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.”

the Holland family

North Pole’s Patrick Holland gets his new heart

A new heart for Holland was available Thursday at a Seattle hospital, after he missed one due to flight delays amid a December ice storm.
people testifying

Alaskans oppose Dunleavy’s ‘parental rights’ bill at legislative hearing

Alaska students, teachers and sexual assault survivors spoke against a bill Gov. Mike Dunleavy says would support parents’ rights.
the Alaska Senate Finance Committee

Inadequate training and a fatal U-turn cost Alaska government $3M, settlement docs say

The state of Alaska will pay to settle claims brought by the family of a man killed in a 2018 crash caused by a state trooper.
a group of men in suits talk to each other

Alaska House votes for temporary boost to public school funding

This week, the House is considering amendments to a state budget proposal that contains a deficit of about $600 million.
wooden sign holders and sand bags are strewn on the snow-covered ground. In the background, a wooden frame holds another political sign.

A masked man assaulted an ADN photographer looking into campaign sign vandalism 

The incident comes amid what a campaign consultant says is an unprecedented level of sign theft and vandalism this election cycle.
A Juneau police car

Local artist appears in court in connection with anti-trans notes left around Juneau

Mitchell Watley is widely known as the illustrator of the popular Alaska children’s book “I Would Tuck You In.” 
the Willow project

ConocoPhillips can start road work for Willow Arctic drilling project, judge decides

Opponents of Arctic drilling project lose Round 1 in court.
the Alaska State Capitol

Bill would add second-degree murder charges for drug dealers in Alaska overdose deaths

Family members of some who died from overdoses support stronger penalties, but civil liberty advocates say it could deter calls for help.
a police car and ambulence

Trump has arrived in New York for his arraignment. What’s next?

The former president will spend Monday night at Trump Tower before his surrender and arraignment on Tuesday, when the historic charges against him will be unsealed.
Ed Sniffen

Sex abuse case against ex-Alaska attorney general thrown out

A judge dismissed a sex abuse case against former acting Alaska Attorney General Clyde “Ed” Sniffen, citing the statute of limitations at the time.
medals

Alaska Natives rescued Navy crew in 1955. Their medals have arrived.

The 16 men were honored with Alaska Heroism Medals, recognizing their rescue of crew from a plane shot down by Soviet fighters 67 years ago.
A woman sits at a news desk and talks to a man on Zoom.

State senators share their thoughts on Alaska’s 2024 budget | Alaska Insight

Alaska Insight host Lori Townsend is joined by Senate President Gary Stevens, and Sen. Bill Wielechowski to discuss how to address the state's fiscal crisis.
A mirrored building.

Contractor sues Anchorage for unpaid work on shelter

The acting municipal attorney previously said that if the contractor sued, the city would lose.
stacks of food in a warehouse

State’s fix for Alaska’s food stamp backlog misses the mark, insiders say

“It’s very much a Band-Aid,” said Ron Meehan with the Food Bank of Alaska.
the Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center

Anchorage animal shelter suspends dog intakes, adoptions after viral outbreak

A wave of canine parvovirus infections has Anchorage Animal Care and Control staff working to examine animals currently in care and clean the facility.
Outside of the Alaska State Capitol

An update on Alaska’s legislative session

As with many recent sessions, discussions largely center on the state’s finances, while a number of social issues have come up as well.
man standing at a microphone

With the Trump charges still sealed, Sullivan denounces prosecution as unjust

Sen. Sullivan's castigation of the decision to charge the former president contrasts with the neutral positions taken by the rest of the Alaska delegation.
a line of books

There’s a new Gwich’in alphabet book and it’s available for free

It's part of a long-term community-led project of language revitalization.
Four young adults sit in chairs on stage.

Young leaders from Alaska, Canada and Greenland stress need for cultural preservation and climate adaptation

The panelists spoke at the three-day Arctic Encounter conference in downtown Anchorage that brought together leaders and organizations from around the circumpolar north.
a man in a red tie and suit jacket

5 key takeaways from the Trump indictment news

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a New York grand jury. District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office said it has contacted Trump's attorney "to coordinate his surrender" for arraignment.