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.”

Biden to sign order promoting tribal self-determination

The White House is hosting the 11th tribal summit this week. Interior Secretary Haaland says the administration has focused on co-management.
A woman in a jacket leaving a flyer on a door.

Dozens of first-time Alaska legislative candidates are trying to make their mark before Election Day

First-time candidates are often trying to build name recognition and scrape together donors to fuel their barebones campaigns. We spoke to three candidates for House who are making their final push before Election Day.
A man in a suit and tie behind a podium.

Dunleavy vetoes PFD funding from state budget, says dividends must be funded in special session

Dunleavy announced the veto as part of a larger list of line-item vetoes he announced on Thursday, a day after he signed the budget.

Dunleavy reverses potential cuts to senior benefits

Dunleavy told a room of people he was moved to change course on the Senior Benefits Program after hearing input from beneficiaries and their families.

Special session hits the homestretch

The Legislature is in the final week of the special session dealing with increases to the oil tax that went into effect just last...

Fire Crews Work to Fend Off Fire Near Tanacross

Fire crews and village residents fended off the advance of a wildfire approaching Tanacross yesterday.  State Fire Information officer Pete Buist says local firefighters,...
Bright red salmon with green heads swim in shallow waters with small mountain in background.

Pebble: Appeals Court revives case challenging EPA’s removal of watershed protection

In an opinion released Thursday, the panel said EPA could remove the protection adopted by the Obama administration "only when an 'unacceptable adverse effect' on specified resources was not 'likely.'”

Did Russia compromise Alaska election websites or systems? NBC News report says it did

However, Alaska elections officials had said in September that operatives did not compromise the election system. Alaska has asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for any information related to the new news report. Listen now

Hoonah Suspect Gives Up; Charged with Murder

Casey Kelly, KTOO - Juneau The standoff is over between Alaska State Troopers and a Hoonah man who allegedly shot and killed two police officers...

Walker seeks to deepen trade ties with China

In a press conference in Anchorage on Monday, March 5, Governor Walker detailed trade trip and other opportunities for partnership with China. Listen now

Izembek deal approaching U.S. Senate passage, part of $10B lands bill

The U.S. Senate has advanced a massive lands bill, which includes a land swap in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge on the Alaska Peninsula....

Alaska Airline cargo service posts profit in tightening economy

Despite an overall 2008 revenue decline for national and international air cargo carriers, Alaska Airlines proved the exception. The airline's air cargo division not...
A community on the edge of a frozen ocean.

A historic settlement turns 50, but questions linger over whether it was fair

While the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act created monetary wealth for Alaska Native shareholders, it also came at a huge cost.

House bill would pay roughly $900 PFDs under new formula

Leaders of the Alaska House majority have introduced a bill that would set permanent fund dividends at roughly $900. That’s a little more than half of the $1,600 dividends paid out the last two years and significantly less than the roughly $3,000 Gov. Mike Dunleavy wants under the formula set in state law.

Alaskan receives White House honor, appointment as poetry ‘ambassador’

First Lady Michelle Obama honored five young American poets at the White House this morning, including one Alaskan: Anna Lance, a 17-year-old from Eagle River, who represents the West. But being named a National Student Poet isn’t just about glory. It comes with an obligation, too. Download Audio:

Murkowski: ANWR Drilling Back On The Table

Rosemarie Alexander, KTOO – Juneau U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski says unrest in the Middle East puts oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge...
a man sits on a boat called Norseman

‘Alaskan Bush People’ get the cold shoulder when looking for land in Southeast

The famous Brown family tried to buy land in Alaska after living in Washington the last three years. But locals did not welcome them as neighbors.

Retreating sea ice may push four seals onto Endangered Species list

The National Marine Fisheries Service announced today it will conduct a review to see if Endangered Species Act protections should be given to ribbon...
Crowds of people walk past food trucks and vendors along a city street on a summer afternoon.

Alaska tourism industry expecting another strong year, led by cruise passengers

An Alaska tourism industry advocate expects last year’s record-breaking cruise passenger numbers to repeat in 2024.

Video: Artifacts unearthed during TAPS construction remain relevant

Underneath the Museum of the North in Fairbanks are rows upon rows of artifacts from across the state. One group of items, unearthed during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, still have a role to play in Alaska’s modern development process. Listen Now