KGTL The Answer

05/13/2026

The tripod officially fell in the Tanana River, marking the end of the 2026 Nenana Ice Classic at 6:58 p.m. on May 4. 🧊 Workers are now busy entering ticket data to find out who guessed the winning moment and will share the jackpot. 🎟️ This year’s prize is set at $144,749, celebrating a tradition that has spanned over a century in the heart of Alaska. 🏔️ While ticket sales were lower this year due to economic challenges and natural disasters, the spirit of the contest remains strong. 🪵 Organizers also shared an update regarding the push for online ticket sales, which currently faces significant regulatory and legal hurdles. ⚖️ Community support is more important than ever to keep this legendary spring tradition thriving for future generations. ❤️ Check out the full details and official announcement here: 🧊⏲️

The tripod has fallen on the Tanana River, ending the 2026 Nenana Ice Classic.

05/12/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from the Alaska Zoo! 🐻🌷 We celebrated moms and families this Sunday with our annual Bear Aware day, where the stars of the show—our brown and grizzly bears—tested their strength against honey and peanut butter containers to show off some bear-resistant tech! 🍯🐾 Beyond the fun, we teamed up with experts from the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Alaska Fish and Game to share life-saving tips. 🎒✨ Education Director Rich Capitan reminds us that whether you are on the Coastal Trail or in your own backyard, being bear aware is key for our safety and theirs! 🌲🏃‍♂️ Remember to ditch the headphones while trail running, secure your trash and birdseed, and come practice with bear spray so you are ready for your next adventure. 🏔️🙌 Read more about the event and get the full safety checklist here:

With mothers getting free entry, the Alaska Zoo treated them, their families, and all the rest of their patrons to a “Bear Aware” day Sunday.

05/12/2026

From the shores of Alaska to the global stage, Indigenous artists like Cheyenne Nelson and Jamie Nurauq Stallings are sharing their culture through breathtaking handmade jewelry 🌊✨ These artists use materials like otter, fox, and rabbit fur—often sourced from scraps or traditional hunts—to ensure nothing goes to waste and every life is honored. However, a major shift is coming 🛑 Etsy has announced a new ban on many fur products starting August 11, leaving many Alaska Native creators feeling ostracized and disconnected from the global community they have built. For these artists, fur isn't just a material; it is a connection to heritage, language, and a way of respecting the land 🦊🌿 This policy could disproportionately impact Indigenous voices who use their craft to bridge cultures and share the beauty of their traditions with the world. Will this move by Etsy silence traditional art, or will it inspire a new platform dedicated to Indigenous creators? 🏔️ Read the full story here: 🎨✨

Etsy’s new policy doesn’t appear to have exceptions for Indigenous artists, whose rights to harvest animals and create traditional crafts are often protected by federal law.

05/11/2026

Looking for something fun to do? Check out our latest Community Corner update featuring awesome local events happening right here in our community!

🎨 Grandma Can Make Anything Story & Craft at Kenai Visitor Center: Enjoy a reading and nature doll craft on May 11 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Parents must stay with children aged eight and under. 📚

🏗️ Up We Go Online Spring Auction: Support the Homer Senior Citizens facility remodel by bidding on local goods and art daily from May 6 through May 31. 💻

🏥 Seaside Women’s Care Open House at South Peninsula Hospital: Tour the new clinic and meet the team on May 13 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM for comprehensive women's care. 🌸

🎓 Soldotna Chamber Scholarship Awards: Celebrate local students during the luncheon and awards ceremony on May 13 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at the Soldotna Sports Center. 🏆

📖 Dan Coyle Author Talk at Homer Public Library: Explore insights from his new book Flourish and enjoy a book signing on May 14 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. ✍️

🎷 Karen Strid Trio at Bunnell Street Arts Center: Experience professional jazz and percussion featuring guest vocalist Jonah Hopton on May 15 from 6:45 PM to 8:00 PM. 🎹

🌿 Wild Spring Edibles Workshop at Pratt Museum: Join a two-part plant talk and harvesting hike on May 15 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM and May 16 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. 🧺

🏷️ Perpetual Garage Sale at Redemptorist Center: Shop donated treasures on May 15 and May 16 to benefit Relay for Life and local outreach ministries in Soldotna. 🛍️

