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.”

Disputed June incident heightens sexual harassment concerns

Two Capitol reporters say they witnessed the senator putting his cellphone between a female staffer’s legs in a public hallway. The senator denies it. Listen now

New $521M Anchorage budget pays for more safety, snow plows, homelessness efforts

The new budget is about $12 million dollars over last year’s, and taxes to the maximum allowable limit under the city’s charter. Listen now

Murkowski moves forward with legislation to nix Tongass plan

Congress could be one step closer to undoing a U.S. Forest Service decision to end old growth logging in the Tongass National Forest. Listen now

State releases agreement signed with China on gas pipeline venture

State gas corporation head says Alaskans will see significant progress on the pipeline project in 2018. Listen now

With both cheers and tears, Alaskans react to big energy policy changes under Trump

At two recent gatherings in Anchorage, Alaskans expressed very different feelings about the big shift in Washington on development issues. Listen now

New pipeline partnership with China still a mystery

The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation hasn't released details on the gasline agreement inked in China. Listen now

AK: “Kicking the sky with your feet,” four teams compete in Bethel’s NYO Invitational

Bethel’s Native Youth Olympic Invitational went on as scheduled. Teams arrived by boat and small planes through thick fog to compete in the traditional games of strength and endurance at Bethel’s Gladys Jung Elementary School. Listen now

ACLU says judges would invalidate crime law provision, but prosecutors see a solution

If Gov. Bill Walker signs Senate Bill 54, American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska lawyer Tara Rich expects defense attorneys to file lawsuits almost immediately. Listen now

House passes tax plan, the bill Young says will open ANWR

Rep. Young says the bill will lower taxes for Alaskans and, once reconciled with the Senate version, open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. But don't run to the bank just yet. Listen now

Senators heard about permanent fund problems before leaving

If the Legislature doesn’t act to close the budget gap, the permanent fund earnings reserve account would fall to zero in about 10 years. Listen now

Democrats fail to stop refuge drilling plan

The U.S. Senate Energy Committee voted to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "We're not going to stop fighting," a dismayed Gwich'in leader said. "We can't. This is our way of life. This is everything that we know." Listen now

Alaskan officials eager to open ANWR, even if promised more

If a pending measure to open the Arctic Refuge passes, Alaska would get half the revenues. But weren't we promised 90 percent? Listen now

Trump’s pick for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention deemed problematic by Anchorage nonprofit

A nominee for a top position at the EPA is drawing both praise and criticism, including concerns from a non profit in Anchorage that works to raise awareness about the health affects of hazardous chemicals. Listen now

Legislature’s chambers part ways as special session fizzles out

The impasse is a result of the two chambers having different views on the two bills on the special session agenda. Listen now

A potential neighbor to the Pebble Mine sees both sides

At least one resident who lives in a community near where Pebble would be developed is still deciding whether the mine is a good idea. Listen now

Northwest has new regional HUD boss

The Trump Administration has appointed a new Northwest regional director for HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listen now

Decades after Vietnam, what does the POW/MIA flag mean?

In many parts of the country, the symbolic black flag for prisoners of war and those missing in action is ubiquitous, even though the last decades of American conflicts have seen practically no POWs. Listen now

First Lady Melania Trump makes her first visit to Alaska

First Lady Melania Trump spent some time in Alaska this morning. On her way back from the President’s visit to Asia, the First Lady landed to refuel at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. Listen now

In China, Alaska gets new gasline partners — but no guarantees

The deal links Alaska’s gas pipeline project to three Chinese entities with deep pockets. Listen now