Top Stories

News stories, radio and TV episodes that warrant one of six spots on our homepage. The homepage is in chronological order of publication date, so stories are moved off the homepage as more are categorized “top stories.”

A woman in a blue shirt helping another woman with her voting ballot

Alaskans head to the polls in state’s first ranked choice election

Some voters said they were confused and frustrated by the new voting system, which had them sorting through long lists of candidates and weighing whether to rank or not to rank.

Alaska-based pilots intercepted Russian aircraft 3 times in a week

This year, the usual game of cat-and-mouse is playing out in an entirely different context due to the war in Ukraine.
A red arrow with the text 'vote here' and black letters saying 'polling place' are posted on a white fold out sign.

Today is Alaska’s first ranked choice election. Here’s what to know.

Tuesday may be the most confusing election in Alaska history. Got questions? We’ve got answers.

Alaska election guide: Q&As with candidates for U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor

Meet the candidates running for statewide office in the Aug. 16 primary and special U.S. House elections.
a firetruck outside of an apartment

Man charged with second-degree murder, arson in Bethel apartment fire that killed 3

Police have charged 35 year-old Adam Andrew with 11 felony counts and six misdemeanor counts. Among the most serious charges are three counts of murder in the second degree and one count of arson.
ballots go into a scanner

Final U.S. House results won’t be available until Aug. 31 as officials wait for overseas votes

Officials won’t put the ‘ranked’ into ranked choice voting until all ballots arrive.

Anchorage’s Mobile Crisis Team hopes funding to operate 24/7 will expand ability to address mental health crises

For the last year, the MCT has been on the streets, responding to mental health crises. A few months ago, it got funding from the city to operate 24/7.

Ironman Alaska athletes likely spent millions while they were in Juneau

Ironman Alaska finishers Richard Secretaria and Joseph Paray figure that, between themselves and their significant others, they spent around $8,000 on their trip.

Ballot measure to defund Ketchikan’s library over drag queen storytime certified for Oct. 4 election

Only people who live in unincorporated areas of the borough will be eligible to vote on the measure.

Cheney and Murkowski: Trump critics facing divergent futures

They hail from their states' most prominent Republican families. They have been among the GOP's sharpest critics of former President Donald Trump.
a person holds a voting sticker in a polling place

View the latest vote tallies in Alaska’s special U.S. House and primary elections

Alaska voters on Aug. 16 cast their ballots in the state's first ranked choice election to decide who will serve the remainder of the late Congressman Don Young's Term.

Supreme Court rules against forward funding for education, confirms limit on legislative power

The decision settles a three-year-old dispute between the Legislature and Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

Sweeney files as official write-in candidate in special US House race

Republican Tara Sweeney finished fifth in the June special primary, just below the cut-off to appear on the special general election ballot.
A view from a plane of steep slopes, with poor visibility

Families of tourists killed in 2021 floatplane crash near Ketchikan sue Holland America and Southeast Aviation

The lawsuit comes just over a year after a DeHavilland Beaver floatplane crashed into treetops on a steep slope in Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness, about 12 miles northeast of Ketchikan.

Anchorage Assembly looks into vetting future mayoral appointments following health director’s fabricated resume

"I think it’s really important that all of the appointments that came forth under this administration be reviewed again, and that we know the facts,” said Assembly member Kameron Perez-Verdia.
A man drives a small boat

The important role of water taxis in Alaska | INDIE ALASKA

When a massive, unexpected landslide blocked the only road to Lowell Point, Tom Miller knew his water taxi service was the only way to move residents, school children, and tourists back and forth to the nearby town of Seward.
a person cheers through a cafe

Groups get creative to help Alaska voters understand ranked voting ahead of Aug. 16 election

The first ranked voting election will be the Aug. 16 special U.S. House election.
small bodies of water dot the tundra

Despite setbacks, Pebble Mine gets new investment of $9.4 million

The new investor signed an agreement for even greater potential investment over a two-year period — up to $47 million in total.
three people standing, with two women shaking hands.

Why Republicans in Alaska’s first ranked choice election reserve their venom for each other

Sarah Palin and Nick Begich are going after each other in the special U.S. House race.