🌭 Customer Appreciation Sale at Kachemak Gear Shed: Grab one-day deals, free hot dogs, and prizes while meeting the Scotty team on May 16 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. ⚓

🐻 Charcuterie Board Painting at Homer Art & Frame: Paint and seal a unique laser-cut bear board in this beginner-friendly workshop on May 16 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. 🖌️

🐎 Alaska Hardy Gardens Spring Bash: Celebrate the end of frost on May 16 starting at 4:00 PM with music, food, horse rides, and a bouncy house. 🌻

🚲 Safe & Healthy Kids Fair at Homer High School: Enjoy a free bike rodeo, teddy bear clinic, and lunch on May 16 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. 🧸

🌲 Trails & Tales at Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge: Join speaker Roman Dial for captivating stories and trail updates on May 16 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. 🎤

🌳 Fruits and Nuts for Alaska at Aspen Suites Hotel: Learn native plant propagation and hardy crop research with Josh Smith on May 17 from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. 🍎

05/05/2026

It is officially birding season in Homer! 🦅🌊 The 34th Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival takes flight May 6 to 10, celebrating the incredible migration of over 100,000 shorebirds! 🦆✨ With 205 events including guided tours, kayaking, and bird-calling contests, there is something for everyone from junior birders to seasoned pros. 🔭🎒 Don't miss keynote speaker Alvaro Jaramillo or the beautiful woodblock art by featured artist Yumi Kawaguchi! 🎨🌸 Whether you are here for the science, the art, or the trivia night, it is going to be a flocking good time. 🐦☕ Read the full program and register here: 🕊️📸

The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival is co-sponsored by the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

05/04/2026

Looking for something fun to do? Check out our latest Community Corner update featuring awesome local events happening right here in our community!

🚀 Star Wars Scavenger Hunt at Kenai Community Library: Search the building for famous characters and solve space riddles all week long from May 4 to May 10 during regular library hours. 🌌

🌠 Little Crafts Name Rockets at Kenai Community Library: Celebrate National Space Day on May 4 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM by building personalized paper rockets to practice letters and gluing. 🚀

👟 Homer Steps Up Challenge: Track your steps daily from May 4 through May 31 using a wearable device to win prizes and support local organizations. Register at HomerStepsUp.com. 🏁

🌿 Newspaper Plant Pots at Kenai Community Library: Learn to fold biodegradable seedling containers on May 6 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM to simplify your spring gardening and reduce waste. 🪴

🥫 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive: Support local pantries from May 6 through May 9 by leaving non-perishable donations by your mailbox on Saturday or visiting the Homer or Anchor Point Post Offices. 💌

🍻 Shorebird Beer Release at Grace Ridge Brewery: Join artist and biologist Conrad Field on May 6 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM for a new brew release and educational talk. 🦅

🎨 Crafternoon Garden Markers at Kenai Community Library: Create charming painted stakes to organize your spring plantings on May 7 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Sign up in advance to reserve your spot. 🌻

🎶 National Day of Prayer Musical Celebration at Triumvirate Theater: Enjoy free performances from diverse faiths and cultures on May 7 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM featuring the Kenai Peninsula Community Choir. 🎼

🧘 Therapeutic Yoga at SPARC: Attend a free, gentle adaptive yoga session focused on stress reduction and mind-body health every Thursday from May 7 through May 28 at 5:30 PM. 🌊

🖼️ KPEN ArtHive at Kenai Art Center: Access free materials for self-directed creativity and community building on May 9 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. All skill levels are welcome. 🎨

🥂 Soldotna Sing-Along Brunch at The Duck Inn: Celebrate Mother’s Day early on May 9 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM with food, "MOM"mosas, and group singing for ages 21+. 🎤

🥞 Mother’s Day Brunch at Grace Ridge Brewing: Enjoy delicious food from The Very Good Breakfast Company on May 9 and May 10 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. 🍳

🦅 Song of Ighedal Workshop at Pratt Museum: Take an interpretive walk and enjoy a guided drawing activity focused on Dena’ina traditions on May 9 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. ✍️

🏺 Mother’s Day Pottery Sale at Kenai Art Center: Shop unique handcrafted bowls and dishes from the Kenai Potters Guild on May 9 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 🎁

