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.”

YK Delta tribal consortium withdraws support for Donlin Gold mine

The decision came after two hours of passionate debate Wednesday, during the organization's annual convention.
The white underside of halibut lie in a metal tub

COVID-19 takes half-billion dollar bite from Alaska commercial fisheries revenue

A federal agency has put some dollar amounts to the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on commercial and charter fishing industries nationwide in the first part of last year.
Two people in red jackets pose for a photo

Anchorage skier Scott Patterson’s US championship was a Hail Mary. Now he’s headed to the Olympics.

Scott Patterson and his sister Caitlin grew up skiing in Anchorage. And now both compete at the highest level of the sport.
a vet looks over a dog team

An angry moose and bare ground mark a brutal first quarter for Iditarod teams

Dallas Seavey recounts his moose encounter as his team rested at the checkpoint in Nikolai, about 250 miles into the 1,000-mile race.

Murkowski votes to block Trump’s emergency; Sullivan votes opposite

Alaska's U.S. senators split on the vote Thursday to block President Trump's declaration of an emergency. If Trump prevails with a veto, Alaska could lose military construction projects as money is diverted to build a wall on the southern border.

Bethel woman takes 4th international powerlifting meet

Last month 25-year-old Alaskan Natalie Hanson placed fourth at an international powerlifting competition in Germany. Download Audio

Senate passes key energy bill

The U.S. Senate passed energy legislation today that will require passenger vehicles to reach an average fuel efficiency of 35 miles per gallon by...
fiber optic cables

With massive federal funding, Western Alaska fiber optic projects prepare for rollout

Multiple Alaska companies have partnered with tribal entities to secure federal broadband funds under the Biden-Harris administration.

Tanana Chiefs Conference Receives Suicide Grant

The Tanana Chiefs Conference is one of the recipients over 50 million dollars in youth suicide prevention grants announced yesterday for states and tribes across the country.
America's Best Value Inn and Suites

Public hearing on Anchorage property purchase ends, vote expected next week

Public hearing testimony on the city’s plan to purchase properties for a treatment center, housing and homelessness resources ended late Wednesday evening. It was the fifth day of the hearing, at which hundreds of Anchorage residents called in or testified in person.

Miller Loses Case Against State

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – Anchorage Joe Miller has lost his case against the state.  Wednesday the Alaska Supreme Court handed down its decision in...
three people standing, with two women shaking hands.

Why Republicans in Alaska’s first ranked choice election reserve their venom for each other

Sarah Palin and Nick Begich are going after each other in the special U.S. House race.
Graphic by David Purdy/KTOO

Alaska’s COVID-19 transmission rate leads nation, as 94 people test positive and another dies

The number of people with COVID-19 or suspected of having the disease jumped to a new high.
a volcano

Alaska volcano’s week-long eruption eases after spewing another massive ash cloud

The Shishaldin Volcano is one of the most active in the Aleutian arc.

Lawmakers Consider Change to Casting of Electoral College Votes

Casey Kelly, KTOO – Juneau State lawmakers are considering legislation to pledge Alaska’s Electoral College votes every four years to the presidential candidate...
A boy with dark glasses and a white hospital gown with wires on his chest

Petersburg sets aside differences for 13-year-old battling cancer

The community raised tens of thousands of dollars for a local 13-year-old who was fighting cancer in a Seattle Hospital,
A white woman wearing a white shirt speaks at a wooden podium as a tall white man in a grey suit stands behind him.

‘It won’t be easy’: Universities, Medicaid hit hard as Dunleavy vetoes nearly $400 million from budget

Gov. Mike Dunleavy says the cuts were necessary to balance the budget by next year, while still paying full permanent fund dividends under the formula in state law.

People harm themselves to cope with big emotions. You can help them heal.

Self-harm is a coping mechanism and a call for help. It can also be extremely hard to talk about.
a student

Alaska state school board advances proposal to ban trans girls from girls high school sports teams

An almost-unanimous decision will open a 30-day public comment period on the idea.

Marine Science Symposium – LIVEBLOG – Thursday

5:15 p.m. It's over. The Symposium concluded with the presentation of awards for the best student presentations but most of the winning students were not there, presumably back at their studies.