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 road with cars

Alaska’s rising minimum wage means more to salaries than you might think

Many hourly employees already make more than minimum wage. But exempt salaried employees must be paid double that rate in Alaska.
a cold-water crash simulator

‘It saves lives’: Kenai center trains aircraft crews for cold-water crashes

The Challenger Learning Center of Alaska is training aviators at a Kenai pool on how to escape a helicopter crash in the state's frigid waters.
a woman

‘That’s how I lived’: Wrangell landslide victim says sewing materials helped her survive

Christina Florschutz says she had just taken a shower when the deadly Nov. 20 landslide swept away her home, leaving her husband missing.
a man with his snowblower

Climate change will deliver more heavy precipitation events to Southcentral. Is Anchorage prepared?

Some neighborhoods waited more than a week to be plowed after recent snowstorms.
Students in Halloween costumes hold signs during a walkout protest of recent school board decisions.

Alaska attorney general says teachers need parental consent to discuss gender identity

Attorney General Treg Taylor has reinterpreted a statute requiring public schools to notify parents in advance of any content involving “human reproduction” or “sexual matters.”
a homeless camp

Domestic violence is feeding Alaska’s homelessness crisis

Some Alaska shelters are building long-term housing to keep women safe.
a window that says Anchorage Police Department Anchorage Alaska

Anchorage Walmart shooting was murder-suicide, police say

Police say 29-year-old Saina Fa’atoafe shot a woman in a crime of domestic violence outside the Dimond Center Walmart Sunday, then took his own life.
People sit at tables during a meeting.

Mat-Su School District’s removal of books from school libraries prompts federal lawsuit

The plaintiffs’ lawyers noted many of the protagonists in the challenged books are people of color or LGBTQ+ characters.
hands hold a photo of a little girl

Photo of a toddler hostage stays on Murkowski’s desk, signifying the senator’s stance on Gaza

Sen. Lisa Murkowski hasn't budged from her support of Israel, despite "extraordinary grief" for the deceased children of Gaza.
a hat

Boyfriend kills Wasilla woman, boy, self in murder-suicide, troopers say

Troopers said Ryan Casey, 45, shot and killed 31-year-old Kelsey Ables and her 7-year-old son Kason at a Wasilla home Monday, then took his own life.
A man in a suit speaks at a white podium.

Anchorage mayor says downtown in a renaissance, but departing cafe’s fans disagree

Assembly Chair Chris Constant, who is often politically at odds with the mayor, agreed with Bronson’s optimism about downtown Anchorage.
a highway

Mat-Su schools closed Tuesday after blizzard hits power lines, highways

A blizzard warning calls for peak winds of up to 70 mph with limited visibility on area roads Monday in Palmer, Wasilla, Sutton and Chickaloon.
A children's playground covered in frost and surrounded by snow with sunlight shining on it.

Anchorage breaks November snow record but warmer El Niño winter still expected

“In Anchorage, every single day that had snow during that nine or 10-day period where it just seemed like it didn't stop, every one of those days was warmer than normal,” climate researcher Brian Brettschneider said.

Abortions in Alaska can only be performed by doctors. Is that about to change?

Only doctors can perform abortions in Alaska, according to a 50-year-old law. Planned Parenthood’s Alaska chapter argues that this limits access to abortion. So, the chapter filed a lawsuit against the state.
a speaker

Covenant House Alaska battling fentanyl crisis: 100 drug overdoses since July

Director Alison Kear says that in her 27 years at Covenant House, she’s never seen anything like the current wave of fentanyl overdoses.
toys

Alaska does not have enough housing to keep survivors of domestic violence safe

Advocates say they have the money to house survivors, but no place to put them.
a medevac

Between flights to Tuluksak, Operation Santa Claus turned into a rescue mission

An Alaska Army National Guard helicopter's flight bringing Christmas presents to Tuluksak was diverted to a Napaskiak medevac Wednesday.
A woman in red short throws a basketball.

Anchorage hoop hero Alissa Pili returns home for Great Alaska Shootout

Alissa Pili is in her final year of eligibility, so this might be the last time Anchorage hoop fans can catch her playing in her hometown.
A man drives a four-wheeler with a plow

Anchorage superintendent says ‘strategic failure’ at play in snow-related school closures

Anchorage School District officials and city leaders addressed criticism over the recent cancellations of in-person school, which they say were forced by historic snowfall and unsafe streets.