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.”

honey buckets in teller

Study links lack of running water to prevalence of ear infections among rural Alaska children

Data from screenings of more than 1,600 Bering Strait schoolchildren found that lack of running water corresponded to a 53% higher rate of middle-ear infections.
A woman poses in a jacket outside.

Man sentenced to 75 years in prison for 1993 murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie at UAF

The case baffled investigators for decades, and became notorious because of the circumstances: a young woman stabbed and shot while she was visiting friends at college in Fairbanks right before finals week in April 1993.
a dollar bill near coins

The dollar is surging. This is who gets helped – and hurt – by its newfound strength.

The U.S. dollar is the strongest it has been in 20 years. As it strengthens, other currencies — like the pound — weaken. That's good news for U.S. consumers and importers but bad news for others.
gray sand underwater

An ancient discovery in Southeast Alaska could help pinpoint how and when the first humans got here

And scientists say it may support the theory that the Pacific coast was first settled by people traveling along the shoreline, living off the sea.

Author of measure to cut Ketchikan library funding over LGBTQ content says he doubts it will pass

Former Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly member John Harrington says he filed the initiative petition this summer on behalf of a group of parents that object to LGBTQ content at the Ketchikan Public Library.
an alaska department of corrections logo

Two more people die after a short time in Alaska Corrections custody

Lewey Matoomealook, 37, and Marcus Gillion, 48, are the 13th and 14th inmates to die in Alaska Department of Corrections custody this year.
a landslide

Removing debris from Juneau landslide could take days, city says

Tom Mattice, Juneau’s emergency programs manager, said one home was completely destroyed by the slide, and two more were damaged.
a nurse leaving a triage tent

Lack of data blunted Alaska’s COVID response, New York Times investigation shows

The New York Times reporter Sharon LaFraniere, who traveled to Alaska to cover data shortfalls during the COVID-19 pandemic, says the state's problems weren’t unusual.
an aerial view of several portable, self contained buildings

Anchorage Assembly delays vote on using portable buildings as emergency winter shelters

The delay comes after Assembly members were told that several portable classrooms from the Anchorage School District wouldn’t be usable as shelters this winter.

How a berry picker became a viral meme in Alaska | INDIE ALASKA

Indie Alaska features Hardrick's story of growing up in the racially divided South and his passion for foraging with his family in Alaska.
a sand dune

Many of Hooper Bay’s dunes were washed away by the storm. Without them, residents feel exposed.

What was once a stretch of rolling sand dunes is now a flat floodplain.

Alaska congresswoman’s first bill passes House

Rep. Mary Peltola's bill aims to reduce food insecurity among veterans.
damaged boats in chevak

Biden waives Alaska’s costs for initial Merbok disaster relief

President Biden revised the federal disaster declaration for Alaska on Thursday, increasing the federal payment to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for the first 30 days.
Alaska's legislative budget and audit committee

Special investigation finds Gov. Dunleavy wasn’t involved in firing of former Permanent Fund CEO

The investigation was ordered by a committee of the Alaska Legislature after former CEO Angela Rodell alleged "political retribution" was involved.
two people washing dishes

At the language house in Kodiak, new learners keep the Alutiiq language alive

At the S’unaq Tribe’s language house, everything is a lesson — catching up on gossip, making a grocery list or washing the dishes.
a ruined fish camp

Typhoon Merbok spotlights Alaska’s need for science and climate-resilient infrastructure

With intense storms expected to increase, experts want more data to support flood forecasts and infrastructure investments that keep communities out of harm’s way.
a wolf seen on a game camera

Southeast Alaska wolves eat over 60 prey species, study finds — including sea otter

Southeast Alaska’s wolves tend to favor deer and moose at mealtime, but in a pinch they won’t say no to black bear – or even sea otter.
A notice of campground foreclosure is posted to a tree, while several tents sit just behind the sign.

‘There’s no help’: Anchorage homeless campers face uncertain future as Centennial Campground closure looms

Anchorage’s Centennial Park Campground, where hundreds of homeless residents have camped this summer, is closing on Saturday with no official plan for what's next.
voters in a dark room

Here’s how to track campaign cash in Alaska elections

A guide to searching the records of the Alaska Public Offices Commission.