New natural gas contracts will allow ConocoPhillips' liquified natural gas plant in Nikiski to resume exports next year, a company spokesperson said Thursday.

"We expect about four cargos in the second half of the year," said ConocoPhillips spokesperson Natalie Lowman.

The city of Soldotna has been recognized for its financial reporting.
The city received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting as part of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year 2010, which was released to the public at Wednesday’s city council meeting.
An audit of the city’s finances by Mikunda, Cottrell & Co. Inc., an Anchorage-based accounting and consulting firm, showed the city is in very good financial standing.

A former Cooper Landing fishing guide was charged last week with stealing from nearly 70 clients by failing to provide trips booked with his guiding business in 2010 and 2011.

Thomas W. Murray, the owner of Wise Guide Outfitters of Cooper Landing, was alleged to have failed to provide package-deal fishing vacations that included transportation to and from Anchorage and Cooper Landing, five full days of guided fishing trips, all meals, six nights lodging as well as camp fires and sightseeing tours, according to an Alaska State Troopers press release.

Buccaneer Energy hosted a townhall meeting Tuesday at the Challenger Center in Kenai to explain some of its plans for seismic studies to the community.

The independent oil and gas company has plans for seismic testing in the Kenai area. That work is meant to inform the positioning of future natural gas wells tapping into the Kenai Loop natural gas pool.

Tuesday, representatives of Buccaneer and its contractor Weems talked to at least 187 members of the public about what the studies mean for residents of the area.