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.”

profiles of four people

Where Anchorage’s 4 major mayoral candidates stand on the issues

Alaska Public Media recently interviewed the candidates ahead of the city's April 2 election.
Blue and red police lights.

Thrown traffic cone leads to deadly Anchorage shooting, police say

Javon Hill, 23, faces manslaughter charges after police say he shot a pedestrian Sunday night during an encounter off East Tudor Road.
a man

Arctic Winter Games 2024 athletes take home medals and Mat-Su memories

Alaska, with its home-team advantage, took home the most ulu medals. But the games' highest prize rewards team spirit, cooperation and fair play.
legislators in a meeting room

Alaska Legislature fails to override Dunleavy’s education veto

The Legislature was just one vote short of overriding Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of a bill that would have significantly increased funding for public schools.
pills

In a pandemic milestone, the NIH ends guidance on COVID treatment

The National Institutes of Health is sunsetting its COVID-19 treatment guidelines, used by millions of doctors to guide care during the pandemic.
a fighter jet

Anchorage-based airman dies working on fighter jet at JBER

Staff Sgt. Charles Crumlett, a 25-year-old weapons load crew chief, died Friday working on an F-22 Raptor at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
two people install a system near a pole outside

Technology that detects volcanoes and nuclear explosions will listen for avalanches in Juneau

Picking up infrasound could help Alaska Department of Transportation to track high mountain avalanches that often go undetected.
a man

Amid salmon crash, Alaska’s Yukon River residents say a new pact with Canada leaves them behind

In villages along the river, Tribal leaders say the state has cut them out of the process and they want federal oversight.
Man in boat

Murkowski’s new chief of staff knows the Senate, and rural Alaska

Garrett Boyle left the Denali Commission for the post. A prior chief says the job entails deep dives on dilemmas the senator faces.
Anchorage City Hall

Bronson vetoes new rules for Anchorage Airbnbs

The Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday had approved the ordinance that would’ve required short-term rental owners to locally license their operations.
a polar bear

Federal appeals court declines to ‘criminalize’ Beaufort Sea oil and gas work

A divided three-judge panel concluded that a federal agency failed to justify a regulation that allows some oil and gas work.
a man

How bad is Boeing’s 2024 so far? Here’s a timeline

The aircraft maker has faced renewed scrutiny ever since a rear door plug tore off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 airliner. Things have compounded from there.
a building

Alaska development authority signs contracts with ex-Dunleavy aides, paying up to $295/hour

Rex Rock and John Moller, both former rural affairs advisors to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, were hired by AIDEA through a competitive procurement process.
seaweed farming

Alaska aquaculture is growing quickly, but faces roadblocks

A new study's author says the growing industry has encountered a few “fundamental bottlenecks,” many of them involving Alaska logistics.
A woman with glasses and colored hair stands outside in front of green trees.

Psychologist sues state over license application she says is unconstitutional and discriminatory

Dr. Jennifer Poon says the state board should not require a full release of medical and mental health records to apply for a psychology license.
a forum

Asian American Pacific Islander-hosted mayoral forum marks a first for Anchorage

Seven of Anchorage's 10 candidates for mayor attended Saturday's forum, the city's first hosted by Asian American Pacific Islander groups.
Mary Peltola

Peltola has fish on her mind during Cama-i trip to Bethel

Rep. Mary Peltola discussed everything from federal fisheries policy to Alaska Native crafts during a wide-ranging interview with KYUK's Sage Smiley.
Legislative chamber

After failed override vote, what’s next in the fight over Alaska education funding?

The Republican-led House majority says they’re working on another deal, but is there room to compromise with the bipartisan-majority Senate?
three people at a table

Anchorage ombudsman substantiates several allegations made by ousted city manager

In his report, Ombudsman Darrel Hess concludes that three of Amy Demboski’s six allegations were justified.
A person in front of an apple image

The U.S. sues Apple, saying it abuses its power to monopolize the smartphone market

The federal government accuses Apple of using its monopoly power to stomp out competitors and keep customers from switching phones.