Ashlyn O'Hara

Journalists at 3 Alaska Newspapers Quit Over Charlie Kirk Story The publications in Alaska lost significant staffing after the owners made changes to an article that had drawn criticism from a Republican state lawmaker.

Several journalists resigned this week from three newspapers in Alaska after the publications’ corporate owner made significant edits to an article about Charlie Kirk’s death, after pressure from a Republican state lawmaker who had criticized the coverage.

Journalists at 3 Newspapers Quit Over Edits to a Charlie Kirk Story

@nytimes.com reports on the resignation of four Alaska journalists.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/u...

Federal shutdown closes offices, operations around Kenai Peninsula The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife permitting office and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and Visitor Center are closed.

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife permitting office and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and Visitor Center are closed. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Soldotna asks to host 2027 Alaska Municipal League conference Soldotna’s application says the city has enough local hotels to accommodate a minimum of 100 people, and that the city can provide transportation to anyone who isn’t within walking distance of the fie...

Soldotna’s application says the city has enough local hotels to accommodate a minimum of 100 people, and that the city can provide transportation to anyone who isn’t within walking distance of the field house. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Staff at 3 Alaska newspapers quit after owners give in to pressure from Republican lawmaker Much of the staff behind the Kenai Peninsula Clarion, the Homer News and the Juneau Empire resigned Monday, citing owner Carpenter Media's decision to edit a story without consulting them.

Most of the staff running three Alaska newspapers in Homer, Kenai-Soldotna and Juneau resigned in protest Monday.

“We cannot do our jobs knowing that pressure from an elected official can mean our stories are edited without prior consultation with us," they wrote.
https://akpub.io/4o371i7

Seward mulls future of city electric utility, again Voters narrowly killed an effort to sell the city’s electric utility to Homer Electric Association during a special election two years ago.

Voters narrowly killed an effort to sell the city’s electric utility to Homer Electric Association during a special election two years ago. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Voters to consider three names in race for Soldotna assembly seat One candidate has suspended his campaign, another is battling the borough in federal court over public access and the third is a retired school principal looking to dip his toe into local politics.

One candidate suspended his campaign, another is battling the borough in federal court over public access and the third is a retired school principal looking to dip his toe into local politics. www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Last night 4 reporters resigned from the Peninsula Clarion in Kenai & the Homer News. Listen on my podcast to the Clarion’s lone news reporter @jakecdye.bsky.social explain his decision to walk & the future of journalism on the Kenai Peninsula:

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

#akleg

Editor, most news staff of Carpenter Media’s Alaska newspapers resign due to censoring of story Article about a Charlie Kirk vigil referring to controversies involving him was altered after a GOP Alaska lawmaker complained to company management

The editor and nearly all reporters at the Homer News, Peninsula Clarion, and Juneau Empire announced their resignations after corporate management deleted content from a story about Charlie Kirk in response to a complaint from a Republican state lawmaker.
www.juneauindependent.com/post/editor-...

Several staff at 2 Alaska newspapers resign over handling of article by parent company Carpenter Media Two reporters and two editors from the Peninsula Clarion and Homer News cited actions by their parent company in altering an article after pushback by a state lawmaker in their resignations.

A group of reporters and editors at two Kenai Peninsula newspapers are resigning over what they say was the handling of a recent article by their parent company, Carpenter Media Group, after it was criticized by a Republican state lawmaker.

Jake attempts to log into his work email but an error message reads “Your password was changed less than an hour ago”

So much for working a final two weeks in good faith, we’ve all already been locked out of our email accounts.

