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.”

Governor Palin unveils State budget proposal with 7% cut

Governor Sarah Palin wants to shrink state government spending by 7% next year. She released her proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 this...

Legislators react to Palin budget cuts and priorities

It will take lawmakers and community leaders time to comb through the Governor's budget plan, but some had skimmed through summaries today. Alaska Municipal...

Seward Highway speed limits lowered on deterioriating wooden bridges

The state is reducing the speed limit for three Seward Highway bridges that have severe structural problems. Annie Feidt, APRN - Anchorage Download Audio (MP3)

Governor’s office locks down upon receiving white powder letter

Juneau's Court Plaza Building locked its doors this afternoon after workers found a suspicious powder in a letter sent to Governor Sarah Palin. Ed Schoenfeld,...

Alaska’s new Senate delegation meets in Washington

Photo by Libby Casey Alaska's Democratic Senator-elect Mark Begich spent today walking the halls of Congress. Begich won't be sworn-in until next month but he's...

Victim and shooter dead, another injured at Soldotna hospital

A former employee at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna opened fire at the hospital shortly after 10:00 a.m. this morning, killing one of his...

Weyhrauch appeal rejected, corruption case boomerangs to Anchorage federal court

Former state Representative Bruce Weyhrauch lost a decision in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today. The Juneau Republican had been accused of soliciting a...

Drug ring bust nabs 8, but 4 remain armed, dangerous, on the loose

Four members of a drug ring are still at large after Anchorage police and federal law enforcement officers arrested 8 people yesterday for cocaine,...

Cook Inlet natural gas providers, distributors, regulators and customers playing chicken over contract deadlines

Anchorage's natural gas utility, ENSTAR, has until Monday to finish renegotiating a contract with Cook Inlet producers if they want to avoid a gas...

Commission recommends removing Bethel judge from bench

The Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct recommends suspending Bethel judge Dennis Cummings from the bench for ethical violations. That's a sanction that they've never...

Exxon Valdez claim payments starting within a week

A federal judge in Anchorage today ordered the distribution of the first round of payments from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill punitive damages case. Jay...

Bush administration working to set new Endangered Species rules before Obama takes office

The Department of the Interior is working to finalize a change to the Endangered Species Act. The Bush Administration has less than 30 days...

Witness in Ted Stevens trial says he lied under oath

A government witness who testified against Senator Ted Stevens last month says he lied under oath, and that prosecutors gave false evidence at the...

Alaska, California and Washington, DC may suspend Ted Stevens license to practice law

Bar associations in Alaska, California, and Washington, DC, are seeking to suspend the law license of Senator Ted Stevens. Spokesmen for all three bar...

Owner of several Alaska newspapers is in financial crisis

The owner of the Juneau Empire, the Homer News and the Penninsula Clarion is in financial trouble. The papers are all owned by Morris...

2008 cruise ship wastewater results mixed

About a third of the large cruise ships sailing along Alaska’s coast this year violated government wastewater discharge standards. But most had only occasional...

Court puts Shell's Beaufort Sea drilling plan on hold

Shell's offshore exploration plan for the drilling multiple exploration wells over 3 years in the Beaufort sea ran up against another set back today...

Ted Stevens says goodbye to the Senate

Senator Ted Stevens made his final remarks on the Senate Floor today, closing out his forty year career representing Alaska in the nation’s capital. ...

Stevens concedes, Begich savors first day of Senate-elect status

After a tough election battle, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich won Ted Stevens' long-held U.S. Senate seat yesterday. Begich acknowledged Stevens' years of service to...

Washington politicos react to Stevens election loss

The news that the Senate's longest-serving Republican will not be returning to office next year sunk in today in Washington. Libby Casey, APRN - Washington,...