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.”

‘We’re never going to surrender’ — Sarah James on a life fighting oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge

Sarah James’ desire to preserve the Neets'aii Gwich'in way of life drove her into the thick of the battle over oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Dunleavy calls lawmakers to Juneau to continue special session

In a declaration Wednesday, Governor Mike Dunleavy amended his call for the second special session to have it take place in Juneau, rather than his original choice: Wasilla.

Meet the Trump administration official whose signature could formally open ANWR to drilling

On his second day on the job at the U.S. Department of Interior, Joe Balash says he was personally tasked with carrying out Congress’ instructions to hold an oil lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "I am confident that we are able to move forward here and not devastate the Porcupine caribou herd. I am absolutely convinced of that,” Balash says.

Alaska Legislature sues governor over validity of school funding law

The dispute is over a law enacted last year and signed by former Gov. Bill Walker. The law sought to provide school funding for both last school year and the coming year.

Galvin tries again to unseat Young

Anchorage education advocate Alyse Galvin has filed to take another run at Alaska Congressman Don Young in 2020.

Effort to recall Gov. Mike Dunleavy working to coalesce around legal grounds

At the event, organizers said the governor's budget vetoes are not the sole reason they want to pursue a recall. But the vetoes were cited repeatedly.

Legislature seeks new path to fund vetoed programs

A draft bill discussed Monday would set permanent fund dividends at $929 to have a balanced budget. House Bill 2001 would both reverse Dunleavy’s vetoes to the operating and capital budgets and set the dividend level.

Rural Alaskans brace for impact as Power Cost Equalization funds disappear

As legislative gridlock continues over funds included in an annual sweep into state savings, rural Alaskans soon could see more expensive electricity bills.

‘This needs to stop’: Murkowski rebukes Trump for tweet

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has condemned President Trump for saying that four left-wing congresswomen should go back to where they came from. All four congresswomen are non-White.

PFD fight splits Alaska GOP, leaving some aligned with Democrats

Typically, some of the most intense fights at the Alaska state Capitol are between Democrats and Republicans. But one of the biggest ideological fractures complicating this year's legislative session is within the GOP, and that's creating some strange bedfellows.

Pilot dies in fourth plane crash near Ketchikan this summer

The Coast Guard sent out small boats from Station Ketchikan, and a search and rescue helicopter from Air Station Sitka. Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad crews were mobilized, and KVRS found the crashed plane.

Lawmakers remain far apart, physically and politically, as time runs out for veto override

Dunleavy issued a second round of line-item vetoes, this time on the capital budget. Legislators in Juneau criticized the changes, but didn’t vote on overriding them.

As polar bears encroach on this Alaska village, feds charge whaling captain with illegally shooting one

As Arctic sea ice melts, polar bears are spending more time near the Alaska North Slope village of Kaktovik. Now, federal prosecutors have charging a whaling captain there with killing one in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Murkowski finds EPA criticism of Pebble Mine ‘substantial’

The Environmental Protection Agency issued harsh assessments of the proposed Pebble Mine last week, and they've made an impression on Lisa Murkowski.

Alaska’s divided Legislature fails to override governor’s line-item budget vetoes

While there won’t be a formal way to override the vetoes after Friday, there may be another path to restoring funding for some line items.

Alaska lawmakers’ veto override vote fails in Juneau as protesters occupy GOP session in Wasilla

Alaska lawmakers failed Wednesday to override some $400 million in budget vetoes by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, as fewer legislators were present in Juneau than the 45 votes needed to reverse the governor.

Watch live: Alaska Legislature holds joint session on budget veto overrides

Alaska lawmakers in Juneau have scheduled a joint session between the House of Representatives and Senate to vote on overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s nearly $400 million in vetoes to the state’s operating budget.
A man in a jacket and tie standing as he speaks on the Alaska Senate floor

Alaska senators say time running out on funding for scholarships, medical education, Power Cost Equalization

State senators in Juneau raised alarm on Tuesday about the money swept from state budget accounts into a harder-to-access piggy bank: the Constitutional Budget Reserve.

In 4 a.m. emails, demonstrations and in-person ambushes, Alaskans press lawmakers on budget vetoes

Anchorage Republican Rep. Sara Rasmussen was taking her small children out of a bath recently when someone showed up at her door. They wanted...

Alaska Legislature split on budget vetoes, PFDs — and where to meet

Alaska legislators gathered in two different places on Monday, with different messages about state law, permanent fund dividends and Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s line-item vetoes.