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.”

ABout a half dozen bison in a fence on dusty round and blue skies in the background

3 Yellowstone bison arrive at their new home near Old Harbor, Alaska

The bison were brought from Yellowstone National Park in order to help ensure food security for the nearby tribe.
An empty conference room

Anchorage School District principals to administrators: ‘We’re fed up.’

Anchorage School District principals expressed frustration and dissatisfaction about the way the school year has started at the ASD School Board meeting Tuesday.
A woman in a white suit holds a blue surgical mask.

After 9 people are infected, Juneau urges all bar-goers to get tested

Juneau officials say that anyone who has been in any Juneau bar over the last week should get tested for COVID-19.
Voters mark their ballots in a long hallway

New suit says Alaska’s absentee ballot witness law is unconstitutional during the pandemic

Civil rights groups are challenging the Alaska state law that absentee ballots be signed by a witness, saying it's an unconstitutional burden on voting rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

LISTEN: Bering Sea ice at lowest extent in at least 5,500 years, study says

While it's notable that there's less sea ice now than thousands of years in the past, study co-author Matthew Wooller from UAF says the research provides a deeper understanding of the context and mechanisms of change over those years.

Anchorage police: homicide, assault and property crime calls are down

The Anchorage Police Department reported this week that calls for police assistance appear to have decreased in the city this year, compared to the last three years. Reports of assault, thefts and property crimes are all trending somewhat down, according to Chief Justin Doll, who presented the statistics to the assembly’s Public Safety Committee on Wednesday.
A worker dressed in black leaves thebeige double doors of a grey building. In the foreground, a sign reads "at capacity"

COVID-19 outbreak among Anchorage’s homeless points to gaps in testing strategy

Experts say the lack of a national testing strategy has led to unnecessary deaths of people experiencing homelessness.
A dirt road leads into rolling mountains in a sunset

Alaska Native women rally to search for missing Nome woman

A 33-year-old Alaska Native woman went missing last week, and some think the official response wasn't as fast as it should have been.
A sign in front of a beige entry way behind grey steps reads Attention, we have reached Capacity"

12 COVID-19 cases reported at Anchorage’s largest shelter

Managers of the emergency mass shelter at the Sullivan Arena say that they were able to isolate the cases quickly.
Lori Townsend Speaks with school district personnel about how they are keeping kids safe during the new school year in the COVID-19 pandemic.

How districts are working to meet distance education needs in rural Alaska | Alaska Insight

Most schools are underway across the state. Do rural students have better options for online instruction now than they had in the spring?
Athletes, alumni and coaches from the University of Alaska Anchorage ski team gathered alongside community members on Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Hilltop Ski Area to save skiing. They listened to alumni talk about the impact the sport has had on the community.

UAA coaches, athletes fight to save skiing, hockey and gymnastics

Student athletes, coaches and other community members are pleading with university leaders for more time. They say they can find a way to cut costs, raise revenue and save the sports.
The sign outside the federal courthouse in Anchorage along 7th Avenue with the museum in the background

Lawsuit claims Homeland Security officer sexually assaulted woman at Anchorage Museum in 2017

The allegations are detailed in a suit filed in federal court Aug. 26, nearly three years after the woman says Chris Heitstuman, who is described in the suit as a Department of Homeland Security employee, sexually assaulted her on two occasions in her office at the museum where she was head of security.
A man speaks at a podium

LISTEN: U.S. House incumbent Don Young is here to answer your questions

Alaska has only one U.S. House seat and Congressman Don Young is seeking his 25th term in that position. What does he want to accomplish in the next two years if he is re-elected?

Alaska jobs haven’t bounced back as well as other states’

Alaska’s job losses weren’t as steep as the national average, but the state’s recovery is lagging behind nearly every other state.
A woman smiles while bent over looking at her laptop screen in her classrom.

As the school year begins, Alaska school administrators worry low enrollment could impact state funding

Financially, there is a lot at stake. State funding of public schools is tied directly to enrollment.

Anchorage high school sports OK’d to tackle games next week

That applies to cross country, swimming, diving, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, football, flag football and cheerleading.
A black and white photo of machinery

Owner of historic Wolf Creek Boatworks digs in as Forest Service sets deadline

The U.S. Forest Service has given the owner of a boat shop on Prince of Wales Island until mid-December to tear down the historic complex and leave.
A white sign on a light wooden door says "University of Alaska Board of Regents/Executive Session in Progress/Please do not disturb"

University of Alaska student regent’s email draws criticism

Some University of Alaska students called for the resignation of the student regent following a lengthy email with content some considered inappropriate.
A dumpster with Black Lives Matter ppaitned on the front in white letters

‘Black Lives Matter’ dumpster next to Bethel City Hall is causing a stir

Last week, someone crossed out the words 'Black Lives Matter' with spray paint.
Workers gather outside a square, weathered one-story warehouse building

At closed campus seafood processors, workers swap freedom for paychecks

Workers, many of whom come from out of the country, say they weren't informed of the extreme restrictions before they arrived.