org

Owners urge caution after speeding ATV strikes, kills service dog

Tragedy on Kenai beach raises discussion about safety, reckless behavior during busy dipnet fishery

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Reposted by Jake Dye

Alaska Public Media @alaskapublic.org · 24/07/2026

The department initially projected another strong run for 2026, but so far the stock is well below projections. Department officials said it's not certain when or if the salmon are going to show up.

alaskapublic.org

Sockeye slow to arrive on Kenai River, according to Fish and Game

State fishery officials say they're not sure why Kenai River sockeye salmon runs are so low this season.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Spent an hour on the beach last week and saw *zero* salmon caught. It's a stark contrast to last year's wacky, 4-million strong run. #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

kdll.org

Sockeye slow to arrive on Kenai River

State fishery officials say they're not sure why Kenai River sockeye runs are so low this season.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Saw The Odyssey yesterday and it ROCKS. People in the theater applauded. Missing my old film review column a little extra today because the way Nolan advances the themes of the poem from a contemporary lens swept me away. Kicking myself for not making the trek up to Anchorage to see it in IMAX.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

In which Seward’s school board member says it’s kinda weird, actually, that the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District district is eager to bring gen AI into the classroom as a tool students can use to develop “original thought and material.” #aknews homerindependentpress.com/2026/07/09/s...

homerindependentpress.com

School board looks at AI policies

By Jake Dye Special to the Homer Independent Press Nearly two years after Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland said an internal committee would draft guidelines fo…

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

A Soldotna swimmer brought home silver after landing a 35-second finish in the 50-yard freestyle at the Special Olympics USA Games last month in Minnesota. Thirty-seven-year-old Jason Criss showed off his medal during Kenai’s Fourth of July parade last weekend. #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

kdll.org

Criss takes silver at national Special Olympics

A Soldotna swimmer brought home a silver medal after landing a 35-second finish in the 50-yard freestyle at the Special Olympics USA Games last month in Minnesota.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Taco Bell AI told me at the drive through today that they were out of Baja Blast but then the guy had to come on and tell me “she’s lying, we have it,” so that seems good.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

The Kenai Peninsula Borough will give Nikolaevsk School to the nonprofit group behind the new Nikolaevsk Charter School under a deal that waives the cost of a sale if the organization both operates a school on the property and invests in maintenance and other related costs. #aknews

homerindependentpress.com

Assembly approves Nikolaevsk School deal

Charter school will purchase building, but cost will be deferred and forgiven if it spends $2 million over 10 years on maintenance and operation. By Jake DyeSpecial to the Homer Independent PressTh…

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Reposted by Jake Dye

Alaska Public Media @alaskapublic.org · 18/06/2026

Firefighters have significantly slowed the spread of a wildfire that broke out Wednesday night on the Kenai Peninsula in Sterling.

akpub.io

Sterling wildfire not fully contained but bounded, after multi-agency response

The wildfire had decreased in activity late Wednesday evening, after growing to 50 acres.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Multiple agencies are responding to a 30-acre wildfire near the intersection of Swanson River Road and Jacobsen Avenue in Sterling. Alaska Wildland Fire Information reports the fire is about 10 miles east of Soldotna and burning in grass, brush and black spruce trees. #aknews

kdll.org

Sterling wildfire grows to 30 acres

The cause of the fire and its direction of movement was unknown as of 6:00 p.m. according to the Division of Forestry, which describes the current level of fire danger as “very high.”

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly next week will consider giving Nikolaevsk School to the non-profit group behind the new Nikolaevsk Charter School, under a deal that waives the cost of a sale if the organization both operates a school on the property and invests in maintenance costs. #aknews

homerindependentpress.com

Assembly to consider Nikolaevsk School deal

By Jake Dye Special to the Homer Independent PressThe Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly next week will consider giving Nikolaevsk School to the non-profit group behind the new Nikolaevsk Charter Sch…

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Went to the first all-hands gathering of the Homer Independent Press yesterday and, y’all, journalism might just be alive and well in Homer. I’m so jealous.

Dozens (!) of people gather in a classroom Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Kenai Peninsula College’s Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, Alaska, to chat nonprofit news.

Coffee and Homer Independent Press swag stickers sit on a table

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Attendees remembered former Kenai Peninsula College director Gary Turner as a mentor, colleague and friend during a memorial service held by the college last weekend in Soldotna. Turner helmed the University of Alaska affiliate for decades. #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

kdll.org

Former Kenai Peninsula College director remembered as friend, colleague, mentor and rival

More than 100 attendees gathered on May 31 to celebrate the life of Kenai Peninsula College’s longest serving director, Gary Turner, who died in April. Speakers celebrated Turner as a champion for the...

