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.”

Governor orders closure of Alaska’s state-operated libraries, archives and museums

Nearly three hours after the news conference, the state announced two new cases of COVID-19 in the Fairbanks area
Mayor Ethan Berkowitz at a COVID-19 press conference in Anchorage in March.

Anchorage suspends restaurant dining, bar service

Mayor Berkowitz has banned dine-in service for food and drink at restaurants, bars and breweries. The order also closes gyms, bingo halls and theaters, and it bans gatherings of more than 50 people.

Alaska health department issues advisory for travelers returning from other countries and states

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services issued an advisory Sunday recommending Alaskans returning to the state from other countries and other states practice varying degrees of isolation to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Most Alaska villages lack road access and hospitals. Here’s how they’ll fight the coronavirus.

Since most cases of COVID-19 don’t cause serious illness, officials hope that most sick people can stay at home and monitor their symptoms. But they've also developed plans to move people to regional hubs or the Anchorage tribal hospital if necessary, and to provide alternative housing if the sick person poses risks to elders.

Alaska state basketball tournament canceled due to coronavirus concerns

In a statement, the ASAA says “MarchMadness Alaska is possibly the largest statewide gathering each year and ASAA would not be acting responsibly if we were to host this year’s event.”

As coronavirus concerns grow in Alaska, officials warn shoppers not to overdo it

Zidek said it’s unlikely the coronavirus outbreak will cause a disruption to the delivery of goods from out of state.
A musher drives dogs through a trail

While the coronavirus sidelines other sports, the Iditarod mushes on

In some ways, the Iditarod may be the ultimate form of social distancing. Teams travel hundreds of miles through remote, rural Alaska. But, along the way, they also stop at small communities that serve as race checkpoints. And some of those communities are concerned.

Alaska public schools closed to students until March 30, governor says

K-12 public schools in Alaska will be closed to children until March 30.

Anchorage Fire Department responded to coronavirus patient; Three staffers are now self-monitoring at home

Meanwhile, the City of Fairbanks announced Friday that one of its fire department employees is being tested for COVID-19.

LISTEN: This Anchorage skier flew 3,000 miles to his first World Cup race. Now he has to quarantine.

Ski racer Forrest Mahlen flew two days across the country, from Anchorage to Quebec City, for his World Cup debut. The coronavirus canceled it, and now he's headed back to Anchorage to quarantine himself because of his exposure to athletes from Europe.

Anchorage School District will open food distribution sites during school closure

Roth says the schools that will operate as distribution centers were chosen in part because they are are situated in neighborhoods with the some of the highest need in the district.
a man feeding his dogs

For those mushing the Iditarod trail, the ultimate form of social distancing, coronavirus news begins to trickle in

As news of emergency measures and coronavirus closures spreads, there’s at least one group of people that is almost totally in the dark: Iditarod mushers.

Alaska’s first known coronavirus patient arrived on a cargo flight and went to an ER in Anchorage, state officials say

Alaska's chief medical officer called it an isolated case that health officials believe they can contain.

Maybe you need to look at some photos of Iditarod dogs taking naps in Takotna?

A snowy patch of land in Takotna quickly turned into a sled dog hotel on Wednesday, with napping dogs curled up on straw and under blankets throughout the afternoon.

Iditarod mushers will still cross the finish line in Nome, but the city has canceled its race-related festivities

The City of Nome will not be hosting any race-related festivities due to concerns about the coronavirus.
The Coral Princess Cruise ship prepares to dock in Juneau. Photo by Heather Bryant, KTOO - Juneau.

Cruise lines announce pause in voyages worldwide because of coronavirus

Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz said Thursday that the company will cancel all cruises until May.

Anchorage School District tells parents to prepare for the possibility of an extended spring break

The Anchorage School District sent an email to parents late Wednesday, saying it would inform them by Friday if "a cancellation is called either at an individual site or districtwide."

It’s sleep, eat and repeat in Takotna as Iditarod teams take their 24-hour breaks

The mushers and their sled dogs banked rest and calories during their longest rest of the race.

To guard against coronavirus, Alaska oil companies are screening workers before flights to the North Slope

The companies met last week and agreed to "start screening all of their workers when they check in in Anchorage," said Heidi Hedberg, Alaska's public health director.