The City of Kenai is expanding its CARES Act grants programs to include two groups not covered by the first round of grants: smaller businesses, with annual gross revenues of between $25,000 and $49,999, and City of Kenai residents who hold Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission permits.

The Alaska State Troopers encourage anyone this summer who is recreating on or near the water to wear personal flotation devices. Troopers took action to enforce this message over the weekend, as several citations were issued due to boaters not carrying sufficient personal flotation devices on-board.

The City of Soldotna is accepting applications for their Mini Grant Program, from now until August 15. The Mini grant Program was established to provide funding to a wide range of civic programs, services, projects, and events that contribute to the cultural and economic environment, health, welfare, and overall quality of life for the community and residents of Soldotna.

Kenai Peninsula residents, remember: today at 6:00 p.m., the Borough School District Board of Education will take action to approve their COVID-19 Smart Start 2020 plan. The public is welcome to attend, either in-person or virtually. They will also look at changing the first day of school for students to Monday, August 24.

The Alaska Department of Social Services announced a total of 194 people testing positive with COVID-19 in Alaska combined across Saturday and Sunday.  Of those residents, 154 are Alaska residents. The Kenai Peninsula was not immune to this spike in numbers, with five residents being from Soldotna, three from Kenai, and two in Seward.

Due to the progression of the fire season and current and predicted weather patterns, dispersed campfires are now allowed on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Alaska State Parks on the western Kenai Peninsula, effective immediately. The previous closure restricting campfires to established rings or enclosed metal grates within developed recreational facilities, issued on June 5, is rescinded.

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is announcing $35 million of funding from Alaska’s share of the Federal CARES Act will be used to offer grants to nonprofits and faith-based organizations that provide critical services to Alaskans.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly passed an ordinance this week to allow voters to decide on the establishment of Western Emergency Services, the result of efforts to expand the Anchor Point Fire and Emergency Medical Service area boundaries to include the Ninilchik area.