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.”

AK: Mysterious pink pond prompts a question and a quest

A hydrologist’s marker dye is unlikely, but there are a variety of biological processes that could be responsible for discoloration of the pond that’s located about 4 miles down the Herbert Glacier trail. Listen now

Alaska lawmakers release draft harassment policy

The draft is modeled on Oregon’s policy, which is more detailed than the current version, adopted in 2000. Listen now

Alaska House Democrats confirm John Lincoln to District 40 seat

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon was enthusiastic about Lincoln’s appointment.

Southeast lawmakers agree on need for fiscal plan but differ on components

Sitka Republican Sen. Bert Stedman, for example, doesn’t see the need to pass a broad-based tax now as part of the fiscal plan. But he does want to limit permanent fund draws. Listen now

Walker appoints Kotzebue resident John Lincoln to vacant House District 40

Lincoln is the vice president responsible for managing lands for NANA Regional Corp. Listen now

Video: The oceans are changing. Can crabs adapt?

Researchers in Kodiak are working to understand whether crabs can adapt to ocean acidification.

Gulf of Alaska quake prompts alerts, evacuations and review of response

A 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska early Tuesday prompted emergency alerts from the National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, as well as state emergency management officials. Listen now

Permanent fund leader says budget plan puts fund’s future into question

Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Angela Rodell presented a study that predicts a nearly 50 percent chance of the fund losing value in the next decade, if it’s used to pay for state government as lawmakers have proposed. Listen now

Tsunami warning prompts hundreds of Alaskans to evacuate to higher ground

Alaskans across the state woke up to the shaking and an emergency alert buzzing their cell phones, warning them to move away from the coast. Listen now

7.9 earthquake was an intriguing one for seismologists

The 7.9 earthquake was an interesting one that will "garner a lot of attention, scientifically."

Tsunami warning DOWNGRADED to an advisory

The National Weather Service has lifted the tsunami warning for coastal Alaska. It has been downgraded to a tsunami advisory. That means that while a wave *has* been recorded in the Gulf of Alaska, it’s not big enough to require evacuations.

Zinke signs land trade to allow road for King Cove

Alaska's congressional delegation ticked another item off its decades-old to-do list Monday: Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke signed a land swap agreement to allow a road in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge for King Cove. Listen now

Impacts from shutdown on military were set to intensify Monday

The standoff over the weekend threatened furloughs, facility closures and work without pay for service-members at Alaska bases and around the globe. Listen now

Two major candidates file papers to run for Anchorage mayor

Rebecca Logan is the main challenger taking on incumbent mayor Ethan Berkowitz in the first election to be conducted by mail for the municipality.

What’s open, what’s closed if the government shuts down

The government is set to cease operations at Friday at 8 p.m. Alaska time if Congress can't reach an agreement on spending. How will that affect you? Listen now
A town on a cove as seen from above

Interior aims to sign King Cove road deal Monday, official confirms

A top Interior official in Alaska has confirmed that on Monday, the Trump administration plans to sign a deal to build a controversial road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. Listen now

What caused the Blob? Scientists conclude, we did

In 2014, a warm water system — known as the Blob — wreaked havoc in the waters of the Gulf of Alaska. Listen now

State senators slam additional Medicaid costs

The rising cost of Medicaid to the state of Alaska has been the target of criticism during the first two days of state Senate Finance Committee hearings. Listen now

Alaska senators vote ‘no’ as Congress renews surveillance law

FISA allows the government to collect email and phone records of foreigners overseas without a warrant. Privacy advocates warn it sweeps up communications of Americans, too. Listen now

Rep. Young wants earmarks back, and he’s not alone

Alaska Congressman Don Young says without earmarks, lawmakers can't effectively represent their constituents. "This to me is one of the crucial issues to this Congress, the next Congress and this House," Young told colleagues. And he defends the "bridge to nowhere." Listen now