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 tan building

Mayor Bronson selects Virginia McClure as his fourth pick to lead Anchorage library system

McClure has a master’s degree in library science and was the head of Anchorage's Mountain View Library from August 2014 to July 2017.
a damaged house

Hooper Bay families displaced by storm seek sustainable housing

A Hooper Bay leader says federal temporary housing provided after a fire years ago was inadequate and "not meant for the Arctic."
bethel harbor

Bethel searchers recover body of 1 of 3 missing moose hunters

The body of Shane McIntyre was recovered on Sept. 22 at the Bethel small boat harbor, according to Bethel Search and Rescue Vice President Perry Barr.
A 50th anniversary copy of the Alaska State Constitution sits on the top of a table.

What you need to know about the constitutional convention question

Questions about the permanent fund dividend, Alaska’s fiscal woes, and abortion access have some advocating to vote "yes" on the once a decade ballot question: "Shall there be a Constitutional Convention?"

Guest House’s purchase means more low-income housing for Anchorage’s formerly homeless

All of the former hotel's residents have recently been homeless, and either have a job or are in the process of getting employed.
A television host interviews guests.

Should Alaska hold a Constitutional Convention? Both sides of the question make their case | Alaska Insight

Advocates both for and against a constitutional convention discuss why they think Alaskans should or should not support the ballot question.
two people talking

Chevak rallies to repair storm-damaged subsistence gear

During a community meeting, Chevak residents said better emergency planning should be a long-term priority. For now, though, assessing damage is the focus.
an excavator

Kivalina neighbors banded together to save a house from falling into the sea amid last week’s storm

Kivalina has long dealt with climate change-driven erosion. While the village didn’t feel the effects of heavy flooding, residents are wary of a future with heavy autumn storms.
juneau's brotherhood bridge trail

Juneau police investigating death of woman found on trail as a homicide

A Juneau woman was found dead on a popular Mendenhall Valley trail on Wednesday. Police are investigating Faith Rogers’ death as a homicide.
damaged boats and sheds in chevak

Biden approves federal disaster declaration for Western Alaska storm

President Biden's approval of Gov. Mike Dunleavy's request comes just two days after it was made.
plane crash debris on a lake

Anchorage woman, 2 dogs killed in floatplane crash near Skwentna

Word of the crash on Whiskey Lake which killed 67-year-old Janell Rude reached troopers just before 4 p.m. Sunday.
three women speaking into microphones

Peltola, Murkowski, FEMA administrator tour Nome storm damage

They also spoke with KNOM in Nome about their reactions to the storm damage, their priorities for recovery and resources available to Alaskans.
tents outside

Southwest Alaska school district shifts to subsistence calendar in effort to center Yup’ik culture

The Yupiit School District serves students in Tuluksak, Akiak, and Akiachak.
a cabin in the woods, near mountains

Forest Service to build new cabins in the Tongass and Chugach

It’s not often the Forest Service gets to build new cabins.
A white man in a gray suit

Wasilla Rep. Eastman to stay on ballot, but post-election trial will decide his eligibility, judge says

The judge, Jack McKenna, ruled Thursday that Eastman is likely ineligible to hold office, but that Eastman's name can remain on ballots for the Nov. 8 election.
water floods a wooden boardwalk

As recovery begins, Hooper Bay reckons with the emotional toll of the storm

“I’ve lived through storms before, but this was the worst,” said Loretta Smith, who lost her home in the storm. “The water came up so fast, and it was so high that the waves looked violent.”
This illustration shows the DART spacecraft approaching the two asteroids,

Move over, Bruce Willis: NASA crashed into an asteroid to test planetary defense

NASA successfully crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid in a test of planetary defense. Now it will determine whether the mission was able to alter the asteroid's course.

Anchorage Assembly approves using the Sullivan Arena as a homeless shelter again

The return to using the arena as a shelter comes after more than a month of debate over how to house roughly 350 homeless people through the winter.
two people look at a house

Juneau landslide damages homes, displaces residents

A landslide in downtown Juneau Monday evening damaged homes and knocked out power to parts of Juneau and Douglas. No injuries have been reported.
a coast guardsman watching a ship

Coast Guard spots Chinese and Russian military ships together in Bering Sea

The U.S. Coast Guard says a cutter crew identified seven Chinese and Russian naval vessels, including a Russian Federation Navy destroyer, about 75 miles north of Kiska Island.