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Reposted by Jake Dye

Corinne Smith @corinne-smith.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Alaskans: I'm working on a story on the unprecedented 12 schools closed last month across Alaska, due to budget cuts. If you are a student, parent, or teacher affected I'd love to speak with you about the experience, and your plans for next year. DMs open or email csmith@alaskabeacon.com

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s budget for next year looks much like this year’s — the borough-wide mill rate will remain flat, and the borough will both take in and spend about the same amount of money that it did last year. #aknews homerindependentpress.com/2026/06/04/b...

homerindependentpress.com

Borough budget remains flat

By Jake Dye Special to the Homer Independent Press The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s budget for next year looks much like this year’s — the borough-wide mill rate will remain flat, and the borough will…

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

I got to see it. It rocked.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Waking up to the news that my former boss Josh O’Connor — who jumped from Carpenter Media to the former Frontiersman owner Wick Communications before things went from bad to worse — has been exorcised from Alaska journalism was *sublime*.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

I’m working to double check this stat now but I don’t think the movie theater in Kenai has sold out a show in 7 years, since the premiere of Star Wars IX. I was just turned away at the door trying to see A24’s The Backrooms 🙃.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

This weekend only, Triumvirate Theatre is staging “Anastasia: The Musical” at its Kenai playhouse. Two dozen middle school actors sing and dance their way through a tale of a lost duchess finding her place, all against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

kdll.org

Young actors chase identity, belonging in ‘Anastasia’

New Triumvirate Theatre musical “Anastasia” features two dozen middle school actors singing and dancing their way through a tale of a lost duchess finding her place, against the backdrop of the Russia...

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

This month, the Kenai Art Center is displaying work by Moira Ireland in an exhibit called “Lights and Perfections.” The artist’s solo show features mixed media work rooted in the artist’s faith and centered on transition. www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

kdll.org

‘Lights and Perfections’ brings movement, faith to Kenai Art Center

The solo show by Moira Ireland runs through May 29 and features mixed media artwork made in a time of transition. The show features biblical images and also a sheep watching an iPad.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Forgot to share this hour long conversation I got to be part of with the KDLL crew last week about local journalism and AI use in the news (spoilers: we think AI is bad and shouldn’t be used). www.kdll.org/podcast/kena...

kdll.org

Kenai Conversation: News in the news

KDLL's staff talk about journalism, the station's outlook and the 2026 Spring Membership Drive

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

A new festival and event space, a revamped Kenai sports complex (real ones know that's the big soccer field north of town), pickleball courts, year-round ice skating, new trashcans and somehow even more are in the City of Kenai's draft master plan for parks and recreation. #aknews

kdll.org

Kenai City Council hears parks master plan

The plan describes twenty years of development for Kenai’s parks. It ranges from rezoning to development of a new festival and event space. The council will vote next month whether to adopt the plan.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Nothing beats coming home from a long day of watching Gavel Alaska to *checks notes* watch Gavel Alaska.

Gavel Alaska is on TV, though at ease (surprise) and Jake is booting up Pokemon Pokopia on his Nintendo Switch 2

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

It’s pledge drive! You should support public media near you especially if near you KDLL 91.9 FM Kenai Soldotna! Call 907-513-1996 or visit the website to donate — and maybe make that donation on Saturday between 2-4 when *I* can thank you on the air!!

KDLL board member Mitch Michaud awaits your call with a table full of snacks.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Concerned for the future of news media in my hometown as the largest “news” outlet, an overtly partisan commercial radio station, today ran a story citing public testimony to city council given *by the reporter* yesterday with no disclosure. Then, he encourages readers to unseat council members.

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

I don’t think I can recall ever seeing snowfall in May??

Bafflingly, there is snowfall photographed near Soldotna in May 2026

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will be able to reverse some cuts to teachers and librarians after the borough assembly on Tuesday approved funding $3 million greater than the mayor’s original proposal. #aknews homerindependentpress.com/2026/05/07/b...

homerindependentpress.com

Borough increases education funding

Funding reverses cuts to teacher salaries and benefits, library staff By Jake DyeFor the Homer Independent Press Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education President Jason Tauriaine…

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

A stowaway, an evangelist and an undercover gangster are just a few of the faces bottled up on a cruise ship in “Anything Goes.” It’s the latest musical from Nikiski Bulldog Theater. The show opens tonight at Nikiski Middle/High School. #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

kdll.org

Nikiski actors set sail for drama, hijinks on the high seas

Nikiski Middle/High School’s Bulldog Theater opens ‘Anything Goes’ on May 1. The show features romance and humor on a cruise ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and marks the final performance for some ...

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Seated for Devil Wears Prada 2 rn and the film literally opens at the New York Press Club Awards where Anne Hathaway is laid off from her newspaper while walking up to collect an award and this is immediately too real

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Jake Dye @jakecdye.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Since quitting the Clarion I’ve struggled to see a place for myself in journalism, but the Alaska Press Club conference this weekend was so reinvigorating! Great to spend time learning with reporters from across Alaska and so honored to be recognized for my work alongside so many talented folks!

Jake holds his five (!) Alaska Press Club awards at 49th State Brewing in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

Jake’s press club awards are splayed on a black couch, including first place best feature photo; first place best short feature in print large; third place best reporting on government or politics in print large; second place best arts reporting in print; and second place best arts & culture criticism in print.

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