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.”

Iditapod: Mitch Seavey leaves White Mountain

In Episode 14, we talk about Mitch Seavey being the first musher out of White Mountain, we get a lesson in Iditarod tradition and histoy, and discuss mushers' strategies for resting their dogs.

House passes bill to provide benefits to family of fallen police, firefighters

The state House passed a bill Monday that would provide health insurance to the families of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty. Listen now

Calls for Hilcorp to shut down leaking Cook Inlet gas line get louder

An ongoing natural gas leak in Cook Inlet is sparking a debate over pipeline safety. Hilcorp, the responsible company, said it can’t shut off the flow of gas through the pipeline without risking an oil spill. But a number of environmental groups disagree. Listen now

Mitch Seavey first to Elim, three follow from Koyuk

Mitch Seavey has a substantial lead in the Iditarod, as the top mushers enter the final phase of the race. Seavey reached the Elim checkpoint at 3:26 p.m. Listen now

Iditarod’s mid-pack mushers prepare final pushes to Nome

Iditarod mushers face a grueling next few days. Not just those fighting tooth-and-nail at the top of the pack but, also, everyone else with competitive ambitions jockeying for spots in the top 10, 20 and 30.

Video: Is the Cook Inlet gas leak contributing to global warming?

A natural gas pipeline in Alaska has been leaking methane into the atmosphere since at least early February. Dr. Katey Walter Anthony from the University of Alaska Fairbanks helps to put the size of that leak into perspective.

Iditarod changes dropped dog transport standards following Friday death

The Iditarod Trail Committee said it’s changing protocols for how it transports dropped sled dogs after an one died Friday while in the organization’s care. An early necropsy on the dog showed it had overheated, dying of hyperthermia while on board a plane. Listen now

Iditapod: Mitch Seavey leads the charge up the coast

In Episode 13, we talk about Mitch Seavey's rush up the coast, what's going on in the middle of the pack, a musher reflecting on his dog's death, and we address a bunch more listener questions.

Young’s idea: ‘Wall bonds’

Rep. Don Young is no fan of President Trump’s plan to build a border wall. But if you like it, Young says he knows a way you could pay for it. Listen now

The rich mushing legacy of Huslia

Huslia is hosting the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race for the second time ever. The Interior village is rich in mushing history as it is the home of the late sprint champion musher George Attla Junior and other top names in Alaska dog racing. And as elite teams pass through the home of mushing royalty, local dog drivers are looking ahead to the next generation of mushers. Listen now

AK: Wild salmon on the school lunch menu in Sitka

KCAW’s Emily Russell in Sitka reports on how wild salmon makes its way out of a fisherman’s net and onto a student's plate. Listen now

Musher suffers dog loss at Galena checkpoint

A dog has died in this year’s Iditarod. It happened shortly before midnight at the Galena checkpoint. Listen now

Mitch Seavey is first to Huslia

Iditarod racer Mitch Seavey is the first musher to reach the halfway checkpoint of Huslia. The two-time champion was the first to leave Galena early Thursday and arrived in Huslia more than 80 miles up the trail at 8:18 p.m. A big crowd lined the main street to welcome in Seavey.

Iditapod: Iditarod Mushers Reach Huslia

In Episode 10, we talk about: Mitch Seavey the first into Huslia, 24-hour rests and how mushers determine when to take them, and the Iditarod's educational aspects.

Now in minority, House Republicans fail to cut budget

The Republican House caucus is pushing to cut the state government budget. But they no longer hold the majority. Instead of shrinking, the House version of the budget has actually grown. Listen now

Push or pause? Near Iditarod’s mid-point, mushers decide when to rest

It’s break time on the Iditarod trail, as teams hunker down for 24 hours of uninterrupted rest along the Yukon River or consider pushing down the trail to a later checkpoint. As the race approaches the halfway point mushers try to plan how to get the most from their tactical breaks. Listen now

Companies trumpet 1.2 billion-barrel oil discovery on North Slope

The companies behind an already significant oil find on Alaska’s North Slope on Thursday said they’ve confirmed the biggest onshore discovery in the U.S. in three decades. Listen now

3 things to know about the GOP health care bill in Congress

A Republican bill to repeal and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act is advancing in the U.S. House. Its effects across the country are uneven. Here are three things an Alaskan should know about the proposed American Health Care Act. Listen now

Wade Marrs leads Iditarod 2017 into Ruby

Wade Marrs led two past champions into the Ruby checkpoint last night in the 2017 Iditarod. 350 miles into the trail, the racing is underway as teams plot their next moves along hundreds of winding miles on the Yukon River.