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.”

Gov Bill Sheffield undated

Former Alaska Gov. Bill Sheffield dies at 94

“The most important thing to know about Bill Sheffield is that he loved Alaska,” said friend John Pugh.
a mug shot with a blue background

Man arrested in Wasilla kidnapping, rape of teen girl at gunpoint

David Wayne Anderson, 49, faces numerous charges including attempted murder, assault, sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor and kidnapping.
A crowd of young people with signs protesting climate change inaction.

Alaska voters say they’re worried about climate change. Here’s where the candidates stand.

Alaska is at the forefront of climate change in the U.S. — it’s warming faster than any other state, and more than 60% of Alaskans say it’s an issue they’re concerned about. 

Alaska Senate could see flip to coalition control if Republicans remain divided after election

With Republicans showing divisions in the state Senate, there's speculation that a coalition majority like in the House could form there as well.
Nome's 2017 Polaris Hotel fire

Owner of Nome hotel destroyed in fatal fire charged with evading $1.5M in taxes

Tina H. Yi of Nome, who now lives in Anchorage, was the sole owner of the Polaris from 2007 until it burned in October 2017 killing Nome resident Bette Ann Haugen.
a wolf

Preliminary announcement of a month-long wolf harvest sparks outcry from trappers

Trappers from Prince of Wales Island lashed out at state officials about the upcoming wolf season during a two-hour teleconference Wednesday night.
Mendenhall Lake

In new lawsuit, Alaska attempts to claim portions of its most-visited tourist attraction

Mendenhall Lake at the foot of Juneau's Mendenhall Glacier attracts 700,000 visitors per year, more than Denali.
Halloween revelers

Ghouls and graphs: Soldotna house tallies 779 trick-or-treaters

Even with a heads-up from the neighbors, Nick Berlon and Nikki Stein got more trick-or-treaters last year than they were expecting — 731. This year, they were ready.

Will the Alaska House have another coalition majority checking the governor? For now, it’s hard to say.

With Alaska's Election Day less than a week away, one of the biggest questions is whether there will again be a coalition majority in control of the state House.
Alaska youth

Angst over youth outmigration emerges in Alaska campaign rhetoric and debates

University funding, career prospects and lifestyle amenities are factors cited as important to young Alaskans pondering their futures.
Mary Peltola and Lisa Murkowski

Murkowski, Peltola deliver crash course in government to Dillingham students

On Halloween, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Mary Peltola spent some time chatting with a room full of students dressed as butterflies, pirates, Minions and mimes.
A woman in a blue shirt helping another woman with her voting ballot

How Alaska handles election security

Answers to six frequently asked questions.

Alaska election officials now say all voting precincts will be staffed on Election Day

A day earlier, they feared as many as 10 rural precincts would be unstaffed.
From across the street is the Anchorage Police Department, where an American and Alaskan Flag sit in front of a parking lot full of police cars.

Anchorage Police Department and union to settle body camera debate in arbitration next year

Municipal attorney Blair Christensen says the arbitration process will likely wrap up six to nine months from now.
Young students sit behind desks in an elementary school classroom.

Anchorage School District administrators propose cuts to immersion programs and IGNITE

In a presentation to the school board Tuesday, administrators proposed leasing school buildings to charter schools, moving the district-wide gifted program online and ending all high school language immersion programs at the end of this school year.
electronic bingo machines

Slot machines are illegal in Alaska. So how is Klawock’s casino in business?

In Klawock, the local tribe is now running more than 20 machines that look an awful lot like the kind of slots you might find on the floor of a Las Vegas casino.
Alaska 2022 gubernatorial candidates

Here’s what Alaska’s gubernatorial candidates say they’ll do about the state housing shortage

An early-October forum in Anchorage addressed the issue and the topic of homelessness, but not everyone was there.

Election denialism lingers in Alaska’s congressional races

A group tracking political extremism has labeled Sarah Palin and Kelly Tshibaka as election deniers.
a snake

Snake escapes in Dillingham classroom — twice

Dillingham Elementary students and their teacher had a bit of a fright this year, when the class snake escaped. It's taught them about reptiles and overcoming fear of the unknown.
Kipnuk

Kipnuk students shift to remote learning after council banishes school principal

The Kipnuk Traditional Council wrote a formal banishment letter to the school’s principal, LaDorothy Lightfoot, calling for her to leave the village on the noon flight on Friday.