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.”

Proposed constitutional amendment would protect dividends, sort of

Concern over the dividend’s future led House members to propose a constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 23. Listen now

C-17 Crashes at Elmendorf

An Air Force C-17 cargo plane carrying four crew members crashed at Elmendorf Air Force Base Wednesday evening, according to the Air Force. The crash occurred...

Looser drilling rules bill advances in US House

A deregulation bill aimed at boosting energy production on federal lands has cleared a U.S. House committee. It would remove several limits on Arctic drilling. Listen now

Corrections Department Closing Last Prison Industry

The Alaska Department of Corrections is closing the last of the state’s prison industries. A garment shop and a furniture factory shut down on...
a Yup'ik spelling bee contestant

Native language spelling bee inspires students to learn 

The Yup’ik spelling bee, held in Anchorage, is still going strong and now incorporates Inupiaq — two Alaska Native languages in a fight for survival.
A cruise ship next to a forested hill

Utah man faces sentencing in beating death of wife on Alaska cruise

The father of a Utah woman beaten to death by her husband on an Alaska cruise in 2017 told a judge Wednesday he would consider it justice if the man went to prison for the rest of his life.
A man speaks at a podium during a school board meeting.

Mat-Su school board will vote on policies requiring parent permission for sex ed, pronoun changes

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Board is preparing to vote Wednesday on a pair of policies that would affect transgender students. 
A woman in a grey sweater and short reddish hair gestures in front of a white man at a desk

Former Permanent Fund CEO files to run for Juneau mayor

Angela Rodell is facing current Mayor Beth Weldon in the Oct. 1 election. At least 13 other candidates filed to run for assembly and school board.
a man and a woman at a podium

Judge: Alaska elections officials must enforce disloyalty clause

An Anchorage Superior Court judge ruled that the Alaska Division of Elections has a duty to determine whether a candidate for public office is ineligible for disloyalty.

DEC reports 2,000-gallon methanol spill on North Slope

The state Department of Environmental Conservation reported today that 2,000 gallons of methanol was spilled onto the tundra near Pump Station 2 on the...

Arctic Drilling Put on Hold

President Obama has put offshore drilling in the arctic on hold.  He announced his decision at a White House press conference today. Obama’s...
Providence Medical Center

As data lags, hospitals say surge in COVID-19 patients has already started

Emergency rooms say they've seen an increase in patients with COVID-19 symptoms, but delays in testing and reporting means that the state's numbers could be several days behind.

Kensington Gets Permit for Tailings Facility

The Kensington Gold Mine just received its long-awaited permit to construct a mine tailings facility at Lower Slate Lake. Rosemarie Alexander, KTOO –...

Convention on the Law of the Sea on the move

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea took a step forward today. The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 17 to...

Anchorage senior wins national Poetry Out Loud competition

West Anchorage High Senior Maeva Ordaz won the national Poetry Out Loud competition this week in Washington DC. It's the first time an Alaskan has both reached the finals and won.

State OSHA investigation targets Silver Bay Seafoods in Naknek

A state OSHA investigator is looking into claims of workplace health and safety issues at the Silver Bay Seafoods processing plant in Naknek. While many of Bristol Bay’s salmon processing companies had issues with their workforce during this record-setting season, only Silver Bay has drawn the state’s attention so far. Listen now

Alaska statehood pioneer dies

Thomas Stewart was secretary of the Alaska Constitutional Convention.  He passed away last night at a Juneau hospital from complications of pneumonia. Rosemarie Alexander, KTOO...
a house

Organization awards home in Fairbanks to combat-wounded Army veteran

A gifted residence has allowed a soldier wounded in Afghanistan to realize his family's dream of living in Alaska.

Testimony On Oil Tax Overhaul Begins

Rosemarie Alexander, KTOO – Juneau Public testimony is being taken today and tomorrow on Governor Parnell’s plan to reduce oil production taxes. ...