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.”

Juneau to become third city in Alaska to shelter high-risk homeless

Juneau will become the third city in Alaska to offer permanent supportive housing to the high-risk, chronically homeless. Those are the people who have been on the streets the longest, and may suffer from addiction or mental health issues. Download Audio:
two people on a boat, with a fishing net

Tesla needs graphite. Alaska has plenty. But mining it raises fears in nearby villages.

Graphite is a critical ingredient in the batteries needed to power America’s electric vehicle revolution. But every ounce of it is imported. A proposed mine in a remote part of Alaska would change that. But some of the people who live nearby fear it will endanger their way of life.

Alaska Legislative races hold few surprises

In the state Legislature, only two of the 50 seats up for election have likely changed party hands. Anchorage Republican Liz Vasquez lost House District 22 to independent Jason Grenn. Juneau Republican Cathy Munoz lost District 34 to Democrat Justin Parish.

Senate Republicans reject Walker’s Senate pick, Kowalke

Soldotna Republican Sen. Peter Micciche said the rejection was based on Walker not following the traditional process. Listen now

At Anchorage hearing, Alaskans protest Dunleavy budget proposal, advocate for income tax

More than four dozen people testified against Gov. Mike Dunleavy's budget proposal at a March 2 Anchorage Caucus meeting, with many asking lawmakers to consider tapping into new revenue sources to fund state services.

House passes bill to provide benefits to family of fallen police, firefighters

The state House passed a bill Monday that would provide health insurance to the families of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty. Listen now

So far, most of Anchorage’s police technology tax levy has gone to upgrading dispatch service

While most of the attention on the 2021 tax was focused on body cameras, most of the money is going elsewhere.

5 takeaways from Trump’s New Hampshire primary win

Donald Trump's 11-point victory over his last major GOP challenger, Nikki Haley, signals the start of his rematch against President Joe Biden.

DEA uncovers a flood of painkillers reaching rural Alaska by mail

An operation by the Drug Enforcement Administration has turned up a previously undocumented drug problem with a mild opioid that is spread across Alaska.

Iditarod reaches a turning point in Nikolai

The village of Nikolai was bustling all day as dog teams pulled in and out of the sixth checkpoint on the Iditarod trail. After teams have passed over some of the roughest trail, the race reaches a turning point. From here, mushers will evaluate their dogs as they try to decide how best to execute a their race plans. Download Audio
Two people ride on an ATV toward a white pickup truck.

Bethel doctor advises residents to avoid physical risks as hospital beds grow scarce

Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges says if Alaskans get hurt, they might not be able to receive adequate health care as surging COVID-19 cases destabilize the state's health care system.

Senator proposes close observation of Massachusetts health care program

The state of Massachusetts yesterday began rolling out its universal health care system -- a mandate that everyone in the state have some form...

Senate defies Walker’s call to weigh nominees

Governor Bill Walker tried and failed to get lawmakers to vote on his nominees Thursday. Listen now
A white church with a tall steeple and mirrored glass on the front surrounded by several trees

Anchorage has not moved to stop churches from meeting in defiance of virus order

The city says it hasn't received any formal complaints from the public.
school bus in front of building

Some Alaska legislative priorities stalled last session, so where do those bills go from here?

Anchorage Daily News reporter Iris Samuels says those bills aren't dead, though some might be harder to pass during next year's election season.
tourists

Cruise ships dumped 90% less trash in Juneau last year

About 250,000 pounds of trash made its way from cruise ships to Juneau’s landfill last summer, down from over 3.3 million pounds in 2019.
Drift wood in the foreground of a photo of a beach, greenish ocean water and jagged cliffs in the background

LISTEN: Here’s how it feels to go to the most remote place in Alaska

Writer Sarah Gilman went to St. Matthew last year on the research vessel Tiĝlax̂, and her piece, "The Island That Humans Can't Conquer" appeared recently in Hakai Magazine.
A woman stands in a field of peony bulbs.

Cold, wet weather delays lucrative peony harvest in Southcentral Alaska

Alaska is one of the only places in the world where peony flowers grow in the summer months. But the unusually cold, wet weather this year is delaying the blooms by weeks. And peony farmers say they have had to cancel the bulk of their early season orders, leading to lost revenue.
A white man with gray hair and black zippup jacket

As deaths and cases rise, pressure grows on Dunleavy to mandate masks

Municipal and health care leaders are pushing Alaska GOP Gov. Mike Dunleavy to take a new approach to contain Alaska’s COVID-19 outbreak, as case counts rise, schools remain closed, businesses clash with customers over face coverings and hospitals warn that they're stretched thin.

Alaska cartoonist draws his experience with Parkinson’s | INDIE ALASKA

Peter Dunlap-Shohl was living his lifelong dream, as an editorial cartoonist for the Anchorage Daily News. But in 2002, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.