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 man sitting next to a red car and a boat

For Anchorage’s homeless residents, the path out is precarious and rarely straight

Shelter beds opening up soon are a stepping stone to stability. But a bad choice, a bad actor or bad luck can quickly reverse progress.
a barrel of crab

Alaska fishermen will be allowed to harvest lucrative red king crab in the Bering Sea

It's the first time in two years fisherman can harvest the crab, offering a slight reprieve to the beleaguered fishery.
a man and woman hug

Peltola says she’s still grieving but ready to return to work in Congress

The Alaska congresswoman will return to a speaker-less U.S. House where some are floating an idea she's familiar with: bipartisan leadership.

A traditional Unangax̂ boat sails for the first time in over 200 years

https://youtu.be/_Ka9-tBUweg It’s been about 200 years since Russian colonizers demolished the last remaining examples of large Unangax̂ boats called a niĝilax̂. The wooden framed boats...
A man and woman sit at a desk speaking to each other, while a third person watches from a nearby television monitor.

The Niĝilax̂ restoration project | Alaska Insight

The design of a traditional large skin-on-frame boat used by the Unangax people was thought to be lost after Russian colonizers destroyed the last remaining examples in the 1800's, but after decades of work, the design of the niĝilax has been restored. Now, the recreated boats are touching Alaskan waters for the first time in over 200 years. To discuss the process and significance of the restoration, host Lori Townsend is joined by Ethan Petticrew, an Unangax dance instructor, teacher, and Executive Director of Cook Inlet Head Start, as well as Marc Daniels, the boat builder who facilitated the restoration project.
the front of a building

Two dozen Alaska legislators join opposition to Kroger-Albertsons merger plans

Two fifths of the Legislature’s 60 members have asked the Federal Trade Commission to block the grocery chains' impending $24.6 billion merger.
an explosion

Israel is trying to regain full control of its territory following Hamas attack

More than 1,000 people have been killed since Hamas' Saturday surprise attack on Israel, with 130 people reportedly captured by militants.
a woman poses on a wooden deck, at a daycare

$400-a-month pandemic bonuses were life-changing for child care workers. That’s over.

Now that federal emergency funding for child care has expired, child care facilities face difficult choices about how to operate with less.
a plane

Alaska Seaplanes to close Petersburg and Wrangell locations

Company staff say they're ending service to the Southeast Alaska communities by late October due to low ridership, as well as limited cargo.

Alaska health department changes Medicaid renewal process to keep thousands covered

About 37% of Alaska’s Medicaid recipients were procedurally disenrolled in the first four months following a pause during the pandemic.
portraits of three people

Alaska leaders condemn attack on Israel

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said “my heart is heavy” after Hamas' attack Saturday, as her colleagues backed Israel's right to defend itself.
bears

Heft, fluff and salmon: Katmai’s Fat Bear Week finals are upon us

Voters worldwide will decide the winner of Katmai National Park’s Fat Bear Week, after a summer of bears packing on pounds for hibernation.
A group of dancers sing before a crowd on stage. Some holding drums, others clasing their hands together while wearing traditional Tlingit attire.

‘We’re still thriving and we’re still happy’: Hundreds gather at APU to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day

“It’s a way for us to say that we’re still here, after everything that we’ve been through," said Ellenia Dommek.
a whale

Humpback whales increasingly sighted in Arctic Alaska waters better known as bowhead territory

An author of a study citing climate change as a possible factor in the move says its results are both "fascinating" and "a little terrifying."
a gathering

Presbyterian leaders apologize, begin reparations for 1962 closure of Juneau church

For decades, Memorial Presbyterian Church served a primarily Alaska Native congregation as a vital part of Juneau’s Native community.
a man

Scientists observe chum salmon spawning in North Slope rivers

UAF's Peter Westley says the fish have long been occasionally observed and caught in Arctic Ocean waters, but their numbers appear to be increasing.
a Juneau elevated track

Alaska school sports association bans trans girls from girls sports

The Alaska School Activities Association board’s vote follows a similar decision in August by the state Board of Education.
Merbok debris

FEMA under investigation after ‘unintelligible’ Merbok relief information was sent to Alaska Native communities

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's work with Alaska’s Indigenous communities is being checked for possible systemic problems.
humpback whales

Humpback whale calf found dead near Juneau was killed by a large boat, biologists say

The fatal injuries to Tango, found near Auke Bay this summer, included deep lacerations on the calf’s body and pectoral fin likely caused by a propeller.
Josiah Patkotak

State Rep. Josiah Patkotak resigns after winning North Slope mayor’s race

Patkotak’s resignation opens a vacancy in the Alaska House of Representatives, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy has 30 days to nominate someone to fill the seat.