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.”

Report: Data lacking on murdered Native women

Many police departments didn't respond to requests for data about missing or murdered indigenous women. "You will never solve a problem you won't admit you have, that you don't have data on," says Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.

Dems Kawasaki and Dodge take leads from questioned ballots, absentees still to be counted

If Kathryn Dodge wins her race, the Alaska House could be split 20-20 with members of a mostly Democratic caucus and a Republican caucus.

Justices wrestle how to set hovercraft case apart from subsistence

The U.S Supreme Court again heard a case that pits the National Park Service against Alaska's sovereignty, and this time subsistence was a big topic. Audio includes excerpts of the arguments.

Fairbanks hires law firms to advise on suing over groundwater-contaminating chemicals

Fairbanks officials hope to recover nearly $4 million the city has spent over the past three years to deal with the contamination caused by perflourinated compounds contained in a type of firefighting foam.

What’s so special about the Mustang Field?

How one oil field got more than $95 million in unique state or state-backed loans from Alaska. Listen now

Alaska firefighters sent to battle California wildfires

Some Alaskans are helping with the California wildfire response. Listen now

In a warming Arctic, October in Utqiaġvik presents an especially striking picture

Billy Adams, a hunter in his 50s, says that when he was growing up in Utqiagvik, there was almost always ice attached to the shore by now. Listen now
A blue glacier slumps over a rocky hillside, that mergens into a spruce forest

Gold exploration near Herbert Glacier excites investors

Enthusiasm over drilling test results caused Grande Portage Resources stock to rally temporarily. Financial filings infer as much as $400 million worth of gold on claims near Herbert Glacier. Listen now

Court hears arguments in case that could curtail Arctic Ocean oil drilling

The U.S. District Court in Anchorage heard arguments in a case that could determine whether millions of acres of Arctic waters should be closed to oil development. Listen now

Dunleavy taps Sean Parnell for gas line advice

Dunleavy’s transition chairman Tuckerman Babcock also announced that former Libertarian Party state legislator Dick Randolph will be an adviser on constitutional amendments. Listen now

Fall whaling in Utqiaġvik: joy, excitement and this year, mourning too

Whaling Captain Crawford Patkotak says many in the community are still mourning the loss of two whalers in an accident this season, but the overarching dedication to continuing the tradition of whaling remains strong. Listen now

Dunleavy names Alaska Republican chairman as his chief of staff

In his first public appearance since Election Day, the governor-elect also named his former campaign manager as his senior policy adviser, and he told mining industry leaders that Alaska is open for business.
A swampy tundra area as seen from above

Trump administration downsizes NPR-A lease sale after little interest last year

At its annual oil and gas lease sale, the Bureau of Land Management will offer 254 tracts for bid. Last year, the Trump administration put 900 tracts up for bid. Listen now

House member named as next speaker lacks votes he needs to be elected

The representative identified Wednesday as the next speaker of the Alaska House currently lacks the 21 votes needed to be elected to the job, according to an interview with one of his colleagues. Listen now

With salmon ballot measure’s defeat, Pebble celebrates

In an interview Wednesday, Pebble CEO Tom Collier said even though his company’s mine proposal wasn’t always at the forefront of the debate, the salmon habitat initiative was, in some ways, all about Pebble.

Alaska Republicans say Tuesday’s results could give them state House, Senate control

Alaska Republicans sounded confident Tuesday that preliminary election results will put them back in control of the state House after a two-year stint in the minority. Listen now

Dunleavy apparent victor in governor’s race as Begich concedes

Republican Mike Dunleavy is off to a promising start with 59 percent of precincts reporting. He leads Democrat Mark Begich by a 9-point margin, leading 52 percent to 43 percent. Listen now

49 Voices: Quinn Bennett of Anchorage

This week we're hearing from Quinn Bennett in Anchorage. Bennett is a lifelong Alaskan who's done everything from outdoor guiding to teaching. He moved to Anchorage from Soldotna at the age of ten. Listen now

Organizations step up to address growing homeless and poverty needs around Homer

The Homelessness Action Group began recently as a way to address the lack of shelters in the area and the Homer Community Food Pantry is expanding, in part because the number of clients it serves is growing.

Alaska urges British Columbia to toughen mining standards

The Walker administration is using its final weeks in office to push for tougher mine rules across the border in British Columbia. The province is in the midst of reviewing its mine reclamation laws. Listen now