05/02/2026

Get ready for a night of pure creativity at the Garden of Earthly Delights! 🌸✨ Homer's annual Wearable Arts fashion show hits the Porcupine Theater this Friday, May 1st, with shows at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. 🎭 This year’s event features stunning collections from seven local designers and over 100 handmade outfits! 🧶👗 Plus, it is a share the runway event, so if you wear something handmade, you can walk the stage and even win a cash prize! 🏆💰 Sip on drinks supporting the Bunnell Street Arts Center and shop the designer pop-up market in the lobby after the show. 🥂🎨 Grab your 40 dollar tickets online now before they sell out! 🎟️👇 Check out the full designer lineup and event details here: 🌺✨🦦

By Joella Clove Garden of Earthly Delights – Wearable Arts Annual Fashion Show 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday, May 1 Porcupine Theater $40 admission on sale online. All alcoholic beverage sales dur…

05/01/2026

Stay safe out there, Alaska! 🏔️❄️ Forecasters are warning of high avalanche danger this weekend across Southcentral mountains, from Anchorage down to Seward. ⚠️ A storm bringing heavy snow and fierce winds is expected to overload a weak snowpack, making large slides very likely. 🌬️ Experts recommend staying off and out from under any slopes steeper than 30 degrees, as debris can travel all the way into valley bottoms. 🚫 Recent rescues at Peak 3 and sightings at Hatcher Pass show just how unstable things are right now. 🧗‍♂️ Read the full warning and stay updated here: 🌨️✨

A storm is expected to bring heavy snowfall and strong winds, creating dangerous avalanche conditions from Anchorage to Seward.

05/01/2026

Dozens gathered on an Anchorage street corner this Wednesday to honor the memory of 19-year-old Kelly Hunt from Shaktoolik. 🌹 Kelly was a dedicated student at Alaska Christian College in Soldotna who went missing in January while heading back to school, and her body was tragically discovered on April 20. 🕯️ While police continue to investigate the cause of death, community advocates for missing and murdered Indigenous people are raising serious questions about the search process and timing. ⚖️ Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. 🙏 Read the full story below: 🙏💔✨

Hundreds gathered Wednesday evening on an Anchorage street corner to remember and pay tribute to Kelly Hunt, a 19-year-old woman from Shaktoolik who was found dead in Anchorage earlier this month.

04/30/2026

Big news for Homer! 📅✨ The Homer Independent Press has officially teamed up with the local teen-led project "Where Can I Homer" to launch a brand-new community calendar! 🤝🏙️ What started four years ago as a vision by local youth to help their peers find safe activities has now expanded into "Where Can I Homer+," a centralized hub for events of all ages! 🎒➡️👨‍🦳 You can now find hundreds of local listings—from gaming at the Gilded Table to adult-focused activities—all in one convenient spot on the HIP website. Our amazing local "Youth Connectors" are the ones behind the data entry, making sure everything is accurate and up-to-date! 💻🔥 Planning your weekend? 🎡 Check out the calendar to see what's happening, or reach out to the staff to get your own event listed! 📧🙌 Community engagement is the heartbeat of our town, and this collaboration is a huge win for everyone! 💖🏔️ Click the link to explore the new calendar and support this incredible youth-led initiative! 🔗👇 🌊🎉

By Ginny Espenshade and Ashe Dias Homer Independent Press Last week the Homer Independent Press (HIP) went live with its calendar function, an exciting collaboration with an existing online calenda…

04/30/2026

Get ready for a day of family fun because the South Peninsula Hospital’s 33rd Safe & Healthy Kids Fair is returning to Homer High School on Saturday, May 16! 🎈🏥 This free community event is packed with hands-on activities, live entertainment, and even a bike rodeo hosted by the Homer Cycling Club where you could win a brand new bike! 🚲✨ Kids can enjoy face painting, karaoke, a teddy bear clinic, and a free lunch provided by the Homer-Kachemak Bay Rotary Club. 🍔🎨 Plus, the fan-favorite science project volcano is making its big return! 🌋 While exhibitor registration has now closed, there is so much to see and do for the whole family. 📝✅ Check out the full list of activities and event details in the article below! 🔗👇 🏔️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Exhibitor registration closes Friday, April 24 Staff Report A free community event focused on children’s health is set for mid-May. The South Peninsula Hospital’s 33rd Safe & Healthy Kids …