The first page of a resignation letter by Regional Editor Erin Thompson, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporters Chloe Pleznac and Jake Dye. [Excerpt because the letter is too long to include in full] "Vance also said in the letter that she was “fully aware” of an effort to boycott Homer News advertising — stating that the paper would experience financial and reputational harm if it did not change its approach to covering community events. Rep. Vance never contacted the Homer News editorial team to discuss her concerns. Without consulting the editor of the Homer News or the reporter who wrote the story, Carpenter Media removed the original article from the Homer News website, only to republish a modified version several hours later that reflected the changes demanded by Rep. Vance. In the modified version republished by Carpenter management, there was no note to indicate the article had been changed. We want to be clear: We have no problem with Rep. Vance expressing her opinion of our coverage. We cover difficult and sometimes controversial topics. Respectful dialogue about that coverage is welcome. As a community newspaper, we regularly provide Rep. Vance with a forum to discuss her views. What we do have a problem with is Carpenter Media management changing a story at the behest of an elected official. We believe this destroys the credibility the public has placed in us as reporters and editors. This willingness to acquiesce to a public official’s editorial demands and have conversations with her about the direction of our coverage is a betrayal not just of the journalists who work for Carpenter Media, but of the company’s integrity as a purveyor of news."

The second page of a resignation letter by Regional Editor Erin Thompson, Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak and reporters Chloe Pleznac and Jake Dye. [Excerpt because the letter is too long to include in full] These actions were taken despite there being no immediate urgency to remove the content — Rep. Vance's criticisms were raised regarding what she perceived as political bias, not factual inaccuracy. Despite requests, we have not been informed of the content of dialogue between Rep. Vance and Carpenter Media management. In discussion with management our editor was told that the article did not meet their editorial standards and that the editing and reporting was “juvenile.” We cannot live up to the core responsibility of a community newspaper in such an environment. We, employees of both the Homer News and Peninsula Clarion, are resigning our positions, effective Oct. 13, 2025. Leaving these newspapers, at which we have spent a combined four decades, is not a decision we make lightly. We are proud of the work that we do covering local government as well as the arts, food, history, outdoors and sports. Though this decision is extremely painful for all of us, it is not difficult. We cannot do our jobs knowing that pressure from an elected official can mean our stories are edited without prior consultation with us. Because we care deeply about the work we do and what it means to the community, we are all giving the standard two weeks’ notice instead of resigning outright. We hope Carpenter Media takes the opportunity to get personnel in place to continue the legacies of the Peninsula Clarion and Homer News. We hope this incident provides incentive for Carpenter Media to handle threats from officials in a way that safeguards the valued trust that readers have in newspapers. The community deserves it."

Editors and reporters of the Homer News and Peninsula Clarion submitted their notices of resignation today, after management from Carpenter Media Group made changes to a published story last week in response to intimidation from a state lawmaker and without input from our newsrooms.
#aknews

Rep. Sarah Vance writes on Facebook: “A RESPECTFUL THANK YOU Thank you to the owners of Homer News and Carpenter Media for their thoughtful and professional response to my concerns about biased reporting. (We have had a respectful email exchange) Revising and republishing the article in a more balanced and objective manner shows a real commitment to journalistic integrity. I deeply appreciate their willingness to listen and improve, which reflects respect for the community and dedication to fair, unbiased reporting. 👏🏼Please join me in thanking Homer News for these positive changes and supporting their ongoing efforts. Let’s encourage them to make unbiased journalism a lasting standard for our local paper. #homernews #TruthMatters #TPUSA #charliekirk”

Rep. Sarah Vance this morning taking a victory lap for her successful intimidation of the free press.

Meet the superfans going wild for Alaska’s fattest bears Forget March Madness — this is Fat Bear Week madness, complete with brackets, merch and cheering fans from across the globe.

A student in Italy who calls voting “a disservice to the fatness of the other bear.” A school in Virginia where kids measure themselves against a life-sized bear cutout. And a priest who says, “It’s Jesus, my family, then fat bears."

Meet the superfans of Fat Bear Week.

AK LNG nets 2 new agreements at conference in Italy as development decision looms Both agreements are nonbinding, but proponents say they're proof of ongoing positive momentum.

The Alaska LNG Project netted two more agreements earlier this month during an energy conference in Italy.

Both agreements are nonbinding, but proponents say they're proof of ongoing positive momentum.

Carpenter Media, without consultation with our newsrooms, pulled this story from the website today. A heinous dereliction of our duty and a cowardly move from the company who says they’re so invested in local news.

AK LNG nets two new agreements as development decision looms Glenfarne and the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation will hold an open house Oct. 8 at the North Peninsula Recreation Center from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to share project updates and meet with residents...

