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.”

Oversight Panel to Explore Contracts With Alaska Native Corporations

The head of a U.S.  Senate oversight panel is looking into the small business contracts awarded to Alaska Native Corporations. Senator Claire McCaskill, a...

Villages Still Battling Yukon High Waters

Flood waters are still roiling along the Yukon River. Many villages are not out of danger by any means, and river watch flyover teams...

The Kenai Catches A Weather Break

The weather is now cooperating with firefighters battling the East End Road wildfire outside of Homer. Casey Kelly, KBBI - Homer Download Audio (MP3)

Wildfire Spread Near Homer

The wildfire burning near Homer has grown to over a thousand acres in size. By last night, 124 fire personnel were on scene, 17...

Crews Battling Wildfire on the Kenai

Photo By Casey Kelly, KBBI - Homer Fire crews continue to battle the first major wildfire to hit the Kenai Peninsula this year at mile...

Senator Murkowski Battles Interior Nominee

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski helped lead the Republican charge Wednesday to block President Obama's nominee for a top Interior Department post. David Hayes's...

Ketchikan Wrestling With Suicides

Mental health experts estimate there has been on average one suicide a month in Ketchikan since the beginning of the year. A mental health...

Cruise Ship Carrying Probable H1N1 Case Docks in Sitka; All Aboard Healthy

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Serenade of the Seas is now docked at Sitka. The vessel left Washington state with a crew member who...

Kuskokwim Villages Battling High Water; Schools Canceled

Photo Provided by Office of Lt. Governor Sean Parnell Lower Kuskokwim villages are being inundated with high water since an ice jam released below the...

Yukon River Floods Stevens Village

Steven's Village is the latest Yukon River community to be flooded. National Weather Service hydrologist Ed Plumb says yesterday's flooding at Steven's Village resulted when...

Interior Department to keep “Polar Bear Rule”

The Interior Department will keep in place the "polar bear rule" - a Bush Administration decision that says the Endangered Species Act can't regulate pollution...

Point Lay Celebrating First Whale Harvest in 72 Years

The Chukchi Sea coastal community of Point Lay is celebrating their first whale harvest in 72 years. Lori Townsend, APRN - Anchorage Download Audio (MP3)

Biologists Concluding Field Research on Polar Bears, Global Warming

Photo by Fish and Wildlife Service Biologists just wrapped up more than a month of field work on polar bears in the Chukchi Sea. The...

Former DNR Commisioner to Head Interior Department in Alaska

Former Department of Natural Resources Commissioner and state legislator Pat Pourchot will be the Interior Department's top official in Alaska. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar...

Governor Palin Declares Disaster Areas for Interior Alaska

Photo by Carl Stapler - National Parks Service Governor Palin has issued a disaster declaration for interior communities hit by flooding. State Department of Emergency...

Anchorage Organizers Plan Eagle Relief Effort

Anchorage residents that wish to help out with relief efforts for Eagle residents can drop off donations of clothing, rubber boots and other supplies...

Flooding Yukon River Devastates Eagle

Flood water and chunks of ice from the Yukon River have caused major devastation in Eagle. The river has risen 40 feet above normal,...

Kuskokwim’s Breakup Threatens Downriver Village

Meanwhile, breakup on the Kuskokwim River is now threatening the downriver village of Kwethluk. Water has come over the bank at the lower section...

Ice Jam on Yukon Causing Major Flooding in Eagle

An ice jam on the Yukon River is causing major flooding in Eagle. National Weather Service hydrologist Ed Plumb says both old and new...