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.”

a man poses for a portrait in a city area

Mayor Bronson fires chief equity officer without approval from Anchorage Assembly

The Municipality of Anchorage’s chief equity officer was let go by Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson on Thursday, and he believes he was fired illegally. 

Just Answers: Alaska’s US House candidates on the election of President Biden

We asked: Did Joe Biden win the 2020 presidential election fair and square?
A man in a reflective vest picks uses a trash picker around tarps, tents and needles.

The Supreme Court says cities can punish people for sleeping in public places

The decision is a win for Western cities that wanted more powers to manage record homelessness. But advocates say it won't solve the larger problem.

Gasline plans causing controversy

Two of the five applications the state received for assistance in developing a gas pipeline from the North Slope would open the possibility of...

Government to Limit Halibut Charters in 2011

The federal government will start limiting the number of halibut charter boats in Alaska next year. The national marine fisheries service on Monday announced...

Eastern interior Alaska under flood warnings

Flood warnings are in effect across the eastern interior until tomorrow afternoon. Heavy rains have swollen rivers over their banks. High water is threatening...

Trump administration kicks off process for oil development in ANWR

The Department of Interior released a notice saying it will hold “no fewer than two” oil lease sales in a 1.6-million acre portion of the refuge, known as the 1002 area or the Coastal Plain. Listen now

Anchorage Assembly looks into vetting future mayoral appointments following health director’s fabricated resume

"I think it’s really important that all of the appointments that came forth under this administration be reviewed again, and that we know the facts,” said Assembly member Kameron Perez-Verdia.
skiffs

Alaska fishermen and processing plants are in limbo as a state-backed seafood company teeters

"We are all sort of on pins and needles," said a local official in King Cove waiting to learn the fate of Peter Pan Seafoods’ shuttered plant.

Two Icebreakers, One Port, Two Very Different Missions

As Shell's Fennica icebreaker embarks for the Arctic, another icebreaker is likewise readying for a northern trip. The Coast Guard's Healy vessel is headed to the North Pole with a crew of scientists on board. Download Audio

Murkowski Hosts Energy Hearings

Alaska alternative energy efforts got some national attention over the weekend. Public and private sector energy leaders testified at a U.S. Energy and...

Begich says he’s no moper; urges Native youth to persist

Former U.S. senator Mark Begich spoke to the Alaska Federation of Natives Elders and Youth Conference today, one of his biggest Alaskan audiences since he lost re-election and left office in January. Download Audio

Exxon Valdez claim payments starting within a week

A federal judge in Anchorage today ordered the distribution of the first round of payments from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill punitive damages case. Jay...

Coast Guard encountered Chinese warships in the Aleutians in August

The Coast Guard encountered a flotilla of Chinese warships 46 miles off the Aleutian Islands at the end of August, inside of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
a burned fire station

Ketchikan borough declares disaster in fire-station fire

Firefighters say the April 9 blaze that swept through the South Tongass station appears to have started near one of the five vehicles it damaged.

Heroin Hits Home: Small Airlines Are The Drug’s Major Inroad

Federal officials say they intercepted nearly ten times as much heroin coming into Alaska in 2014 than compared to 2013. State law enforcement officials say heroin gets into Bethel mainly on low-security, small airline passenger flights. Download Audio:

As swing vote on ACA repeal, Murkowski draws attention

Sen. Lisa Murkowski is the target of a new TV ad urging her to vote against Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Listen now
A group of children play in puddles.

Masks will be required inside Juneau schools when classes begin next week

The Anchorage School District is also requiring everyone in school building to wear face masks when classes start next week.

Time for Murkowski to take a stand on Pebble? She says not yet.

Opponents of the Pebble Mine are doing all they can to get Sen. Lisa Murkowski on their side. But Murkowski is not ready to make a declaration about the mine, for or against.

Veterans from Kotzebue have war stories archived online

From World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars and both Gulf Wars, more than 70,000 veterans have served in the armed forces. Now, more of their stories can be heard online. Listen now