Glenfarne, the majority owner of the Alaska LNG Project, is holding an open house in Nikiski next month, on the heels of two new agreements announced a couple of weeks ago. #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

I was flippant about this in the original post because its dumb and I stand behind my colleague's reporting, but as I'm watching her deal with targeted harassment sent her way by Vance and by Suzanne Downing, I'm thinking about the lack of protections or support for journalists in this state.

Sockeye salmon circle of life. A deceased salmon rests on the river bottom to the left. On the right, a salmon egg (I believe) bounces around.

This was the Kenai River on Saturday at the same spot I viewed them the end of last month. The water smell has ripened.

Nikiski Post Office closure sends boxholders to Kenai, leaves many with questions Mail pickup for Nikiski box holders and post office retail services are available at the Kenai Post Office at 140 Bidarka Street, Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 9...

James Boxrud, a USPS spokesperson, said he doesn’t know why the postal service ended the Nikiski contract, but that the information might be “proprietary.”

“You're not going to find anybody that's going to probably talk about the specifics of the contract,” he said. www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Beached Seldovia whale returns alive to Kachemak Bay The Seldovia Village Tribe suspects a toxic algae bloom could have disoriented the whale and caused it to swim on to the beach.

A minke whale became beached near Seldovia last Friday, but successfully returned to the water after spending six hours ashore.

Sullivan pitches LNG pipeline to Pentagon leadership He says bringing the federal government on to the project could “dramatically lower the cost of capital.”

Sullivan says bringing the federal government on to the project could “dramatically lower the cost of capital.” #KPBorough #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Feds drop immigration case against Soldotna restaurant owner Prosecutors cited the “unnecessary cost, logistical challenge, and delay” associated with different proceedings happening in different states.

Prosecutors cited the “unnecessary cost, logistical challenge, and delay” associated with different proceedings happening in different states. Francisco Rodriguez-Rincon remains in ICE custody. #kpboroug #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Econ 919: Natural gas pipeline looms large at annual energy conference Glenfarne’s founder and CEO says he’s taking the project one step at a time.

On this week’s episode of Econ 919: The AK LNG Project dominates conversations at this year’s Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference. #KPBorough www.kdll.org/podcast/econ...

Soldotna restaurant owner detained at Washington ICE facility Francisco Rodriguez-Rincon’s detention prompted confusion late last month among Soldotna residents who tried to visit his popular Mexican restaurants.

A Soldotna man accused of being in the U.S. illegally was detained by federal immigration officers last month, even though a federal judge ordered he remain out of custody in his deportation case. The arrest occurred while his attorney was on leave. #KPBorough #aknews www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

Alaska business license records show Rodriguez-Rincon owns Senor Panchos Mexican Restaurant and Sol-Agave Mexico!, Inc., both in the Soldotna area.

Soldotna business owner in country illegally, feds say In March, a federal grand jury indicted Francisco Rodriguez-Rincon on two charges, including reentering the U.S. illegally almost three decades ago.

The indictment alleges Francisco Rodriguez-Rincon “was found” in the U.S. earlier this year after having been removed, excluded or deported in December 1995 near Calexico, California. www.kdll.org/local-news/2... #kpborough #aknews

Kenai Conversation: How global geopolitics are shaping the future of the Alaska LNG Project On today’s episode of the Kenai Conversation, we’re focusing on the global liquefied natural gas market as it relates to the Alaska LNG Project.

Many thanks to Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a global research scholar for Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, and to River Davis, a Tokyo-based reporter for The New York Times, for chatting all things AK LNG Project. #KPBorough #akleg www.kdll.org/podcast/kena...

Nikolaevsk advocates for school at school district meeting In recent years, the school’s enrollment has plummeted. The school’s built for 175 students. But next year, the district forecasts only 19 will enroll. And as school district officials consider what t...

Here's a story from last month
www.kdll.org/local-news/2...

KPBSD school board votes 9-0 to close the K12 Nikolaevsk School, which serves the Russian Old Believer community about 10 miles east of Anchor Point. The district faced a $17 million budget deficit and expects to save ~$500k/yr by closing the school. #KPBorough