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.”

At an Anchorage oncology clinic, doctors and patients confront ‘terrifying’ chemo drug shortage

The Alaska Women’s Cancer Care in Anchorage has been forced to ration the generic drugs cisplatin and carboplatin, due to short supplies.
Jim Tweto

NTSB responds to crash that killed longtime Bush pilot Jim Tweto

Tweto, 68, and 45-year-old Shane Reynolds of Idaho died Friday after crashing on takeoff from a hunting camp near Shaktoolik.
the Alaska State Capitol

School district leaders react to Dunleavy’s partial veto of proposed K-12 funding increase

Administrators said they’re disappointed and concerned by the cut, the biggest single veto from this year’s budget.
am an speaks into a microphone

Dunleavy slashes education funding boost as part of budget vetoes

Vetoes total more than $200 million, including half of the one-time boost the Legislature added for schools.

Anchorage taxpayers will pay full bill for homeless shelter contracting failure

The city’s new municipal attorney vows her office won’t allow a mistake like this to happen again.
Alaska Native leaders

Alaska Natives celebrate U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act

With the Court’s decision to back the right of tribes to oversee child custody cases came a collective sigh of relief among Alaska Native leaders.
a man speaks to a camera

Video raises new questions about governor’s oversight of aide

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s pro-family policy adviser made controversial comments about abortion in his role as an aide to the governor.
a woman holds a dip net in the water

Little fish, big tradition: Alaskans embrace the culinary and cultural tradition of hooligan

Locals seek out the oily candlefish to preserve cultural heritage and to create new traditions through food.
Two crew men shovel a deck full of fish on board a large boat

Tons of fish caught in Russia sold in America, despite import ban

Fish valued at several hundred million dollars are able to evade the ban by diverting to China first.
A man in a beanie pours hot water into a mug.

Is Anchorage buying into the latest push to improve services and shelter for the homeless? 

Turnout was thin at a recent series of town halls on shelter concepts, and a goal to open a new shelter with higher standards by Nov. 1 is slipping.
A man in dive gear and a snorkle mask examines and octopus underwater.

Alaska researcher dives into the mysterious lives of octopuses in new book, ‘Many Things Under A Rock’

Dr. David Scheel's book is the culmination of many hours spent investigating octopuses underwater and in tide pools, with help from coastal Alaska's Indigenous people.
a line of toy cars and trucks on the ground

Alaska continues to rank among worst states for child well-being, report finds

In recent years, Alaska has consistently ranked in the bottom third among states of the annual Kids Count report for overall child well-being.
the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court leaves Indian Child Welfare Act intact

By a 7-to-2 vote, the court upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act's preferences for Native tribes when Indian children are adopted.

Former legislator Chris Tuck files to run for Anchorage mayor

Tuck joins incumbent Dave Bronson and former Anchorage Assembly chair Suzanne LaFrance in their bids for mayor.
the Northwest Arctic Borough building in Kotzebue

Internet outage closes government offices, businesses and university campus in Kotzebue

The City of Kotzebue saw a “complete outage” to all departments, with Northwest Arctic Borough officials' telephone and internet down.
two kids color at a table

As Alaska’s child care crisis looms, some businesses opt to launch centers for their employees’ kids

Companies with on-site child care report happier staff and better retention rates — especially as affordable child care becomes harder and harder to find. 
a group of fishermen

NOAA says revised analysis could allow Southeast king salmon troll fishing, despite ruling

A fisheries official says a summer troll season for king salmon in Southeast Alaska is possible, despite a federal judge’s recent ruling to the contrary.
two baby opossums wrapped in a pink blanket

Fifth child of Grubby captured in Homer’s opossum odyssey

A wildlife biologist says the search isn’t over. Opossum litters are usually eight or nine joeys — and can be as many as 13.
A man holds prescription drugs.

Alaska cancer treatment centers struggle with shortage of common chemo drugs

Two common chemotherapy drugs are in short supply in Alaska – cisplatin and carboplatin. Oncology centers across the country are struggling to keep the drugs in stock.
view of teller alaska

North America’s first known case of a rabid moose confirmed in Western Alaska

The moose had a wound from a fox bite, the likely means of transmission.