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.”

two people pose on stage, one holding a jersey

Anchorage’s Alissa Pili selected 8th in WNBA draft

Pili is the sixth Alaskan to make the WNBA. She now shares the record as the highest overall WNBA draft pick by an Alaskan.
A swampy flat area with rolling hills in the background

Army Corps of Engineers affirms denial of permit for Pebble Mine

It's another in a long string of rulings against the project. Still, opponents of the mine say their fight isn't over.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy speaks to a microphone.

Dunleavy argues homeschool allotments are an ‘indirect benefit’ to private schools. Lawmakers disagree.

House Republicans and the bipartisan Senate majority each say the Alaska Constitution prohibits spending public money on private education.
a man

Former Southwest Alaska VPSO, pastor arrested in Texas on child sexual assault charges

Monte LaVelle Chitty, 62, was arrested April 5 in the Florida case. Former members of his Cold Bay church say the charges fit a familiar pattern.
a mother and son

Suicides make up majority of gun deaths, but remain overlooked in gun violence debate

Suicide is the leading cause of gun-related deaths in the United States. But it's often only an afterthought in the public debate about gun violence.
fishing boats

Peter Pan Seafoods announces it will cease operations

The company has faced mounting troubles, including legal claims from fishermen seeking compensation for unpaid deliveries of seafood.
a basketball hoop

Alaska House committee advances, expands proposal to bar trans girls from girls sports

An amended bill would add elementary, middle school and collegiate sports to limits in place for high school.

A judge has thrown out a key part of Alaska’s homeschool system. Here’s what to know.

A judge found unconstitutional the state's correspondence school allotment program, which pays for classes and supplies purchased by parents.

Alaskans will have a chance to see a total solar eclipse… in 9 years

A total solar eclipse will occur on March 30, 2033. The path of totality will be visible in Nome, Kotzebue and Utqiagvik.

Rep. Peltola’s fundraising haul so far this year: $1.7M

Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola has far outraised her Republican rivals. Nancy Dahlstrom got a boost from GOP leaders in the U.S. House.
A woman wearing a beanie and blue coat shovels her driveway.

Most Alaskans now have until May 15 to remove studded tires

Monday's extension means drivers above 60 degrees north latitude will have until May 15 to remove studded tires under state law.
A doctor with a brown sweater stands in front of an emergency room

Public health officials revamp efforts to protect Alaskans against lead poisoning

Fewer children get tested for lead in Alaska, so officials are launching new programs to encourage testing and provide follow-up care.
a weather station

State resolution would push feds to fix rural Alaska aviation weather stations

A pending Legislature joint resolution would urge Congress to address FAA Automated Weather Observing System outages common across Alaska.
a man

Lawmakers weigh whether to reduce or acknowledge rights of growing Alaska homeless population

As the state’s major cities scramble to house people, advocates say Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s protest bill would further criminalize the homeless.
an anti-missile system

Iran’s leaders insist the attack against Israel was a ‘victory’

A top Iranian lawmaker says Sunday's attack "humiliated the Israeli regime." But Israel says 99% of Iran's missiles and drones were intercepted.
Mary Peltola

Peltola says her priority is Alaskans’ economic prosperity

During a recent visit to Ketchikan, Rep. Mary Peltola discussed her approach to housing, mental health resources and addressing climate change.
a courthouse

Alaska judge strikes down state’s cash payments to families using correspondence school programs

The decision on correspondence programs will become a "hot-button legislative item" in the final weeks of session, lawmakers said.

Alaska House rejects constitutional amendment guaranteeing formula-based PFD

Opponents of the measure said they feared a budget crisis. Supporters said it would spur lawmakers to rewrite the PFD formula.
A basketball hoop full of snow

Anchorage winter ties for second snowiest on record but hitting all-time mark unlikely

A whopping 132.6 inches of snow -- more than 11 feet -- fell on the city this winter, as of the latest measurement Friday.

The Cook Inlet gas crunch | Alaska Insight

On this episode of Alaska Insight, host Lori Townsend is joined by John Sims, CEO of ENSTAR Natural Gas, to discuss the future of Cook Inlet gas production.