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 portrait of a main in a suit

There are thousands of jobs open in Anchorage but not enough workers to fill them, says economic report

It’s not because people don’t want to work, said Anchorage Economic Development Corp. CEO Bill Popp.
a person holds a sign for monkeypox vaccinations

White House declares monkeypox a public health emergency

Declaring a public health emergency can free up resources to help the administration respond to the monkeypox outbreak. So far more than 6,000 people in the U.S. have been infected.
Goose Creek Prison. Photo by Ellen Lockyer, KSKA - Anchorage.

Former Alaska correctional officer sentenced for smuggling drugs and cellphones into prison

Angela Lincoln, 44, was arrested in November 2021 and shortly after pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy and bribery.

Her son died of an overdose in Anchorage. Now she’s pushing for city police to carry Narcan.

While many police departments across the state use Narcan, the Anchorage Police Department — the state’s largest law enforcement agency — does not. 
A fence around a building

Efforts fail to save Anchorage’s historic 4th Avenue Theatre from demolition

Anchorage entrepreneur Austin “Cap” Lathrop opened the 4th Avenue Theatre, with nearly 1,000 seats, on May 31, 1947, with a showing of “The Jolson Story.”
A tan building

Bronson’s pick for top Anchorage librarian declines job, leaving controversial deputy director in charge

Three months after Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson announced a new pick to lead the city’s library system, officials say Robert Hudson will not be taking the job after all. 
a crowd of people stand outside, mostly wearing red white and blue

Anchorage police say 2 officers violated policy in ‘white privilege card’ stop

It’s not clear what disciplinary actions the two officers faced, if any, because the department is treating it as a confidential personnel matter.
moving vans parked on a street

Despite near-record job availability, more recent arrivals are choosing to leave Alaska

In the 1990s, just over half of people who moved to Alaska in their 30s stayed for at least 10 years. Lately that’s fallen to about 40%.
a sign says "Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation"

Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. posts negative returns for first time since 2012

There are no immediate impacts to state finances, but continued losses would reduce available cash for services and dividends.
A microscope image of gray oval shapes

Alaska confirms second case of monkeypox

The case count is expected to rise “steadily." However, for the general public, the risk of getting monkeypox remains relatively low.
A person arrives for a monkeypox vaccination at a New York health care center.

Monkeypox: The myths, misconceptions — and facts — about how you catch it

Is it a sexually transmitted disease? Can you get it on a crowded bus? Trying on clothes? NPR talks to specialists about how this virus is transmitted and what kinds of precautions are warranted.
the dock of a cruise ship, with mountains across the water

Kicked off their cruises, COVID-positive tourists are going home on Alaska flights and ferries

COVID-positive travelers say Holland America helped them book travel on a state ferry and then an Alaska Airlines flight out of Juneau one day after their positive tests.
a gas pump

Gas prices are finally dropping. Here are 4 things to know.

The average price of gasoline nationwide is expected to drop below $4 a gallon in the coming days as prices continue to fall from the record highs hit in June.
Exterior: a herd of wood bison.

Young wood bison released to the wild in the western Interior

The 28 yearlings increase the Western Alaska Wood Bison herd to about 160 animals.
blue gloves hold a bat in the dark

Researchers hope Kodiak’s ‘Bat Week’ will help answer some questions about the animals’ lives in Alaska

“Our biggest question and what we wanted to know is: Where (do) these bats go during winter and what do they do when we’re not seeing them?" said Natalie Velez-Suarez.

Wyoming couple finds a time capsule floating in the water near a Juneau glacier

Inside were 11 notes written by Juneau kids back in 2006.
a person prepares lunch

Anchorage school meal program faces worker shortage, loss of pandemic funding

District leaders say they’re competing with restaurants and grocery stores for a small pool of food service workers.

Alaska Federation of Natives convention will be held in person for the first time since 2019

This year’s convention will be held Oct. 20 through Oct. 22 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage.
Anchorage's acting health director Joe Gerace poses for a photo outside of the Sullivan Arena shelter

Anchorage Health Department director resigns amid investigation into fabricated resume

Joe Gerace resigned citing "severe health issues" as Alaska Public Media prepared to publish a story detailing misleading statements he made about his military service, glaring omissions about his work history and outright lies about his education.