Two Republican state Senate candidates vying to represent a geographically diverse district squared off Tuesday during a debate sponsored by the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce. Incumbent Senator Cathy Giessel, of Anchorage, and Joe Arness, of Nikiski, are vying for a two-year seat in the newly formed Senate District N in the Aug. 28 primary.

FAIRBANKS (AP) - Monkeys dominate the classroom of Kelly Andaloro. A jungle of stuffed monkeys, several in bright colors, looks down on her classroom from the top of a bookshelf.

A Juneau Superior Court judge issued a ruling earlier last week that granted Tlingit and Haida Alaskan tribal courts jurisdiction to adjudicate child support for children who are members of the tribe. Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, the plaintiffs in the case against the state, heralded the ruling as a victory in reaffirming the tribe's authority to handle its own family law cases.

...guidelines for a family of four in Alaska in 2001 was $22,070 compared to a family of the same size in the Lower 48 which was $17,650. -- Kenai Peninsula Borough Situations and Prospects 2000 and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

While skyrocketing oil prices are driving many to renewable energy options such as solar, wind and even tidal power, a group of families living a communal lifestyle in Kasilof seems to have taken a step back, revisiting the use of wood for heat and hot water.

Setting up a pollen-testing site on the Kenai Peninsula is easier than it sounds.

Terry Shepherd, the director of the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies in Homer, died Wednesday, board vice president Mike Allen said in a statement released today.

Editor's note: "Focus on Fitness" is a new feature with healthy lifestyle advice from local and national health and fitness experts. Check here weekly great information and tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

With the feverish and achy flu season just around the corner, the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services is recommending residents to get their flu shots now.

Is the average American going to have to pay more for National Health Care because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has granted waivers to 222 big unions and big businesses and the list is still growing? The waivers let them opt out of having to pay into the new plan. Also, Congress has exempted themselves and federal employees from the new Health Care Plan. If you want to know who got waivers you can look it up on the internet.