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.”

a dog and family

Pet arrives home, dog-tired, after Alaska sea-ice odyssey

A 1-year-old Australian shepherd crossed 150 miles of frozen Bering Sea ice, being bitten by a seal or polar bear, before he was taken home to Gambell.
A sign says Anchorage School District.

Service High principal placed on administrative leave amid ‘community concerns’

The Anchorage School District says it has initiated an “investigation into community concerns” about Allen Wardlaw.
An Alaska Airlines flight comes in for a landing at the Juneau International Airport.

Alaska flights saw 3 separate arrests for unruly behavior in just 10 days

In one case, a man apparently brought his own alcohol on the plane, and, at one point, started smoking a cigarette.

On trip to Ukraine, Murkowski calls aid ‘worth every penny’

The U.S. has given $35 billion in security aid to Ukraine. "An investment in the democracy of the free world," Sen. Murkowski calls it.
A man in a blue jacket waves to traffic while holding a political sign.

The 5 candidates poised to join the Anchorage Assembly say they want to turn down partisanship

The Assembly is set to keep its mostly progressive supermajority, maintaining its power to override conservative Mayor Bronson’s vetoes.
A man in a wheelchair

Anchorage’s winter shelters are closing soon. What then?

Most people will have to start camping outside as Anchorage Assembly members and service agencies plot what’s next.
The front of a building with a line of street lights lead to a building. The sign above the entrance reads "Federal Building US Courthouse."

Elderly Alaska couple scammed out of $1.2M in alleged cryptocurrency ‘money laundering pipeline’

That’s according to a court filing related to the federal government’s seizure of cryptocurrencies from accounts the scammers allegedly used.

Native designers blend ancient techniques with modern materials | Alaska Insight

On this Alaska Insight, host Lori Townsend is joined by Inupiaq fashion designer Jackie Qataliña Schaeffer, and Angelina Roehl, from Chugachmiut's heritage preservation program, to discuss how to preserve traditional culture and designs while incorporating modern elements.
a Treasury Department flag

The tax deadline is tomorrow. So far, refunds are 10% smaller than last year

The 2023 date to file a tax return or an extension is Tuesday, April 18 — and refunds have been reduced as federal stimulus checks lapse.
a spiral blue image in the sky with auroras in the background

Mysterious glowing spiral in the sky over Alaska draws questions, and a simple explanation

“It was beautiful. It was kind of a shame to think of it as exhaust, I have to admit,” said photographer Todd Salat, who captured the spiral on camera.
a lingcod

What’s the best way to monitor for mercury in Alaska seafoods? Test human hair, says these researchers

Two researchers say the best way to track mercury levels in Alaska seafood isn't testing fish coming over the docks, but testing human hair.
A woman in an orange sweater leaning against her car.

A small but growing group of EV owners in Alaska show electric cars can work in the frigid north

Amid a federal push to limit vehicle emissions, there is a small but fast growing community of electric car owners in Alaska. Drivers say modern EVs can handle the winter conditions just fine.
A small furry creature, a North American opossum, perches on a branch.

Homer’s opossum visitor, Grubby, still on the lam as town remains divided

Many, including the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, want it dead, because the opossum is an invasive species. On the other hand, it's just weird enough for some Homerites to rally around.

ExxonMobil says it plans ‘relatively limited’ Arctic investment

ExxonMobil told shareholders not to expect an expansion of Arctic activities. A second Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lease sale is expected in 2024.
a jet

Alaska Airlines’ flying salmon travels the Inside Passage a final time

The "Salmon-Thirty-Salmon II" made its ceremonial final flight north through Southeast Alaska on Tuesday, before the iconic jet's repainting.
smoke over tundra

Will heavy snow cover dampen Alaska’s fire season? Experts say don’t count on it.

Alaska fire officials brace for hotter, more intense fire seasons to come.
Dominion Voting Systems lawyers

Fox News reaches blockbuster $787.5M defamation settlement with Dominion Voting Systems

Fox News has struck a deal averting a trial in Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuit over spurious claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
an avalanche

2 people survive late-season Southcentral Alaska avalanches

The slides come near the end of an avalanche season experts say is notable both for its heightened danger and lack of deaths.
three people behind a podium

Alaska House approves $6.4 billion state spending plan, sends it to Senate for further work

The proposal would cover state services for 12 months starting July 1 and includes a $2,700 PFD but is subject to further negotiation.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy weighs a statewide sales tax amid broader push for fiscal plan

With four weeks left in the legislative session, the governor advocated quick action during closed-door meetings with legislators.