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.”

pipeline

State expects Willow and Pikka to push oil production up 30% by 2032

Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle told lawmakers he expects a more than 30% production increase by the start of the 2033 fiscal year.
a power plant

Alaska Village Electric Cooperative proposes nearly 15% average rate increase

President and CEO Bill Stamm said that the cooperative is proposing a rate increase because “everything is more expensive.”
a poster

Alaska adults of childbearing age advised to get testing for syphilis

The state says all sexually active adults under 45 should get a test at least once this year, after new recommendations issued by federal health officials.
a newspaper box

Juneau Empire to get new owner as parent company faces revenue loss

Canada-based Black Press Media didn’t answer questions about layoffs or whether its three Alaska papers would continue to publish long-term.
Two people walk through a prison.

3 Alaska prison inmates die in 2024’s opening weeks

In the first 15 days of 2024, Alaska prisons have seen nearly a third of the entire statewide inmate death toll recorded last year.
a damaged airliner

Amid scrutiny, Boeing promises more quality checks. But is it enough?

The aircraft maker is under renewed pressure to strengthen quality management. But critics say a fundamental cultural shift is needed.
Senate president at desk

Education funding dominates first day of 2024 Alaska legislative session

Debates over education funding dominated as lawmakers gathered in Juneau Tuesday for the start of this year’s legislative session.

Supreme Court puts an end to Alaska governor’s lawsuit over union dues. The fight over how he paid for it lives on.

Gov. Dunleavy wanted to make it harder to deduct dues from union members' paychecks. The U.S. justices decline to hear the case.

Under a new executive director, Alaska’s LGBTQ+ health clinic is researching what queer Alaskans need

Alaska’s only health clinic centered on the needs of LGBTQ+ people has a new executive director. Identity Alaska in Anchorage serves patients in person and statewide through telehealth.
caribou

Oil field road traffic disrupts North Slope caribou more than previously recognized

A new study adds to mounting evidence about caribou sensitivity to roads, raising questions about further development in their habitat.
a landslide

Juneau’s deadliest landslide tore through downtown like a ‘mighty grinder.’ Now it’s a fading memory.

The devastation of Nov. 22, 1936 may hold important lessons for a future where landslides could be even more common.
a hospital

Active shooter incident at Dillingham’s hospital leaves no reported injuries

Kanakanak Hospital staff say the shooter tried to enter the emergency department Sunday then fired shotgun shells, some of them at parked cars.
snow

Juneau’s Thane Road closed after avalanches during Monday snowstorm

Up to two feet of snow covered the road south of Juneau, with road crews expected to perform avalanche mitigation work Tuesday afternoon.
Trump supporters

As Trump wins Iowa Republican caucuses, 5 takeaways

Donald Trump received more than half the vote in Monday's caucuses, as the GOP base remains committed to him despite his criminal indictments.

State investigation reveals social service gaps that left an elder to die alone in the cold

A new report from the state ombudsman says Adult Protective Services failed to prioritize and follow up on the case of an elder in danger.
a man

Eagle River child porn suspect claimed to be ‘hardcore child rapist’ in manifesto, charges say

Michael Koetter, 28, was arrested after investigators allegedly found explicit imagery and a statement that he had committed prior abuse at his home.

Alaska excluded from free IRS direct tax filing pilot program

IRS officials say the direct file program doesn't support the reporting of Permanent Fund Dividends.
a book cover

Alaska’s Black history documented in new books

Ed Wesley, deemed one of the "unsung heroes" of the state's Black history, has helped with key books on how African Americans have shaped Alaska.
a house

As the permafrost melts, the houses in Nunapitchuk are breaking down

Settling homes across the Western Alaska village have suffered damage that makes them leak, leading to mold and long-term health issues.
A man in a yellow prison jumper looks through documents

Indiana man who manipulated Alaskan teens into murder-for-hire gets 99 years

“One down, five to go,” the victim’s father said after the sentencing.