The Kenai Peninsula Food Bank has received a $5,000 grant as part of a distribution from The Alaska Fund, a fund built by the generosity of Alaskans over a 5-year campaign that ended in 2018. This unrestricted endowment fund has provided support for nonprofits providing basic needs for Alaskans and will, in turn, support those struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wednesday, April 1, marks Census Day which is the the date used to reference where a person lives for the once-a-decade count of U.S. residents. The 2020 census will help determine how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets, as well as the distribution of approximately $1.5 trillion in federal spending.

Governor Mike Dunleavy announced new steps taken to advance the Alaska COVID-19 Economic Stabilization Plan during a briefing to the public Tuesday evening. Alongside a disaster order suspending certain fees and fines across state government, Governor Dunleavy highlighted major progress toward the creation of a state-backed loan program run by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority.

The Homer Chamber of Commerce and the Winter King Tournament Committee have decided to cancel the 2020 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament scheduled for April 25, in response to the guidelines from state and federal authorities.

Dan Nelson, Borough Incident Commander, and Brenda Ahlberg, Borough Information Officer, will be hosting a community conversation on Tuesday, March 31 at 7 p.m. The special guest for the conversation will be Bruce Richards, Public Affairs Director of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is extending personal use firewood collection by permit until April 15. Spring breakup appears to be delayed this year and road conditions are able to support this extension. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has become aware of individuals ingesting non-pharmaceutical chloroquine phosphate, a chemical for aquarium use that is commercially available for purchase at stores and through internet websites, in an attempt to fight off COVID-19.

Dan Nelson, Borough Incident Commander, and Brenda Ahlberg, Information Officer, will be hosting a community conversation on Monday, March 30th at 7 p.m. The conversation will be able to be viewed on Facebook by searching for @KPBalerts.

Governor Mike Dunleavy held a press conference on Monday where he announced two new health mandates, as well as announcing another COVID-19-related death in Alaska.  The death was a woman in her 60s, the first death of an Alaskan in-state. Also, 16 new positive COVID-19 cases were announced, making the current state total 85.