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 in a tie stands in a meeting room

State judge to decide eligibility of Alaska lawmaker linked to Oath Keepers

A Matanuska-Susitna Borough man says Rep. David Eastman has violated the "disloyalty clause" of the Alaska Constitution.
stebbins alaska

‘Stebbins is resilient’: Eastern Norton Sound communities recovering from storm damage

Several communities in the Norton Sound region are struggling with contaminated drinking water days after the significant September storm hit the region.
barry arm

Barry Arm landslide’s acceleration is ‘the opposite of reassuring,’ scientist says

Researchers are no closer to knowing when a catastrophic slide might occur that could trigger a potentially life-threatening tsunami near Whittier.
a choose respect rally

Alaska has the highest rate of women killed by men in the nation for the 7th year in a row

Alaska has been first or second among U.S. states in rates of women killed by men for a decade, according to the nonprofit Violence Policy Center.
flooding on front street in nome

Nome assesses infrastructure damage, looks east towards Cape of Nome and summer camps

While Nome’s downtown area is in good shape after weekend storm flooding, the dock area around Cape Nome and the surrounding landscape are completely changed.
a downed radio tower

Chevak leaders declare local emergency after storm losses

The Chevak Native Village and the City of Chevak declared a state of emergency in response to the storm during a joint meeting Tuesday night.
the alaska state ferry columbia

Alaska state ferry Columbia to stay tied up this winter

The State Department of Transportation has decided to keep the ferry Columbia sidelined this winter, limiting cross-Gulf of Alaska service until May.
damaged boats in chevak

Chevak subsistence gear ‘strewn all over the place’ by storm

Reporter Emily Schwing discusses Chevak's response to damaged boats and water contamination from last weekend's storm.
A large tan building with a stairwell in the front

Anchorage Assembly’s tentative emergency shelter plan includes once again using Sullivan Arena

The move came after strong public outcry against using the Dempsey Ice Arena as a shelter.
A bundle of syringes in a white box

State health officials recommend COVID boosters, flu shots this fall

The new bivalent booster – which increases protection against both the omicron variant and the original coronavirus – has been available for nearly two weeks.

Rep. Peltola’s fight for salmon debuts in Resources Committee

A Democratic bill to re-write the Magnuson-Stevens Act and lessen bycatch faces strong headwinds.
water and supplies in chevak

Drinking water a top concern for local leaders after Western Alaska storm

After last weekend's storm, Chevak lost power for nearly three days. At the water plant, pressure in a pump fell below a state-required threshold, triggering a boil-water notice.
alaska constitutional convention delegates

Alaska’s constitutional convention question, explained

Questions about the PFD, Alaska’s fiscal woes, and abortion access have some saying now is the time to vote yes, while others say the document continues to serve the state well.
a downed fuel tank in hooper bay

As the storm raged, a mad rush to keep the power on in Hooper Bay

Parts of Hooper Bay were without power for about 36 hours during the storm, but the situation could have been far worse — if not for the work of two local power plant operators.
soldiers exiting a transport plane

National Guard troops land in Bethel to join storm relief effort

About 75 Guardsmen landed in Bethel on Wednesday, with more than 100 people deployed to Bethel and Nome to help with storm relief.
mike dunleavy

Dunleavy visits Norton Sound to assess storm damage

After spending time in Golovin, Elim and Koyuk, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said there's no substitute for being on the ground and seeing the storm impacts with his own eyes.

Opponents push back against Mat-Su school district bathroom policy

“These kids are a part of your community whether you like it or not, so please stop trying to make life harder for them,” said Myles McDonald, a former student in the Mat-Su Borough School District.
the kenai courthouse

Man indicted in missing Homer woman’s murder

Kirby Calderwood, 32, is charged with nine felony counts including murder, kidnapping and sexual assault in Anesha "Duffy" Murnane's disappearance.
a man looking into a freezer

‘It’s just devastating’: Chevak stunned by subsistence food losses after storm

Chevak residents have lost not only the food they’ve already gathered after freezers lost power, but also the boats and subsistence gear to replace it.
a man in a tie stands in a meeting room

Alaska Rep. Eastman remains on ballot but could be disqualified after election

The Alaska Constitution’s "disloyalty clause" will be tested in a Dec. 12 trial on Wasilla Republican David Eastman's eligibility to hold office.